I recently saw Cher perform in Las Vegas and although I grew up with her, listened to her sing I Got You Babe at the end of every Sony and Cher Show as a kid and have always been a huge fan, it was the first time I actually saw Cher perform live.
I must admit, I felt a bit like a kid in anticipation entering the theatre, which looked more like a theatre designed for an opera or a show than a concert, which was appropriate in the end since they didn’t allow people to stand and dance. Given that Cher didn’t sing many numbers that warranted dancing, it didn’t really bother me all that much, but I guess that’s part of the point and part of the issue I had with the flow of the concert. Where was Cher?
I realize she was born in 1946, so that makes her 64 years old, and that could be part of the reason for a softer, older selection of songs rather than a set of songs focused on rock-and-roll energy. Yet, it seemed to me that the entire concert was all about giving us a perception of Cher rather than having the real Cher show up. In other words, it almost seemed as if the concert was designed to leave us with a pretty narcissistic take away: I’m not aging, I don’t plan to age and it’s all about me.
Women age, damn it…..and there’s no question that the odds are against us, so much so, that every celebrity, musician and performer feels compelled to have lip, tummy, eye, ear, throat, face, but and boob work done and Cher is no exception. I have no problem with women (and men for that matter) having a little work done, but not when it becomes more about the “work” than the person. In other words, where was Cher?
It seemed as if she spent more time trying to paint a perception of who she wanted to think she was and more importantly, how amazing she was, rather than just showing up and giving us her genuine authentic self. And, while I love the costume changes Cher’s publicity team, there were so many of them, that songs were cut short and just when I started to get into her energy and her presence, her presence disappeared. Talk about killing momentum and flow. Then, we had to wait for her to do yet another costume change while her dancers entertained us. I kept feeling throughout as if Cher was the commercial/advertising and her dancers were the show. It was if she would show up for the few minute advertising break in some fabulous new costume and then disappear again.
There were times, even in her stories at the start of the concert, which came across as narcissistic. They were off-color, not funny and those around me felt the same way. All I really wanted was Cher……a few wrinkles and all, to show up in perhaps a funky pair of jeans and a sexy top. My favorite scene was when she did Marc Cohn’s Walking in Memphis, because it ‘felt’ like she was most present during that number and actually showed up as herself.
During other songs, I felt as if she was preoccupied on making us believe that she was amazing, beautiful, stunning, and this perfect statue she wanted the audience to believe would never age. Age girl, age, just a little. I’m not saying show up on stage overweight, sagging and without make up and fabulous gear…..all I’m saying is be yourself and don’t spend so much time trying to be, act, sing and walk like some angelic figurine who will never ever age. Let it be okay for other women to embrace aging and in the process, show that they’re still sexy, still hot and still have what it takes, whether or not they’re still a size 4 with an ass that is as hard as my ceramic tea pot.
I came to the concert to see Cher. I left feeling disappointed because what I experienced was a slide show that felt more like a tribute to her life than a rocking concert with a Cher who we were all hoping would be present with her fans…..truly present. When you show up present, regardless of what you look like, your truth shines through and in that truth and authenticity, you show more youthful energy and beauty than any amount of surgery could ever create.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
