The Stage

Here Come the Girls

Published Thursday 3 December 2009 at 12:00 by Matthew Hemley

“We are going to take you on a musical journey,” singer Anastacia tells us at the start of Here Come the Girls, a two-hour concert - or “musical extravaganza” as the producers prefer to call it - which also stars Lulu and Chaka Khan.

It’s a journey that begins with all three performing Chaka Khan’s I’m Every Woman, before launching into Anastacia’s One Day in Your Life and Lulu’s Independence. Immediately it’s clear that these women’s voices are as strong as they ever have been, with all three demonstrating tremendous vocal range and power. And despite having their own distinct sounds, their voices work exceptionally well together, though the trio’s interaction between numbers, where they attempt to have what we are made to believe is spontaneous chit chat, does seem somewhat staged and contrived.

The show features a medley of Motown songs, including numbers from the Supremes, before each singer tackles a number from other singers, including Lulu performing Duffy’s Mercy. However, the second act really gives the audience what it wants, with Anastacia belting out an electrifying performance of Left Outside Alone, and Lulu bringing the audience to its feet with her classic, Shout.

Less impressive, sadly, is Chaka Khan, who seems to stumble over her words and forget lyrics, and who, on the whole, appears to be enjoying herself far less than her fellow performers.

The show, clearly, is aimed at females, many of whom have turned up in large groups to let their hair down and have some fun, and who evidently like the karaoke vibe the show has going on. To be fair, it is a fun, lively show and one that is hard not to like. But sadly, the fact most of the songs performed belong to other stars currently riding high in the charts - such as Robbie Williams, Beyonce and Lady Gaga - only serves to highlight each of the women’s own limited back catalogue. And even though Anastacia, Lulu and Chaka Khan make other songs their own, their renditions can’t help but remind you there are people out there currently doing it better.