Extras:
Exclusive behind the scenes interview, song setlist
Anglo-Welsh superstar and housewives choice, Michael Ball is marketing man’s
dream.
The boyish looking 42-year-old has just released his DVD Live In London.
Recorded earlier this year at Hammersmith Apollo in front of an ecstatic sell-out
crowd, he demonstrates why he is regarded as the most popular musical star in
Britain.
Ball’s career break came as he starred as Frederic in Pirates of Penzance at
the Opera House in Manchester in 1984. He was spotted by producers of Les
Miserables, and the following year he took the role of Marius in what is
commonly recognised as the greatest stage musical of all time.
His credits and achievements include Most Promising Artiste 1989, 8 Gold Discs,
Platinum Disc for The Moviesin 1999 and Variety Club Award for Best
Recording Artist.
According to Ball, this is the best concert of his career so far. Several
changes needed to be made for it’s filming, particularly the lighting.
Normally he can only see the first couple of rows, but he was unnerved by
seeing his family and friends at close quarters. This actually made him step-up
his performance - and what a performance.
Meticulous in its pre-production, he had a major part in every aspect:
singer, show director and co-executive producer. At the end of the show he
confesses he was nervous - he shouldn’t have had any worries, as he’s
outstanding. Beaming with pride from his entrance in front of his 'home crowd',
he easily won the hearts and minds of his loyal fanbase – not that he has to
try too hard.
Drawing on all his theatrical and singing experiences he delivers a show high
on emotion. A performer who always gives from the heart, he takes his audience
on a rollercoaster ride of joy and sadness, as he explores the learning curve
of relationships – which you guess, might be a personal affair. He unashamedly
wears his heart on his sleeve throughout the night - and it’s not fake. Using
a 27 strong setlist, the stage and romantic classics are brought right up to
date, in the inimitable Ball fashion.
The Essential Michael Ball: Love Changes Everything
Compositions by Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello, Jim Croce, Rob Palmer bring
genuine tears to the seasoned performer – but he holds strong. His singing is
of the highest quality: he easily brings both power and empathy to some of
the greatest lyrics ever written.
From a wonderful selection, the show stoppers include Empty Chairs Empty Tables
(Les Miserables), a cover of Tom Jones’s A Boy From Nowhere, Croce’s
Time In A Bottle and Bacharach’s This Guy’s In Love With You, and
a slight reworking of Bread Of Heaven, called Wales Forever, which was
a show highlight.
To get the crowd moving, he also manages to pack-in a few belters like a cover
of Tom Jones’ Just Help Yourself and Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing In The
Dark. By the time he’s reached his encore and signature tune, Love Changes
Everything, you realise what a phenomenal talent he is.
Also out now is his CD, Love Changes Everything: The Essential Michael Ball (right).
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B
37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Jan 2011: Intel Quad Core Dell XPS 8100, i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80Ghz, 8Gb RAM, nVidia GeForce GTS 240, Windows 7
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
