Alfons Getto predicts that it has the potential to fill completely different, very large halls. Before that might happen, Gerry Getto-Marz and he managed, due to the corona virus, to bring the power woman from Essex to the southern Palatinate in the third attempt – “the nicest region in Germany”, as the organizer boldly claims.
Georgia Crandon retaliates with a laugh in German, something like this: “N’gun Abond, how is it?” – and immediately has the 170 people in the hall on her side. Previously, she sang the pop rock song “The best day of my life” to get started. Feel-good music that almost everyone knows, and you’re happy to clap along with it.
Catchy tunes, reinterpreted
The 25-year-old artist, who is touring Germany for the first time, accompanies herself on keyboards but also has strong support from her two-man band. Kian Russell, guitar, and Harry Denton, drums, are discreet backing accompanists for most of the evening. Only once do they show their own considerable musical potential through solos.
“Retro swing” is the label used in announcements for Georgia Crandon and band’s music. Want to say that the British power woman musically recycles songs from bygone times. But that’s not pure nostalgia. She interprets the catchy tunes in her very own way, with enormous stage presence, with strong rhythmic use of the body and with this voice, which at times softly, at times loudly, seemingly effortlessly takes hold of the space.
Red hair to shake and tousle
There’s also something for the eyes, and that has to do with Georgia Crandon’s incredibly thick mane of flaming red hair, which, so to speak, underlines her strong music with every movement. Such hair is easy to shake and tousle, and she does it extensively. The red dim light that is used from time to time, which the man at the mixing desk lights up precisely, fits in with this.
“These boots are made for walking” sings Georgia Crandon and shows her red boots under the elegant trouser suit. Nancy Sinatra interpreted the song in the 1960s. The young Englishwoman is following in big footsteps – not only in this piece – but she doesn’t imitate her role models. Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin are also included. Even Frank Sinatra’s “My way” is part of their large repertoire. The classic begins melodically, catchy, so that the audience is already plucking the tea lights from the tables and waving them. But then rocking tones set in and the candles are quickly put back. The singer plays with expectations and is good for surprises.
Beaming eyes in the audience
Georgia Crandon sings authentically, with passion and temperament, often with enormous vocal power. But the considerable volume never seems intrusive. But then there are also delicate passages to listen to and let linger. Each note like a part of a musical landscape.
The audience – some of whom have come from far away, a few from the village – is enthusiastic from the start. They are older people who know the early pop songs from their youth and celebrate hearing them once more with bright eyes. But young fans also cheer for the power singer. She has fun, poses for the cell phone cameras and, following the last note of the third encore has faded away, patiently signs a few leftover posters. Who knows what they’ll be worth in a few years’ time, says Alfons Getto
