Thriller Live: Reliving The King Of Pop

Thriller Live: Reliving The King Of Pop

Thriller Live unashamedly celebrates the life and back catalogue of the undisputed King of Pop, Michael Jackson. When you read that the show has been playing in London’s West End since 2009, it would be easy to mistake this for a musical tribute. But it’s really not, it’s something so much more.

This slightly-over 2 hour long show sets a blistering pace through Jackson’s back catalogue from the earliest of Jackson 5 days to the iconic pop ballads us children of the 80s and 90s knew.

The iconic dance moves.

The iconic dance moves.

It’s been nearly 6 years since the icon died and I remember watching the queues of people outside the Staples Center in LA awaiting the launch of the documentary-film of what would have been his major comeback tour, “This Is It”. Last night’s atmostphere at Auckland’s Civic Theatre was almost as energising, with fans up and on their feet for all the major hits.

This really comes as no suprise – with an international cast of dancers, singers and live musicians pulling out hit after hit and storytelling along the way. Even the most devoted of us MJ fans murmured with appreciation as we recalled that Thriller spawned 7 Top 10 hits from 11 album tracks. It’s impressive even now to remember, but even more impressive to see and hear those tunes (and those dance moves) delivered with eerie precision.

The talented Mig Ayesa (Sydney-born, frequent traveller to these shores in shows like Annie) is one of 5 lead vocalists including Australian Prinnie Stevens, who rose to mainstream fame through her appearance on The Voice, but comes from a musical theatre background. It’s Manchester born Alex Buchanan that steals your breath away however. You wouldn’t even have to close your eyes to believe you were listening to the King of Pop himself, the vocal and dance performance is so bang on.

Considering how much I would have considered paying to see the comeback tour, the night was intensely moving even as I calculated there was no possible way I’d hear all my favourite tracks from a 45 year musical career. That being said, the back catalogue they managed to cover was remarkable; including my favourites Man In The Mirror, Billie Jean, Beat It and of course, Thriller.

Could there be much more perfect way to spend Friday the 13th than eagerly awaiting the iconic zombie dance number? I think not! Even the most stoic of audiences will find it hard resist tapping their feet, clapping and dancing on request from the stage. It was easy to sense the love and inspiration that Michael Jackson birthed across generations of fans; young and old and to leave a venue smiling, laughing and feeling all the best parts of nostalgia was a real treat.

The show is only playing a super short season 12 – 22 February at The Civic in Auckland, but you won’t regret grabbing tickets now and making this show a priority! Ticketing information available here.

With thanks to Auckland Live.

The Greatest Church I’ve Ever Been To.

The Greatest Church I’ve Ever Been To.

The greatest churches I have been to, I’ve never crossed the threshold of.  I couldn’t give you directions to them, or tell you ahead of time.

I’ve simply found myself in the midst of them as they have risen around me. Great cathedrals of human expression… Songs of triumph, hope and victory, psalms of despair and suffering shared through the rhythms of shared humanity that seem to rose up from the earth.

I know one thing to be true: genuine spirituality of any form is both individual and shared. Both elements are required for authenticity. A genuine internal engagement and shared common experience.

That raw spirituality, the ruach Elohim, the wai rua that rises when humanity reaches outside of it’s current self and toward something other… That is where I have been to church, rarely on a Sunday.

In a swathe of human diversity, in dark halls devoted to melody, in moving picture shows seated next to strangers..In concert halls, food halls and markets where plates are shared and passed. Where sight, sound, smell, taste and touch are swamped in sensory experience.

These are the great churches of my generation.

Too often, contemporary spiritual or religious practice has stripped “church” down to programmes and attendence, formalised patterns of reverence and expression. There is beauty and wonder in it, yes. But before we had liturgy, before we had structure, before we had church doors and pews – humanity has had stories, songs and music. We’ve sung our blues, our joys and our sufferings. We share language of human experience this way, we share language of divine encounters this way.

It is no surprise that music festivals draw out thousands, or that Burning Man encourages something in the soul that yearns for a gritty spirituality. These gatherings evoke the primal in us.

We ought to rid ourselves of any flimsy thread of cleanliness or tidiness between spirituality and humanity. It’s all dirt and grit and messiness, and we’re the better for it. We ought to rid ourselves of the straightlined pews more often when seeking genuine spiritual encounters.

When we loose ourselves into the dust or rhythm of a dance we learn as we go along – we realign to the balance of humanity and divinity in Creation. We ought to do it more often and at every chance.

So go to concerts, play live music. Buy a drum and bang it with your bare feet toes down in the grass. Breathe. Connect. Go to church.

Wickedly Wicked.

Wickedly Wicked.

If you’ve ever

…. wondered about how the Wicked Witch of the West became so wicked, or if Glinda the Good was really … well, good….

…. felt like the odd one out in the crowd and struggled to find your place in the world….

…. experienced friendship that seemed against the odds and been changed for the better by knowing someone else….

…. and isn’t that everybody?

Then Wicked is the captivating, thrillifying musical you must experience during it’s all-star run at Auckland’s Civic Theatre. (more…)

Music Meme from Marko

hey, in celebration of Marko’s birthday… this meme from his blog.
I expect all you lurkers and fellow bloggers to tag in, no excuses, ‘kay?

Here’s the rules.

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool!

Opening Credits: Brighter Days – Leeland

Waking Up: Different Names For The Same Thing – Death Cab For Cutie

First Day At School: Ruby – Brigitte De Meyer

Falling In Love: Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone) – Johnny Cash (no kidding!!!)

Fight Song: Babygirl – Anthony Green

Breaking Up: Four Years – Ivy Rossiter (NZ)

Prom: I’m Leaving It All Up To You – Sonny & Cher

Life: No Sleep – The Cardigans

Mental Breakdown: Supermassive Black Hole – Muse

Driving: No Accident – Bruce Conlon (NZ) (hahahaha, this is hilarious!)

Flashback: Cars Can’t Escape (Rhythm) – Wilco

Getting Back Together: As The Rain – Chris Cope (NZ)

Wedding: I Am Warm And Powerful – Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Birth of Child: All You Need Is Love – The Beatles

Final Battle: Little Thing – Dave Matthews ft. Tim Reynolds

Death Scene: Extraordinary Girl – Green Day

Funeral Song: Warning Sign – Coldplay

Remembrance Song: Oh Well – Fiona Apple

End Credits: Distant Sun – Crowded House (NZ)