The legendary Engelbert Humperdinck is back touring Australia with a completely new show that he has made totally relevant for the fans both old and new.
For an artist as successful as Engelbert with a career spanning 45 years balancing the setlist to keep the old and new faces in the audience entertained could be hard work but not for this pro. Engelbert Humperdinck knows how to keep the audience entertained by giving the people what they want with a few surprises thrown in.
For starters, the show kicks off with an unexpected cover of the Santana/Rob Thomas classic ‘Smooth’. The uptempo rock hit fired up the crowd from the first note and announced that Engelbert was not an artist content to stay with the past.
The Greatest Hits and More tour includes his new version of ‘Ten Guitars’. Engelbert re-recorded the song after meeting Violent Femmes bass player Brian Ritchie at his Melbourne show in 2010. Brian is also a member of Australian band The Break with members of Midnight Oil and the two decided then and there to record the new version, now available on The Break’s ‘Space Farm’ album.
Engelbert’s ‘Greatest Hits and More’ show is music history from start to finish. A giant video screen backdrop showed momentous images from the past including a humourous and entertaining duet with his friend Dean Martin, photos of EH and Elvis and original television performances of classic songs while he sang the hits live.
Fans have been anticipating the release of his new duets album, due in October, and the audience was treated to a sneak preview of the album with a virtual duet of ‘Something About The Way You Look Tonight’ with Elton John. The setlist featured a selection of songs from the duets album including Bob Dylan’s ‘To Make You Feel My Love’, recorded with Willie Nelson and The Hungry Years, recorded with Neil Sedaka.
Engelbert is 110% entertainer. He talks to the audience, he is funny. He told one joke about how he has one handkerchief on stage but Tom Jones has 30 … down his pants.
A countrified version of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘I’m On Fire’ was another surprise and Dr Hook’s ‘You Make My Pants Want To Get Up And Dance’ put a smile on the faces of the audience.
Of course, Engelbert Humperdinck became the legend he is today because of his evergreen classics ‘Release Me’, ‘The Last Waltz’, ‘There Goes My Everything’, ‘Quando Quando Quando’, ‘A Man Without Love’ and ‘Am I That Easy To Forget’. The audience heard all the songs they came to hear and no-one left disappointed.
The setlist from July 8, 2013 was:
Smooth
Am I That Easy To Forget
Love Story
A Man Without Love
Help Me Make It Through The Night
After The Lovin’
You Make My Pants Want To Get Up And Dance
Quando Quando Quando
Ten Guitars
The Hungry Years
Something About The Way You Look Tonight
To Make You Feel My Love
I Can’t Stop Loving You
The Power Of Love
I’m On Fire
The Last Waltz
This Moment In Time
There Goes My Everything
Spanish Eyes
Release Me
Feelings
Watch the Noise11 Engelbert Humperdinck interview here:
