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Liverpool Echo

Entertainment

Gemma Jaleel

Fans enjoy festive fun at Rick Astley's Swinging Christmas at Liverpool Philharmonic but one song stole the show

Rick Astley Liverpool Philharmonic

As a lifelong Rick Astley fan, I must have seen the eighties star live in concert a dozen times and he never disappoints.

Rick Astley's Swinging Christmas promises just that - some of the best swinging big band classics and our favourite Christmas songs. Playing the first of only three of these festive shows at the Liverpool Philharmonic (the others are at London's Royal Albert Hall), Rick took to the stage and launched into his opening number.

The concept for the gig embodies one of Rick's big passions - the golden age of big band and swing. Showcasing a different side to his fans, settling into my seat, I could tell this show was going to be something a bit different to his usual performances.

Rick channelled Frank Sinatra to belt out Come Fly With Me and later hits including I Got You Under My Skin, I Get A Kick Out Of You and Fly Me To The Moon.

Welcoming his fans to the gig, he also thanked the Liverpool Philharmonic for allowing him to perform in the Concert Hall with a full orchestra adding it was 'definitely a box to tick'.

Rick Astley thanked the Liverpool Philharmonic for allowing him to perform in the Concert Hall with a full orchestra (Gemma Jaleel)

He also told fans that he would be singing only one eighties song which was greeted with cheers and lots of excitement. After finishing The Way You Look Tonight, Rick confessed he had the words on two big screens because his dad would sing the wrong words. He became emotional as he added: "We're doing basically a trip down my Memory Lane in terms of all the songs that my dad used to sing."

With a voice like velvet and well suited to the swing classics, you could tell Rick really loved the big bang numbers - and he scrubbed up well in a black suit, bow tie and slicked-back hair with his trademark quiff.

Before launching into As Time Goes By from the classic film Casablanca, he told the audience: "If you've not seen this film you need to see this film. Every time I see this movie it completely cracks me up in every single way."

The gig didn't go without a mishap - which Rick admitted was his fault - saying at the end of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas: "Don't clap, I completely and utterly messed that up," before instructing conductor Malcolm to start again this time with the saxophone and trumpet solos.

Then Rick brought on his stunning backing vocalists Dawn Joseph and Lauren Johnson as he launched into his festive hit Love This Christmas and Let It Snow.

Rick Astley brought on backing vocalists Dawn Joseph and Lauren Johnson for his festive hit Love This Christmas (Gemma Jaleel)

The singer received rapturous applause after his rendition of Some Enchanted Evening, telling the audience: "I love that song and I hate that song because I've not done one rehearsal without crying - I just had a little tear at the end."

Rick also explained the idea behind the show came to him while he was recently on tour in America. He said: "I was singing Smith's songs in Manchester two nights ago with the loveliest lads you can possibly imagine, Blossoms.

"It's something that I cherish and I absolutely love to do and I love to do this. I love to do all of it, I just love being up here and I love the fact that you still come out to see myself and this wonderful orchestra here.

"So when I was in America, we were literally in New York, I was literally walking in Central Park singing some of these songs with my headphones on as loud as you like. And I didn't give a monkeys because I was in New York and it sounded just right."

Eighties icon Rick Astley performs his Swinging Christmas show at Liverpool Philharmonic (Gemma Jaleel)

The big band hits kept coming with Luck Be A Lady, You Make Me Feel So Young and How About You. The Christmas numbers came thick and fast too, including Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, The Christmas Song and This Christmas.

But there was one song of the evening that stole the show - you guessed it - Never Gonna Give You Up. The crowd went wild and were on their feet cheering and clapping as Rick performed his iconic song.

The applause continued as Rick ended the show with White Christmas, telling his fans: "I did warn you I was just doing swing and Christmas songs." With tears in his eyes, Rick thanked the audience and made his way off stage.

Set List:

Come Fly With Me

Cheek to Cheek

The Way You Look Tonight

Strangers In The Night

Winter Wonderland

I Got You Under My Skin

As Time Goes By

When I Fall In Love

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Luck Be A Lady