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THE EUROPEAN TOUR 1998
REVIEW
Review By Kim Leow - Paris, France, 6 July 1998
Paris July 6th 1998 was the first time I saw Whitney
Houston in concert.
I had traveled from Melbourne, Australia to see her and Whitney was going to make sure it
was an evening I would not forget.
The capacity crowd at Bercy were energetically roaring for Whitney as the time approached
for her appearance. We did wave upon wave around the stadium.(Sorry Manchester, but your
efforts were pathetic compared to the French.)
When the lights dimmed and a video montage of Whitney was played, (right on time, the Diva
did not keep us waiting to exhale), I knew it was going to be magical. Whitney was
gorgeous in a golden, shimmering gown that had the sexiest and longest split I had seen
her wear. She sure kept the fans on the floor on fire whenever she kicked up her heels!
Her rendition of I'm Every Woman had everyone on the floor and all the Fan Club members up
on the balcony dancing and clapping. Most of the audience in the balcony stayed seated
throughout her show though.
Whitney performed the same set list but her improvisations on every song, which makes her
so great as a live artist, made every song fresh and so much more emotional and soulful.
When she sang All the Man that I Need and followed it on with a heart breaking testimony
about love, I really felt for her. If that song didn't break Bobby Brown's heart, it sure
broke mine. As in her other shows, Whitney talked about what she had been doing since
being in Paris last- re: her movies and BK. Everyone roared their approval after every
sentence.
Whitney graciously thanked the crowd in French- merci, merci and she liberally said
j'taime Paris throughout that evening too to much approval. Whitney was certainly very
warm, happy and professional that evening. Her voice gave hints of problems she had to
cope with in Italy the previous week - it wasn't as smooth or clear as it can sound, but
the power, emotion and delivery she put into her songs was unbelievable. She tackled every
high note and every low note with so much power, and sustained so many notes that night
(just like we love), that I was really worried that she would exhaust herself.
Her version of Endless Love is truly the best I've every heard. Whitney did a great job
introducing her band- no boring introductions tonight. Whitney ad-libbed and improvised
along with most members of the band. (a treat the Manchester crowd did not enjoy) Whitney
gave the French another reason to applause when she wished them well in the World Cup-
well, as we can see, she certainly had her fairy wand that night with her! Whitney closed
her show with Step by Step, with Bobby Brown watching from off-stage. She left the crowd
wanting more and hopefully it won't be too long before she's back with a new album.
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© 1999 Manish
www.classicwhitney.com
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