Anastacia at the London Palladium
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of her debut album, Anastacia treated London to a masterful nostalgia trip. The London Palladium stage was transformed to resemble a brick building, decorated with graffiti of stars and smiley faces, and a neon sign that read “#NTK”, a nod to the American singer-songwriter’s first record, Not That Kind. Anastacia emerged from a singular door frame wearing a green studded leather jacket, rhinestoned black heels and her signature tinted sunglasses, immediately a force to be reckoned with.
Launching into One Day In Your Life, Anastacia established a masterclass in musicianship. Complete with her band of guitarists, backup singers and percussionists, this was no mere performance: it was a showcase of their craft, rooted in Anastacia’s powerhouse vocals that solidified her as a pivotal pop star in the new millennium. And of course, with time, she has only gotten stronger. She acknowledged the “25th anniversary of this bitch!” before the opening strings of Paid My Dues prompted the audience to jump out of their seats in excitement. Anastacia playfully mouthed along to the opening lines, to which the audience emphatically screamed along: “You can say what you want about me / Try to do what you want to me / But you cannot stop me!”
Anastacia’s chosen set reflected the chameleon nature she has adopted across her career. She leaned into her dance roots with Nobody Loves Me Better, while Sick and Tired roused the crowd with its blend of country twang and R&B. After an outfit change to a yellow studded leather jacket and a sheer leopard print skirt over her denim flares, she graced the audience with Heavy on My Heart followed by You’ll Never Be Alone, showing a more soulful side.
Then, she was joined by her backup singers for a stripped-back, acoustic set of songs. Sat on three stools in the centre of the stage, the trio delivered an astounding performance of Secrets, followed by Welcome to My Truth and How Come the World Won’t Stop. Her vocals shone through most during these numbers, as her customary rasp elevated their sentiments of grief and longing.
After a second outfit change into an all-black leather and denim look, Anastacia performed an outstanding cover of Guns N’ Roses’ Sweet Child O’ Mine, soon followed by a jam session that built into Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir. The transition into none other than Left Outside Alone, the singer’s top single, was as rapturous as ever. The floor shook with the weight of the audience’s jumping, its all-consuming energy causing even the most casual attendee to sing along to its infectious chorus.
With a final outfit change of a rainbow-sequined jacket with matching David Bowie-esque platform boots, Anastacia delivered two dance hits back-to-back: Not That Kind and I’m Outta Love. The celebratory finale was irresistible and, ending on a literal high note, the singer marked her return to London as a truly joyous spectacle.
Paulina Subia
Photos: Virginie Viche
For further information and future events, visit Anastacia’s website here.
Watch the video for the single Now or Never here:
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