“Natalia meets Anastacia” starts slowly: A vocal difference of 22 centimeters**

 Foto 1:Only in the second half, when she sang more duets with Anastacia, the concert started properly. The audience could eventually enjoy a grand finale. Photo’s: Alex Vanhee

 DM review: “Natalia meets Anastacia” is the third serie of concerts of Natalia where she invites an American star. The start of this Sportpaleis show did not turn out to be an undivided success last Friday. The Vegas like spectacle lacked effort and playfulness, and only after the break the two diva’s got under way. But even then Natalia had to acknowledge her superior in the mighty high American soulsinger.

 Foto 2: Natalia made a remarkable entrance, but vocally couldn’t live up to that at first.

 The concept of the show was well thought through (Natalia came hovering out of the air, while Anastacia resurrected from the stage) and the stage setting, with a video wall till the roof and a 100 meter long catwalk, was impressive. But you never felt Natalia being confident.

 A few weeks back she playfully showed a whole vocal scale during the Clouseau concerts, while now only finding herself caught in this grand American show and her Thierry Mugler-outfits. Other than the previous series with The Pointer Sisters (2006) and En Vogue (2008), the guest singer had input this time. Half of the band consisted of Anastacia’s musicians, and they sugarcoated every song with an overload of bombast. There was hardly room left for letting the voices breathe, which was annoying.

 Natalia sang Bon Jovi’s 'I'll Sleep When I'm Dead”, but during the first part the Sportpaleis was slowly dozing off. Especially during the moments when the Flemish singer had to do the job alone. 'Wise Girl' and 'Gone To Stay' aren’t the best songs, and Natalia delivered them without any energy nor inspiration. The vocal fireworks came when Anastacia took over the microphone and belted out some raw notes, like during 'Left Outside Alone' and 'Paid My Dues', the last one sung as a duet.

 After the break the two were more often on stage together and the show improved. The input of an American gospel choir balanced out the always sweet synthesizer sounds and the bass. But even here the Sportpaleis machine didn’t ran smoothly. The introduction of the six dancers and an obligate drumsolo let the crowd get back into their seats frequently. Anastacia, 12 years older and 22 centimeter shorter, left during Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah no doubt about who had the best throat. Anastacia may be shorter in appearance, but Natalia didn’t meet her shoulders vocally. The American singer proved her world-class again when she sang an acoustic version of ‘Heavy on My Heart' accompanied by the gospel choir.  It is a song about her breast cancer, it is full of emotion, and got a new meaning in Antwerp. It appeared to be a wakeup call  for Natalia, who recently lost her father. 'I've Only Begun to Fight' and 'Higher Than the Sun' rocked, just as the duet 'One Day in Your Life' and 'I'm Outta Love’, the last one saved for the encore and tearing the place down.  A good ending, but in 150 minutes, the encounter of the two diva’s didn’t bring many highlights.

 Natalia meets Anastacia, till Janyuary 28th in the Sportpaleis Antwerp. Tickets for the shows on January 18th and 28th are still available.  

Thanks Kim