Thousands of Diana Ross fans came to a standstill last night as they watched the singer finally performing in the city’s M&S Bank Arena.
Famed for hits such as I’m Coming Out, the singer captivated audiences from the moment she arrived and gave fans what they had waited two years to see. Diana Ross was originally due to perform in the city back in 2020, but like many artists, her tour was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Her set opened with I’m Coming Out – a collaboration with Chic’s Nile Rodgers followed by a selection of hits by The Supremes. It certainly gave a lively start to things and gave her oldest fans exactly what they wanted. Can’t Hurry Love, Stop in the Name of Love and Baby Love had everyone up on their feet, many no doubt reliving the days of Motown.
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A highlight of the night was her performance of I’m Still Waiting, during which it seemed every one of the 11,000 audience members joined in singing the hit song while all standing still to take it in. It was a moment that gave goosebumps and even seemed to leave Diana Ross taken aback.
Later in the show, she told the crowd how she had recently celebrated her 78th birthday and admitted her shock at how fast time had gone, but with three elaborate costume changes and dance moves to match, Diana Ross proved that age is just a number. She even managed to make a joke out of some slight technical issues with her mic pack, a skill she’s no doubt mastered after decades in the industry.
During the second half of her show, she performed classics such as Upside Down, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough before finishing with I Will Survive. It was everything any Motown fan could wish for; fun, upbeat but also left the audience wanting more – this was proved at the end when fans remained seated even when the arena lights came on as they hoped she may have returned to the stage for more.
It seemed surprising to not finish the set with an encore which she had offered other cities on her ‘Thank You’ tour including Leeds. The audience was not ready to stop dancing but their night ended sooner than they had hoped.
Many may wonder if she was holding a little back for her Glastonbury Festival performance next week which will see her take to the iconic Pyramid stage. She will follow in the footsteps of Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie and Kylie Minogue who have all performed during the Legends slot.
Despite the abrupt end to the show, she covered the classics so if you’re heading to Worthy Farm, you’re in for a treat on the Sunday afternoon, and if you’re not then we’d recommend tuning in to watch her on television as you won’t be disappointed.
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