A Day on the Green, Sirromet Wines, QLD
Sunday November 16, 2014 :
Shimmering onto the stage in a full length sheer black fishtail gown, it takes Mariah Carey almost four minutes of a big band introduction before she arrives on stage. She is curvaceous and resplendent in her gown she launches into ‘Fantasy’, one of her older crowd pleasing numbers. Despite any bad press that she has received of late, her voice is in fine form and she looks gorgeous. The big screens play a video of a Bond-like Mariah dancing sexily in Black and White imagery.
When you enter the world of Mariah Carey for an evening, she is entertaining, quirky and a little diva-ish. When she engages the crowd she does not speak, instead she sings what she wants to say, a rather quirky eccentric trait. If she’s not singing her message, she’s putting on a fake British accent adding to her allure and charm.
She begins the show in full force, sexy and sassy, her older numbers really taking off. ‘Emotions’ is where she hits the notes and that trademark whistle comes out in full force. It’s a spectacle that really must be heard at least once, demonstrating that amazing voice that made her famous.
During parts of the song that don’t require Mariah to sing, she wanders off stage allowing her dancers and back up singers to take over until she is ready to saunter back on. Her costume changes are the longest of any performer ranging from ten to fifteen minutes where she lets her band take over, entertaining the crowd. When she emerges she is stunning in each of the new form fitting gowns. There is an unnecessary amount of fluff in between with back up dancers and singers doing their best to fill the gaps, Mariah off stage a noticeable amount of time.
Towards the middle of the set she goes into a medley which she labels ‘The Cartright Medley’, which goes for twenty minuets and tends to fall flat and feels a little rushed. The songs are each just a small sample of her back catalogue, and to fit it all into the small space of time, it feels a little forced. Old film clips play on the screen with Mariah in a variety of sexy poses.
She manages to bring it back for ‘Heartbreaker’ to bring it home for a strong finish. ‘We Belong Together’ is sweet and cute with imagery of a sexy Mariah played on the screen. She knows how to move her body in a way to ensure all eyes are on her. She engages with her dancers and is all smiles, looking very sassy.
Whilst the rumours of her demise have been greatly exaggerated, Mariah Carey proved to her legion of adoring fans why her voice has made her millions. She is polished, professional and a true diva. With the lengthy costume changes and the wandering off stage however, there really is not enough Mariah Carey in a Mariah Carey show.
Reviewer and Photographer: Amanda Starkey
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