Gloria Revisited

August 1998 Canarian Weekly

Whilst the real Gloria Estefan is currently in South America promoting her new album, Tenerife now has its own answer. Michaela Sydney launched her new Gloria Estefan show at the Downtown Cabaret Bar on Friday, August 14th.

Biased I am, I will admit and, I had heard the various stages of the show developing over the months, but I was still gob-smackingly impressed by the live, finished article.

After Ian Lennard's, Michaela's own one-man Miami Sound Machine, fireworks and percussion intro., which is sufficient to get even the most laxadaisical into the mood, Michaela launches into the show's title track, 'The Rhythm's Gonna Get You!', then swiftly moves on to 'Turn The Beat Around'.

After slowing it down for a couple of Gloria's famous ballads, there was the exhausting, ten minute, up-tempo medley which includes the Spanish 'Oye Me Canto', 'Get On Your Feet' and 'One Two Three'.

Two more ballads follow, starting with the massive hit, 'Don't Wanna Lose You', before the ultimate Miami Sound Machine dance number, 'Conga'.

Michaela came back with 'Coming Out Of The Dark', the dramatic, Gospel inspired song, which aptly takes us full-circle back to Michaela's roots.

Well worth watching!