Concert Recap and Videos: BASIA LIVE IN MANILA (10-21-2009)

October 22, 2009

I have been thinking of watching this concert since I first saw its ad. Basia, the Polish singer-composer with the unpronounceable surname Trzetrzelewska, had been one of my favorite singers in the late 80s to early 90s. I did not even know she already had a mini-concert in Manila October 1990 at the Folk Arts Theater. I do not know how I could have not heard that one. She retired from the music scene in 1998, but luckily, she is now back and here live in Manila again for a comeback concert.

Her concert started at 9 pm already. Basia came out in a black and white suit and pants ensemble. She opened with her new song: "It's That Girl Again". She seems heftier than how I remember her back then, but that was so long ago. She already 55 now, but her trademark rich vocals and great syncopated singing styles were intact. It sounded so great live. You could just close your eyes and imbibe the warmth of her voice. 

She would then continue singing new and old hits from all her albums for her first set, like "Drunk on Love," "Blame It On Summer,"  my personal favorite "Reward," "Baby You're Mine," "How Dare You Talk to Me Like That," "A Gift" and a slowed down version of "Run for Cover."

Basia then took a break and yielded the spotlight to her twin back-up singers from Mauritius who both sang a Basia song each ("Astrid" for Veronique, and "From Now On" for Annique). I must say they sound very good indeed.

For her second set, Basia changed into a black shiny matronly frock, but that is beside the point. Her singing is the main focus of course, hehe. She launched into "Take Him Back Rachel", her Matt Bianco classic "Half A Minute," "Yearning," (VIDEO), "Cruising for Bruising" (another favorite in a different arrangement), "Miles Away" (which she called "a happy song"), and then the song that put her on the map "Time and Tide." 

She then introduced the members of the band, including her long-time collaborator since the Matt Bianco days, Danny White. She then closed the show with "a song about Poland" -- "Copernicus". After this song, she said her thanks and left the stage.

As expected, since there are obviously hits yet unsung, the audience clamored for more. Of course, Basia and the band took the stage again. For her encores, she sang her two most popular hits which most people sang along with: "New Day for You" and finally "Promises."

I guess because of age, she would sometimes waver on the sustaining of high notes, but I am not complaining. Her talent that brought her to fame is still very much there, so I am glad she had decided to record and tour again. Basia has one voice and singing style that is her own trademark, and tonight she clearly showed that she still fully owns it.