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The Return of Miss Bassey From This is London, By Max Bell, Tues Jun 6 2000

Show business folk like their honorary titles, so you can bet the corks popped long and hard at Shirley Bassey's Monte Carlo mansion when Tony Blair made her an "icon" Dame, alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Julie Andrews, in last year's Millennium gong show.

Of course, there is nothing like a dame and La Bassey is a mould-breaker. Characterised by her ultra flamboyant professionalism and a voice so over the top it could halt a wounded rhino at five paces, Shirley is actually improving with age. Last night's performance wiped the floor with acts half her age. Admittedly, Bassey didn't have to win over this crowd, but given material like I'm Still Here, with its inbuilt survival instinct as therapy, she deserved all her ovations.

Even Shirl's golden oldies sparkled. Never Never Never was spine-tingling, while throwaway numbers such as Kiss Me Honey Honey Kiss Me and Hey Big Spender provided a lighter dynamic and plenty of laughs.

Despite wearing a lavish silver ball gown complete with tassels, Bassey can still make you believe in the magnificent mariachi kitsch of I (Who Have Nothing), which resonated from Tiger Bay to Tijuana and took no prisoners en route. Aside from the peculiar schmaltz of I, Capricorn, the home straight was seriously entertaining long before the Bond kicked in.

Her Propellerheads collaboration History Repeating is a fine taster for an imminent remix dance album, and even Hey Jude was given a thorough examination and pronounced to be in rude health. The fact she can combine songs like these and keep her act fresh with some well chosen Madonna proves that Bassey is in absolute peak form. Way to go, Dame.

© Associated Newspapers Ltd.

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