Ric.ror
Yes, ummm is correct. My partner is a big noise in showbusiness, and a friend of his offered the tickets on the strict understanding that before the show, we would keep absolutely schtum about it. We weren't even allowed to say that the show was happening, and certainly not allowed to say what the content was.
My partner couldn't make it, so I went with a mutual friend.
Before the show started, we were getting drinks in the bar, and I met David Gilmour (Pink Floyd). That was a MAJOR rush for me!!!
And then we went into the auditorium, and took our seats. We could sit anywhere we wanted (the tickets were 'general admission - unreserved). If we wanted we could have been in the second row, but we chose the third because it had a better view (not looking 'up' so much).
The first 30 minute or so was like a normal rock concert...and then it absolutely goes haywire.
It's difficult to explain, but...it became like a huge theatrical production. A scree lowers and you see a guy trying to contact them coastguard to report a ship going down...
...and then a lighting rig descends from the middle of the auditorium, throwing a searchlight over the audience (with the sounds of a helicopter pilot over the loudspeakers).
She then performs 'The Ninth Wave' (side two of 'Hounds of Love' album) - whilst dancers in giant fish skeleton heads perform around her, and giant billowing sheets (representing the sea) cover the stage.
Then a full sized living room glides across the stage, with her (real life) son Bertie, watching telly with his dad.
It was just...breathtaking.
I've seen everyone from Madonna to Ella Fitzgerald to Michael Jackson, Bjork, Grace Jones...and can't remember a time when I was so utterly transfixed.
And her voice?
Amazing.
Just thinking about her performance of 'Running Up The Hill' has given me goosebumps again.
Seriously.