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Review: Cher

Cher packed the Nationwide Arena on Sunday for her Here We Go Again Tour. Prior to making her grand entrance, Cher peeked out of side stage to wave at her adoring fans. She seemed almost giddy to take the stage. And grand entrance it was, Cher descended from the ceiling with a flaming mane of bright orange hair. Everyone was up on their feet and in a frenzy.

Cher is an entertainer through and through, having won a Grammy, an Emmy, an Oscar, three Golden Globes, a Cannes Film Festival award, a special CFDA Fashion Award, and a Kennedy Center Honors prize. Cher is the only artist to date to have a number-one single on a Billboard chart in six consecutive decades, from the 1960s to the 2010s. Cher is also known for her snarky sense of humor, political views, and social activism. 

After singing “Strong Enough,” Cher addressed the audience, "I am going to tell you a story and every word of it is true," she said as she recounted the first low in her career, when she and Sonny found themselves in tax trouble and had to perform in dinner theater, or as she referred to as a bad vaudeville with hookers and strippers,"I always thought the more drunk they got the more talented we would appear," she joked, explaining how her goofing around with Sonny Bono, and coming up with jokes during that time, eventually became what we know now as The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour

She also recounted several stories from her 40th birthday, "I kept thinking, oh my God, you're 40 and you're so hot! Like one does…" she recalled with a wink.

At the same time when she received a call from director George Miller, who was putting together the film The Witches of Eastwick. "I don't want you in my movie, Jack (Nicholson) and I don't think you're sexy, and you're too old," he reportedly told her. We all know how that worked out.

"I always hate to say my age because I feel stupid. Everybody always applauds," she said before revealing her age of 72 to thunderous applause. "I was better then and I'm just happy to be here now," she stated. After a short pause, Cher exclaimed, “What’s your granny doing tonight?!” Then she strutted off to perform “Gayatri Mantra” on top of an oversized elephant. You know…as one does. 

Within the course of an evening, Cher takes us through the phases of her amazing life. You can feel in her voice and see on her face how happy she is to share them with us. Costume changes, hair changes, back up dancers, oh my. But with all of the extravagant costumes and hair, Cher was never overshadowed. Her voice, swagger, and confidence took center stage at all times. 

Towards the end of the night, Cher sauntered onto the stage wearing the sheer black fishnet catsuit that she made so famous. Everyone lost their mind. Cher belted out, “I Found Someone,” and “If I Could Turn Back Time” with as much power and enthusiasm as when she first sang them almost 30 years ago. 

Cher ended the night with “Believe.” And best believe, no matter what her age is, Cher was born to be on stage, and she doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. 

Setlist:

Woman's World

Strong Enough

Gayatri Mantra

All or Nothing

Little Man / All I Ever Need is You

The Beat Goes On

I Got You Babe

You Haven't Seen the Last of Me

Welcome to Burlesque

Lie to Me

Waterloo

SOS

Fernando

Cher Movie Montage

After All

Heartbreak Hotel

Walking in Memphis

The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)

Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)

I Found Someone

If I Could Turn Back Time

Believe

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