Photo credit: Al Watson
Concert Review
Diana Ross
CMAC PAC
Canandaigua, NY
Wednesday June 18, 2014
Review: Joseph Suto
Every artist would like to go out on top of their game while some artists would like to remain in the spotlight for as long as they can. Diana Ross is doing a great job in trying to do the former as she made a stop at the Marvin Sands-Constellation Brands Performing Arts Center Wednesday evening. Ross proved to be in strong voice and the smile she had on her face for most of the show reaffirmed her love for still being able to perform for her adoring fans. The feeling was mutual because the minute Ross first appeared the crowd were on their feet.
Ross took the stage at promptly at 8:00 P.M. to the sounds of “I’m Coming Out”. By the time she was four songs into her ninety minute set she pulled off something you don’t see everyday as she dusted off some of her Supremes songs. These were not just your average songs, in fact all five reached the top of the charts. These were all certified number one smashes that began with “Come See About Me” and concluded with “Love Child”. In between “Baby Love”, “Stop! In The Name Of Love” and “You Can’t Hurry Love” did their best to take the crowd back to a simpler time.
Other highlights included “Touch Me In The Morning” and “Upside Down” the latter which was culled from her biggest selling studio record to date Diana which was released in 1980.
Incidentally “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was her first solo hit to reach number one and a song she holds dear to her was followed by the Gloria Gaynor cover “I Will Survive” which ended the main set.
She came back twice as the first encore featured the first single she released as a solo artist “Reach Out And Touch (Somebody’s Hand)”. Ross left the crowd with the biggest selling single of her solo career “Endless Love” before reprising a second time with “I Will Survive”.
Diana Ross clearly ranks as one of the greatest singers of our time, or any time for that matter. With over 100 million albums sold as well as being a part of nineteen number one hits those two facts alone clearly justify it. Ross is an icon who has received many accolades and deservedly so. Judging by the crowd’s response Wednesday evening it appears she’ll be wowing more audiences as she eases on down the road.
Set List
I’m Coming Out
More Today Than Yesterday (Spiral Staircase cover)
Supremes Set
My World Is Empty Without You
Come See About Me
Baby Love
Stop! In The Name Of Love
You Can’t Hurry Love
Love Child
The Boss
Touch Me In The Morning
Upside Down
Love Hangover/Take Me Higher/ Ease On Down The Road
Don’t Explain
Why Do Fools Fall In Love (Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers cover)
Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know You’re Going To)
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor cover)
Encore
Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)
I Will Survive (Reprise)
Encore 2
Endless Love
I Will Survive (Reprise)
Special thanks to Lynn Freida for assisting us in reviewing the show
