Croaks, squeaks, and cold aside, Dionne Warwick is still golden.

Croaks, squeaks, and cold aside, Dionne Warwick is still golden.

by rick olivares

“Let’s take a walk down memory lane,” enjoined Dionne Warwick as she walked up on the stage of the Grand Ballroom at the Solaire resort and casino in Paranaque. In Manila for the second time in her long and distinguished career.

Dressed in a brick-colored Indian-like clothing, Warwick, the 77-year old singer, walked across the stage to address the crowd which was mesmerized to be in the presence of musical royalty.

And yet, what a walk it was…

Warwick, battled a cold that hampered any activities during her two-night show at Solaire with the final performance on Valentine’s Day. And she quickly apologized for any creaks, squeaks of which she asked the packed house to ignore “because I will”.

She quickly assured the crowd of about 5,000 people – “but you will get my very best tonight.”

And best? It was like putting on a record on sitting back and relaxing, as the songs served as time machines taking one back to the good old days.

Although many of her hits – she is the second most charted American vocalist on American music charts after Aretha Franklin with 80 of her songs hitting the Billboard Top 100 – including those from her long association with the songwriting duo of Hal David and Burt Bacharach were performed, on this night, they were re-arranged in a lower key to adjust to Warwick’s vocal changes through the years. Yet as classics, standards in other musical parlance, they remain as golden and poignant in a memorable performance.

It was quite a change having seen her in Las Vegas with a full orchestra long years ago. However, when Warwick took the stage it was with her four-piece accompanying band of very accomplished musicians – musical director and pianist Rob Shrock, keyboardist Todd Hunter, bassist Dan Demoralis, and Brazilian drummer Renato Brazo -- who have toured with her for over 20 years.

Shrock is Burt Bacharach’s musical director and has played for Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Ray Charles, and Elvis Costello among others.

Keyboardist Todd Hunter has performed with the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Dianne Reeves, Gloria Estefan, and Stevie Wonder among many others.

And they performed with aplomb. They kept the music tight, moving, and during the five-time Grammy Award Winner’s Brazilian Medley of songs from Antonio Carlos Jobim and Ary Barroso (Corcovado, Wave, Waters of March, and Aquarel do Brasil), the samba inflections provided a buoyant and joyous atmosphere.

As the evening wore on, Warwick began to sing better, belting out her cavalcade of hits for which she has sold over 100 million records. She also enjoined the audience to sing along to “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again”, “Heartbreaker”, “I’ll Never Love This Way Again”, and “What the World Needs Now is Love”.

“We need that song more than ever,” said Warwick regarding that latter song given the state of the world today and the Solaire audience sang along to the chorus three times.

The American chanteuse ended her 90-minute show with her last song to chart in “That’s what friends are for?” from that Ron Howard comedy film, Night Shift. “You all have a good evening and continue to enjoy your Valentine’s Day,” Warwick closed.

After a night like this where Dionne Warwick, not 100 percent but every bit engaging the crowd, smiling, and giving it her best, it is the Solaire crowd that will be talking about that walk down memory lane.

Set list:

Walk On By

Anyone Who Had A Heart

You’ll Never Get to Heaven

I’ll Never Fall in Love Again

This Girl’s in Love With You

Message to Michael

I Say A Little Prayer

Alfie

Heartbreaker

Brazil Medley (Corcovado, Wave, Waters of March, Aquarel do Brasil)

Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

Love is (Still) the Answer

99 Miles from LA

I’ll Never Love This Way Again

What the World Needs Now is Love

That’s What Friends Are For