Date: 15 December 2004
Originally published in: Evening Chronicle (UK)
Written by: Melanie Wrightman
Remember the music of the 80s? School discos and saving your pocket money to buy the latest number one? If you recall the above, surely you were at the Newcastle Arena last night. If not, you missed the cream of 80s pop chart music, and a tip top night out.
First up was Limahl, of Kajagoogoo fame, with hits such as Too Shy and Never Ending Story, a good first choice of the set. The Bucks Fizz line-up, in authentic 80s fashion, caused quite a stir, singing Land Of Make Believe before the encore of Making Your Mind Up – and yes, the skirts were ripped off!
Maintaining the momentum, on came Nik Kershaw, entertaining the crowd as was expected. He understood the purpose of the evening perfectly, joking about singing a song from his new album before going straight into favourites such as Wouldn’t It Be Good and I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me.
To tumultuous applause, on came Belinda Carlisle, wowing the crowd with amazing hits such as Live Your Life, I Get Weak, Leave The Light On and Circle In The Sand before proving that Heaven Is A Place on Earth with an amazing rendition.
Kim Wilde stunned the crowd in black leather, singing Kids In America and You Came.
Last to take the stage was Midge Ure, minus the rest of the Ultravox clan, crooning Dancing With Tears In My Eyes, as well as If I Was and Fade To Grey. The tear-jerking encore to the concert was when all of the featured artists sang Do They Know It’s Christmas, which, incidentally, Midge Ure co-wrote with Bob Geldof.