Scoop, I have no idea who you are and have had no interaction with you. But from this post alone, I will disagree with the many and deem you authentic and not a troll.
As if you give two rips what I think.
I've seen too many phoned in performances to think that your reaction is merely naysaying and dissing just to diss.
I get the impression that you really are a lifelong fan and you are going through the kind of thing I went through many many years ago.
I skipped the CV tour. And the Gold Dust tour, I think. I dunno. I can't remember anymore. I have seen so many shows it is very difficult to keep track anymore. I know there were a few shows I could have just drove 15 minutes to the Greek, got my comps and parking, gone backstage and done it all free. I couldn't be bothered.
But let me say this - I don't disbelieve a word of what you say.
SO many people are so enamored of Stevie (and her bank account thanks you for it) that she simply needs to show up and be alive for them to be thrilled. The expectations
are bottom of the barrel. I have been there. Just simply seeing her in person can be such a thrill, and such a fulfillment of a fantasy that all objectivity flies straight out the window.
Add to this the idea that she is this odd vessel that people project their own weaknesses and neuroses onto and you have an odd situation. People almost WANT her to be weak
and fragile. It fulfills some bizarre fantasy they have about her and themselves. "It's just nerves! It's only the first show! She must have had a bad day!"
It is a million and one excuses to make her seem more human and flawed in order to make her seem down to earth.
The fact is that she is, or should be, a professional. First and foremost. They had weeks of rehearsal. They should have a top notch sound and light crew. There is NO excuse for that monitor drama. No expense is spared, and they are asking for a king's ransom for each evening they perform. The ticket prices you people are paying reflect
that.
So should the audience expect perfection?
YES. Damn near, the audience should.
From people who have been doing this for a living for 40 years? Damn right they should expect perfect. Try flubbing **** and blowing lyrics and sleepwalking through a Broadway opening. 10 million gone. Show closed. Rock and Roll my ass. People expect professionals to be professionals. God knows my ass would be fired if my set sucked on the first shoot day.
Would Tina Turner's audience balk at her screwing up her dancing during Nutbush? Almost falling off as she scuttled across a scaffolding a few feet wide above the audience with no net?
Of course they would.
Would Madonna's audience howl and blog in horror if her dancing and interaction with her props and scenery looked clunky on the first night? Would they screech and hoot in disgust and call her a hack when they paid a fortune for a flawless performance?
You're damned right they would and with good reason.
They paid top dollar and expect a well rehearsed and professional show. No matter the fact that a mere human being is doing the performing. You demand over a hundred bucks for the privilege of watching you perform and you better damned well deliver.
For some incredibly screwed up reason, a lot of people love for Stevie to be weak. They sympathize, they love her for being nervous. They project their own shortcomings on her - being sick, being tired, being fat, you name it.
It humanizes her, but it also gives her carte blanche to turn in blase performances. Which she has done on and off for her entire career for various and sundry reasons.
Don't get me wrong. I have seen her be brilliant. And I ate it up and counted myself lucky. And I have seen her be dismal. Utterly dismal and unprofessional even in the past few years when purportedly sober.
There are lots of young fans here and even older ones who are still mesmerized by her every move. Of course her every gesture enthralls them. They are under the spell of her persona, which is still considerable. If I had a few bucks for every friend I drug to a show that intoxicated me and my guest said, "That's it?"
Love's a state of mind, indeed.
So, I don't fork over money anymore. I would rather remember the glory shows I have seen.
I'm interested in
emotional involvement and full commitment in shows and performers.
Homegirl is just pulling a retirement paycheck these days and god bless her that she can. I hope she makes a few million on this tour, gets a kick ass face job from Catherine Deneuve's surgeon, gets truly inspired again, and does one more album.
Odds are highly against it but it would be a sweet coda to an uneven but fascinating career.
For now I've made my contribution to her bank account. Ten times over. I'm happy to watch the videos.
Thank you for your honest posts.
God knows people have chafed at mine over the years.
As for the performances...
Good god, Storms isn't supposed to be barked.
It ought to be whispered.
Points for effort, regardless.
Don't Stop made my teeth hurt. WTF with that hamhanded
piano from Tuggle?
And Rosie deserves a years late Emmy for her Stevie spinning impersonation on Arsenio Hall years ago.
The Stand Back spins from 3/1/09 confirmed her prophecy.
Slo Mo. Bored. Utterly disengaged.