From The Express and Star *and Manchester OL

[Susanelizabeth28]

For The Record all the posted news articles can be read in the Cher Connection News Blog too

From Express and Star
Cher seduces fans with ageless style
By Stella Stokes
May 15, 2004, 11:57

She's three years off her bus pass but with the body and energy of a woman years younger, a seemingly ageless Cher wowed the NEC Arena with a memorable performance that showed there's life in the old girl yet.

Not many 57-year-olds could skip around in a see-through catsuit and get away with it, but then Cher's not your average glamorous granny as she cheerfully proved last night. The queen of the divas was in sensational shape as she flaunted her fabulous figure in no less than nine flamboyant costumes, each famously complete with a different glossy wig.

From the moment she was lowered gracefully 40ft to the stage from a chandelier, Cher looked and sounded amazing as she set out to impress in a no-expenses spared Farewell Tour.

While Britney Spears proved she was a mere mortal by sweating profusely under unforgiving spotlights last week, veteran Cher looked immaculate from start to finish.

Make-up perfect and with never a perspiration stain in sight, she stayed presentable by avoiding heavy-duty dance moves - and leaving the stage after nearly every song to change and presumably give her nose a quick powder.

With a wardrobe ranging from Las Vegas showgirl to gothic hooker, Cher sexed it up in leather for a glorious If I Could Turn Back Time, was sophisticated in a stunning lilac gown for Love Hurts and fabulous in fitted jeans for The Shoop Shoop Song.

A thong under a transparent body stocking showed off a bottom to die for, minus any hint of cellulite.

After beaming through Walking in Memphis and bowing out to Believe, Cher may be hanging up her fishnets as far as world tours go, but she's definitely not ready for a blue rinse and a rocking chair just yet.

© Copyright 1997-2002 Express & Star

[Susanelizabeth28]

From Manchester On Line


Cher @ MEN Arena

Riazat Butt

OUTLANDISH: Cher
SOME matches are made in heaven: bacon and eggs, Fred and Ginger, and jelly and ice cream - and last night at the M.E.N. Arena there was a meeting of minds when Cher performed to a packed house, although few of her fans will have ever descended from the ceiling in a glittery cage.

Her entrance was one of the evening's many moments of pure, camp brilliance. The outlandish costumes were unlike anything anyone had seen before.

They were louder, more exotic, more feathery, more sequinned and skimpier. It was as if Cher had smothered herself with glue and run amok in a fancy dress shop with her eyes closed.

Among the themes were Ancient Egypt, Arabian Nights and poultry farming, when she emerged like a warrior princess with an enormous thingyerel stuck on her head.

It was a jaw-dropping spectacle. Last night was the first time I'd seen an elephant on the M.E.N. Arena stage. I doubt whether I will ever see one again.

During the costume changes, the audience watched footage of the seven ages of Cher, and I remembered her, not for her singing, which is entirely unremarkable, but for her wit, grace, warmth and balls.

Cher is funny, self-deprecating and has a wicked tongue. She joked about plastic surgery, growing old disgracefully, and those younger starlets snapping at her heels, to whom she said triumphantly: "Follow this, you b**ches!"

The atmosphere was halfway between a carnival and a senior prom - Cher was our homecoming queen.

Everybody in the crowd was having a fabulous time. Everybody except some people who told me to sit down when I got up to dance. Shame on you, you have to dance - it's Cher!

So I threw caution to the wind and was on my feet for the rest of the show, punching the air and singing my heart out with thousands of other deliriously happy people.

It's the best show I've seen for a long time, and Cher was fantastic and hilarious.

What did you think of the gig? Have your say.

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