An intimate, less energetic Estefan

By A.D. Amorosi FOR THE INQUIRER
Posted: September 13, 2004

Maybe her famously injured back bothered her. Maybe she was too choked up to do the conga. Maybe words really did get in the way. But for someone whose sound is usually so grand, heated and generous, Gloria Estefan - the iconic Cuban-American songstress who put Latin pop on the charts before J. was Lo - seemed a cool presence during Friday's "farewell" tour stop at the Wachovia Center.

Certainly, she connected with her audience. Between her acoustic rendering of the traditional "Cuando Sali de Cuba" and '80s heartbreak ballads like the samba shuffling "Words Get in the Way," she spoke to the audience with quirky humor and genuine warmth, as if each member were an old friend.

Yet, there seemed to be more intimacy in her conversations than in her rendering of rote hits like "1-2-3," the Vegasy schmaltz of "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You," or her usually disco-diva-licious "Everlasting Love."

Though it's been 14 years since her bad stage fall, Estefan seemed way too stiff, physically and vocally, barely dancing with her partners. Wearing frumpy, white-lace tops and an unfortunate pair of spangled red bell bottoms, she seemed too calm - almost yawning - as the eye of a storm that included a dozen-plus dancers, 18 musicians and elaborate street scenarios whirling around her.

That said, when she was on, Estefan was committed. Though her smooth, clarion voice cracked during sappy ballads, you felt a passion. And while it was amazing to hear the large-scale Miami Sound Machine's brass, reeds and percussion take on a hockey arena for the steamy salsa medley of "Mi Tierra" and "Oye Mi Canto," she was equally exemplary as their singer. By the finale, with Estefan in black-feathered flamenco-wear, the rhythm had finally got her, in, you know, a good way.

Index by Keyword
|
Index by Date
|
About Philly.com
|
Contact Us
|
Terms of Use & Privacy Statement
|
Copyright 2013