NEWS

Engelbert Humperdinck is 79 years old, but after almost two hours of crooning and plenty of moves, you wouldn’t believe it. It’s an evening of his best-known hits, a couple of covers and some of his new material – the perfect mix of old and new to provide a brilliant night’s entertainment.

Cape Town is not known for having good, interactive, audiences but at GrandWest Engelbert Humperdinck proved that statement a fallacy.

Maybe it’s a generational thing, because let’s be honest, the audience was of a more ‘mature’ age. That didn’t stop them from singing along, as Humperdinck sang his way through his greats like “Quando, Quando, Quando”, “Spanish Eyes” and “The Last Waltz”. The audience was like a mass choir.

There was plenty of teen-esque screaming, too, when Humperdinck stripped off his jacket and tie and undid a couple of buttons as things got hotter. His sequined belt and pants stripes sparkled in the simple but pretty stage lighting.

Nevertheless, this was a concert about the music. Humperdinck was accompanied by a full band, including a grand piano and two young blonde-bombshell backing singers. At one point, they joined him – sporting a cowboy hat – for a fabulous song from his latest album, Runaway Country, complete with some line dancing.

Screens to the sides of the stage showed footage from his younger days. He still has the sideburns and the personality, cracking jokes and telling stories from his over forty years in the music industry.

He sang a fabulous rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud”, and a beautiful duet with (a recorded) Elton John of his hit “Something About The Way You Look Tonight”. Humperdinck has collaborated with a number of stars, including Elton John, Willie Nelson and Johnny Mathis on his album Humperdinck Calling.

One thing’s for sure, Engelbert Humperdinck may be turning 80 next year, but he’s still a consummate showman with a voice to pull your heartstrings. Judging by the throng of screaming ladies who rushed the stage as he threw red handkerchiefs at the end of the show, he hasn’t lost his sex appeal either!

Briony Chisholm
@shinybriony

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