"Puttin' on the Ritz," and other jazzy favorites filled the dome with a happy, joyous rhythm. The arena was even a bit louder due to the fact that everyone's seats were different due to different ticket distribution. The search and discovery was evident as people prowled the aisles looking for friends and former row mates and found other friends.
Queens poured in from both sides of the stage in a cacophony of color and sparkled while the band played on....Renee Craig did a soft shoe and glowed at the audience.
First song up "Georgia, let's sing about Georgia, Welcome to the Coronet Club, Atlanta, Georgia Show..." "How we love to sing a song about Georgia" Even though the sound seemed to be down quite a bit, this stellar chorus put the sound across...the compliment number of over ninety with two quartets out front singing overlays....and even CHOREOGRAPHY....An octet joined the two quartets in front of the chorus and now we have four vocal lines it was raining overtones....! Ah, yes....
"Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through..." to a slow lazy tempo and
a dreamy voice. Tenor solo on the melody....a middle section that
reminds one of a big band swing sound but still to that lazy, slow, dreamy
tempo....amazing. A vamping tempo cranks this tune up for the
tag that runs MINOR and low, like a moaning trombone.....
"A way down south in Georgia....," a tag....next...and just the tag is enough to thrill the audience.
Emcee for the evening is Liz Hardcastle...comes out dressed as a Georgia Southern Belle, complete with a Southern Gentleman on her arm....she conveys good bye to the gentleman in a rather intimate and hot manner that get her waving her fan..."Who are you people and why am I here."
Scarlet O'Hardcastle claims to have a lot in common with Scarlet O'Hara...red hair, eighteen inch waists...."you're not buying this are you...?" "How would romance work in this dress?????....and a pause..."You can sir?.....she figures the man would have to have really long....arms...."
Classic Edition was the first Queen quartet to take center stage...A solo from the lead, joined by the tenor, then the baritone, and finally the bass...."Its Your Song, Lord." We Sing Your Song For You...Close chords that ring familiar of anthem and praise with a very upbeat tempo..."We love to lift our voices, Lord, cause every time we do, we're singing Your song, all the day long, singing Your song, for you" with a high, tight chord off a tenor post.
"Its Paris in 1891...." Sets the mood for the Phantom of the Opera...."You
were once my one companion, you were all that mattered, you were once a
friend and Father, then my world was shattered" A heartfelt ballad
from the soul of a daughter who misses her Father...lost, she seeks his
counsel only to hear the silent answer....very sad. "Wishing you
were somehow here again, wishing it were you and I, too many years fighting
back tears...Try to forgive, teach me to live, give me the strength to
try....no more memories,
no more silent tears,, no more gazing across the wasted years...help
me say good-bye...." So very touching.
"Do you hear the beat..." toe tappin' tempo of South Rampart Street
Parade...the parade is coming...great duet effect with lead and tenor...back
into full chords...great phrasing very rhythmic....and then the smooth
"everybody swing high, swing low..." and locking and ringing ....warm
bass solo counter melody highlighted....this group can rock it!
Weekend Edition came next...the Queen's from our 50th anniversary (their crowns are gold). "I Got the Music In Me...ain't got no trouble in my life, no foolish dreams to make me cry..." melody over a cool smooth bass rhythm line. "I Got the Music In Me.....I Got the Music In Me..." an infectious rhythm to this popular song. A bluesy lead line that delicately but just absolutely right...bent the tone like any great torch singer from New Orleans....wonderful.
What's it like to be a character? "Help...I'm turning into my
parents...." A roar of laughter from the audience....because this character
decides that instead of buying a new pair of skis, she wants to buy a new
washer and dryer....used to drink and smoke but now my body just say "nope..."
Perfect
timing and a great comedy tune.
"Is this just another song about love...a brokenhearted stories I've
heard...will this be another song of the love someone will loose, it will
if you say good bye...Why, oh why must we part...." Ballad well done
with
intelligent emotive plan...good management of louds and softs......."I'll
Love You Til the Day I Die."
"Sing with the Queens..." Audience participation...the audience learned a quick percussive line, some on down beats, some on up beats, and others clapping ....and these Queens sing with this rhythmic line the modern, "Give me some uh loving......"
Kay Paulson Jenson, of the Quarter Notes, came to the mike. She
shared the story of the Tune Twisters. She told of Marion's Girls
and of Pearl's favorite song...they were presented with flowers and the
Queens on stage rose to honor these two lovely ladies that have given so
much to Sweet Adelines since 1949...the Queen's and the audience sang to
the tune of Sweet Adelines..."Dear Marion and you dear Pearl...Happy Anniversary,
Sweet Adeline, Sweet Adeline....".....A wonderful tribute to these two
dear Sweet
Adelines....!
The Hallmarks, 1979 Queens, came to center stage. "I was blue as blue as blue could be, everyday was a cloudy day for me, then good luck came a knockin at my door, skies were gray, but their now gray any more...Now I got Blue Skies smilin' at me..." At the chorus, applause from an appreciative audience.
Melo - Edge (1983 Queens) Moments....MeloEdge announced that this performance would be their last and that they would be retiring as a quartet tonight. "We have been blessed with not only voices that blend together, but a friendship that spans a lifetime....we've stood up at each other's weddings...we are family...so Melo Edge will always be with you...forever...."
"Chicago, Chicago," this quartet still shimmers with their light electric sound. Buzzing overtones...."big CDs," LPs....available in the lobby...LOL.
It was a touching recollection that Melo Edge first competed in International together in Atlanta.
"Rings on your fingers and heartaches inside, you're the lonesomeest girl in town." This is the first time I've heard Melo Edge live and I am amazed at this electric, light, ringing sounds...this is what a thrill must sound like.
Jazz Baby....intro and the group gave one another high fives and congratulated themselves on the intro...great comedic timing. The song's tempo is swingy and jazzy and this group brings a new dimension to this song for this listener...like a light smooth jazz played high on a piano with trumpets. They were having a lot of fun on stage...tenor post and a high tight chord...well done....!
Contest songs came next, stacked in a medley....after thanking friends, family, and coach (Harmonetter) J. Gilliambardo for his twenty-one year tenure with this remarkable group.
Crazy Over Dixie, Who's Sorry Now, This Little Piggy Went to Market, We Love the Wild Applause, Good bye my good time Friends......the last chord of Melo Edge echoed the Dome and the audience jumped to their feet.
Four Star Collection (1997) entertained us with In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening. A rocking pace to this classic.
"Cool and Crazy..." scat dueting and close 40s chords..."Crazy bout
ya baby " very 40s with those crazy 40s chords...can almost hear the big
band in the background. Bass singer puts on like a real bass instrument
thumping in tempo and creates great contrast, tempo and a great foundation
for the crazy
cool rhythm.
A quick tribute to Ireland and all that this quartet brought back with them, in their hearts...with a little help of the big screens, personal photos from the quartet's collection were shared the strong emotional images of people, places, landscapes, bridges, the ocean, cliffs, flowers, children, cottages...while we enjoyed the Irish Lullabye, "Toura Toura Loura" the last photo of the quartet themselves with the lush, green, rolling landscape of Ireland behind them.
To the tune of La Bamba....La, la, la, lasagne.....a light, funny tune that many in the audience applauded in recognition and a favorite.
The Queen's chorus launched into Royal Garden Blues and many in the audience joined in on various parts.....the clapping section enthusiastic and driving with a new Renee tag..."I'm happy singing the low down blues."
Oh.....yeah......and the Dixieland band kicked in while the Queen's court left stage rocking and snapping their fingers to the band.
After a fifteen-minute intermission backed up with live Dixieland music, the Queens come back to center stage and take the risers.
"If you ask any long time Sweet Adeline who made the greatest musical impact...most say Renee Craig..." Renee, a little surprised, looks to us and shakes her tambourine and gets a laugh....She knows how to camp!
Arrangements by Renee...Bojangles with a lilting solo, rotating through
the available talent in this magnificent chorus, changing the color of
the vocal line as each new Queen stepped forward to share in the spotlight...each
in turn...at the chorus, accompanied by Renee on tambourine and the chorus
of
stars...
I wish I could convey the terrific comedic timing of the emcee, Ms. Hardcastle...Gosh, you guys should'a been here......!
I'll try...she is introducing City Lights and explains that, among them, they have three children that have the same birthdate, March 11....don't go there, she cautions....they each married Germans, they have two juniors at the same college, they've been married 109 years to the same man...(audience roars)...that would explain some of these other statistics....ROTFL...
City Lights performs a light jazz tune...(sorry, missed the title)...and go into Bad Al's Jazz Emporium...a light, jazzy tempo..."they pick the rhythms up and lay 'em down." Tenor post at the tag...nice tune!
"I have a treasury of memories gone by...." Spoken, "It was the
most beautiful sunny August afternoon....you and I we stood there and we
held each other and we laughed and cried at the same time and from that
moment I knew that I was protected as long as I was with you." Lilting
intro, "Now when
the rain falls its heavy and gray...I can remember when rain was soft,
when you kissed the rain from my face...now when the wind blows I run from
its touch, with you it was silk on my skin, people in love walk inside
a wind where nothing can hurt it holds you too close...but now I'm Outside
Looking In..." Poignant lyric...moving lyric....powerful and unique
chording..."I don't want to cry when I think of you, but now when the rain
falls, I do...do you remember when ever the rain falls, I do."
This is Some Lucky Day a bubbly tempo and happy song. Scat and rhythmic jazz lyric with the clear bass line beneath...sparkling jazz chilled to cool....! This tag sparkles as much as their crowns. Fresh.
Telephone ringing and Ms. Hardcastle pulls a cell phone from her cleavage.
"Just a minute, Hello...Hi Mom, How'd you get this number, I've got an
unlisted dress here....Everybody here is havin' a good time....Yeah, I
know you're home by yourself" she covers the receiver, "My mom's a travel
agent
for guilt trips....so, so you been havin a good time at home reading
a romance novel...she's 82 reading smut...have you been taking your pills,
the big blue ones that help you remember stuff, I'm you daughter
Elizabeth Ann... Mom I gotta go, Ambiance is on...we're gonna do about
eight minutes..." and the place goes wild...
Ain't Misbehavin'..."tonight we're gonna take you back to the 1930's
and introduce you to Fat's Waller."
Lookin Good But Feelin Bad
Should'a been here! Too fast to capture...Stride Piano...Dealin' with a handful of keys...standing ovation..... Wow...
Rumors come back to us with Original One Step Dixieland Band. Great jazz tune, Myoon Dance, popularized recently and hit the top of the jazz charts...Judy makes this looks easy and is remarkably musical...like a free style clarinet..
The Pretty Little Dolly...Dale Syverson slays with this comedy bit, played as a four year old child and how she tortures the pretty little dolly with her best friend Barbara Bouden...
More Jazz...keep it comin....Ability to Swing.
Rumors was then inducted into the Coronet Club and sung to, "We welcome you to sing ....in harmony we love to hear and hold so dear....these memories will last a lifetime, lifetime through..." Tears plenty to share, and hugs of welcome.
In this past century we've made giant strides to bring harmony to the
world wide community but we've only just begun...We've got what it takes..."
We've Got What It takes....and the Queens bring the program to a close
but reprise with Put Your Hands Together a gospel feel to this song that
insists that living in harmony ...we're talking better times, we're talking
happy....is a better way go....standing ovation and the Dixieland Band
kicks back in on cue and we're outta here at 11:38 p.m. What a show!