Can't stop loving Engelbert
The "King of Romance" enthrals Bangkok with a powerful voice that belies his age
Indian-born British pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck, despite his age, managed to entertain his fans in Thailand on Monday night with his sweet-toned but powerful tenor voice. And judging from the audience’s enthusiastic applause and cheers, he did really well.
The 77-year-old “King of Romance”, as he has long been tagged by his fans, performed many of his hit songs from his heyday in the 1970s and ’80s. These included “Release Me”, “The Last Waltz”, “After the Lovin’” and “A Man without Love”. The first two were No 1 hits in the UK in their day.
A seven-man band and two female singers backed up Humperdinck was at Central Plaza Lat Phrao’s Bangkok Convention Hall. The audience included many expatriates.
He sang many more familiar songs from yesteryear, including “Feelings”, “Quando Quando Quando”, “Power of Love”, “I Can’t Stop Loving You”, “Help Me Make It through the Night”, and “Am I That Easy to Forget”.
During “Power of Love”, the singer mesmerised the audience with his sweet but powerful voice and was rewarded by long applause and whistles. During “I Can’t Stop Loving You”, he introduced his musicians, who performed brief solos one by one, and the chorus singers, who sang together briefly.
He also sang Elton John’s “Something about the Way You Look Tonight”. Photos of Sir Elton taken with him were shown on large screens on both sides of the stage. John’s recorded singing was also played while Humperdinck sang along beautifully.
And Humperdinck presented “Make You Feel My Love”, composed by Bob Dylan, which he said would be on his next album, coming out next year.
The crooner is a good entertainer beyond the singing as well. He told great jokes, did some funny dances and movements and teased audience members from time to time.
“Feelings”, the last song of the concert, was delivered with much energy and flair, winning loud applause. He bid farewell with three wai gestures, and many in the audience rose in a standing ovation.
The performance by Humperdinck and his team was so entertaining that time seemed to fly by. The concert lasted 90 minutes, and for many members of the audience, that just seemed too short.
