A versatile Reba modestly returns to her ballad roots
By MARIO TARRADELL
GRAND PRAIRIE – Reba McEntire can sing country-pop, pop standards, Broadway tunes and traditional country. But she's at her interpretive best when she tackles a penetrating ballad.
While performing "Falling Out of Love" Saturday night at Nokia Theatre, she took the audience of about 5,200 fans through a roller coaster ride of emotions in the space of one song. As she caressed the lyrics about betrayal and resilience, you could almost see a movie play out scene by scene in her expressive eyes. Her voice, powerful as ever, eradicates the need for videos. She's acting as she's singing.
This is the country superstar that influenced countless of today's female contenders. Ms. McEntire doesn't need ditties, frothy pop-country numbers perfectly forgettable. When she sinks her vocal curly cues into a song with substance, she's unmatchable.
Luckily, her repertoire boasts plenty of those hearty cuts. She delivered a bunch of them on this tour. Backed by a nine-member band, including background singer Linda Davis, the red-headed Oklahoma girl traveled as far back as 1986's "Whoever's In New England," a classic which set the bar for future story songs about relationships on the brink of failure.
It's been a while since we'd heard that song. Then again, it's been a while since Ms. McEntire's been in concert. Room to Breathe, released late last year, is her first studio album since 1999's So Good Together. What with starring as Annie Oakley in Broadway's Annie Get Your Gun and taping her television sitcom, the WB's Reba , she hasn't had a whole lot of time for her music career.
She's been missed. Sure, she could've skipped catchy yet disposable fare such as "We're So Good Together," "How Was I to Know" and even "Somebody," her most recent No. 1 hit, and it wouldn't have made a difference. Ms. McEntire sings them well, but they just aren't special songs.
Good thing she saved her prowess for, say, "The Greatest Man I Never Knew," which she did acoustic style with only her fiddle player, dobro picker and two acoustic guitarists. The melancholy tune about a distant father rang beautifully through the venue. So did "You Lie," another one of those heartbreaking ballads.
Ms. McEntire was also gospel-charged during "Love Revival," down-home country on "I'm Gonna Take That Mountain" and dramatic for "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia."
But clearly, she's too generous, allowing Ms. Davis to take the spotlight for a cover of Bonnie Raitt's "Love's Sneakin' Up on You." The whole performance was superfluous, especially since Ms. McEntire didn't even change clothes while she was off-stage.
The show was mighty stripped down for a star that used to whip up lofty production numbers. Remember the taxicab? Or how about the makeshift New York high-rise apartment? Those sure were fun to watch. Ultimately, though, all that matters is Reba interpreting a potent song.
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
GRAND PRAIRIE – Reba McEntire can sing country-pop, pop standards, Broadway tunes and traditional country. But she's at her interpretive best when she tackles a penetrating ballad.
While performing "Falling Out of Love" Saturday night at Nokia Theatre, she took the audience of about 5,200 fans through a roller coaster ride of emotions in the space of one song. As she caressed the lyrics about betrayal and resilience, you could almost see a movie play out scene by scene in her expressive eyes. Her voice, powerful as ever, eradicates the need for videos. She's acting as she's singing.
This is the country superstar that influenced countless of today's female contenders. Ms. McEntire doesn't need ditties, frothy pop-country numbers perfectly forgettable. When she sinks her vocal curly cues into a song with substance, she's unmatchable.
Luckily, her repertoire boasts plenty of those hearty cuts. She delivered a bunch of them on this tour. Backed by a nine-member band, including background singer Linda Davis, the red-headed Oklahoma girl traveled as far back as 1986's "Whoever's In New England," a classic which set the bar for future story songs about relationships on the brink of failure.
It's been a while since we'd heard that song. Then again, it's been a while since Ms. McEntire's been in concert. Room to Breathe, released late last year, is her first studio album since 1999's So Good Together. What with starring as Annie Oakley in Broadway's Annie Get Your Gun and taping her television sitcom, the WB's Reba , she hasn't had a whole lot of time for her music career.
She's been missed. Sure, she could've skipped catchy yet disposable fare such as "We're So Good Together," "How Was I to Know" and even "Somebody," her most recent No. 1 hit, and it wouldn't have made a difference. Ms. McEntire sings them well, but they just aren't special songs.
Good thing she saved her prowess for, say, "The Greatest Man I Never Knew," which she did acoustic style with only her fiddle player, dobro picker and two acoustic guitarists. The melancholy tune about a distant father rang beautifully through the venue. So did "You Lie," another one of those heartbreaking ballads.
Ms. McEntire was also gospel-charged during "Love Revival," down-home country on "I'm Gonna Take That Mountain" and dramatic for "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia."
But clearly, she's too generous, allowing Ms. Davis to take the spotlight for a cover of Bonnie Raitt's "Love's Sneakin' Up on You." The whole performance was superfluous, especially since Ms. McEntire didn't even change clothes while she was off-stage.
The show was mighty stripped down for a star that used to whip up lofty production numbers. Remember the taxicab? Or how about the makeshift New York high-rise apartment? Those sure were fun to watch. Ultimately, though, all that matters is Reba interpreting a potent song.
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
