Nov 8th, 1991
By ALEX SANZ, Stranahan High School
She came ... and she went, leaving the audience Spellbound.
Led by former L.A. Lakers cheerleader Paula Abdul, the singers and dancers of her Under My Spell tour paid a visit to the Miami Arena on Sunday night.
Though most critics thought Abdul would be unable to undertake such an enormous tour, her stop in Miami proved them wrong.
With spectacular lighting and choreography, Abdul set new standards for what a concert should be. A host of wardrobe changes and an array of dance moves made the show a memorable experience.
Without question, the program was appealing to the senses. Her use of audio and visual props made the 90-minute performance captivating yet tantalizing. The crowd of 12,000 frequently erupted into cheers and applause.
Beginning the show with the title cut of her new album, Spellbound, she mystified her audience with songs such as Straight Up, which had Abdul dancing with her video in the background, and Opposites Attract, which featured an impersonator of her 6-foot-tall animated partner, MC Skat Kat.
Another notable ballad was Blowing Kisses in the Wind, which had Abdul atop a 25-foot-high scaffold with two dancers gliding from a suspended wire beneath her.
Both young and old were most fascinated by unreleased songs such as Alright Tonight, The Promise of a New Day, Vibeology, U, and Will You Marry Me?
Her intense vocal training and two tedious months of rehearsing finally paid off. Hundreds of people auditioned to become her back-up dancers and singers, hoping to be part of what was to be the concert of a lifetime.
After the final decision was made, eight dancers (Sybil Azur, Terry Beeman, Bill Bohl, Keith Diorio, Denise Holland, Tiger Martina, Nancy O`Meara, Nathan Prevost), three vocalists (Rasheeda Azar, Paula Brown, Ameerah Tatum), and six band members (Sonny Emory, Cleto Escobedo, Ming Freeman, Tony Maiden, Sam Sims, Darrel Smith) were selected to tour with the queen of pop.
Closing with Forever Your Girl, Abdul translated her video image to the stage, ending the night with a visual fanfare.
Courtyesy of the Sun Sentinel
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