WOW, what a night last night!
First, it was so much fun having dinner and meeting with the forum members prior to the show. I had an especially nice time chatting with Stan and Brenda, and Susan and Phillip - Heather is just too cute! Lucy I hope you had a safe drive back to Pensacola!
I am so glad I'll be going to the Nashville show as I think a 2nd viewing is certainly required to take it all in, but here's at least what my mind can process from last night.
I thought the crowd in Bham was much more animated this year than last, and I made sure to whoop and holler' with the best of them...I think much to the chagrin of the guy sitting in front of me who I think was a little annoyed at first....clearly his problem and not mine!
Mairead - Oh Mairead, Mairead, Mairead - this is truly one awe inspiring performer and artist. When you think she can't possibly get any better than how absolutely superbly amazing she already is, then she pulls out a performance like Coasts of Galicia!!! I was literally hanging on the end of my seat. I thought I would burst from excitement and anticipation with each rise and fall, each twirl and jump. It was, hands down, my absolute favorite performance of the night. She without a doubt brings joy into my soul with her music.
Lisa - is it possible for this lady to disappoint - absolutely not! Lisa Kelly was The Voice, she IS The Voice, she will always BE The Voice! The entire concert hall filled with her presence on this song, I imagine if a heavenly being were to send us people down below a message of song it would be this and it would come in Lisa's voice. In addition, I am positively in love with the arrangement of Fields of Gold and Lisa's singing of it. That is surely one I cannot wait to hear again.
Chloe - Everyone has talked of how Chloe's voice has matured and I just had to hear it for myself....and boy has it ever! The richness, the depth the breadth of it...this young lady only gets better and I would have to say her future solo CD(s) I await with great anticipation. Nella Fantasia, a song that took a little time to grow on me has done just that! Chloe's duet with Lynn on Last Rose of Summer could not have been better accompanied but such gorgeous lighting and the coordination of the green and red dresses, but who is looking at that when such beautiful sound is floating all around you
Lynn - Beauty, class and a voice of gold! I think like some I had this perception of Lynn as being somewhat shy and whether she is or not in person I don't know but I found her performance last night lively and genuine. Carolina Rua has long been a song I love and I though Lynn's flirty vibrant performance last night really brought the song alive. Incindentally, she was my mother's favorite voice last night.
Alex - Well, I hereby submit my application for membership on Team Alex. I was blown away by Alex, completely blown away. What an amazing voice! She simply must record an album, it would not make it to she shelves before it was in my hand. True Colors holds some significance for me representing some moments from my time back in college. I haven't listened to this song in several years and Alex brought it back to me in a most powerful and emotional way. I think we have much more wonderful music to come from this lady in the future!
Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears and Oh, America - Had I not been in public I surely would have cried, I was definitely rendered misty-eyed. My dad was teary as well after IOH thinking about his father coming here from Belfast and going through Ellis Island. Bravo on these songs, Bravo! Standing Ovations well deserved.
Danny Boy - seeing the performance on tv does no justice to hearing this live. Hands down the best rendition of Danny Boy - ever.
~Jenna
