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Diana Ross slick and brisk at Fox show
12:50 am March 2, 2012, by Melissa Ruggieri
If all you wanted from your Diana Ross experience was a brisk parade of hits sung well and performed by a tight band, then you likely exited the Fox Theatre Thursday night feeling fulfilled and singing “Baby Love.”
But if you were looking for a little warmth, a little spontaneity, a little chatter, a little something to suggest that Ross wasn’t merely going through the motions of songs she’s sung a gazillion times, well, this wasn’t that show.
The indefatigable Ross, who turns 68 later this month, has been on some form of a greatest hits tour since May 2010 – in fact, her last Atlanta appearance came at Chastain in June 2010.
At this return engagement, the thousands of fans in the nearly sold-out Fox greeted the pop goddess with worshipful applause and ovations as she took the stage in a puff of white taffeta over a gold and white sequined dress for one of her many anthems, “I’m Coming Out.”
It was the first of about five outfits modeled during the show, with most of her ensembles remaining in the glittery sequined family (blue, red, gold) and one purple strapless ball gown. Ross has also perfected the art of making an entrance – arms outstretched, shoulders shimmying – as she did after every costume change. (Here are some photos from Thursday’s show.)
Ross’ trademark mound of ebony waves was in full effect, too, as she frequently dabbed at it gingerly (don’t hurt the hair!) while flashing a huge smile.
But everything was almost too perfect, from the dance moves of the stop-on-a-dime five piece band and three backup singers to the tasteful lighting beamed on a set of white curtains decorating the stage. An unscripted humanizing moment or an acknowledgement of the audience – which finally came during the encore – would have elevated the concert from a slick, professional delivery of hits to a musical embrace to remember.
That isn’t to say Ross, who recently earned a Lifetime Achievement Grammy, was devoid of personality. She grinned and waved her hands to the beat of “Where Did Our Love Go” and “Baby Love” – songs that mandated that the crowd remain standing – and brought the sunshine out of the Motown classic “You Can’t Hurry Love.” A couple of guys in the audience also had a brief brush with diva-dom as they hopped on stage for a few quick dance moves during a playful “Upside Down.”
Though she hit a few sharp notes early in the show, Ross settled into the silken groove of “Touch Me in the Morning” and turned on the funk for “Love Child,” recast with an exuberant Latin-tinged coda.
Her strongest vocal moment came after a fun appearance of “Ease on Down the Road” when she returned from another dress swap for the lovely “Don’t Explain,” which nearly silenced the fidgety crowd.
After whirling through Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” – although what strong female singer hasn’t appropriated that one? – Ross returned for an encore and finally spoke at length. She had family in the audience, she noted, including daughter Tracee, who stars in the Atlanta-filmed BET series “Reed Between the Lines.”
As she and the band delved into the fitting set closer – “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” – Ross made a brief mention of the loss of songwriter Nick Ashford (who also co-wrote “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”) before thanking the audience for their energy.
So no, this wasn’t a show focused on interaction, but trotting out the hits – and they are numerous and still glorious – for appreciative crowds wanting a victory lap from one of music’s most memorable female icons.
FORT PIERCE — Diana Ross walked on stage at the Sunrise Theatre on Tuesday night wearing her signature hair style, long red nails, red lipstick and a sparkling white and gold gown covering her silver platform shoes. That was just for openers.
The 68-year-old diva started her performance singing her hit "I'm Coming Out" and traveled through her career with Supreme tunes "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "Where Did Our Love Go" while she changed into one sparkling gown after another — red, blue and pink.
Ross didn't share stories with the audience or didn't spend time explaining her music. With a constant smile, she sang to mostly shy audience members who moved their heads and tapped their feet while she pointed and invited them to clap their hands or sing along.
That changed when she swung her hips back and forth to "Baby Love" or when she built up a momentum with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Some whistled and others got up to dance.
Many in the crowd came to listen to Ross' old hits and reminisced about their youth. Some confessed old crushes on her.
"Back in the day, she was the bomb," said Lee Rhyant, who was in town from Atlanta visiting family.
Some diehard fans traveled from other parts of the country and the world to see Ross. That was the case of her German fan Andreas Hirsch, who was recently featured in an article by Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers and who travels the world to see her. He came accompanied by Judy Parham from Baltimore, a retired hair stylist who has been following the diva across the country since 1965.
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Devoted fan to fly from Germany to see Diana Ross in concert at Sunrise Theatre
By Isadora Rangel
Monday, February 20, 2012
When Diana Ross performs at the Sunrise Theatre next week she might see a familiar face in the crowd.
One that has traveled to Fort Pierce all the way from Germany to see the diva on stage.
She has seen him at concerts around the world. She knows him by name and on different occasions, they have sung together on stage.
Andreas Hirsch, Ross' self-proclaimed die-hard fan, has been to about 90 of her concerts since 1982, when he was a 15-year-old who fell in love with her hit "I'm Coming Out." He travels twice a year from his native Bavaria, Germany, to see his idol and has been to shows in Europe, the U.S., Australia and South Africa.
"To think about my very first concert in 1982 gives me goose bumps," Hirsch, 45, said. "I was totally overwhelmed by Miss Ross' aura and her performance on stage."
Ross has gotten used to seeing Hirsch at meet-and-greet events before her performances. They talk about upcoming concerts and recordings. He usually asks her when she will release a new album — her latest release was "I Love You," which came out in 2006.
She usually asks him, in a playful way, "What are you doing here again?" She also wonders how he affords to travel to see her.
"It's a really expensive hobby," Hirsch said.
That hobby can cost him about $4,000 every time he travels. But Hirsch has the perfect job for that, he said. He works as a travel agent and gets discounts on airfare.
And he gets his money's worth.
Ross pulled him on stage to sing her song "Reach Out and Touch" during a concert in Oslo, one of the many occasions when they shared the stage. In Frankfurt in 1993, she gave him her microphone and he sang her final song. She told him he should sing louder, Hirsch said.
When Ross saw him in the crowd at a concert in California, she reached out to him again.
"She came to the edge of the stage and hugged me a lot because she knows that I am always there to show her my support and love," Hirsch said.
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Miss Ross cont. her “ Now “ tour in April 2012 ....some dates are out already. The April part will contain approx 8-9 Dates ....So check later for more on that !!!
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