Reba shows how to please country fans
McEntire showcases her versatility, to the delight of the grandstand crowd.
By Mark Bialczak
Reba McEntire has one of the most expressive faces in country music.
Put a big video screen behind her, as they did Saturday night at the state fair grandstand, and everybody knew just what the country star was thinking.
McEntire was happy. Her real-life smile was practically as wide as the screen when she joked around with the crowd by holding out her arm, palm up, and saying, "No rain this time!" She was recalling a past visit to Syracuse when everybody in the crowd, and the grandstand stage, got soaked by a late summer deluge, causing McEntire to sing an abbreviated acoustic set.
McEntire was sad. Her face turned downward as she announced "Forever Love," her tribute to those serving in our armed forces and the families that miss them so badly while they're away from home.
McEntire was determined. She set her jaw firmly for the encore, "Fancy," her big hit about the woman who just wouldn't let the tough times in life take her down.
At all times, the Oklahoman was in touch with the crowd, too. With her fantastic eight-piece band sprawled across three tiers of risers, McEntire announced that she'd put together a show filled with hits from her "20-something years" of recording.
She said she hoped the fans liked what she'd selected.
With a voice as strong as ever, she gave the country-loving crowd what they love.
They ate up the hits that spanned her career, including the joyous "We're So Good Together," the pain-filled "Whoever's in New England" and the sizzling "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia," her remake of the song Vicki Lawrence put on the pop charts in 1973.
What makes McEntire even more remarkable, of course, is that she's still putting out songs that fans fall in love with.
"Room to Breathe," which came out last year, was her first studio disc in four years. Fans sang along to the country-gospel "I'm Gonna Take That Mountain," the parental love ballad "He Gets That From Me" and the honky-tonk racer "Love Revival" as if they already were old friends.
Speaking of pals, McEntire gave the crowd a special gift by including Linda Davis, who has a strong solo career in her own right, as her primary backup singer. That allowed the pair to pour their souls into their broken-heart ballad "Does He Love You?" as the final song before the encore.
Opening act Carolyn Dawn Johnson appears ready to join the parade of big-time female country singers, too.
The native of Western Canada made the crowd happy with her sterling voice. (And country fans seem to make sure they get to their seats in time to savor the opening act, unlike many rock fans.)
Johnson's growing resume of hits sounded superb, particularly "Complicated" and "Downtime."
She's a top songwriter, too, and paid tribute to Davis for taking one of the songs Johnson had written to the charts. "Baby, I'm Yours" sounded cool in Johnson's voice.
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
By Mark Bialczak
Reba McEntire has one of the most expressive faces in country music.
Put a big video screen behind her, as they did Saturday night at the state fair grandstand, and everybody knew just what the country star was thinking.
McEntire was happy. Her real-life smile was practically as wide as the screen when she joked around with the crowd by holding out her arm, palm up, and saying, "No rain this time!" She was recalling a past visit to Syracuse when everybody in the crowd, and the grandstand stage, got soaked by a late summer deluge, causing McEntire to sing an abbreviated acoustic set.
McEntire was sad. Her face turned downward as she announced "Forever Love," her tribute to those serving in our armed forces and the families that miss them so badly while they're away from home.
McEntire was determined. She set her jaw firmly for the encore, "Fancy," her big hit about the woman who just wouldn't let the tough times in life take her down.
At all times, the Oklahoman was in touch with the crowd, too. With her fantastic eight-piece band sprawled across three tiers of risers, McEntire announced that she'd put together a show filled with hits from her "20-something years" of recording.
She said she hoped the fans liked what she'd selected.
With a voice as strong as ever, she gave the country-loving crowd what they love.
They ate up the hits that spanned her career, including the joyous "We're So Good Together," the pain-filled "Whoever's in New England" and the sizzling "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia," her remake of the song Vicki Lawrence put on the pop charts in 1973.
What makes McEntire even more remarkable, of course, is that she's still putting out songs that fans fall in love with.
"Room to Breathe," which came out last year, was her first studio disc in four years. Fans sang along to the country-gospel "I'm Gonna Take That Mountain," the parental love ballad "He Gets That From Me" and the honky-tonk racer "Love Revival" as if they already were old friends.
Speaking of pals, McEntire gave the crowd a special gift by including Linda Davis, who has a strong solo career in her own right, as her primary backup singer. That allowed the pair to pour their souls into their broken-heart ballad "Does He Love You?" as the final song before the encore.
Opening act Carolyn Dawn Johnson appears ready to join the parade of big-time female country singers, too.
The native of Western Canada made the crowd happy with her sterling voice. (And country fans seem to make sure they get to their seats in time to savor the opening act, unlike many rock fans.)
Johnson's growing resume of hits sounded superb, particularly "Complicated" and "Downtime."
She's a top songwriter, too, and paid tribute to Davis for taking one of the songs Johnson had written to the charts. "Baby, I'm Yours" sounded cool in Johnson's voice.
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
