Saturday, February 15, 1997

Ladies take it to Hart

Corey's definitely on a comeback

  It was a moment that will go down in the annals of history.

The scene: The Myer Horowitz Theatre on Thursday night. The event: Canadian heartthrob Corey Hart's first Edmonton appearance since 1986, when he performed for 13,000 people in Northlands Coliseum.

This time around, it was only 720 people in the sold-out U of A theatre, mostly women. Hart, sitting at his piano and backed by just two other musicians in an "unplugged" setting, had just finished a sensitive rendition of Eurasian Eyes.

In the pregnant pause that followed, he whispered earnestly, "Thank you."

And then, as they had done repeatedly that night, the women in the crowd went completely nuts. Hart ate it up, jumping up and thrusting his fist into the air with his version of the "black power" salute. The women screamed with pure pleasure at the pouty singer in his leather pants.

There wasn't one song Hart performed in his 90-minute show that wasn't punctuated by an eruption of screams, wolf-whistles or a shout of "I love you!" Flowers and a little stuffed bear were offered. And Hart nearly caused a riot when he strode down from the stage to greet his fans personally.

It was surprising, and frankly, a little bit frightening.

The traits that made Hart such a vilified symbol of the '80s are still with the 34-year-old singer, whether he wants them or not. Supporting his self-titled comeback album, his concert had moments of maudlin, almost unbearable sappiness.

But the music was strong. In a stripped-down context free of '80s gloss, the show revealed Hart as the worthy songwriter his reputation as a heartthrob tends to hide. Balancing between new tracks and old hits (all but Boy in the Box), Black Cloud Rain, was done with an exotic, gospel feel. Sunglasses at Night was given a funky electric jazz treatment. Tell Me, the new single, evoked shades of Crowded House. And the culmination of the Hart love-in was a passionate encore version of Never Surrender, followed by Rod Stewart's Maggie May, during which a trio of lucky women was brought up to the stage to play percussion.

Like I said, the women just loved it. If this keeps up, Hart will be back in the Coliseum in no time.

Set List