Birmingham, USA Jan 15th

Posted January 15, 200916 yr

Next stop Birmingham, Alabama :thumbup:

January 16, 200916 yr

thanks for posting

how many venues has she got left?

January 18, 200916 yr

Author

First impression: Celine Dion at the BJCC Arena

Posted by Mary Colurso -- Birmingham News January 15, 2009 11:02 PM

Oh, get over it, Celine Dion haters. I certainly did, after seeing -- and most of all, hearing -- her performance tonight at the BJCC Arena in Birmingham.

Yes, her 8:55 p.m. concert was Vegas glitzy, emotionally over the top and filled with sentimental power ballads. But you know what? Dion won me over eventually with that big ol' voice of hers and the sheer entertainment of the spectacle: eight dancers, a 10-member band and tons of special video effects.
I may change my mind in the sober light of morning, but right now, with glory notes ringing in my ears, I'm prepared to drop all my preconceived snarkiness and give the Canadian-born superstar an enthusiastic vote of approval.

I admit to emitting a few eye rolls and chuckles here and there; Dion tended to overdo her mugging for the cameras, and she did sing the ultra-weepy "All By Myself" with a straight face. Gotta give her credit for pinpoint pitch, however -- and you never, ever had to wonder if the diva was lip-syncing.

Look for the full review later on al.com and on Saturday's Page 2 of The Birmingham News.

The power of Dion: Celine hard to resist at Birmingham concert

Posted by Mary Colurso -- Birmingham News January 16, 2009 1:46 AM

Review rating: Three out of five stars

The best way to approach Celine Dion's Thursday concert in Birmingham was to sit back, smile sweetly and succumb.

Oh, a couple of brain cells might have to be put on hold temporarily. Your heart would have been in danger of swelling to Valentine size.

But is that such a terrible thing, when the Canadian superstar in question has such a glorious voice? Dion, 40, is the owner of a huge and supple instrument that's capable of startling precision and clarity.

Of course, it was much on display during her 8:55 p.m. show at the BJCC Arena. Ticketholders very nearly filled the place for Dion's 100-minute performance in the round, her first engagement here in 10 years.

Also front-and-center were the elements critics tend to loathe: Dion's syrupy song choices, her reliance on glory notes, her campy mugging, her Vegas-style glitz. This was a theatrical, fast-moving, highly choreographed affair -- in that way, reminiscent of some of Madonna's tours -- and the singer shared her stage with a 10-member band, eight dancers and oodles of special video effects.

For her showy entrance, Dion emerged at the center of a giant cube of computerized screens, belting the dance tune "I Drove All Night." She used the cube as a visual device throughout the evening, strutting on various platforms in sky-high stilettos and moving easily through signature songs.

Dion's agenda included a few numbers from her latest disc, 2007's "Taking Chances," but she mainly relied on fan favorites: "The Power of Love," "I'm Your Lady," "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," "Because You Loved Me," "I'm Your Angel," "All By Myself," "My Heart Will Go On." (This left a ringing glory note in the air as audience members filed out around 10:35 p.m.)

First-timers must have noticed that Dion's earnest, goofy persona clashed with the tight, sparkly mini-dresses and flowing gown she wore (count 'em: five costume changes), not to mention the big, ta-da! poses she struck. It helped to realize that gawky-colt syndrome has long been part of Dion's essential package; steadfast admirers find it endearing.

Uncool? Sure. Over the top? Definitely. Still, someone has to excel at show-biz sentimentality, and it might as well be Dion. At the BJCC, her powerful vocals -- always live, never lip-synced -- had a way of sneaking past your cynicism and conquering.