Dame Shirley - She Who Has Everything
From Evening Argus Brighton News, by Dan Urben, May 9 2000
It was sex, frocks, and rock 'N' roll as the diva from Tiger Bay took
to the Brighton Centre stage.
Dame Shirley's incredible voice filled the centre with it's power and
range. She handled every melody with tremendous passion and sympathy.
There were no gymnastics here. She makes wanna-be-divas like Whitney
Houston and Maria Carey sound like shrill, ego- led, strangled cats.
Her impeccable vibrato and well-judged dynamics made the majestic melodies
sore. Her trademark growl mixed with the drama of the songs and humour
is a potent blend that will bewitch anyone.
Her choice of songs was immaculate. She sang re-workings of the evergreens
that made her Goldfinger, Never, Never, Never, Big Spender - mingled with
other people's songs that, on Sunday night Dame Shirley made her own.
Musically perfect, the orchestra punctuated her vocals neatly and swung
like my girlfriend's moods.
Dame Shirley is the diva, she is the voice. She is beyond crass categorisation
- she is what she is.