About Sweetmama Editor
Nadine Silverthorne’s love of journaling began in Grade One with the entry, “I am the greatest dancer!” Two babies (and countless diaper changes) later, she has found her home away from home as editor of SweetMama. Don’t miss her humorous bi-weekly accounts of the joys and pains of working while raising them fabulous.
Friday night, my buddy Elise (our Marketing and Events Coordinator) and I had the great pleasure of seeing Tina Turner live in concert. My husband was surly about it all day. "I'm a bigger Tina Turner fan than you! I should be the one going!" Yet when the extra ticket came up, he chose making pizza and playing Lego Star Wars on the Wii with our son over the concert. (And that's why I love him.) So I called Elise (she fit the criteria of childless -- meaning available in a flash -- and fabulously fun), grabbed my three other girlfriends and headed to the show.
The thing is -- EVERYONE is a Tina Turner fan. There is no way you could go to this show and not be struck by her grace, her gift and her spirit. After the show, we could not stop gushing about Tina. Here's what we took away from our unbelievable, once-in-a-lifetime experience:
1. You are never too old for stilettos and a mini skirt -- if you take pride in yourself. Oh Stacey and Clinton may have their signs that say, "No mini skirts after 35," but they are not talking about Tina. Tina is 69, shakin' her thang in sequins and Louboutins -- and looking hawt! She made me want to go to the gym, pronto.
2. You can be a good mama AND have a solid career. Tina has two kids of her own (and, according to Wikipedia, she's also the adoptive mother of two of Ike's kids from other relationships). I believe she's even a grandmother. Can you imagine Tina being your grandma? That would be all kinds of awesome.
3. Be good to your people. Tina stopped the show to introduce not only the members of her band and her dancers, but also her lighting and stage crew -- each person by name with 20,000 strangers cheering for their hard work to make the show happen. Then, to top it off, she rolled credits at the end of the show to reinforce her gratitude and recognition. Amazing. It stood out.
4. Never underestimate the power of a good tease. Oh we all knew "Proud Mary" was coming, but Tina really dragged it out until we were practically begging for it. I must remember that in my every day...
5. Class is something that comes from within. Tina/Anna Mae came from humble beginnings. Stardom has not diminished her ability to stay centred, nor to be gracious, kind and friendly. "I really enjoyed you enjoying me," she said humbly to the crowd.
6. There are some things only Tina can pull off. Telling (I'm guesstimating) 8000 men you want them to "give it to you real hard," and then getting them to shout out, "What's love got to do, got to do with it." Tina alone. Coming out in full Mad Max regalia, including that Clingon wig and having people think you kick ass? Seulement Tina. Wearing that much sequins? Only Tina. Getting 20K people to shout "Nutbush?" Yep, just Tina. She's simply the best.
Don't make Tina mad by goin' around tryin' to get people to say Nutbush all day! Only Tina!
PS: What's with lame people that pay a lot of money for a live concert and then get mad when you're up in your seat dancing? Would they not be happier at home watching a DVD of the concert? If Tina is shakin' a tailfeather at 69, I think you could get up and show your appreciation a little. Is this only a Toronto thing?
Email me. And </rant>