(June 15th, 2002 - Palace of Auburn Hills, MI)
Ladies and gentleman, boy and girls, and flamboyant people of all kinds
filled the Palace of Auburn Hills to welcome Cher. And she didn't let anyone down for her performance was spectacular and full of her trademark dynamic energy and personality.
Having made her grand entrance descending from the ceiling on top of a golden chandelier singing the classic U2 song 'Still Haven't Found What I've Been Looking For,' she joked that "I've never been forty feet in the air before !" Then, the blonde-wigged Cher joking continued, "Well, maybe after sex, but that was just a couple of times !" Cher's entrance was out of this world. Prior to the show we had tried to
imagine how dramatic her entrance was going to be and didn't even come close.
She was initially dressed in a white fur-trimmed, diamond-encrusted,
hooded coat to sing the opening song. She also mentioned that the U2 song was the same tune she used to begin her 1999-2000 'Believe' Tour. But she eventually stripped down to a navel-bearing and beaded 'I Dream of Jeannie' outfit for two new tunes; '(This Is) A Song For The Lonely' and 'A Different Kind Of Love Song' both from her latest album, Living
Proof.
She followed those with 'All Or Nothing,' 'We All Sleep Alone,' 'I Found Someone' and 'Bang Bang.' The show featured a mock mechanical Indian elephant from which Cher emerged to sing 'All or Nothing' wearing an Indian princess costume. For 'Bang Bang' Cher wore a huge Mohawk. This show was also a reflection of her whole career.
As the show unfolded she sang some oldies where movie clips and other television productions were displayed (from The Sonny & Cher Show), and even performances with Tina Turner, David Bowie and Elton John. Her stage dancers were just as amazing. They entertained the audience with astounding acrobatic and trapeze acts.
Cher's circus was fully under way when she wore a red jeweled top hat and matching tails with a whip. She declared her show "The Cherest Show On Earth" while wearing this circus ringmaster's outfit. Fans were pleased and taken by Cher's charm and charisma. Each song that she performed had its own identify and Cher brought it to life on stage with
glamour, color, and a touch of her own unique spunk. Over the course of the show there were clothes and wigs from every decade from the '60s to today.
Cher is ultimately an ultra-glamorous legendary diva. Just when you thought the show was over Cher came back from the chandelier to deliver more songs with that same bang. She sang 'It's In His Kiss,' followed by 'Strong Enough,' 'If I Could Turn Back Time' and then ended the show singing her huge euro-dance hit, 'Believe.'
To us Cher is a real women who is extraordinary beyond explanation. She
is loved and admired by all for accomplishing everything she ever wished for. This so-called 'Farewell Tour' is absolutely incredible and if the tours name is to be taken seriously, Cher will be sadly missed by all surrounding fans.
Lina Maiuri (Windsor, Ontario Canada)
Cher