As the Merrillville concert is wrapping up, and I wish I was at that one too, I'll write up some notes on the St Charles concert.
The concert began with "Pure Imagination". I love that this song has made it's return, as it was also there for Milwaukee. Although it never was a standout song for me before, she did sing it as the first song at my first several concerts. That certainly elevated it's status for me. Hearing that song means it's time for an amazing night of music to begin. This was certainly no exception. The next 3 songs weren't anything surprising. Peter's instrumental was new.
But then, when Jackie started to introduce her next song, she mentioned Coldplay's "Fix You". I just about jumped out of my seat. I totally love that song. It really impacted me when the Shibutani siblings (figure skating ice dancers from the U.S.) skated to that song this last season and almost won the world championship. It's a powerful song, and I was so excited that we were getting to hear Jackie sing it. Not surprisingly, Jackie's vocals were far better than the original. In total honesty though, I do prefer the music of Coldplay's version.
I was sad to see that "Your Love" got cut, as that is my 2nd favorite song of Jackie's. But I'm happy that "Nessun Dorma" stayed, and having it as the conclusion to the 1st set is perfect. As she introduced it, she said that she loves to sing it because she loves seeing our reactions to it. She definitely seemed more at ease than ever, speaking to the crowd. She talked more than ever before & joked around.
The 2nd half saw the new song "Think About Me" (not Think of Me). It is more on the pop side, but earlier, she emphasized that she is not totally abandoning the classical crossover style. An irrelevant thing about this song is that on the big screen behind her, part of the video was driving through downtown Dallas at night. It was in the Dallas area where I saw Jackie for my 1st concert. Peter also had a new instrumental piece.
Then, the famous medley, singing snippets of 6 songs, walking through her journey. It was just Peter's piano playing & Jackie's voice, and she would talk about each song before singing the snippet. It was so beautiful & moving. And Jackie then just continued to sing more & more songs. I was blown away at how long she was going, well over 2 hours. That is something that you can't do when you hire an orchestra or orchestra members for 2 hours. With it just her & Peter on stage, they can go as long as they want. Most of us would have been alright with a couple more hours.
When she sang "The Lord's Prayer", I thought that maybe they wouldn't even do an encore, since that is usually her encore song. If the lights come up after she walks off stage, then everyone understands there won't be an encore, and the cheers will die down. I have been to many concerts where they don't do encores. But the lights stayed down, and we kept cheering loudly. She came back out, having shed the shoes, and with a little furball following her out onto the stage. I guess Maggie wanted to sing a duet with Jackie. Jackie carried Maggie off the stage, then came back out to sing "All I Ask of You". I was so happy to get to hear that song. I have heard her sing the other 3 Phantom songs in person, but never this one.
The venue might not have been perfect for sound, and the lobby area was tiny, but it was a very charming & beautiful old theater. I really enjoy these kind of theaters. And St Charles downtown was also very charming. I enjoyed walking around the town, and a few of us found a nice restaurant to eat at before the concert. I ran into a couple fans by the theater around 1:30, as I was passing by on my way to my hotel, which was a very top notch Quality Inn & Suites, one of the best mid-scale hotels I've ever stayed at. I loved staying only 1 mile from the venue, as I usually stay further away. A few of us gathered together to talk about the great night after the concert as well, and ended up going to sleep way too late.
...The concert began with "Pure Imagination". I love that this song has made it's return, as it was also there for Milwaukee. Although it never was a standout song for me before, she did sing it as the first song at my first several concerts. That certainly elevated it's status for me. Hearing that song means it's time for an amazing night of music to begin...
This was very possibly intended as a tribute to the late, great Gene Wilder who of course originated it in Willy Wonka.
...The concert began with "Pure Imagination". I love that this song has made it's return, as it was also there for Milwaukee. Although it never was a standout song for me before, she did sing it as the first song at my first several concerts. That certainly elevated it's status for me. Hearing that song means it's time for an amazing night of music to begin...
This was very possibly intended as a tribute to the late, great Gene Wilder who of course originated it in Willy Wonka.
Yes. RIP Gene. Maybe Jackie should say a few words before or after the song to acknowledge him. She's already experiencing deaths of acquaintances & colleagues (M Ali, Natalie Cole, etc).
My apologies for taking so long to post this review. I thought I would have composed and posted it Friday morning after St Charles and before Merrillville. Alas, the real world logistics would not allow it.
Thursday evening, ANY Thursday evening during the school year seemed to me to be an odd choice for Jackie's first concert since Milwaukee on Sunday the 24th of July. But what do I know of the mysteries of The Team.
I had planned to attend the Merrillville, Indiana concert on Friday and forego St Charles on Thursday because I'm a working guy. Friday night's concert would have required only a few hours early off work and no motel expenses. When I told my boss, on the second week of my new job that I wanted to leave early Friday he said "we'll see." I held my thoughts. That was Monday morning. Monday evening Jackie posted that St Charles would inaugurate a new show with new songs. Tuesday morning I informed the boss that I would not be in at all, Thursday or Friday. Lol I know how to prioritize.
St Charles is a pleasant, one hundred year old community on a little river about 35 miles West of Chicago proper. I'm sure the river has a name but it's not the Mississippi so I didn't ask. Again, priorities.
The Arcadia Theater, which the local MC, who gave a short spiel before the show, pronounced Ar cah dia, is a small venue which to my experience suits Jackie very well. Others have posted the exact seat count but it wasn't as small as the 400 seat venue in Lancaster Kentucky that just blew me away because Jackie's sound man could dial back the extraneous sounds, extraneous being any sound that doesn't come from JME.
Jackie opened with Pure Imagination which doesn't make my top five Jackie favorites, which, through extreme discipline and ruthless culling, I have reduced to 37 songs by count.
Made to Dream came next and is a great Jackie song in the 'dream' theme that colored/colors Jackie's career so far. It was well sung (naturally) but the bass was more than a bit overpowering. Jackie's sound man dropped the ball on selecting levels for much of the first half of the show. Of course like most of the statements in this review, it is my opinion, but I'm fairly sure other attendees would agree that the bass on the backing track was too loud. Still, Jackie's voice came through, so I guess he got that essential part right.
All of My Memories was regular Jackie, meaning delightful to the ears. My notes, taken in the low light, mention Jackie still having a nervous giggle in her stage patter and often her first spoken word or two sounds very girlish and not what one might expect coming from an artist who just sang so professionally. Just mentioning some disconnect I've experienced several times at Jackie concerts.
Music of the Night was next. Jackie noted in her intro that "MOTN is not one of my favorites from POTO but I know my fans like it." I would have thought she liked the drama of that piece. She certainly seems to get into it in concert. My notes say "She held up well over backing track." So the bass was still cranked too high for my sensibilities.
The four songs above comprised the first part of the first half of the concert. Jackie left the stage to Peter K. He told us of the time he journeyed to Prague, Czechoslovakia to record with (and perhaps conduct?) the orchestra there for a recording for a backing track for his East Village Opera Company. He told us about wandering Prague and finding a small opera house where W A Mozart debuted an opera two hundred thirty years ago. My short notes don't tell me if he said it was The Marriage of Figaro or another. I WAS there to enjoy a concert also. Lol PK performed a somewhat jazzes up version of the overture from Marriage. He was very into it and it was well received by the audience. But of course the paying audience was there to hear Jackie sing.
After PK's interlude Jackie was welcomed back on stage. We were in for a treat, Jackie' first "new" song. It was her cover of Cold Play's Fix You. I am so unfamiliar with Cold Play and their song Fix You, that I can't bring the melody or lyrics to memory as I write this. But I can say the song was definitely pretty and melodic as Jackie sang it. I also recall thinking at the time that The Team (or maybe just Jackie, or Jackie and PK. Who knows?) had made a great choice for a song for Jackie to cover. This is the sort of song that can attract notice of a younger demographic that Jackie will do well to be discovered by. I enjoyed Fix You and the audience did too. Lol I'm sorry but that's all my memory can conjure up. I have the feeling we'll soon have a video of Jackie's Fix You from St Charles. The video police were eating donuts most of the night at St Charles, unlike the vigilant crew at Merrillville. Even with my Swiss cheese memory I give Fix You two thumbs up. Oh, I remember PK sang a good unobtrusive vocal back-up in falsetto. Wtg PK. The man IS a musician.
The sound man toned down his settings by the time Jackie returned from her first break. Fix You and all the following songs were well balanced sound wise.
Impossible Dream was next. I didn't note Jackie's patter but remember she said something on the order of when I was singing at any gathering that wanted a singer I wanted to be here in the spotlight. That seemed like an impossible dream to me in those days. Hey! I ain't no stenographer! Gimme a break. Lol
Impossible dream was very well presented with PK playing piano softly for the intro. The sound man got it together, the backing tracks were featured less in the arrangements and Jackie was hitting her stride. This concert was getting good. Impossible dream was Impossible Dream as Jackie can sing it.
What a Wonderful World was next. She said it sounded good back in the day when her and her dad sang it in the car. Another regularly sung concert presentation not in my top five Jackie tunes but Jackie's voice carried the song.
Nessum Dorma next. Definitely in my top five list but the sound man backslid into his wayward ways and Puccini's prominent bass line was pushing the speakers and my patience. The magnificent aria and Jackie's voice, which DID come through in all the overly loud bass lines I complain about, once again carried the day. To the sound man's credit he had Jackie's levels nailed throughout the concert. Jackie ended the aria with her now signature octave higher final O vincero. Standing O for Jackie.
INTERMISSION
Jackie returned after intermission wearing a dazzling white, sequined, form fitting, definitely not poofy dress. It was long sleeved and an open collar up to the neck as high as a T-shirt would be. The skirt length made up for all the extra material used in the high neck and long sleeves. They ran out of either cloth or sequines about six inches above Jackie's knees. I think it is the shortest dress Jackie has worn on stage to far. It was the sort of dress a star would wear. Jackie wore it well. There were audible oohs and ahhs scattered throughout the audience. We've all seen pictures by now but a more timely posted review would be remiss without describing the dress Jackie wore in the second half. And Jackie wore high heels. I mean HIGH heels. Lol more to come on the heels. Lol
Take Me There was the first song of the second half. It is classic Jackie for us fans. The backing tracks were at proper levels. All was well with the world.
Next was a truly new song that Jackie noted she did not write. Think About Love. Once again I can't recall the tune or lyrics of this new song but my notes tell me it was upbeat (Hooray!) and I felt the song has potential for wider appeal. I know that's not a lot of help. If I could recall the melody and lyrics you wouldn't want me to sing it for you anyway. Maybe there's a fan recording from the concert.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow was next. Jackie sang it to me personally, but I'm generous to a fault and didn't mind that the rest of the audience eavesdropped. I'm not sure if Jackie has ever discussed SOTR specifically but she seems to have a feeling for that song that bring forth her best effort. Just lovely.
Jackie left the stage for her second half break. PK played Mambo from West Side Story.
Jackie returns to the stage for her final set. She says if she's walking funny it's because her feet hurt from the high heels. Did I mention they were HIGH heels? If not, consider it mentioned now. Those were some HIGH heels. Several in the audience shouted "Take them off." Jackie laughed and said she couldn't reach the mic without them. It was a nice moment of spontaneous interaction.
Now we are in for a great modification of Jackie's show.
While Jackie didn't specifically use the word medley, that's what we were in for. Jackie began by telling us she has been thinking about her life as it has been over the last six years and of the songs she has sung.
PK softly played the familiar intro to OMBC. Jackie got out only a few notes when the audience gave her a recognition applause. As she hit an intense part later in the song the audience again applauded in appreciation even though everyone knew the song wasn't over. It was a shortened version about the length Jackie sang on AGT.
Time to Say Goodby/Con Te Partiro was next in the medley. My notes say Sweet! She still got it!
Think of Me next, and again there was applause during the song.
Somewhere, from West Side Story and Jackie's Cobbled together, but very well cobbled, "duet" with B Streisand. It was so pretty. I'm a sucker for melody and apparently so was the audience. My notes say: Exquisite! Fabulous!
When You Wish Upon a Star. Never sung better by any Disney princess.
And finally in the medley, A Mother's Prayer. PK played softly while Jackie sometimes took the high side and some times the low side. Very well done by the two of them.
Each song in the medley was well appreciated by the audience and this Jackie fan. It was excellent to hear Jackie's songs only slightly shortened. That is what most paying customers who aren't necessarily avid fans want from a Jackie show. The selection was well thought out and a medley is great strategy for a Jackie show.
I must end this review for tonight. I will finish tomorrow. I didn't realize how long it would be. I'm getting stupid tired. Lots of fun to come in the rest of my report.
Back to the St Charles Illinois concert review which was interrupted by sleep deprivation.
Writing on the Wall followed the well received medley. Again, PK unobtrusively sang back up to Jackie's lead. Jackie's video played on the big screen as she sang. Rick Olsen doesn't like the big screen behind Jackie and neither do I. More on the big screen later.
Safe and Sound next. Jackie sang it as Jackie sings, beautifully. Again PK contributed back up vocals as well as his piano accompaniment. Again Jackie's video played overhead. That video. I'll have to post at Amz to give my opinion of it and how I feel Jackie is being ill served in her video offerings so far. The short sanitized version of my fault-finding is not having an acting coach and an advisor with some credentials in specific skill sets that Jackie is asked to portray. Still, it was Jackie singing. It was live.
Lovers was next along with the loud bass issues on the backing track. The bass volume was particularly noticeable since most of the songs in the second half were accompanied by PK's soft piano accompaniment and more or less appropriately subdued backing tracks. The song itself was wonderfully sung by Jackie as it has been every time I've heard it live. The audience loved it as an example of a song that many vocalist would not even attempt. Lovers showcases Jackie's voice and that's what the crowd is paying for. Great applause and a standing O.
Jackie made some thank you patter for PK who was given applause and for her sound man who she named but darned if I can remember. Then she added what was to my mind a spontaneous moment when she included in her thank you's "...and to God, because,[longish pause] well, He's my God." The 'well He's my God' part was said like a teen girl who found the right words at the moment. It WAS most likely scripted, but my gut tells me Jackie said it originally and spontaneously in the planning session and it was voted in as suitable for the show. On the other hand my gut often tells me in the middle of a good night's sleep, that my fat cells are crying out for sustenance, and leftovers are required to gather strength for the remainder of the night. So it's 50/50 at best (being generous here) for my gut feelings. The song following that patter was The Lord's Prayer which caught me off guard because TLP is usually Jackie's encore song. Methinks Jackie may have misread the set list which was taped to the floor in front of the mic stand.
Here is where I'll deliver on my promise (threat?) to comment on the big screen that RO and I dislike. During TLP the big screen showed the hokeyest possible Christian images. Stained glass windows, little lambs and best of all, White Jesus. White Jesus was so handsome with his near Nordic, European features. His straight light brown hair with just a hint of red framed his perfect eyebrows over his blue eyes with their upturned toward Heaven gaze. And I don't want to hear any of you Heathens claim "those eyebrows are obviously plucked." White Jesus has a touch of rose in his cheeks and his neatly trimmed, modified Van Dyke completed his portrait. Yes Jackie fans, White Jesus must have been a sight among the Hebrew Children of Israel during the reign of Pontius Pilot, the Roman appointed governor of Judea. I better get a Halleujah for such a well thought out montage on the big screen. Well done, whomever done it.
In any case the song was sung beautifully (I know, Ho hum) and Jackie exited the stage to loud applause. But no one was fooled. We kept applauding and sure enough, Jackie and PK returned.
Only this time Jackie had shed those HIGH heels. Everyone noticed and even Jackie had a barefoot giggle for us. As Jackie was still smiling about her unshod condition and was about to intro the song she was joined on stage by a surprise guest star, Maggie! (Her best baby.) Everyone was delighted as Jackie turned, walked a few steps, scooped her pooch into her arms and returned to the mic. Maggie was content in Jackie's arms and surveyed the audience with utter indifference. Jackie laughed and spoke a bit then walked back offstage with Maggie saying "I'll be back." The audience was laughing and in an elevated mood from the on stage developments.
Jackie sang All I Ask of You. Did she blow it on stage? Was she off key? Did she sing flat? Well I'm not going to tell you! As my little contribution to our efforts to put a few more patrons in the seats I'll leave you wondering. If you want to hear Jackie sing flat you'll have to go see her yourself.
Jackie exited the stage for the last time at St Charles to a big standing O. She had given the crowd what they came for, what they paid for,: a charming, pretty, teen singing beautiful songs with her beautiful voice. People left happy. They had been entertained.
Here is a great series of about 30 good quality pictures from JE Fans Hispanoamerica (FB), no photographer name given. Best pictures start about halfway through this larger album (may have to be signed on to view):
msims: www.youtube.com/watch?v=irK-SGUZeSM Rick would like this. A World Silver Medal Winner Skating to Jackie's Nella Fantasia last week
Mar 24, 2024 18:43:32 GMT -5
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rickolsen: New Header. Do you like it?
Mar 24, 2024 19:22:41 GMT -5
lawrence: rickallanolsen has taken to disparaging Jackie on her YouTube videos......"Smoking Gun" and her recent upload of Set Me Free. What's up with that, Rick?
Mar 25, 2024 15:56:41 GMT -5
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rickolsen: If my comments were disparaging I apologize. To me her classical crossover voice was much better than her pop voice and so were the songs. Beginning with her album The Debut when she switched to pop I haven't purchased anything she's put out.
Mar 26, 2024 6:25:53 GMT -5
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hiturbine: I'm really tempted to say something about this ongoing nonsense, but I'll hold my peace - for now
Apr 2, 2024 20:23:44 GMT -5
Willyiam: Admin: Why was Other Artists deleted without first asking for the member's approval?? And, why now? Other Artists has been a part of this forum for years!! I strongly disapprove!
Apr 6, 2024 10:26:29 GMT -5
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rickolsen: I have rethunk my decision. Other Artists is back.
Apr 10, 2024 13:18:58 GMT -5
lawrence: Rick's comment on Jackie's Smoking Gun video...."Jackie's competition has never been promoted on my forum". What is the objective of re-establishing Other Artists on the board?
Apr 10, 2024 18:10:12 GMT -5
hiturbine: OK, I am going to chime in here: I do not understand the OTT reaction to having a folder for "Other Artists." This forum has FOURTEEN folders dedicated to Jackie - and ONE for "Other Artists." So, how about calming down, and quit with the drama?
Apr 10, 2024 19:08:05 GMT -5
rlhamil: ...that's as of October 1, 2023, the most recent snapshot on the Wayback Machine (archive.org)
Apr 10, 2024 23:29:48 GMT -5
rickolsen: Stormy caught a mouse in the dining room. He was batting it around and it got away and ran into the kitchen and disappeared. He's killed 3 mice in the last month. This makes 4, but it got away. I didn't know there are so many mice.
Apr 12, 2024 23:45:29 GMT -5
rickolsen: The mouse is dead. I found it on the kitchen floor. He never eats them. I found the last one on my desk.
Apr 13, 2024 0:15:01 GMT -5
ghost: Jackie's new EP "Solla" will be released on May 3rd. Pre-Order here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1548R6P
Apr 15, 2024 17:22:48 GMT -5
rlhamil: Zach's 22nd birthday today (18 April) if my info is correct.
Apr 17, 2024 23:20:43 GMT -5
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rickolsen: Found another dead mouse today. This makes five. I hope there aren't anymore.
Apr 19, 2024 7:26:28 GMT -5
rickolsen: Just saw Stormy chasing another mouse. That makes six. It'll be dead soon.
Apr 23, 2024 2:10:16 GMT -5
msims: I wonder if this is true (unconfirmed) www.datalounge.com/thread/34268979-whet-charlotte-church- "She (Charlotte Church) and Jackie Evancho are in the studio now recording the flower duet from Lakme for release later this year"
Apr 26, 2024 22:12:33 GMT -5