Vanessa
Williams
Silver
& Gold
Thursday,
December 2, 2004 - 8:00 p.m.
Palace
Theatre
New York, New York
8:12
p.m.
Audio:
Prelude: I Dream a World
(Featuring Ossie Davis)
Lemon
Yellow Full-Length Strapped Gown with Hip-High Splits Draped in Lemon Chiffon
Joy
to the World
Mary's
Little Boy Child
December
Lullaby
Christmas
Is
Winter
Weather
Save
the Best For Last
What
Child Is This
Love
Is
This
Winter Will Not Come
The
Little Drummer Boy
<Intermission>
Hot Pink Minidress Decorated with Satin Stripes and Ribbons
Medley:
The Right Stuff
Running Back
to You
Work to Do
Cormac
& Martin Selections
Cream Chiffon Gown Trimmed in Satin Adorned with Green Sequined Dragonflies
The
Holly and The Ivy
Harvest
For the World
Colors
of the Wind
Silver
and Gold
Go
Tell It On the Mountain/Mary Had a Baby
Rise
Up, Shepherd and Follow
Betcha
Never
Have
Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
10:20
p.m.
Commentary: Happy Holidays! And I can't think of a better way to jumpstart another season than with Vanessa Williams on Broadway performing holiday songs, some of her greatest hits, and a song from her upcoming album of love songs.
Spirited. Festive. Inspirational. Beautiful. These are words that describe this evening. There was something in this show for the whole family.
What appeared to be a sold out show was the second of four shows Vanessa booked at Broadway's Palace Theatre just in time for the season and as a promotional vehicle for her recently released Christmas album, Silver & Gold. She also performed selections from her 1996 Christmas album, Star Bright and her upcoming R&B album, Everlasting Love, due in stores on February 3, just in time for Valentine's Day.
The staging was simple, but full as a 26-piece ensemble--including a 12-piece orchestra, band full band and background vocalists--accompanied her musical journey. On certain selections she was backed by 12 members of the Broadway Inspirational Voices, under the direction of Broadway veteran Billy Porter. A decorated Christmas tree with large gifts around it stood on the right side of the stage.
Vanessa was in fine voice! What more can I say. The evening was hers, though she joked that the evening was really all for Santa Claus. LOL. Jesus Christ, the man who lived and died for our sins, was the man of the evening as she told the story of Christmas through her music.
Overall the show was good and highly enjoyable. There were certain portions that could have used some tweaking and tightening as far as staging, blocking, choreography, etc. As proved by the sometimes unmoved audience, a few moments fell flat because they simply needed to be re-worked. As a whole, though, the show was solid and well received by what appeared to be a sold-out crowd.
Despite the Christmas theme of the show, Vanessa still included her own special touches often witnessed in her usual shows. There was choreography with four dancers, and Vanessa danced salsa with the two male dancers. Vanessa also shared Christmas memories between songs (with the help of a teleprompter) from both her childhood as well as her adult years with her kids.
At age 41 now, Vanessa shows no signs of slowing down, and this show (and her current work, in general) is an example of the determination of many artists on her level who are creating opportunities for themselves to remain viable in an industry that discards artists after a certain age.
Highlights: On "Mary's Little Boy Child" (from Silver & Gold), she performed the song sitting on a staircase with a small group of children, who were interested but stiff. She also omitted the rendition of "O Holy Night" which exists within the original recording of the song.
On the jazzy "Christmas Is" (from Silver & Gold), she said it was "time for the grown-ups to party" as her four dancers acted out a pleasant exchange of Christmas gifts at the Christmas tree, including dancing, placing an angel atop the tree, and kissing under mistletoe. At the end of the song, Vanessa posed with them for a Polaroid shot to cap off the scene.
Vanessa shared that her parents often sang during the holidays at churches in the Westchester County, New York area where she grew up. When she was an infant, she said her parents would set her next to the pipe organ at their gigs. "Even today when I hear Handel's "Messiah," I crave warm milk for some reason," she said.
"I'd like to sing a song for you that allowed me to buy many Christmas gifts for my children," she said just before the opening chords of her number one smash, "Save the Best For Last" (from The Comfort Zone) chimed in. The crowd went up in applause. This song really resounded with a full band AND orchestra. Pure heaven!
Vanessa performed "This Winter Will Not Come," a newly penned song by her long-time producer and collaborator Rob Mathes (who served as musical director tonight). The song addresses the sadness that some experience at Christmas when they are unable to be with the ones they love. She said Rob wrote the song at 3:00 in the morning.
The drummer and percussionist collaborated on a triumphant fanfare of snare drums and the like on "The Little Drummer Boy."
"We're going all the way back to 1988," Vanessa announced at the top of the second half as the scrim raised to reveal her and two male dancers about to let loose for the medley of her hits "The Right Stuff" (from The Right Stuff), "Running Back to You," and "Work to Do" (both from The Comfort Zone).
After the high of the aforementioned medley, the show took a nosedive to the low of a peaceful, though spirited, two-song medley by Irish folk duo Cormac & Martin. Vanessa was turned on to their music listening to a folk music show on Saturday mornings driving her daughter to dance classes. She loved them so much that they recorded two songs on her latest Christmas album, including "The Holly and The Ivy," which they performed beautifully with her tonight.
Vanessa previewed her upcoming R&B album with her cover of The Isley Brothers' classic, "Harvest For the World."
"Colors of the Wind" (from Pocahontas Soundtrack) also really resounded with a full band AND orchestra. Mmm!
"Silver and Gold" featured snippets of home video of her kids having fun and opening presents at Christmastime.
Vanessa and the Broadway Inspirational Voices lit the place up with their rousing, spectacular rendition of "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (from Star Bright) and "Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow" (from Silver & Gold).
"Betcha Never" (from The Sweetest Days) featured salsa dancing with the two male dancers, as is customary in her past performances.
Set List Analysis: With two Christmas albums and four R&B albums (about to be five) under her belt, the material available to use in this show was plentiful.
Silver & Gold received the most recognition, with eleven out of the album's thirteen tracks featured in the show: "Prelude: I Dream a World (Featuring Ossie Davis)," "Joy to the World," "Mary's Little Boy Child," "December Lullaby," "Christmas Is," "Winter Weather," "The Little Drummer Boy," "The Holly and The Ivy," "Silver and Gold," "Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." The only songs from the album not included were "Silent Night" and "Merry Christmas, Darling."
Only two songs from Star Bright made the cut: "What Child Is This and "Go Tell It On the Mountain/Mary Had a Baby." No love for "Baby, It's Cold Outside" or her festive arrangements of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Shout)" or "Do You Hear What I Hear/The Little Drummer Boy."
With lower expectations placed on hearing her R&B material in a show like this, it was pleasing to hear what we heard, especially the fabulous medley! She might as well have added "The Right Stuff" (from The Right Stuff) to the medley! It also seemed that songs like "The Sweetest Days" (from The Sweetest Days), "Oh How the Years Go By" and even "Happiness" (both from Next) would have been a perfect fit for the holiday tone of the show. "Dreamin'" (from The Right Stuff) also would have been a nice touch.
Regardless, what we got was a wonderful show chock full of the holiday spirit. Vanessa is in her prime and poised to reclaim her rightful place in the industry and, of course, in our hearts.
THANK YOU!
A
Vanessa
Williams Christmas, Live By Request
Friday,
December 10, 2004 - 10:00 p.m.
10:00
p.m.
Chocolate
Brown Full-Length
The
Little Drummer Boy
Winter
Weather
<Commercial
Break>
Joy
to the World
Love
Is
Love
Is (Reprise)
<Commercial
Break>
Silver
and Gold
December
Lullaby
December
Lullaby (Reprise)
<Commercial
Break>
Lime
Green T-Length Dress
Medley:
The Right Stuff
Running Back to You
Work to Do
Save
the Best For Last
Save
the Best For Last (Reprise)
<Commercial
Break>
Have
Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Have
Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Reprise)
<Commercial
Break>
The
Holly and The Ivy
Colors
of the Wind
The
Sweetest Days
<Commercial
Break>
Send
One Your Love
Harvest
For the World
Harvest
For the World (Reprise)
Harvest
For the World (Reprise)
<Commercial
Break>
Betcha
Never
<Commercial
Break>
Red
Full-Length
Go
Tell It On the Mountain/Mary Had a Baby
Rise
Up, Shepherd and Follow
Rise
Up, Shepherd and Follow (Reprise)
Rise
Up, Shepherd and Follow (Reprise)
12:01
a.m.
Commentary: Happy Holidays once again! And I still can't think of a better way to jumpstart another season than with Vanessa Williams performing holiday songs, some of her greatest hits, and songs from her upcoming album of love songs, mostly by request.
The sparsely full auditorium was a live taping for A&E's Live By Request show, just in time for the season and as a promotional vehicle for her recently released Christmas album, Silver & Gold. She also performed one selection from her 1996 Christmas album, Star Bright and two selections from her upcoming R&B album, Everlasting Love, due in stores on February 3, just in time for Valentine's Day.
Fans had the chance to make requests by telephone or by email, and Vanessa took the requests live on the air.
Spirited. Festive. Inspirational. Beautiful. These are words that describe this evening. There was something in this show for the whole family.
The staging was festive, classy, and quite full as a 22-piece ensemble--including a 12-piece orchestra, band full band and background vocalists--accompanied her musical journey. On certain selections she was backed by 8 members of the Broadway Inspirational Voices, under the direction of Broadway veteran Billy Porter. Decorated, illuminated Christmas trees stood on either side of the stage and in the balcony. Large color images of Vanessa hung on a collage of panes which served as the stage's backdrop.
Vanessa was in fine voice! What more can I say. At age 41 now, Vanessa shows no signs of slowing down, and this show (and her current work, in general) is an example of the determination of many artists on her level who are creating opportunities for themselves to remain viable in an industry that discards artists after a certain age.
During commercial breaks, Vanessa would sip water, go over show details with the stage manager and get her makeup touched up.
Overall the show was excellent and highly enjoyable. Arguably, this show was better than her Broadway show just last week. This show seemed tighter, and much better executed by both Vanessa and all others involved. Clearly, since this was a live taping, the show was highly produced and sometimes over-produced. I'll say this and leave it alone: This show may be live by request, and those were certainly genuine requests, but if you think that the show's line-up of songs had not been pre-determined long before the show started, you have another thing coming. Don't be fooled. I'll leave that alone.
The sometimes unmoved audience was full of a mostly older crowd with mostly A&E VIP's and guests in the lower level. The fans, invited to attend via email, were mostly in the rear of the lower level and in the balcony.
Despite the Christmas theme of the show, Vanessa still included her own special touches often witnessed in her usual shows. There was choreography and salsa dancing with two male dancers.
Vanessa also shared Christmas memories between songs (with the help of a teleprompter) from both her childhood as well as her adult years with her kids. She told the stories more succinctly thanks to a nicely written script, though she sounded more mechanical and sometimes rushed than the more loose, natural way she spoke at the Broadway show. This time, however, because the song order and song selections in general were not the same as the Broadway show, certain introductions and stories which originally preceded certain songs on the Broadway show were often switched to precede other songs in this show.
In addition, it seemed that there was nothing in place to let Vanessa and the band know when they were no longer on the air and in a commercial break. A few times, they didn't play a reprise long enough to get them to the break.
Still, this was a very well-executed, polished show.
Highlights: There was no collaborative, triumphant fanfare of snare drums and the like by the drummer and percussionist on "The Little Drummer Boy" (from Silver & Gold), as was at the Broadway show.
"Winter Weather" (from Silver & Gold) had Vanessa dancing with a male dancer during the interlude.
Vanessa shared Christmas memories of her family before introducing "Joy to the World" (from Silver & Gold), for which Billy Porter joined her. "Let me sing a song for you that always makes me happy," she said.
"Silver and Gold" (from Silver & Gold) featured snippets of childhood home video of her having fun and opening presents at Christmastime.
Vanessa and two male dancers let loose for the medley of her hits "The Right Stuff" (from The Right Stuff), "Running Back to You," and "Work to Do" (both from The Comfort Zone). "We took it all the way back on that one! 1988! 1991!," she said as she caught her breath at the end.
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (from Silver & Gold) was dedicated to those who may experience the sadness that Christmas sometimes brings on for people when they are unable to be with the ones they love.
Irish folk duo Cormac & Martin, who recorded two songs on Silver & Gold, joined Vanessa on "The Holly & The Ivy" (from Silver & Gold). Vanessa was turned on to their music listening to a folk music show on Saturday mornings driving her daughter to dance classes. She loved them so much that she tracked them down to record with them.
In a beautiful move at the end of "Colors of the Wind" (from Pocahontas Soundtrack), Vanessa gracefully raised her arms and hands up in the air as if to touch the colors in the wind. Mmm.
Because this was a live show, timing allowed Vanessa to perform "The Sweetest Days" (from The Sweetest Days), though without the second verse. "A little bonus track for you!" she said when it was done.
Vanessa previewed her upcoming R&B album with her cover of Stevie Wonder's "Send One Your Love" and The Isley Brothers' classic, "Harvest For the World." The former also featured her long-time producer, collaborator and tonight's musical director Rob Mathes on acoustic guitar.
"Betcha Never" (from The Sweetest Days) featured salsa dancing with the two male dancers, as is customary in her past performances.
During the commercial break after "Betcha Never," Vanessa changed into a beautiful red gown. Just before she was going back on the air, she announced to the audience that she was "hot and sweaty." At the end of the song, a nice shot of me and a friend can be seen in the audience's standing ovation.
Vanessa and the Broadway Inspirational Voices lit the place up with their rousing, spectacular rendition of "Go Tell It On the Mountain/Mary Had a Baby" (from Star Bright) and "Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow" (from Silver & Gold). A fitting finale!
Set List Analysis: With two Christmas albums and four R&B albums (about to be five) under her belt, the material available to use in this show was plentiful.
Silver & Gold received the most recognition, with eight out of the album's thirteen tracks featured in the show: "Joy to the World," "December Lullaby," "Winter Weather," "The Little Drummer Boy," "The Holly and The Ivy," "Silver and Gold," "Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." The songs from the album that were not included were "Silent Night" and "Merry Christmas, Darling," "Prelude: I Dream a World (Featuring Ossie Davis)," "Mary's Little Boy Child," and "Christmas Is."
Only one song from Star Bright made the cut: "Go Tell It On the Mountain/Mary Had a Baby." No love for the highly popular "What Child Is This" nor "Baby, It's Cold Outside" nor her festive arrangements of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Shout)" and "Do You Hear What I Hear/The Little Drummer Boy."
With lower expectations placed on hearing her R&B material in a show like this, it was pleasing to hear what we heard, especially the fabulous medley! Yet, it also seemed that songs like "The Comfort Zone" (from The Comfort Zone), "The Way That You Love" (from The Sweetest Days), "Oh How the Years Go By" and even "Happiness" (both from Next) would have been a perfect fit for the holiday tone of the show. "Dreamin'" and "Darlin' I" (both from The Right Stuff) also would have been a nice touch.
Regardless, what we got was a wonderful show chock full of the holiday spirit. Vanessa is in her prime and poised to reclaim her rightful place in the industry and, of course, in our hearts.
THANK YOU!
Written by Michael K. Watts