Soulful.If there's one word to describe what last night's show was, it would be --- soulful.
Last night, multi-Grammy winner Norah Jones came and performed for the first time in Manila. The venue was the Araneta Coliseum in remodeled Cubao, Quezon City. I was able to go and watch because of surprise tickets courtesy of my dear soulmate.
The show began when it was nearly 8:30pm, and the VIP and VVIP (that's very, very important people) seats were hardly filled up. 'Talk about Filipinos and their concept of punctuality. The lights were doused off, and only the blue light tone of the stage remained visible.
Norah Jones came out after being introduced and sat on the grand piano to begin.
"Mabuhay!" was her first word of the evening before she began singing her opening song Turn Me On. Her rendition was more beautiful than the one in her CD. Next came Nightingale and What I Am To You from her second album. The applause was profuse and generous making her utter a hesitant "Salamat," (thank you) which further endeared her to the audience.
She was lively and vibrant, although occasionally bothered by the large screen monitor in which she saw herself perform, and was used for the benefit of those seated at the back and the bleachers.
She was so good even the mosquitoes were turned on by her. Flailing her arms to keep buzzing mosquitoes at bay, she played the piano as she sang a very smooth and extended version of The Nearness of You. It was very romantic. Hoagy Carmichael would surely acclaim and want to hear her version of this wonderful song.
All familiar hits in her two CDs were heard: the haunting I've Got To See You Again, the enchanting Come Away With Me, the lively Sunrise, the introspective The Prettiest Thing, and the reflective Humble Me. Her What I Am To You? took me to the first day I fell in love. Each song was an experience. You can almost feel yourself soaring to the seventh heaven as she whisks you away to each song's setting.
I'm been a fan of Norah Jones way, way back when it wasn't even cool to be described as one. One fine lazy Sunday afternoon in September 2002, I was testing new CDs in the QA branch of Tower Records when I chanced upon her Come Away With Me album and that was it. I was stuck with her. When she won multiple Grammys in 2003, I knew that was the end of my unique love affair with her. She is now everyone's favorite singer, and judging from the crowd at the Coliseum last night, I know I'm right.
We were treated to Norah's brand of humor when she talked about her experience with Elmo of Sesame Street.
"Anybody here know what Sesame Street is all about? I was supposed to have a date with the letter Y, but he stood me up. In the show, I sang to Elmo, going Don't Know Why, Y Didn't Come...so every time I perform Don't Know Why, I am terrified that I'd sing the wrong lyrics..."Her Handsome Band also let its presence felt as we were treated to cool guitar works by Robbie McIntosh and Adam Levy. Her boyfriend bassist Lee Alexander (shown above in the picture with her) was also a revelation. Drummer Andrew Borger was electric as he worked the drums like he was on fire. Norah's long-time friend and vocalist Daru Oda played the flute and was also replendent as she sang and danced with Norah.
Before calling it a night, she also revisited Gram Parson's memory by singing a truly magnificent version of She that was so good it nearly brought me to tears. I've always been a fan of Willie Nelson when it comes to country music, but her rendition made me want to have a second look at Gram Parson's other works. Her last piece was the bouncy and blithesome Ooh Las Vegas from the Gp/Grievous Angel album of Gram Parsons. It was so good that Norah was able to make some of the high-and-mighty moguls of the VVIP seats stand up and dance to the tune.
There were three encores as Filipinos are not known to leave concerts without extra heapings. Norah was pleasing enough to oblige and the audience wasn't disappointed as she gave a more aperitive version of Come Away With Me and two other sentimental songs.
Norah sounded disappointed when she mentioned that she had only one concert for Manila this year, but she said she'd be very happy to come back.
I can't wait for that day.
