I’ve reviewed and shot many gigs over the last few years, and what came to mind most about watching Anastacia last night in the 3Olympia was that you don’t see many proper shows anymore.
That, and my god she can sing!
Currently on her world tour for the ‘Not That Kind’ albums 25th Anniversary (has it really been that long?!), last nights stop was a sold out 3Olympia. As soon as I walked in I was hit by a different type of vibe, and one that felt more like a party than a gig.
People were interacting with each other and talking to those around them, making new friends and connecting over the anticipation of the show. As soon as Anastacia came out on stage through a ‘front door’, the entire place erupted. She went straight into ‘Now or Never’, and I genuinely had to take a second before I started shooting, because her voice sounded astonishing.
Anyone who was anywhere near any form of entertainment when her album came out would be very familiar with her songs, mostly ‘I’m Out of Love’ or ‘Left Outside Alone’. It felt like you couldn’t turn on a radio or music channel on the tv without hearing at least one of them.
Even back then, regardless of weather you were into that kind music or not, no one could deny that her voice was phenomenal. This was before smartphones/social media and when music television stations still played music videos, so people were still getting their information from magazines and watching tv to see music videos.
It seemed like for most of 2000 anywhere you looked you saw Anastacia. From her voice to her iconic sunglasses, she was everywhere, and she seemed to immediately become a superstar. It’s great to see that 25 years later she can still sell out venues and that her voice sounds just as good, if not better now.
It’s also a testament to good, well written pop songs that stand the test of time. I remember back then, any time I went to a nightclub and one of her songs came on it was almost as if everyone in the building automatically stood up and started dancing. You just didn’t have a choice. That’s what it felt like last night. A massive party in a nightclub. From the moment she came on stage everyone was in ultimate party mode.
The set list spanned her entire career, and covered all of her eras. It’s also been a while since I saw a production like that, costume changes and all. Anastacia was also amazing in the way she interacted with the crowd and somehow made it feel like a personal performance.
A particular highlight was when a woman at the front of the crowd spoke to her and told her that she came on her own because her sister had a ticket, but passed before the concert. Anastasia took the time to speak to her directly, sign a photo of her sister and even dedicate a song to her. It’s little things like this that make a huge impact on fans. It was also a testament to the fans that everyone around the woman spoke to her and embraced her as one of their friends.
To keep the party going (and to accommodate a costume change) the backing singers came to the front and did a medley of ‘Vogue’, ‘This is how we do it’, ‘No Diggity’ and ‘Everybody’, with full crowd participation, keeping everyone on their feet until it was taken down a notch for a note perfect ‘Heavy on My Heart’.
Anastacia also sampled her first pint of Guinness on stage, which was fun. I also found it interesting that she performed some covers of classic songs in her own singing style. ‘All Right Now’ and ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ were great to hear live in a different way.
Other than that, the whole show was fantastic, and it felt like the momentum throughout was building and building until the double whammy of ‘Left Outside Alone’ and ‘I’m Outta Love’ finished the night off with a bang.
Icons are icons for a reason, and Anastacia showed why she absolutely deserves that status.
Anastacia photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Now or Never
Staring at the Sun
Paid My Dues
Nobody Loves Me Better
Sick and Tired
Overdue Goodbye
Made for Lovin’ You
Vogue / This Is How We Do / No Diggity / Everybody-Backstreet’s Back
Heavy on My Heart
You’ll Never Be Alone
Best Days (Die Toten Hosen cover)
Secrets
Welcome to My Truth
How Come the World Won’t Stop
All Right Now (Free cover)
Sweet Child o’ Mine (Guns N’ Roses cover)
Stupid Little Things
Left Outside Alone
I’m Outta Love
Photos & Words – David McEneanery @experimentzero