I Found Some Blog...by Cher Scholar

Caesars Show News and Rumors

The News: Not surprisingly ticket sales are down all over town: http://www.thewrap.com/article/2770

Among Vegas’ woes: Danny Gans died unexpectedly at 52 last week, stories have been simmering that Bette Midler sales are down, Elton John just left town, and the fact that Vegas is reportedly the most hard hit US city in the current recession.

Interesting to note: Elton’s show made $125 million and shows were filled at 95% capacity. Celine Dion beat him earning $400 million from 717 shows. Midler has been playing to 78% capacity in comparison. No word on Cher’s seat numbers. But Cher and Midler allegedly have cut ticket prices 9 % across all price points. Bette’s new bottom price of $45.45 and she’s also offering upgrade programs for locals and customers of Travelzoo.com. It’s also interesting to learn that Barry Manilow had the highest ticket price of any performer in the US last year? And his tickets are now more expensive than last year. Now I’m a Barry fan but…wtf?

The Rumor: Cher to end her Vegas run early

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/04/22/curtain_will_fall_on_cher_s_vegas_show_t

http://www.goldminemag.com/collectorresources/ 

This false bit of gossip frenzy got a few fans buying tickets to Vegas last week, fans who had been procrastinatin.

One smart Cher-groups fan smartly did the math on the rumor:

“Well she'd better hurry if she plans on finishing this year…the 2008 shows plus what's presently scheduled through December 2009 only makes a total of 114 shows!”

Where did the misinformation come from? Was it a cynical ploy to boost ticket sales or someone’s misreading of the latest Cher press release on the final 2009 show dates? Who knows.

The record was set straight on Cher World: http://www.cherworld.com/news/?p=748

Pic above from davidkiyokawa.com/blog/2008/09/cher-at-caesars/

  

Cher Link Zoo

For quite some time there has been a ton of links clogging up my blog to-do list. I’m just gonna throw them all up here now just so I can move on with my life. You can link wherever strikes your fancy. My take for must see items have a star (or two) next to them.

• Cher’s last words on her farewell tour: 
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxoKm81YzeQ&NR=1

• **S&C Bible ad revisited:
  http://www.bay-of-fundie.com/archives/1207/lol-sonny-and-cher (This is actually hilarious. Remember this bible ad from posts back? In this version, people have written in funny comments in S&C's  thought bubbles – don’t skip the comments below either.)

Cher at Caesars: Year 2

Again, I had a good deal of fun seeing Cher live in Las Vegas a few Saturday’s ago. Her energy level seemed high and I felt and the crowd was very engaged.

I can always get a good look at the crowd from my last row seat of the orchestra floor which is the best I can ever afford. 

This energy level was interesting considering everyone in the audience was older -- way older -– than us. Me and my bf are 40/43 and we were the youngest people we saw all night until we moseyed on over to Pink Taco at the Hard Rock where we suddenly became the oldest people in the place. Suddenly Vegas felt very segregated.
But the oldies at the Cher show were cheerful and active all night. It was the same show for the most part. No major refurbishments  (as there hasn’t been musically since 1999). There was the addition of “Love Hurts” swapped in for “The Way of Love” which was most appreciated. It was awesome in fact. She did a long American-Idol-length note at the end - really swell to hear. (I seriously love the sound in that joint.)

Cher also added “Let the Good Times Roll”, the aforementioned Caesar and Cleo song, not my favorite song and one she introduced with many disclaimers about inconsistencies in her performing; but she pulled it off nonetheless. It sounded much better than the Internet clip I'd seen.

She seemed to be having trouble with her voice all night, constantly drinking water and touching her throat; but I could only tell one moment where she cracked up a bit. The sound never dropped out.

The bf (who has broken a record here by being the only bf to attend two Cher concerts with me, and four Cher events if you include a Cher Convention dinner in LA and a San Diego’s Gay Men's Chorus Cher revue) said he felt the show was overall much tighter this year and that the acrobatics had been taken  up a notch. And the acrobats had been...a notch. I felt the dancing was a little bit more synchronized. But I also wondered if that was my imagination or wishful thinking.

I sincerely loved the backup singer who did “Disco Inferno.” Again, I always love Cher’s techno-live duet with Sonny –- very moving every time for those of us who were never able to see them perform together. And I feel people don't give her Elvis impersonation (as seen in her “Walking in Memphis" video) enuff ink. She almost disappears into it. And Cher’s big presence disappearing into anything—come on people.

Let the Good Times Roll Again

Astute Cher Scholar Robrt Pela brought to my attention the fact that Cher doing “Let the Good Times Roll” in concert is in fact much larger news than I had indicated last week as this is in fact an old Caesar and Cleo song.

Nod to the historic beginnings of Sonny & Cher there, Miss Thang.

Please don’t bring back "Love is Strange." That song is the strange one, not love.

   

Cher in Vegas v2

Just when I was thinking very little information seemed to be coming out about Cher’s second-year run with her Las Vegas show (I still pinch myself sometimes thinking about being able to go to Vegas and see a Cher show, btw), including a dearth of information on new Cher Store items. I mean, what treasures have newly appeared from the mines of Cher Mountain? Any new songs or outfits?

But then on CherGroups, information started to trickle in this week. Cher sang "Love Hurts" (allegedly replacing "The Way of Love") which feels like a good change, all in a new getup and one that I actually am thrilled to see because it’s reminiscent of her “More Than You Know” fit from the Celebration at Caesars and Live in Monte Carlo shows at the turn of the 70s/80s. 

It's got such a retro-yet-spacey headpiece.

Love Hurts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKTSUgE5p8s

After “Walking in Memphis,” Cher also sang “Let The Good Times Roll” and she sings it just like you’d think she would.

For this and other recent espionage clips of v2, visit the fabulous Cher World: http://www.cherworld.com/news/?p=702

One fan also said Cher fell onstage after “some drunk guy” threw his straw hat on stage for “Turn Back Time.” She fell on her knee due to tripping on it. Rumor has it security may ban sailor hats in the Coliseum.

Imagine no hats for Turn Back Time! But...then again who knows what some wacko might try to stick inside a sailor hat.

Cher was also on Entertainment Tonight talking about the show (pic above).

Video:  http://www.etonline.com/news/2009/02/71188/index.html

I can’t believe they’re still talking about her health. Didn’t we clear up that rumor on the last Entertainment Tonight episode a few months ago?  Cher further clarifies that she does indeed see the doctor who Farrah Fawcett sees for treatment of cancer but Cher goes for a completely unrelated issue.

Anyway, Cher looks great in this interview. You know I love the cowboy hats (see the cowboy hat photo gallery) and love the earrings. Cher is animated, beautiful and relaxed. Great to see!

To the left is Cher's previous More-than-you-know-fit.

The interesting thing about "More Than You Know" is how many times Cher covered it in the 70s and early 80s. The version I grew up hearing was the up-tempo Bittersweet White Light version but I grew to like the slower, torchy version better. 

Here is Cher singing "More than You Know" for her TV special...with her hair tied up in a tree and a wild cat on set. They just don’t do stunts like that anymore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLk7TNYxOxA

Buy the way, one of the things that got me sweet on the wedding dress I picked out what the fact that its sequins sparkled in the lights like Cher's TV show-fits used to do. Sigh.

Now that I look at her leopard suit from the clip above, I think it looks very Dr. Seussian...almost like a Thneed in fact.

Here is the Monte Carlo version of "More Than You Know:" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqc4-3jxyEg

Here is a compilation of reviews of Cher's Vegas shows year one: http://govegas.about.com/od/cher/Cher_Cher_at_Caesars_Palace_Las_Vegas_Show_Review.htm

    

Bette's Vegas Show

Apparently Bette Midler is not selling tickets to her Vegas show as well as Cher's Vegas show is.

I’ve been debating this issue for the last few days. I’m thinking Bette’s crowd may be older or of a more confined age range and that Cher has had a more recent radio hit (1999 – not so recent when you think about it, but compared to Bette it is). Bette hasn’t had but one really monster hit or two (I can only think of "The Rose" and "Wind Beneath My Wings") and ticket buyers may be shopping for value, in other words a hit-packed show.

Not great news though as this works against Cher fans’ theory that Cher should do more of an art show.

   

Love Hurts Tour, Germany 1992

Two things happened recently, simultaneously. I received a bootleg of a Love Hurts Tour concert, a show which I had not yet seen in full, and I started reading James Joyce’s Ulysses. 

THESE TWO ARE VERY DIFFERENT THINGS

This is Germany 1992. What you’d expect a bad bootleg to be (for years I pined of this in a ratty cardboard box, filed in after KATE BUSH and before BOB DYLAN, scrawled with markers on VHS spines at record conventions – always missing). This copy disorienting, dark, fuzzy. Mrs. Brisby I am suddenly. A rat in some German’s pocket trying to stretch for a view.

Where are all the video clips? I hear the sound (it’s going on forever), the David Letterman asshole bit, a Barbara Walters question.

We can’t see upstage. Cher is suddenly there, fuzzy blur with a big wig. The world is industrial-looking, constructed second-story platform and for a moment I wonder if that’s not an impersonator up there. Is this another false entrance? 1989 intermission – remember – at the Mirage – in your hometown?  Her big entrance here, floating down an elevator platform. lack. luster.  No staircase. No chandelier. No stiletto. No King Kong palm. A stage oddly smooshed, stone pillar bookends, mish-mash of last tour’s scenery from storage in the Valley.

Caesars Cher Cancellations

Cher hit the ‘bloids again last week with news that she was canceling the remaining Caesars’ shows for this year, a total of 7 shows toward the very end of her run. She won’t be returning until next spring.

Stories ranged from straight cancellation news: http://www.cherworld.com/news/?p=624

...to more tabloid-esque rumors: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1069902/Cher-health-mystery-cancels-Vegas-shows.html

Speculation arose after conflicting stories about her health, her breakup with the Hell’s Angel, the expensive humidifier put into the theater for Celine Dion to avoid “Vegas-throat,” and sad stories about Cher fans who spent money they didn’t have to fly out to Las Vegas, book a hotel and see her show -- and only the canceled show was refundable.

Too bad there’s not such a thing as Cher-pilgrimage insurance.

The Las Vegas Review posted a comprehensive piece:  Betting on big name has downside for Aeg Live They point out that the humidifier was in fact taken out after Celine left.

There was even a rumor last week that after Cher’s cancellation she was spotted at the Hollywood Bowl at the Neil Diamond concert. Now is that really likely?

People. Common sense. 

On the other hand, maybe she got free tickets. Maybe old Neil is makin a move!

   

Sonny & Cher's Record-breaking Stint at the Iowa State Fair

While I was searching for pictures online of Sonny & Cher performing live in the 70s, I came across this little statistic:

Who holds the record for attracting the largest Grandstand crowd?

• In 1972 Sonny and Cher attracted 26,200 in two shows.
• In 1975 the Beach Boys drew 25,400 in one show.
• In 1970 Johnny Cash attracted 25,300 in two shows.
• In 1974 Chicago played to 24,700 in one show.
• In 1982 the Oak Ridge Boys drew 23,500 in two shows.

The internationally acclaimed Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the United States.

Source: http://www.iowastatefair.com/about/trivia.php

Angst in Vegas (Concerts and Conventions)

I’ve been reading the latest fan posts on Chergroups and the tiny bit of the Cher.com user forum in search of posts of good times at last week’s Cher convention (which I did find, btw.) Things they loved were seeing the new costumes of the impersonators and catching up with everyone.

However, a few fans who attended the actual Vegas Cher shows last week expressed their disappointment with the show. One fan posted this version of Steve Friess’ review from May, a much more passionately negative review than the one I had read and quoted from in my Vegas show synopsis. It was interesting to read another version of it.

I do agree with Steve on this point (among others), the Cher Vegas show will most likely not change for our opinions and fantasies. Just like the Farewell Tour didn’t change in so many years, except by getting shorter. As I see it, what sells goes – the circus provides endless huckstering income. As has been said once so eloquently before, “You got to have the one and only...genuine, super-fine, Sunshine Sonny’s Elixir!"

“How much does it cost, this stuff?
Lady, what’s in your purse is good enough.”

I myself exuded a chortle of disgust at this post  - all the alleged retooling apparently resulting in...(gasp!) one new outfit. Well, one new costume is not a press release and is hardly worth another pilgrimage to Mecca.

Then there was the 2008 Cher Convention. There was a squabble on Cher.com when everyone got their neck fur in a ruff about the other Cher fan-fete, The Cher Expo. Someone associated with the Expo was accused of slyly hatin' on CherCon. A few years ago CherCon was accused of shutting out volunteer help from the Expo peeps.

The Expo is basically new and started running on odd years out on the east coast whereas the CherCon’s runs on even years and has been mostly westcoast/southwest. CherCon has put on five conventions total, three in Las Vegas, one in Los Angeles and the inaugural in Chicago.

As a former CherCon worker-bee, I have tried hard to stay out of the fray. I love the idea of conventions and I generally feel the more the better, right? But my own particular fantasies of a convention always involve an interview with Snuff Garrett and a gay-pride parade hosted by Ru Paul. So far, the Expo and CherCon have failed to be that off da hook. Which is not to say they don’t work hard for their events. Truly, Cher-fetes are life-consuming events. And they are great peoples. I love the CherCon peeps and have had many good times at the Convention. But I had more fun attending than volunteering. Why? There’s entirely too much chaos surrounding those three convention days for my obsessively organized brain. And then there’s always been trouble getting the word out about the event (as again reported this year when Caesars' own concierge and workers in the Cher store didn’t even know about the Cher Convention occurring under their own roof. The problem is publicity and for for a by-your-bootstraps kind of an event like this, it takes a type of aggression, a terrier doggedness of a publicist beyond the skills and pay-grades of the available and willing pool of helpers.

I’ve never been to the CherExpo, but I would go if I had the funds to do so. Because variety is the spice of life and you can always learn about different ways of celebrating Cher, even though it would seem she’s not too enthused about being celebrated by a bunch of Cher nerds in this way.

Bottom line is throwing conventions is hard work and no one should be disrespected for hosting one. Both fan gatherings have their pros and cons. Save your ire for the Cher show set list, which seems to have been chiseled in stone by Moses himself and will soon be made into a movie entitled The Neverchanging Setlist, staring The Edgar Winter Dog (pictured above) as the dragon who flies fans to the Cher show in a doomed land called Fantasia.