Idina Menzel World Tour 2015, Dublin.
So I’m finally getting around to writing about this.
On Saturday (20th June) I had the sheer joy of being able to witness a woman with talent that is simply indescribable perform live.
Diva. Icon. Sassy. Utterly brilliant. These are all ways in which I would describe Idina Menzel. Today the term ‘diva’ gets thrown around too frequently, and more often than not it is used in a negative context. However, when the context is Idina Menzel, the term ‘diva’ can only be used in the classical sense; one that commands the stage with only her sheer presence captivating the audience making them feel love and admiration for said person.
If you are fortunate enough to have secured a ticket to Idina Menzel’s show you are simply in for a treat. Along with belting out her iconic numbers she incorporates a laid back approach bantering back and forth with fans and sharing stories, which is such a breath of fresh air to witness because shows like that are few and far between these days.
Every song was on top form, and yes there were a few flubs on the lyrics, which is one of the joys of a live show (the audience thrive for things like that) as well as some near accidents on the stairs (my heart was in my mouth), nevertheless performances that stood out for me the most were; Always Starting Over, No Day But Today, For Good and Creep.
Always Starting Over had me tearing up which shocked me considering the amount of times I’ve butchered it in my car. This is merely evidence of how Idina Menzel brings emotion and depth into a song captivating you, making you feel exactly what she’s feeling.
No Day But Today began with gratitude towards Jonathan Larson for giving Idina her first professional job and evidently starting her career. She went on to talk about living in the moment, which was really thought provoking and inspiring.
I expected to hear Creep because I’m one of these people who can’t contain themselves until the concert, but I didn’t expect it to sound so epic. Idina’s introduction to the song was one of the moments where she let the audience in on her personal life without divulging too much. I for one wanted to run onstage a give her a massive hug.
She sang For Good a cappella, and you could’ve heard a pin drop. The audience was so silent and still, soaking up the brilliance of her talent. I couldn’t believe how shocked and overwhelmed (there were a few tears) she seemed to get when the audience applauded and cheered deafeningly. This woman is a vocal powerhouse who is an inspiration to people of all ages. Does she not know how big of a deal she really is?
What I admire about Idina Menzel is her ability to be hilariously sassy, yet emotionally vulnerable, not to mention her generosity to her fans whether it be singing with them, talking with them or even taking a selfie with them. She truly is a class act.
After the show I couldn’t help but have the feeling of wanting to sit down and ‘shoot the shit’ with her, and get to know who the real Idina Menzel is. Throughout the show she creates a window revealing a little bit of who the real Idina is without giving too much away, which is rare but special for the audience. I would love to know how the girl from Long Island made it to Broadway to standing on stages around the world. I suspect the journey was tough and filled with stories of joy and heartache that sculpted the person she is today.
I can’t say that I’ve ever been to a show like this before – intimate, laid back, old school – and I doubt that I will again unless Idina decides to do another tour, and God I hope she does, sooner rather than later, and that she comes to Belfast next time.
