Tag Archives: Cher

Paul Is Not That Fab

26 Apr

Going to concerts is one of my favorite things to do. Through the years, I have seen a bunch of performers, and they have usually fallen into two categories.

There are the ones that I like and have to see because I think they are great. That is a list that could go on forever.

Then, there are the ones that I do not like that much but saw them because of the experience. They are the ones that music lovers should see because of who they are. Bruce Springsteen. Leonard Cohen. Cher. Bob Dylan (although I like the young Dylan. It is the old Dylan that I have questions about). Dave Brubeck. Garth Brooks. I cannot say that I enjoyed all of those shows, but I am glad that I saw them.

That brings me to some concert tickets that went on sale this week. Paul McCartney is coming to town, and he definitely qualifies as a member of the second category. He is not one of my favorites, but he is someone who a music lover should see. My wife and I talked about it and decided we would look into it. Her mom was interested, as well.Paul McCartney

Oh, I should also say this. We like good tickets, where we can actually see the stage.

Being a frequent purchaser of tickets, I get emails about buying tickets before they go on sale. The first email offered special packages. I looked into it and found that tickets close to the stage could be had for $1,500 a piece. Tickets got cheaper as they moved further back, but the cheapest one was $500.

I was not going to pay that, so I waited for the next email. This one was a pre-sale the day before the general public could buy. I click on the link and see that a decent seat was $300. That was still expensive, so I played around with the parameters. It turns out that a seat in the upper deck cost $150. Let me write that again. A seat in the UPPER DECK cost $150.

We are not strangers to pricey concert tickets. I am willing to pay for what I get. However, this is ridiculous. I might pay that much to see The Beatles. However, I am not going to pay that much to see a Beatle.

Without a doubt, Paul McCartney is a legend. Although I think they are overrated, he and the rest of the Fab Four altered music history. However, I cannot justify paying that much to see him. The place will probably be full, so I do not think Paul is concerned.

I hate that we are going to miss seeing someone of Paul McCartney’s stature, but he has priced me out of the market. For someone who loves concerts as much as I do, that is a real accomplishment.

I might pay that to see the Fab Four, but I will never pay that to see the Fab One.

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Things I Learned at a Cher Concert

2 Apr

Last night, my wife and I saw Cher in concert. As the performer said, it is her farewell farewell tour. We went because Cher is a legendary entertainer who has been famous for about 50 years. Some people should be seen for the experience, and, in my opinion, Cher is one of them.

I was not sure how good the concert would be, but it turned out to be awesome. Cher put on an extravaganza with dancers, stage props, outrageous costumes and videos of her performing history. However, Cher was not the only great thing about the show. Pat Benetar was the opening act and totally rocked it out.

Looking back on the concert, I am glad that we went. It was a show not to be missed. However, it also was an educational experience. I learned a few things. In fact, here are the things I learned at a Cher concert.

Before Lady Gaga, there was Madonna. Before Madonna, there was Cher, who was truly original.

Pat Benatar and her husband, Spyder Giraldo, can put on a Rock n’ Roll show that will compare to anyone.

People with oxygen tanks like to go to concerts, too.

Cher and I have something in common. We both saw Elvis Presley in concert when we were kids.

“Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” is still Cher’s best song.

At age 67, Cher can still wear her get-up from the “humping the battleship” video.Cher Battleship

My wife gets upset when more men look at me than look at her.

There is always one guy in a section who insists on standing up while everyone else is sitting down. It does not just happen at football games.

Cher almost got arrested at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge.

When someone is sitting in your seats by mistake, their excuse is that someone in the band gave them the tickets.

Native Americans cannot even get a break at a Cher concert. (I know. I know. Cher is part Cherokee.)Cher Headdress

Anyone who thinks 80s music is bad is an imbecile.

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You Sank My Battleship

20 Jun

This morning I had an appointment to get waxed (don’t ask) and found myself in an interesting conversation with my waxer. For me, talking during a waxing is essential because it gets my mind off of the feeling that I am being flayed alive. Anyway, we talked about all kinds of things, including the Roger Waters concert I attended last night. I will blog about it later, but he performed The Wall album in its entirety.

The conversation then ventured into her recent trip to Hawaii. She told me all about it. How she didn’t eat poi at the luau because it looked gross. How people looked at her funny when she ordered sweet tea. It all sounded bad, so I asked her what she liked about the trip. I smiled through the pain as she said that the best part was going to Pearl Harbor and touring the USS Missouri.

I couldn’t believe she said this because Pearl Harbor is one of my favorite historic sites. Everyone should visit it if they get the chance. The USS Missouri, while not at the base during the attack, is docked as a museum because of its role in World War II. Upon its decks, representatives of the Empire of Japan officially surrendered and ended World War II.

The last battleship to be built by the United States, the USS Missouri also saw action in the Korean War and after being recommissioned and modernized saw action in the Gulf War of the 1990s.

All of this was running through my mind when I asked my waxer what she liked about touring the ship. She stated excitedly:

“The most interesting thing was that was where Cher filmed the video of “If I Could Turn Back Time”. They even showed us which gun she sat on. The tour guide said that everybody wants to see that gun.”

The historian side of me wept.

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