Luis Miguel has had a career that spans decades, but many times the love life of the elusive artist has seemed to overshadow that.
Yet nothing could outshine the 42-year-old’s long-lasting work Friday night, as Verizon Wireless Amphitheater filled up with fans eager to hear less about his next conquest than to watch their beloved childhood-star-turned-heartthrob cheese it out with his wide smile and bronze skin, taking them all the way back to the '80s and every musical stop in between.
“It has been a wonderful privilege that you have given me these (past) 30 years,” he said in Spanish to an all-ages crowd, many of whom were dressed to impress, particularly women in sparkly attire. “Twenty years are nothing ... 30 years, who knows?” he continued, offering to sing bits from throughout his repertoire.
“It’s been a while since I sang boleros live (and) mariachi,” said the Mexican star, causing an uproar of cheers for this rare O.C. appearance.
His teaser worked to a T. The biggest ovation came when “Luismi” (as he's endearingly known) yelled out “¡Viva Mexico!” as a mariachi ensemble stepped onto the stage playing the recognizable tune “La Negra.” That kicked off a potpourri of traditional Mexican songs, including “El Rey,” “Cielito Lindo” and “El Viajero,” with flashes of the Mexican flag on video screens. The entire segment kept everyone out of their seats, singing, clapping and dancing nonstop.
But nothing compared to the ending, when he sang “Viva Mexico,” the classic anthem that demands nothing less than a celebratory atmosphere -- which is exactly what it garnered, just as images of Mexico’s gold medal soccer win against Brazil at the London Olympics flashed on screens behind him.
Needless to say, Miguel, often referred to as “El Sol de Mexico” (or The Sun of Mexico, which is ironic considering he was born in Puerto Rico), played to the power of mariachi music. (It merits noting that mariachi music recently joined Mexican food as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as categorized by UNESCO.) That segment was, without question, the highlight of Miguel’s entire performance. While there were similarities between this show and his performance early last year at Gibson Amphitheatre, those who only saw the L.A. gig were robbed of the full mariachi experience this O.C. audience was lucky to see.
Miguel wasn’t shy about playing up the crushes women all over the world have had on him for years, handing out white roses (at times tossing them) to screaming female fans, while also receiving his share in return, including two bouquets and a couple of leis. He seemed more than willing to shake hands with people in the front row, although his security was equally ready to scurry up behind him each time he leaned over, holding onto the singer by his pants in case he lost his balance or was pulled down by an anxious fan.
He also pumped up the crowd with his air guitar abilities, but I didn’t catch any of his famous kick moves. Did anyone else notice those? Regardless, he and his supporting players conjured a nearly two-hour show that kept fans delighted from beginning to chants of “¡otra!” (encore), which brought “Micky” (another nickname) back for another tune.
Miguel kept it classic all night, right down to his wardrobe. Originally emerging in a traditional suit and tie, he later ditched the top for a black shirt and vest. (Will we ever see him in jeans and a shirt? Not likely.)
As promised, he dabbed in all corners of his catalog, including a groovier, nontraditional version of Consuelo Velázquez's well-known 1940 piece “Bésame Mucho,” plus his catchy “Sol, Arena y Mar” and the romantic ballads “Por Debajo De La Mesa” and “Contigo en la Distancia,” which Miguel referred to as “one of the most beautiful boleros.”
“¡Bien querido público!” Miguel said, giving props to fans for their passionate reception. “Very nice! Great applause, let me hear it, let me hear it, please,” he told the crowd in Spanish.
He also went back to the early ’80s with pop/rock hits such as “Decídete,” "La Chica del Bikini Azul" and “Isabel,” though my personal fave by far was “Ahora Te Puedes Marchar.” The nostalgic reaction to his interpretation of "No Me Puedes Dejar Así," from his 1983 album Decídete, also proved how many admirers in attendance here have been following Miguel’s career from the beginning.
Changing the pace between slower ballads like “La Incondicional” (whose brief video clip drove women wild) to the more upbeat “Dame Tu Amor,” he even added a little something from Ol' Blue Eyes via his rendition of “Come Fly with Me,” performed as a duet with Sinatra on screen.
A lady, who sounded fairly inebriated, may have said it best while walking back to her car: “We just had a good time!” That's probably an understatement for most in attendance this night.
