the fantasia menace?

I can't believe I've let so much time pass between posts.
The weekend was insane. A whole crew of ATL guys were in town, which meant the BF and I were out drinking three four nights in a row. Good times were had by all, but I'm also relieved that such weekends only happen sporadically.

Monday, I was worn out and a little hung over, but had to rally. I'd scored us tickets to see the NY Pops' 22nd Anniversary Gala (kind of an odd number to celebrate, I suppose) at Carnegie Hall. Now, I've wanted for years to see a show at Carnegie, and the space did not disappoint. Neither did the performance, though I'll have to say this was perhaps the most schizophrenic night of music I have ever experienced.
Liz Smith, the 300-year-old gossip columnist, was mistress of ceremonies, telling bad jokes in a blue-sequined blouse. Skitch Henderson, the Pops' conductor, berated the audience and flat out insulted the first performers, a guitar duo playing big-band music.
Next was a married singing duo who kinda sucked, followed by the lovely and talented Sutton Foster. Her "Little Women" co-star Maureen McGovern came out later, and both of them delivered Broadway-worthy performances of standards. Even better was cutie Jason Danieley, who sang "If Ever I Should Leave You" and made me swoon.

After Broadway overload, the second half of the program shifted gears and started out with a tribute to Clive Davis. Yeah, the record producer. I couldn't figure out what in the hell he had to do with NY Pops, but I do know the orchestral medley of his greatest hits felt like being trapped in Muzak Hell. (The BF later said he liked that part of the show. Oh well.)
Then came the reason I'd purchased tickets. Heather Headley, perhaps the most under-appreciated voice in years, came out and she rocked my life. First was her song "I Wish I Wasn't," which was just OK, then, in an odd choice, sang "One Moment in Time."
Now, I never saw Whitney perform live, and given her love of crack rock, I probably never will. But after last night, I don't think I have to. Heather took that song and she owned it. She lived it. It was like Whitney Houston brought back to life.

Continuing the Soulful Black Girl segment of the program, next came Fantasia. I'm sort of a latecomer to the whole "Idol" craze (and a reluctant one at that), but I'll have to say this chick can sang. She did the Aretha Franklin arrangement of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," and perfectly channeled the Queen of Soul (well, but about 250 lbs. lighter). The crowd went wild. Then they left. I guess Fantasia was the reason most folks were there.
For the few (mostly bluehaired) audience members remaining, Broadway granny Michele Lee came out and did some exquisitely terrible song from "Seesaw." She looked and acted every bit like an "SNL" skit making fun of stars from her generation. It was painful.
Next, Broadway great-granny Kitty Carlisle Hart hobbled out and squeaked her way through a number. But by then, folks were restless and eager to leave. The night ended with Walter Cronkite (!) conducting the orchestra for a riveting rendition of "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Two words: Freak-y.

As we were leaving the concert hall, I thought about the recent NY Times article lamenting that "American Idol" is killing Broadway. It seemed to oddly contrast a comment Clive Davis had made about how radio was dying and "Idol" appears to be the main way Americans are staying plugged into popular music.
Or perhaps it's not a contrast at all. The Pops Gala, despite its idiosyncrasies, actually showed a remarkable continuum between the likes of Kitty Carlisle, who is 95 years old, to Fantasia, who is not even 21. Yes, the times have changed and so have tastes. Such is life.
I have a feeling that someday my story about seeing Fantasia sing at Carnegie Hall will seem as legendary and distant as Skitch's tales of playing in the band with Frank Sinatra.