milven
09-13-2015, 06:57 PM
By Rosa Colucci/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Diana Ross is a superstar. She drew 800,000 people to a concert in Central Park, was the first entertainer to perform at Japan’s Imperial Palace for Empress Nagako, and made the gustiest exit ever from a Super Bowl halftime show when a helicopter landed in the middle of the field to whisk her away.
So, when she says her Benedum Center concert starts at 8 p.m. — you better be on time — because Miss Ross takes the stage at 8 sharp, and then delivers a 90-minute set of straight-up singing and performing that turned the venue into a Motown dance party on Saturday evening.
A few notes of the iconic bass line from “I’m Coming Out” filled the air, and the audience rose to their feet as Ms. Ross floated on stage in a turquoise sequined gown with a floor-length bejeweled tulle wrap. From the very first note, she was in fine voice, and got better as the night progressed.
She sang hit after hit, including some from her days with The Supremes. Hurrying back, after a costume change, wearing a low-cut purple sequined gown with floor-length taffeta wrap, and matching hand-fan, she was drop-dead beautiful while pushing that mane of hair out of the way singing “The Boss.” At that point, the party was in full swing, with ladies dancing in the aisles to “Upside Down” and “Love Hangover,” to name a few.
A gold sequined gown and black hand fan set the mood for “Don’t Explain” a song written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog, Jr. that Ms. Ross performed to perfection. Her biographical performance portraying the singer in “Lady Sings the Blues” earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She melted into the heartbreaking song. “Quiet, don’t explain, What is there to gain? Skip that lipstick, don’t explain.” It was magical.
The mood picked up again with “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” but this reviewer wishes that she would have spent a more time showing off her chops performing a few more jazz standards.
No night with Diana Ross would be complete without “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” but not before she became a vision in another gown [[this one yellow with crystal trim and matching fan). The audience sang every note to the delight of the performer as she launched into “I Will Survive.” By then, most were standing, and autographs were being signed. At 70, she has been a star for 50 years and is still delighted in her fans.
The encore of “Reach Out and Touch” had Ms. Ross bringing up the house lights. “I’ve been staring at iPhones all night, It is so good to see your smiling faces. You look delightful!” she said as she interacted with audience members. The band jammed, danced, and each member showed their best including the background singers who wailed in three-part harmony, Motown-style. Her grand exit from the stage left the band behind to wrap up the night. Everyone was smiling ear-to-ear, including Bishop Zubik who was seated down front and brought his own kind of soul to the surely-delighted superstar.
Set list
1. “I’m Coming Out”
2. “More Today Than Yesterday” [[The Supremes)
3. “My World Is Empty Without You” [[The Supremes)
4. “Baby Love” [[The Supremes)
5. “Stop! In the Name of Love,” [[The Supremes)
6. “You Can’t Hurry Love” [[The Supremes)
7. “Touch Me in the Morning”
8. “Love Child” [[The Supremes)
9. “The Boss”
10. “Upside Down”
11. “Love Hangover”
12. “Take Me Higher”
13. “Ease on Down the Road” [[Diana Ross and Michael Jackson cover)
14. “Don’t Explain” [[“Lady Sings the Blues”)
15. “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” [[Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers cover)
16. “Theme from Mahogany [[Do You Know Where You’re Going To?)”
17. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
18. “I Will Survive”
Encore:
19. “Reach Out and Touch [[Somebody’s Hand)”
20. “I Will Survive”
http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music-reviews/2015/09/13/Diana-Ross-brings-Motown-sound-to-the-Benedum-Center/stories/201509140034
Diana Ross is a superstar. She drew 800,000 people to a concert in Central Park, was the first entertainer to perform at Japan’s Imperial Palace for Empress Nagako, and made the gustiest exit ever from a Super Bowl halftime show when a helicopter landed in the middle of the field to whisk her away.
So, when she says her Benedum Center concert starts at 8 p.m. — you better be on time — because Miss Ross takes the stage at 8 sharp, and then delivers a 90-minute set of straight-up singing and performing that turned the venue into a Motown dance party on Saturday evening.
A few notes of the iconic bass line from “I’m Coming Out” filled the air, and the audience rose to their feet as Ms. Ross floated on stage in a turquoise sequined gown with a floor-length bejeweled tulle wrap. From the very first note, she was in fine voice, and got better as the night progressed.
She sang hit after hit, including some from her days with The Supremes. Hurrying back, after a costume change, wearing a low-cut purple sequined gown with floor-length taffeta wrap, and matching hand-fan, she was drop-dead beautiful while pushing that mane of hair out of the way singing “The Boss.” At that point, the party was in full swing, with ladies dancing in the aisles to “Upside Down” and “Love Hangover,” to name a few.
A gold sequined gown and black hand fan set the mood for “Don’t Explain” a song written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog, Jr. that Ms. Ross performed to perfection. Her biographical performance portraying the singer in “Lady Sings the Blues” earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She melted into the heartbreaking song. “Quiet, don’t explain, What is there to gain? Skip that lipstick, don’t explain.” It was magical.
The mood picked up again with “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” but this reviewer wishes that she would have spent a more time showing off her chops performing a few more jazz standards.
No night with Diana Ross would be complete without “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” but not before she became a vision in another gown [[this one yellow with crystal trim and matching fan). The audience sang every note to the delight of the performer as she launched into “I Will Survive.” By then, most were standing, and autographs were being signed. At 70, she has been a star for 50 years and is still delighted in her fans.
The encore of “Reach Out and Touch” had Ms. Ross bringing up the house lights. “I’ve been staring at iPhones all night, It is so good to see your smiling faces. You look delightful!” she said as she interacted with audience members. The band jammed, danced, and each member showed their best including the background singers who wailed in three-part harmony, Motown-style. Her grand exit from the stage left the band behind to wrap up the night. Everyone was smiling ear-to-ear, including Bishop Zubik who was seated down front and brought his own kind of soul to the surely-delighted superstar.
Set list
1. “I’m Coming Out”
2. “More Today Than Yesterday” [[The Supremes)
3. “My World Is Empty Without You” [[The Supremes)
4. “Baby Love” [[The Supremes)
5. “Stop! In the Name of Love,” [[The Supremes)
6. “You Can’t Hurry Love” [[The Supremes)
7. “Touch Me in the Morning”
8. “Love Child” [[The Supremes)
9. “The Boss”
10. “Upside Down”
11. “Love Hangover”
12. “Take Me Higher”
13. “Ease on Down the Road” [[Diana Ross and Michael Jackson cover)
14. “Don’t Explain” [[“Lady Sings the Blues”)
15. “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” [[Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers cover)
16. “Theme from Mahogany [[Do You Know Where You’re Going To?)”
17. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
18. “I Will Survive”
Encore:
19. “Reach Out and Touch [[Somebody’s Hand)”
20. “I Will Survive”
http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music-reviews/2015/09/13/Diana-Ross-brings-Motown-sound-to-the-Benedum-Center/stories/201509140034