Here come the (old) girls: Lulu, Chaka Khan and Anastacia to roll back the decades with festive supergroup

They have been household names for longer than they care to remember three women whose careers have helped to define popular music.

And now singers Lulu, Chaka Khan and Anastacia combined age 156 have joined forces to form a "supergroup", with a series of concerts across the UK this Christmas.

Organisers claim the venture, Here Come The Girls, will be a ‘footstomping, high octane, tongue-in-cheek musical extravaganza that will have everyone dancing in the aisles "despite the performers" advanced years.

Driven to succeed: Chaka Khan, Anastacia and Lulu will perform a series of concerts across the UK.
The concert series is the brainchild of Steven Howard, the producer behind the successful Viva La Diva stage show featuring ballerina Darcey Bussell and opera singer Katherine Jenkins.

He said the show would ‘see the the girls sing and dance to their favourite songs from the Sixties right through to the Noughties’.

Together, the trio certainly span pop’s decades. Lulu Kennedy-Cairns OBE, 60, first emerged with the single Shout in 1964.

US singer/songwriter Chaka Khan, 56, is best remembered for her 1978 hit I’m Every Woman, while American modern-day diva Anastacia – at 40 she is the baby of the trio – released her fourth studio album last year.
Songs being considered include Lulu’s Shout, Respect by Aretha Franklin and It’s Raining Men by the Weather Girls. Other possibilities are Lady Marmalade by Labelle and Bootylicious by Destiny’s Child.

Mr Howard said: ‘We have glitz, glamour, half-naked men and non-stop hits and are hoping it will be the must-see Christmas show of 2009. It will be centred on the three superstars, each with their own unique sense of style and humour.

The show will see the girls sing and dance to their favourite songs through the decades. It should appeal to fans of Sex In The City and Mamma Mia! It will be all about big hair, big heels and big voices.’

He added: ‘A show like this was something Lulu always wanted to do and we worked the idea up after we met a couple of years ago. Chaka Khan and Anastacia were her dream artists.

They are all quite similar vocally and it was not hard to persuade them. They all wanted to do something different.’

The first show is in Edinburgh on November 21 and the trio will then tour the UK, including London, Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham, before ending on December 21.


All the concerts will be held in intimate theatre-style venues, such as London’s Hammersmith Apollo, which hosts a gig on December 2. A full list of dates will be announced tomorrow.

More info- video interview & Pics at
http://www.publispain.com...39&t=52168

Anastacia was good but I wouldn't consider her career as 'helping to define popular music'. And I hope they drop 'Bootylicious', Otherwise I might actually go and see this

jiorjios said:

Oh wait a minute, has it finished already?

i would love to have seen this. i remember getting an email about it. i'd go for Anastacia and i enjoy some of LuLu's songs. i saw Chaka do one song live before and was disappointed. i'll stick to her 'hits' collection on cd. lol.

I've ALWAYS wanted Ms.Stevens to work with Anastacia good news

Harlepolis, thanx for the videos...

Yes, I'm sorry... It's gone already. Didn't realised before putting it here.
The setlist was this and I wish I could have been there.

Act 1
"Girls"
"I'm Every Woman"
"One Day in Your Life"
"Independence"
"The Beat Goes On"
"Ain't Too Proud to Beg"
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
"I Can't Turn You Loose" / "Soul Man"
The Supremes Medley:
"Stop! In the Name of Love"
"Baby Love"
"You Keep Me Hangin' On"
"Dancing in the Street"
"Mercy"
"Respect"
Royal Dance Medley (Interlude):
"Vogue"
"Billie Jean"
"Scream"
"Rhythm Nation"
"I Feel for You" (contains excerpts from "Just Dance" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)")
"I'm Outta Love"
"Proud Mary"

Act 2
"Lady Marmalade"
"Hot Legs" (Dancers Interlude)
"Ain't Nobody"
"Bad Girls" / "Hot Stuff"
"Left Outside Alone"
"Shout"
"Through the Fire"
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)"
"Disco Inferno" / "Night Fever"
"I Will Survive"
"Angels"
"Relight My Fire" (contains excerpts from "Crazy in Love")
"Girls"

Great set

But to be honest, I'd have probably kept my distance considering the reputation of Chaka's live sets recently

actually Anastacia is hugely underrated and forgotten because she doesnt work in the USA anymore, people forget the world market is much bigger

lastdecember said:

but what happened to her in the rest of the world? She used to be huge in Europe, but now i don't hear anything from her anymore...

This is so beneath Chaka. What the hell is she doing touring tacky-ass covers with Lulu and Manastacia? What an injustice.

MattyJam said:

Thats what paying Uncle Sam demands sometimes; doing shit thats beneath you.

Knowing Chaka's musical integrity though,,,I don't think it will affect her that much.

And hell, the industry has such contempt against chubby black women with a certain age,,,if she's finding steady work, I'm content and happy.
[Edited 12/28/09 2:45am]

Harlepolis said:

She's lived in London for years now. I'm unsure why.

Harlepolis said:

Chaka's got her own clothing range at Evans (a British fashion store for larger ladies).

http://www.evans.co.uk/Chaka-Khan

She's still paying the rent, one way or another.

GirlBrother said:[quote]

Harlepolis said:

Yeah, she bought a home in London in the early 90s,,,but I think she still owns her home in NYC(If I'm not mistaken)

That is SO cool about the clothing line though, I didn't know she released it She talked about it briefly in Wendy's interview(that was back in 2007), I'm so glad she put the idea in action.

Mong said:

I see, and did you like it or did she stick it up too far?
[Edited 12/28/09 7:07am]

Wow, you are SO funny.

Mong said:

Thank you

Harlepolis said:

MattyJam said:

Hey,she's got bills to pay just like everyone else I don't think this concert tour is degrading or embarassing for her.

Anastacia is ok but nothing special...she's just a less talented and slightly younger version of Taylor Dayne. Taylor could sing circles around her any day.


Why is Chaka doing this?

mimi2 said:

She has bills to pay Her attitude is probably "a gig's a gig".

SoulAlive said:

I don't know whats the big deal either?

Folks are acting like she's doing a karaoke bar or something

Harlepolis said:

I'm cool with it if she's doing it cuz she's gotta pay the bills, but it's a cheap move. For a start, the three of them touring together like some tragic nostalgia act just reeks of desperation. To make matters worse, they aren't even touring their own songs.

Don't get me wrong, I love Chaka Khan. Funk This was a great little record and I dig What Cha Gonna Do For Me as much as the next ol-skool R&B fan. But this tour is just cheap, nasty and desperate.
[Edited 12/29/09 7:32am]

Since when is 40 "old"? Pffft.

Add 5 years to Anastacia's age. She is a freak. [Snip - luv4u]