Why Vegas can't wait for Celine to return!

[wjd]

Cher’s Vegas finale felt rote and rushed to Steve Friess.

Photo: James Glader

 

Prediction! Someday soon, Cher will be on a red carpet or on Piers Morgan’s show and someone will ask about her recently ended run at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Cher’s response will be some variation not of nostalgia, pride or gratitude but of snarky relief that it’s over and a disclosure about what a bear that gig was.

 

How do I know? Well, I don’t, but at Cher’s finale on Saturday I had the sense that she could not be out of there fast enough. There was absolutely no emotion, no sense that this was a special occasion, no affection offered for the city and resort that had just deposited serious coin in her overflowing piggy bank. Heck, she didn’t even say goodbye when it was all over, instead high-fiving some band member and then disappearing out the back door of the Colosseum stage. She seemed so disengaged, in fact, that she didn’t even grab a sailor’s hat from the audience to cavort with in her penultimate number, “If I Could Turn Back Time.” For those unschooled in The Cher, that would be like the pope forgetting communion.

 

She’s not the first to depart the Colosseum with more shrug than ceremony. Months before Elton John ended The Red Piano in 2008, he was on Larry King Live letting slip how bored he was. Said Sir Elton to Lar: “Then I’ll be at Caesars Palace in Vegas where I do a 90-minute show and halfway through I’ll be like, ‘When is this over?’”

 

And, of course, Bette Midler told the Daily Telegraph of London in November she regarded the latter stages of her Vegas tenure as akin to being on the Titanic. That all but confirmed what I wrote in this space after The Showgirl Must Go On ended, that it seemed like an unhappy residency. Bette crazies vivisected me for that, as I’ve no doubt the Cher cuckoos will this week. Bring it on.

 

But why? Why is the most prestigious gig west of Manhattan such an exhausting bummer to these folks? It should be an honor to perform at the Colosseum, a gorgeous 4,000-seat showroom outfitted with the world’s most advanced stage technology not designed by Cirque du Soleil.

Can you imagine Bette or Elton whining about what a drag it was to perform at Carnegie Hall or Wembley? Those cities and the audiences who paid to see them would be aghast. Yet every night of her tenure, Bette only half-jokingly noted the vastness of the stage and how tiring it was to traverse. I’ve no clue why Elton was so worn out, seeing how he almost never stood up from the piano bench.

 

All of this makes me ever so much more grateful that Queen Celine re-ascends for a second run next month. Do you remember her farewell when ...A New Day closed in 2007? It was marked by star-studded audiences and bouquets of roses and lots and lots of tears. She was genuinely sad and cognizant that an era of her life was ending. It mattered to her.

 

Contrast that to Saturday night. After Cher walked out, the screen came down. The crowd, some expecting a moment that hadn’t yet taken place, roared for one more last-night-ever curtain call. Instead, after a few tantalizing minutes, the house lights came up. So devoted and appreciative were members of this demanding audience that they continued to stomp and scream for another 10 minutes or so. No luck; Cher was probably already seated at Guy Savoy by the time her wretches realized they would leave unacknowledged.

 

Celine would never have done that. Many of us didn’t credit her for what it took to do what she did at the Colosseum in her first run because (a) she was first and ( she made it all look so easy.

 

This time, I hope we appreciate her. Lord knows, unlike her successors, she certainly appreciates us.

 

http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2011/fe...ne-dion-return/

[TommKat22]

Aww, that's really sweet of the author! I liked this article! Thanks for sharing!

[alvick53]

FINALLY! Someone in the media who recognizes Celine for who she is and all that she does to please herself and her fans! Great Article

[PatrickDion22]

Haha, I saw this on my Google News feed. He doesn't paint Bette, Elton, or Cher in a very good way, but they obviously don't have the continued popularity Celine has. In their defense, the global economic crisis didn't get into full swing until after Celine left, but that still doesn't account for all the lost revenue. The author is right, though: Las Vegas needs Celine. Celine does not need Las Vegas. Edited February 10, 2011 at 04:59 AM by PatrickDion22

[Celinefanatic07]

WOOOOHOOOOO on that author!!

 

ANOTHER reason why Celine is the most beloved performer in the world!!!

[zuv]

I like the article (of course)

 

But lets not forget that Celine is also an "actress"... on stage. She also have a reputation to keep. I'm sure it was tough and sometimes boring to hell.

She has a lot of respect for her fans, which kept her smiling night after night after night.

She even said it: a lot of people come to show just because they happen to be in Vegas. The crowd is different.

I (myself) have seen people sleeping and some leaving during the show while i was in awe in front of her.

I understand Elton, bette and cher.

Although, Celine never acted like that and never will. She's thankful for the things she got and when she starts something, she will do it completely and in the best away that she can.

Even if it means to wear a mask on certain nights.

 

She will "torture" herself for another 3 years to have a stability with her family and to perform for her biggest fans, no matter how many there really are in the colloseum.

 

love her

Edited February 10, 2011 at 08:49 AM by zuv

[smash]

I'm sorry, but for those three to behave and say the things they did, is so rude, and they dont appreciate their fans at all. They are a bunch of has beens, sorry, thats just my opinion. The world is still struggeling, maybe not as much as a couple of years ago, but our Celines shows are going to be sell outs. Thousands i am sure will be coming halfway around the world and going through a lot of expence to see Celine. I know its going to cost me a LOT of money, with our exchange rate. I'm coming from far, its looong flights, accomodation, front block seats if possible, most probably a 2nd show. But you know, i dont care, our Celine is soo worth every cent, every single cent. :in_love: We all love her to bits, and she will show her fans how much we all mean to her. Celine is in a completely differant league to that other lot, she is waay above them, in manners too. She is so special and precious.

[browseceline]

I like the article (of course)

 

But lets not forget that Celine is also an "actress"... on stage. She also have a reputation to keep. I'm sure it was tough and sometimes boring to hell.

She has a lot of respect for her fans, which kept her smiling night after night after night.

She even said it: a lot of people come to show just because they happen to be in Vegas. The crowd is different.

I (myself) have seen people sleeping and some leaving during the show while i was in awe in front of her.

I understand Elton, bette and cher.

Although, Celine never acted like that and never will. She's thankful for the things she got and when she starts something, she will do it completely and in the best away that she can.

Even if it means to wear a mask on certain nights.

 

She will "torture" herself for another 3 years to have a stability with her family and to perform for her biggest fans, no matter how many there really are in the colloseum.

 

love her

 

 

That is exactly how it is! Zuv I liked reading your opinion and clear view on this!

But you see it in the normal concerts too; I was supposed to go to the Let's talk about love tour in 1999 in Amsterdam, but due to circumstances, I could not go. A classmate of me , did go. She had a place somewhere in the back of the stadium. Next to her were two people that did not pay attention to the concert but were in fact having some businessmeeting! during her concert! I know it sounds crazy.. but when she began to sing and stand to sing along and swing along with celine they minded her to sit down and keep quiet.. excuse me she said???? I paid for this!

Same for some movies I saw from this tour in Amsterdam, I saw people who had places in the A-sections, on the field, next to the stage, and they looked like bored and not excited, no fans at all, and just got those expensive good places. Those people did not even deserve these places, they could have sit everywhere if they did not mind at all!

I think I, if I were an artist, I would not like to perform every evening to a mostly dull audience who does not seem to come esspecially for you, but just because they are in Vegas and you are one of the attractions they can visit.

I hope celine does not extend the vegas show longer than planned. I Hope to see her once more in Amsterdam, performing for a estatic crowd again!

Edited February 10, 2011 at 09:35 AM by browseceline

[duri]

I hope celine does not extend the vegas show longer than planned. I Hope to see her once more in Amsterdam, performing for a estatic crowd again!

I hope the same, that Céline´s news show will be for 3 years no more.

 

BTW article is very nice about Céline, and about others "Veags" artists ... well they had different feelings about Vegas, that´s all, and it must be really difficult sing so many evenings on same place and for people who are not always fans. Céline also mentioned taht problem during A new day, but afterall she really loves being in Vegas.

[nrcda88]

Thanks for sharing

Is it any wonder why we love this lady so much?? Celine truly loves what she does and she loves her fans.

[celinemaniacaik]

I am in love wid dat author <3

So sweet of him/her!!!!!!!!

GO CELINE!!!!!!!!!!!

[ghazal]

wooooo....oooooooooWwww, so sweet thx for sharing

[celinefanonline]

and don't forget the stage was much tougher during AND. i know celine did say she felt like traped in colosseum in a way but she did really amazingly

unlike what other artists said during their run in colosseum.

and for the extention i don't really mind cause this time she's not doing like 200 shows a year now only around 70 so it's ok i think also she would have time for her children too and other projects! so yeah

 

i have to say it's not Vegas can't wait for Celine it's us the fans can't wait for Celine!!

[Xpresso]

That story is so true! Celine made it look so easy. But we know it was tough on her FOR SURE. But she always did it with a smile. She's a true professional.

 

And don't forget that Celine did twice as many performances in a year as any of the other three. But with her new show, she will do HALF the number of shows she did for A New Day... So for Celine this will be MUCH easier this time. She'll have more time for the kids or for extra projects!

[Sofie]

to the author! Really sweet article, I like it, but I'm sure performing in Vegas night after night can be so boring some times. And I feel bad for the Cher fans who travelled all over the world to see her on her final night and they got no emotions, nothing. Edited February 10, 2011 at 08:58 PM by Sofie

[riobeard11]

How weird that Cher just blew through the finale as if it was any other night.

 

And I mean, I understand they must get bored. But if performing is your passion, you shouldn't ever get bored - you should love it! I don't hear about people who have been performing on Broadway night after night complaining about how 'boring' it is. Every night is different no matter what the show is - we heard Michel say that every night is different in the AND DVD

Edited February 10, 2011 at 09:43 PM by riobeard11

[Dion1st]

Thanks for posting this article! I agree, it's so refreshing to read kind and positive remarks about Celine that seem genuinely honest. It's too bad that his wonderful acknowledgment of Celine's incredible success in Las Vegas come attached to an article dissing the other 3 performers. I know he is comparing the actions and attitudes of E.J., Cher and Bette M. against Celine's. But heck, there is NO COMPARISON... It just makes Celine the singer, Celine the person and Celine the human being shine ever more brightly! Here's hoping in the near future we will be reading some terrific articles solely about that beautiful skinny singer of ours!

 

Toni

[j411celine]

to the author! Really sweet article, I like it, but I'm sure performing in Vegas night after night can be so boring some times. And I feel bad for the Cher fans who travelled all over the world to see her on her final night and they got no emotions, nothing.

 

 

Yeah I thought that was weird as well. Maybe Cher should have don't less shows or something. Well, we all know that everyone can get bored at a job. Maybe she didn't change the show that much. I know Celine did for AND to so she wouldn't get bored.

 

I now Cher was on Letterman (Promoting Burlseque) saying something that there was a lot of older fans there and it was harder for the younger fans to get tix. I don't think Cher realizes she will have an older following because she is almost 65 years old! Maybe that was "boring" and depressing to her? Well, thats what I got out of that it.

[celine-rc]

So cute! Thanks for sharing. It's always fun to know that she's appreciated.

[luciusbright]

This is so true and sweet,so nice of the author

for a long time, we need this RIGHT attitude towards Celine!

And this article tells again why we love her!

Bravo!

[RLAAMJR.]

sigh.... sounds like Celine will never visit the Philippines

[celinefan5]

That was an amazing article! Thanks for posting!