Engelbert Humperdinck comes from a time when music meant talent and talent earned stardom. Today the music industry is far too quick to throw away the middle bit … talent.
Watching Engelbert Humperdinck last night at the State Theatre in Melbourne reminded me of how great the music business used to be. This was an exceptionally entertaining show from a man who tells me he is cutting back on the number of shows he does a year. He is now down to 110. Now that is a work ethic!
At 74 years of age, Engelbert Humperdinck puts more into a show that a lot of today’s acts put into a lifetime. From the moment he came of stage, he had was working for the audience. His voice is as good as it has ever been. We are talking a well-oiled machine still in his prime.
Engelbert Humperdinck knows how to communicate with the fans. He made us laugh (luckily there was only one Viagra joke). He sang every song you wanted him to sing. He chose the right covers (Bruce Springsteen ‘I’m On Fire, Byran Adams ‘Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman’) and he played a nice balance of songs from his new album ‘Released’ including his first ever digital single ‘Tell Me Where It Hurts’.
EH songs like ‘Release Me’, ‘The Last Waltz’, ‘Quando Quando Quando’ and ‘After The Lovin’ are chiselled into music history. To be able to watch the man who gave these musical treasures to the world perform them live is truly special.
Engelbert recognises and acknowledges talent. In introducing the James Blunt song “Goodbye My Lover’, he talked of Blunt’s songwriting alongside the names John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Elton John and Eric Clapton. That truly is a compliment. He also made mention of Paul Wiltshire, the Australian producer who recorded his new album ‘Released’.
The audience were made up of all age groups and the occasional rock star as well. Brian Ritchie (Violent Femmes/The Break) and his wife Varuni were loving every moment.
Michael Buble does a great job replicating the greats and proudly admits it. Engelbert Humperdinck is one of the greats. He is the real deal.
The setlist for Melbourne, November 5 was:
Let Your Love Flow
Am I That Easy To Forget
Let Me Into Your Life
A Man Without Love
My Wife The Dancer
I Wish You Love
Tell Me Where It Hurts (from Released, 2010)
You Don’t Know Me
After The Lovin’
I’m On Fire
Someday Tonight (from Released, 2010)
Take Me Back Again (from Released, 2010)
Goodbye My Lover (from Released, 2010)
Quando Quando Quando
Band intros
Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman
The Last Waltz
Hits Medley
Release Me
Encore:
My Way
Engelbert Humperdinck’s remaining Australian dates are:
November 9 and 10, Brisbane, QPAC
November 12 and 13, Sydney, The State Theatre
November 16, Adelaide, Festival Theatre
