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Lyon
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Véro in concert
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Une
Nuit
de Fourvière Véronique Sanson live in Lyon, 14th July 1999 Three years after her previous visit to Lyon's Roman amphitheathre, Véro had returned - but she was to have company before and after. At 20h20 Clarika opened the show; an intent artist who has the backing of a strong band: for sure, she's going to be hard to get rid of! And of course, Lyon was jam-packed for the French Bastille Day firework display... appropriately held off until Véro had finished the encore of her "midsummer night's dream". The "theatre antique" in Lyon has a capacity for about 4000 honoured Véro fan's at a time, from where there is no better way to see a live show. The setting is picturesque and captivating even before being endowed with "Les Nuits de Fourvière" treatment from the "Conseil Général du Rhône". But on first seeing the especially constructed stage gracing the scene, one word comes to everyone's lips: "Wow"! It had an enormous staggered and towering sloping roof, deep, awe-inspiring and indestructible! At around 21h30, Véro's band hit the stage, and quickly made it apparent that the theatre's top artist was happening... there was no doubt! Véro waves to an audience agog "Il n'y a pas de doute", newly plaited hair, and sporting a summer waistcoat, trainers and familiar tight leather trousers. Any early technical problems were more than swamped by that unfathomable staged presence and wall of sound. Véro had arrived! But who was that to her left? Dawayne, her guitarist had revived his "Private Parts" look... short and neatly cropped hair... France was hot that night! Not one to trust his guitar strap, the DB sustain trick is now a favourite site in any Véro concert! Sometimes there were doubts about the mix... albeit a very worthy Lee Sklar was indeed the solid anchorman, poor old Dawayne was being swamped by Lee's base line. But Dawayne had a microphone to compensate... so was he really singing in French? ($1m question!). The pace was settling, with the familiar sounds of "Mariavah", "Toi et Moi" and "Vancouver" from the 1993/4 tours. The latter gave the vocally enthusiastic crowd their first opportunity to exercise their hidden talents, and give the well known "rires and the bravos". Vocal participation continued strongly especially during "Bahia" and "Panne de Coeur" among the familiar 90s live selections: "Sans Regrets", "Marie", "Bernard's song", and two nice surprises: "Celui qui n'essai pas" and "Feminin". There was a surprise for Véro too: accidently knocking over her stool, she played the piano half standing up for a few embarrasing moments! But Véro was looking relaxed, and visibly enjoying her evening... and pulled off yet another emotion packed rendition of "Seras-tu là"... almost studio perfect! Up the tempo, the band sprang back into life with "Un être idéal" and "Rien que du l'eau". Then Véro was gone :-( ! Well, not for long... she had found herself a guitar, and gave it a whirl to "On m'attend là-bas", and couldn't resist a nice little flirt with Dawayne and Lee, guitars in full swing. Applause (lots of it), and the band waved goodbye. But Véro of course had to keep two more up her sleeve for the inevitable "encore une" chant! "Quelques mots d'amour" and "Je me suis tellement manquée" gave an emotional farewell to this warm summer night, and a taster of the "butterfly to a star" Michel Berger theme for Véro's new album this autumn. Then came a wonderful sight... the air was filled with cries, cheers, and cushions! They were everywhere... a giant confetti show kindly sponsored by Fnac! Visibly impressed, Véro came back, towel already around her neck for a final wave of appreciation before the first fireworks lit up the night sky. Véro had come and given her all, and she'll be back! (Please book your Olympia 2000 tickets early! Remaining places are already very limited!) |
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Revised: July 01, 2002. |