There’s nothing better than getting a birthday present that you can look forward to for ages.  My birthday is in June but last night I got to accompany three friends to see Tracy Chapman in concert in the Olympia in Dublin, a ticket I have been hording for six long months.

I wasn’t disappointed, from her first word to her last I was riveted to the spot.  There really is no substitute for talent and this lady has it in spades.  She spoke between most songs giving an honest account of what she was going through when writing and this made her performance all the more personal and enjoyable.  I’ve had the privilege of seeing her twice before, once in the Olympia and once in what was then called The Point.  Both of those times she had a band on stage with her but last night we were treated to a solo performance and what a night it turned out to be.

She sang most of the songs off her popular debut album but also a fair few favourites from her subsequent work as well as from her latest offering “Our Bright Future”, including “Sing for You” and “A Theory”.  There was even a “request box” as you entered the venue where people could ask for certain songs to be played.   Much to my delight she played “The Promise” which is a song I truly love and although I was in the standing area downstairs my old legs didn’t feel it as I was taken away by her words and the sincerity of her work.

The highlight for me, however, was when she did a cover version of Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary”, I couldn’t believe my luck and it’s a performance I’ll remember always (and wave in front of the faces of everyone I know who missed it!!!)

For her encore she came back and said she had nothing planned so if we shouted up song titles she’d play them, and she did, now that’s talent!

Unfortunately, the gig was marred by the constant shouts of some people from the crowd, I’m not talking about the inevitable “we love you Tracy”, I’m talking about a few people who felt it necessary to practically badger her and show very little respect.  At first it was funny but as this mild mannered woman tried to open up and illustrate to us the inspiration behind her work, she couldn’t be heard over the loud obnoxious shouts of some of the audience.

That won’t ruin the night for those of us who looked forward to it for months on end.  She was amazing and I’m still in awe of her genuine gift to take you away to somewhere beautiful but also make you cry without realising she’s gently opened you right up.

Popularity: 1% [?]

No related posts.