I still remember hearing the Drifters sing “Up on the Roof.” I was in grade school and had a crush on this kid named Andy. He and his two boyfriends and my two girlfriends were hanging out together in his basement listening to music. I didn’t realize then that it was written by a young songwriter, Carole King.
Flash-forward to college: King’s rich, alto voice singing “I Feel the Earth Move,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (she wrote this at 17 with Gerry Goffin!), “It’s Too Late,” “You’ve Got a Friend” filled my dorm room. (Okay, so that explains my freshman GPA).
Flash-forward to last night. There she was at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia belting out all those old hits of hers – and of others like Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, The Monkees, Blood, Sweat and Tears and on and on and on – all of which she wrote.
She’s 68 now, and gorgeous. And on a reunion tour with James Taylor, who I also love, with three members of his original band. The Wachovia holds 20,000 and it was a sold-out crowd.
The longtime friendship between King and Taylor – no, they were never married to each other – is obvious by the warmth that emanates from the stage. Their personalities are not larger than life like Lady Gaga’s or Beyonce (who, by the way, I also love) but full of normal, everyday, we’re-your-friends life. You honestly feel that when the concert ends they’ll text you and suggest you meet at Pat’s Steaks for a cheesesteak and diet coke.
The only special effects on the stage – other than the screens that blow up their image so even those of us in the cheap seats can see (Wachovia Center hosts the Philadelphia Flyers) – were limited to a few old still shots of King/Taylor in their youth. Even their dress – Taylor started out in slacks and a long sleeve button-down shirt as though he had just gotten off the train from work and didn’t have time to change – and King in black leggings, black tunic and high heel boots – was understated. And after intermission they returned to the stage both wearing jeans. The only part of their wardrobe that stood out was King’s mane of curls – blonde with an ever so slight tinge of whitish-gray.
I’m still riding high today, my head filled with sounds of her singing “Natural Woman.” I must be some old time geek. Who born after say, 1980, would be a fan of Carole King’s and James Taylor’s? After all, James Taylor’s wasn’t the only bald head shining up at me last night.
So on the way to the concert when I received a text from my son, I felt just a teeny bit apologetic when I explained our destination.
“Who r u seeing?”
“Don’t laugh,” I texted back. “Carole King and James Taylor.”
Then I waited for his “Who?” response, or some cutesy reference to my age.
Instead I got:
“That’s awesome. I love JT.”
Me too.
What an amazing concert! Truly the most intimate show I’ve ever seen in such a large venue. It’s incredible how many lives they have touched with their music.
Thanks for the memories!
Comment by Lisa Gressen — June 17, 2010 @ 12:09 pm
Like a wonderful gift that keeps on giving, they’ve been showing up on PBS and on the morning talk shows!
Comment by Ellie Fisher — June 18, 2010 @ 10:03 am