Review: Cliff Richard @ Arena, Manchester

3:44pm Friday 28th November 2008

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IT was a clever concept, to celebrate Cliff Richard’s 50th anniversary by using a time machine.

The stage was designed to give prominence to a massive dial in the form of a speaker which told us from what era a particular song was from — not that many of the sell out crowd at the arena needed telling.

The atmosphere was electric in anticipation of Cliff taking the stage; many people had come a long way, some from as far as Malta, to witness this spectacle, and boy did the great man deliver.

We grumble at times about the price of concert tickets, but in this case, the money was well spent. You could tell that every penny had gone into the production of the show.

A great band, superlative singers and dancers that would have Brucie chomping on his (alleged) toupee.

Cliff is renowned for rehearsing a show to the nth degree and it shows. The vocals were spot on and the choreography was excellent. The main problem was, of course, what to leave out from a career of over 100 hits.

I mentioned the price of tickets, yes, they were expensive but there was great value for money (a 76-page informative programme for £15 takes some beating). Most artists play about 25 songs in a concert. Cliff did 19 — in the first half, and I gave up counting as he passed 40!

Of course the biggest cheers were for his biggest hits: Congratulations, Bachelor Boy, Devil Woman and The Young Ones.

Cliff chatted to the audience and pranced around the stage putting many to shame — can you believe the guy is 68?!

And he promised us that he'll be back next year, and he’s bringing The Shadows with him. Bring It On!

Thanks Cliff for 50 Years of great music — and all in one night!