Dionne Warwick - Honoring Clive Davis

[turnupthemusic]

I just wanted to highlight for the Dionne fans on here that she performed two songs in honor of Clive Davis last night at Radio City Music Hall.

The first (here) was I'll Never Love This Way Again - I think it's possibly the best rendition of the song I've heard her perform in the last 17 years, with an excellent band performing backing her. Her velvety tone is back and she hits the high notes with ease - truly fantastic especially considering her 76 years of age.

The second (here) was That's What Friends are For, which was performed in the original key - something she has only done on a couple of occasions since 2013. That key really pushes her outside her comfortable vocal range now and so she did struggle with a couple of the high notes, but overall I think she sounded great. The song itself sounds much better performed in that key, to me it's just not quite the same a couple of semitones lower.

[face]

Dionne is definitely enjoying a bit of a vocal Renaissance right now, and I love it! What do you think is going on? As much as I love her, I was ready to call for her retirement about 3 or 4 years ago, yet now she is kicking ass all over again! I'm not sure that "I'll Never Love This Way Again" is her best rendition in 17 years (she was hitting it hard routinely until at least 2005 or so), but this rendition is certainly remarkable, especially for her age. She always gives a little extra for Clive (see the rendition from the Arista 25 celebration with Barry Manilow in 2000). My only regret is that the band came in early at the end, instead of giving Dionne her usual space to show off uninterrupted! Dionne Warwick was truly born to sing.

I have to disagree with you about "That's What Friends Are For." I actually prefer it in the new key, because I have always been acutely uncomfortable when Dionne struggles for her notes. If I had my way, she would do it in D -- just between the original key and the new concert key. I think that would be the sweet spot. Of course, she does a good job here, but I'd rather her be comfortable so that her intonation is solid.

I'll add that the other Musical Matriarch on the program, Aretha, has not held up as well as Dionne. Even though I love them both, and time has certainly changed both of their voices in a sort of parallel fashion, Dionne's sound remains more pleasant and familiar than Aretha's to my ears. Dionne's touring might give her the edge, since her voice is literally never out of practice. I only wish that she got the same level of respect that Aretha does in the eye of the public, because she is every bit as deserving.

[turnupthemusic]

Dionne is definitely enjoying a bit of a vocal Renaissance right now, and I love it! What do you think is going on? As much as I love her, I was ready to call for her retirement about 3 or 4 years ago, yet now she is kicking ass all over again! I'm not sure that "I'll Never Love This Way Again" is her best rendition in 17 years (she was hitting it hard routinely until at least 2005 or so), but this rendition is certainly remarkable, especially for her age. She always gives a little extra for Clive (see the rendition from the Arista 25 celebration with Barry Manilow in 2000). My only regret is that the band came in early at the end, instead of giving Dionne her usual space to show off uninterrupted! Dionne Warwick was truly born to sing.

I have to disagree with you about "That's What Friends Are For." I actually prefer it in the new key, because I have always been acutely uncomfortable when Dionne struggles for her notes. If I had my way, she would do it in D -- just between the original key and the new concert key. I think that would be the sweet spot. Of course, she does a good job here, but I'd rather her be comfortable so that her intonation is solid.

I'll add that the other Musical Matriarch on the program, Aretha, has not held up as well as Dionne. Even though I love them both, and time has certainly changed both of their voices in a sort of parallel fashion, Dionne's sound remains more pleasant and familiar than Aretha's to my ears. Dionne's touring might give her the edge, since her voice is literally never out of practice. I only wish that she got the same level of respect that Aretha does in the eye of the public, because she is every bit as deserving.

I am also so glad she's sounding so much better - I hope it is a result of her getting some more rest and maybe even she has quit smoking. She's been getting progressively better since around 2015, you only have to look at this performance 3 years ago to see the difference.

And yes, the band cutting in early was disappointing -this is something that always seems to happen when she isn't with her own band, see the Michael Jackson concert she performed at in 2001, there's a couple of other examples around too. Nonetheless she still really went for it, and the audience loved it - she normally does that higher part of the belt in falsetto so it's really quite impressive.

I may have gotten a little carried away with the 17 years comment but I do believe it's one of the best she has done for a very long time - that velvety tone is finally back in her voice. I actually prefer it to the Arista 2000 performance in a lot of ways as her voice was a little nasal sounding around that time - it's a shame Barry Manilow didn't join her for this performance as he did in 1990 and 2000 as he was also performing at the same concert.

As for TWFAR - I agree, I don't enjoy Dionne straining for the notes, indeed I was hoping she'd be able to pull it off (and she still did hit some of those notes) still but it's outside her comfort zone now - more so than ever, but really it has been for a quite a long time. I totally agree with you about the key, I think if it was lower by just a semitone it'd sound far better - the key she uses in her concerts now drains the song of the energy it normally has in my opinion.

[face]

I listened to both songs again, and I agree that this was a defining night of Dionne's late career. This is the "Park West" of her 70s!

[turnofduty]

There is very pleasantly to find people who have the same passion. I greet you:)