REVIEW: Rod Stewart & Cyndi Lauper Had Tampa Bay Feeling Forever Young
Saturday night and two icons were set to hit the Amalie Arena stage in Tampa Bay, Cyndi Lauper and Sir Rod Stewart himself.
Click here for photos from the show.
Sir Rod Stewart graced the stage with such energy and those pearly whites as the crowd erupted into cheers. “You can beat a rug, you can beat a carpet, but you can’t beat Saturday night,” he told the sold-out crowd in the arena.
Shani Valencia/ Beasley Media Group
There wan’t a dull moment during what seemed like a Saturday Night dance party. The 72-years youngster danced, twirled and wiggled his little booty in his tight pants with no shame at all and LOVED hearing the ladies go wild.
Shani Valencia/ Beasley Media Group
Stewart had lots of help to keep the party going with his epic band and backup singers and dancers all dressed in chic and retro getups. There were percussionists, a saxophonist that stole the show at times, even a harpist and string section, who all wore little schoolgirl skirts for ‘You Wear It Well’. A few of the backup singers sang Tina Turner’s Mountain High, Valley Low without him and completely blew the crowd away; while Stewart maneuvered another costume change. He managed at least 4 costume changes all full of chic bling and powerful colors and even sports bedazzled Gucci sneakers!
Shani Valencia/ Beasley Media Group
Stewart sang hit after hit and even worked in an acoustic set with a full-band singing hits such as ‘First Cut Is The Deepest’,’You’re In My Heart’ and a heartfelt ‘Have I Told You Lately’.
Stewart, did not get into any political talk but there was one exception. Right before performing ‘Rhythm Of My Heart’, he got serious and said, “Just in the last couple of hours, Mosul has been liberated. So that’s a big kick up the arse for ISIS.”
The iconic moment that stood out during the night was when Sir Rod Stewart invited Cyndi Lauper to sing a rendition of ‘This Old Heart of Mine’ together on stage for the first time on this tour. By Cyndi’s request she wanted to cover the classic hit done by the Isley Brothers and BOY! Did they not disappoint! The two sang their hearts out with passion, danced around and embraced each other.
Shani Valencia/ Beasley Media Group
Cyndi kicked off the party earlier in the night with ‘Funnel of Love’, dressed in all black with flower power all over he suit and a chic top hat, but not big enough to hide her pinky locks. Little did we know she started to confess her love for Frenchy’s in Clearwater Beach and has been there more than once, “I wanted to be chic, but I was a little gauche: I wore my Frenchy’s T-shirt in Saint Tropez”. When it came down to getting dessert she said, “It’s not on my diet; I’m awful,” she said. “So I order it. It was really a beignet with an Oreo on it.”
Shani Valencia/ Beasley Media Group
Before performing ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’, she spoke about how inspired she was to see signs reading “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun-Damental Rights” at women’s marches across the country earlier in the year, “I was gonna dye my hair a different color, but when I saw them pink hats, I said, that’s it. I’m staying pink.” Of course there was a guy down front yelled for her to not get into politics, she had not problem clapping back, “I don’t know what your problem is, mister, but I’m sure the lady right next to you will kick your ass.”
Cyndi Lauper Setlist
Funnel of Love (Wanda Jackson cover)
She Bop
I Drove All Night
The End of the World (Skeeter Davis cover)
Witness
The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough
You Don’t Know
Money Changes Everything (The Brains cover)
Time After Time
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Robert Hazard cover)
Not My Father’s Son
True Colors
Rod Stewart Setlist
Soul Finger (The Bar‐Kays cover) (Band Only)
Infatuation
Some Guys Have All the Luck (The Persuaders cover)
This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) (The Isley Brothers cover) (w/ Cyndi Lauper)
Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)
You Wear It Well
Forever Young
Rhythm of My Heart
Young Turks
Downtown Train (Tom Waits cover)
“Acoustic” set:
The First Cut Is the Deepest (Cat Stevens cover)
Ooh La La (Faces song) (Dedicated to Ronnie Lane)
You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Van Morrison cover)
River Deep, Mountain High (Ike & Tina Turner cover) (Band Only)
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James cover)
Maggie May
Stay With Me (Faces song)
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?
Encore:
Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think) (Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians cover)
Photography and review done by a music-fanatic, Shani Valencia. Shani is a writer and social media guru known for covering local topics. Catch her reviews on trending films and some of the biggest shows to invade Tampa Bay. She’s also into topics in hip-hop, fashion and the latest celebrity news. Follow @shanivalencia on Twitter
