Floz
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Newsletter, originally from GG on the Asian Tour contains loads of news and piccies about the asia tour and interviews and related promotion.
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/snowdr...cles/News45.htm
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Thanks to Snowdrop for this (15th March 2004)
UK TOUR AFTERMATH
Sneak had the following feature. (with a lovely pic too)
The text says:
Gareth Gates showed off his new skills as a mean mover and a sweaty rock star during his recent UK tour, he grooved raunchily on stage and showed off his guitar and drumming skills!
But it was Gareth's talking that got the loudest cheer. After months of intensive voice coaching, Gaz proved that he's put his troubled year well and truly behind him.
.........the star’s stammer seems almost cured, allowing him to perform with a new, superstar confidence. Watch out Robbie!
Of course some parts of the press weren’t quite so honest and tried to stir up trouble – even going so far as to suggest Gareth was miming his guitar, but thankfully some parts of the media refused to play ball. This included Fiona Phillips on GMTV, who made a point of saying she felt his press was unfair and it was out of order. She told of how in her capacity as columnist for The Mirror she’d received many, many emails of praise including this one in response to the previous week’s section on the importance of music in schools ….
Golden Gates
I read Fiona Phillip's comments on the importance of music in schools with interest (Daily Mirror, March 6). I took my niece to see Gareth Gates recently and was gobsmacked by his talent.
He sang live, played piano, guitar and drums. He danced, spoke to fans and you could see the look of joy on his face. I had tears in my eyes.
This resulted in a direct comment from Fiona in her weekly column in the Daily Mirror:
I've received many e-mails this week about a certain pop idol. One lady said she was "gobsmacked to witness his musical talents".
Another was "blown away by his medley on piano, guitar and wow what a drum solo he performed".
"His sheer talent and enthusiasm had the crowd raising the roof," said another who liked the show.
Surely they can't be talking about the same Gareth Gates who is performing to half-empty auditoriums according to some poisonous critics?
A lot of new members joined the GG boards after the tour and many of those have taken time to post complimentary comments. The positive feedback keeps rolling in and a few samples are quoted below:
The first was from Hooley
I went to Wembley and was totally blown away by Gareth’s amazing talent!
This was the 3rd time I’ve seen him live but it was by far the best. Totally awesome.
I was so touched by the way you could tell he was really enjoying himself and being able to talk to the audience, for him, must have been wonderful. I had tears in my eyes a few times
I’m no spring chicken either. I’m a 48 year old male and I’ve been to loads of gigs in my time but Gareth’s was one of the best!
You Rock Gareth!!
Keep it up
Paul
The following was from Bella boo boo
Last night my sister and I went to Manchester Evening News Arena to see the Pop Idol tour. The doorman was taking out tickets started to explain where our seats were. We told him that we knew where we were going as we are regulars at the arena we had been also been there last week. He asked whom we had been to see last week and we told him it was Gareth.
He then said that he was in the actual arena that night. He said that he was a bit apprehensive at first, because people had told him that Gareth was rubbish and couldn't sing, so he wondered what sort of night he was going to have. But he said that he thought Gareth was absolutely wonderful and what a talented young man he is, he was amazed by his voice and also his musical abilities he particularly liked it when he played the drums. He then finished by saying that he wished that some of these people who had said the bad things about him could have seen him live so he could prove his talents to them.
Liz/Sarah had told us how she planned to surprise her daughter with tickets for the MEN? Here is what happened ….
I gave her the envelope tied in the red ribbon with hearts stuck all over the it, and her hands started to shake. She asked me to open the envelope for her. When she saw her ticket she was so excited, and I told her I had mine and her friend’s (who is 16 years old and was not such a big Gareth fan, but she is now!). All the way to the arena Sarah talked non stop about Gareth, and how she wanted to kidnap him and bring him home with us, and the friend driving us said, but he would have to come to church with us on Sunday.
The concert - what can I say, that has not already been said, except out of this world. It was worth keeping the secret, to see the sheer excitement on Sarah’s face, and she had a night that she will remember for a long time to come. I loved every second of that concert, and Gareth has made a lot of people very happy.
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A selection of fan's reactions - and the set list. Originally posted by Mum's the Word on GG
First we have a general consensus that the whole tour has been a resounding success, with Gareth performing before over 50,000 excited and happy people within the space of a week. Gareth also told us in his diary that he had been working very hard rehearsing since his return from Asia and they had built a special mock-up of the set in Pinewood Studios.
A special warm welcome to all new board members who have posted just to say how much they enjoyed it.
The following shows the list of songs performed with such energy and accomplishment:
Concert Songs (Feb/March 2004)
Unchained Melody
Foolish
**Freak My Baby
Soul Affection
**Just Say Yes
**Enough Of Me (Gareth on electricguitar)
*Sentimental
Sunshine
Piano Medley:
Thats When You Know
Hard To Say I’m Sorry
Overjoyed
What My Heart Wants To Say
Suspicious Minds
Suspicious Minds (Play Off)
Drumming session
**Club Hoppin’
**Grove With Me
Grease
**All Cried Out
**Go Your Own Way
Anyone Of Us
Spirit In The Sky
Say It Isnt So
* Gates, co-written song off first album
**Gates, main song writer second album
But, the concert was much more than just a list of songs. It was a showcase for an amazing array of talent – songwriter, singer, instrumentalist (saxophone, trombone and flute will have to wait until the next concert), dancer, storyteller, magician. In short Mr Entertainer.
Gifts for Gareth
Well, there were lots of presents lavished on our boy at the ‘Meet and Greets’ including a jigsaw, flowers, chocolates, pictures, maps and charts, but this one really takes the biscuit, thanks to Pinky, Helen, Ava, Roz and Chan:
The following are a selection of soundbites and observations from people actually at the concert venues:
This account could probably speak for all venues:
Shellcoll
“What a night! I can't believe it. I'm still on a high. Can't stop talking and thinking about it. This was a different Gareth to the amazing Tour we saw last year. In control, even more confident, able to interact with the audience. He showed himself to be the multi-talented artist that we all knew he was, and as well as that, a professional musician. It wasn't just a concert either, it was a show.
On a lighter note, they've got the hairstyle perfect now. The first outfit to me was the best. Really chunky pale blue denim , casual and cuddly. The dance moves they looked so natural.
Foolish fans...you will NOT be disappointed. Vocals were spot on, with no adaptions and perfect pitch as always.
Spirit In The Sky is superb too. The dance has been adapted and looks much funkier, and there he wears the black suit.
I think for me the most astounding bit was Gareth on electric guitar in Enough Of Me, although it's a toss up between that and the drum 'scene'. Knock me down with a feather.”
Six Nights with Mr Gates
Sugarboxgirl and her mum, Gareth’s Melody, just created a new world record after spending six nights with Mr Gates, and having the time of their lives!!
But for us mere mortals, the following selection is quite any eye opener:
GLASGOW 28th February
198617 “………. I took my sister with me and she really couldn't stand him, and in Glasgow kept on moaning saying to me I would be better of going alone with out her. But when he got on the stage he gave a wicked performance, shocking her and showing her that she was so wrong. She even screamed more than me and I had to drag her away. She even boasted to her friends when we got home that he was way better than any concerts she had been too. So I am very pleased about that my posters can stay. So as you can tell, I had the time of my life.”
BIRMINGHAM 29th February
Matilda
“I was touched by all the youngsters in the Disabled section, all clutching their banners and light strobes and souvenirs, and the joy on their faces when Gareth appeared.
I was touched by the reaction of the audience when they first saw Gareth and all as one rose to their feet, and the incredible noise of the drumming of their feet and the sound of their screaming was so moving.
When he started to speak and with only small hesitations showed us how brilliantly he has worked on his speech, the lump in my throat was enormous.”
Connie Gates
“I knew he could play drums but had never seen it. Wow, I would have expected piano and guitar, but drums was an added bonus!!!!
What really made my night was seeing him perform 'Enough of me' on that gorgeous (to match its owner) Gibson Le Paul guitar. I just loved the way he stood with it. Made me go all weak at the knees!”
Sweetie Pie
“I loved the bit where he had some fluff on his face and he stopped in the middle of his song and asked where it was, and then his make up man came on and got it off and did his hair. That was funny.
Oh, and the bra that someone threw on the stage and he said I AM KEEPING THAT and slung it over his shoulder”
SHEFFIELD 2nd March
Wicked Laydeee (about the meet and greet)
“LMAO! And I'm pleased to say that I didn't cry INFRONT of him! LOL! I was shaking like a leaf! He was signing my stuff and I was talking to him fine then he looked up at me with his little puppy dog eyes and I kinda lost it! LMAO! Just stood there gazing into his eyes and he was there staring at me! Lol! How embarrassing! As soon as I got out of the door and down the corridor a bit I burst into tears! Lol! I was shaking still and I was going "I’m gonna ring my mum!" LOL! When I was having my picture taken with him, he actually put his hand on my ass & was kinda rubbing & squeezing it! *Faints!* ”
…….and this is about the concert itself
Maggiemags
“Just home - and I loved every minute of it. My friend who came with me and is not a particular fan was absolutely blown away. She couldn't get over his speech, his singing or his instrument playing - don't think she's ever seen him play.
I can't get over his voice. I often worry that we hype ourselves up on here to believe he's something more than he actually is, but no. I was captivated by every sound he made - brilliant.”
NEWCASTLE 3rd March
Mar
“I was there too, I was flying over from Holland to see Gareth and he was amazing. A taxi driver who take us from the airport to the hotel, asked us if we were going to the football game !!!! NO, we said, we are going to Gareth Gates.
He said, “What???? you are travelling so far to see Gareth singing????? Then he must be very special!”
Gareth’s show was fantastic, and he’s speaking was very good. I am so happy that we have seen Gareth. I’ll never forget it. It was GREAT.”
MANCHESTER 4th March
OldieGazet
“OMG what a brilliant show it was!!!! Gareth is a TRUE STAR, he has been born to be a STAR and be on stage!!!!!!!
The best thing is that a lot of people changed their mind about Gareth. When the concert finished I heard a lot of people saying: 'I didn't really know that he is so talented', even security was saying that!!!!”
Alijess
I am a 39 year old mum who took her daughter to see Gareth at the MEN last night, and god has he got talent, and boy can he play those drums. I am truly certain that this Tour will give Gareth the overdue recognition that he so deserves and that the critics can finally choke on their words after saying that he was just another Pop Idol flop!! “
WEMBLEY 6th March
Gee Gee
It’s amazing what you can learn in toilet queue-
“I was talking to a young girl at the end who said she had gone off him a bit recently, but after last nights show she was definitely “back on" and a huge fan again. We were all on a high and saying about how we all loved him no matter how old we were. One teenager I was talking to said that her aunt was crying and there she was in the queue crying (not a youngster either). Another older lady said WOW, I am now going home to ravage my husband. That made me laugh.”
Ripple
Hey, I think I've been converted into a Gareth fan! I went to see it last night with a friend who adores him.…..wasn't sure if I was going to like it but it was surprisingly good! I really like his new music...not so keen on he's original music...not really into the proper cheesy pop music, but he's new stuff is wicked!!!
Can I just say he is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO talented, I didn't realise he could play all those different instruments and dance so well! I knew he would sing live and I really respect artists who do that!
Laylax
Well, I've never been a huge Gareth fan, but when my friend said she had a spare ticket and would I like to go. I said yes. And I am so glad I went. It was absolutely great and I can’t believe what a lovely bloke Gareth is. He is a sweetheart. He blew me away - that’s quite strange coming from someone who loves Eminem. Well, Gareth you’ve done yourself justice, and no matter what anyone thinks of you, you are truly talented. The best bit was when he was playing on the guitar. Didn’t he look proper hot!! My friend wouldn’t stop crying, bless her.
Frankie C
“Gary, my son. who doesn't mind me telling you he is 47. He has been to hundreds of gigs by many types of bands and roadied for my son Andy when he played in a heavy metal band some years ago. He said,"I have enjoyed the concert very much and Gareth is a very talented young man who should have a long career. He must be allowed to "go his own way" and do his own thing and not be restricted by his management".
I have to say that coming from a mature man (son or no son) who knows quite a lot about music, what he said about Gareth warms my heart.
Night Crawler
I came by coach……..When we stopped at one place to pick up there were 4 elderly ladies and I said to my friend, “They are not going to see Gareth.” Lo and behold on the coach they jumped. When we got to Wembley they sat right behind us. When Gareth came out the screams from them were deafening, and all I kept hearing when they weren’t screaming was “Oh Gareth, Oh Gareth, Oh, look at him.” In the row in front was an elderly man with his son, he was bopping about all night and the look on his face was a picture. He was having the time of his life.
It wasnt just screaming kids and teenagers. There were older fans having the time of their lives as well. I forgot to say, I saw some bikers come in as well -perhaps they had heard about the drums and guitar.
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The Birmingham Evening Mail Review
No Idol boast! Mar 1 2004
By Anna Jeys, Evening Mail
Pop sensation Gareth Gates proved his worth as a talented musician in the Birmingham leg of his national tour.
The crowd went wild for the Pop Idol finalist as he blasted out well-known hits like Sunshine, Suspicious Minds and Any One of Us.
As well as his impressive vocals, the young singer displayed his talents on the drums, piano and electric guitar proving he is much more than just a pretty face.
Bradford-born Gareth kicked off the concert with his massive hit Unchained Melody and the crowd responded with deafening cheers and screams.
Despite struggling with his speech slightly, he stopped several times throughout the concert to talk to the audience and thank them for their support.
After a couple of hits from his current album, he threw in a medley of some of his favourite songs including Chicago's Hard to Say I'm Sorry.
Next followed a rendition of Grease is the Word and, despite admitting to the audience that he is not a natural dancer, he kept up well with his four female dancers throughout.
The 19-year-old finished off his set with his Comic Relief single Spirit in the Sky followed by the ballad Say It Isnt So.
Judging by the crowd's reaction on this leg of his first solo tour, Gareth Gates could be riding high in the pop charts for quite some time to come.
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Newcastle Review-Gareth Charms Crowds
Gates charm's crowd Mar 4 2004 By Claire Rees And Charlotte Stacey, The Journal
Gareth Gates,
Metro Radio Arena,
Newcastle
The famous spikes had gone and in their place was a Hoxton mullet as Gareth Gates continued his Go Your Own Way tour at the Metro Radio Arena last night.
Midway through his first solo dates, the Bradford-boy had ditched his white suit for ripped jeans and an altogether less cardboard cut-out routine.
The 3,000 young fans compensated for empty seats with noise and loyalty. They went wild every time his image flashed up on the giant TV screens either side of the stage.
By the power of video link, Cat Deeley introduced Gareth, who opened the show with his chart-topping debut single Unchained Melody.
Ballads over with, Gareth gyrated on the edgy rooftop stage set with raunchy female dancers in a break away from his clean-cut Pop Idol image.
A self-conscious dancer, Gareth showed off new moves to a backdrop of red-brick platforms and scaffold staircases. He's been practising, apparently.
He also surprised us with a string of musical skills which he has kept quiet until now - playing the drums and keyboard with his band.
Gareth joked with the audience about the stammer which cemented him in the hearts of the public.
You couldn't knock him for genuine charm and self-deprecation that won over the crowd.
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newcastle review (evening chronicle)
His own way Mar 4 2004
Two years ago, Gareth Gates could do no wrong, and sell-out shows at Newcastle's Arena were second nature to him as he rolled with the Pop Idol bandwagon.
But how would he cut it on his own, without Will Young and the gang there to support him? Not too badly at all, if his debut solo show at the Arena is anything to go by.
From the moment Gareth stepped down from his podium in a cloud of showbiz stardust that mere mortals can only dream of, it was clear this performance was first and foremost about creating a feel-good party atmosphere.
Acknowledging his setting with a cheeky "howay", the evening kicked off with his chart-topping debut single, Unchained Melody, with the crowd, largely made up of young teens and their mums, rising to their feet, welcoming back to the Toon everyone's favourite runner-up.
After sharing anecdotes of local heroes Ant and Dec, Gareth was joined on stage by his group of female dancers.
An impressive array of pyrotechnics and well-choreographed dance moves followed, setting the pace for the funky Soul Sensation.
Taken from his recently released second album, Go Your Own Way, the brass-led party anthem, which has been penned as a forthcoming single, went down well despite being on its debut live outing.
Unlike his first batch of Simon Cowell-guided covers, Gareth's new material is largely his own work. Unfortunately, though, this newfound independence doesn't transpire into all-out originality, suggesting Gareth is stepping aboard the R&B bandwagon that has dominated the charts of late.
Despite the fact he covered no new ground, his contemporary, up-tempo numbers, reminiscent of Justin Timberlake, made a refreshing change to the mushy, piano-driven ballads of his debut album.
However, a few of these earlier numbers crept into the set, namely What My Heart Wants To Say and the somewhat drab Anyone Of Us (Stupid Mistake).
Breezing through his act like a seasoned professional, it was obvious we were witnessing a more mature Gareth to the spiky-haired pop starlet that was the cheeky face of manufactured pop two years ago.
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What follows is a series of personal accounts and newspaper reports, originally posted on GG............
From Karen Pang on GG
13th Feb 2004,Friday
NB This was not actually during his Asian tour - but a showcase in Singapore earlier
This's the 1st ever I attended an autograph session.So when a chance to see Gareth Gates again then next day after his showcase to get his autographs again,I thought why not?
1-6pm:Even though the event starts at 6pm,I decided to be real cheesy & reached Suntec City at 1pm to scan the venue & see whether are people are queing up already.To my surprise,there was absoultely no one present at the tropical atrium,which's below Tower Records.After a quick lunch,I quickly went back to the tropical atrium & wow,there was a big stage with the same big billboard of him.I recongised that billboard,it was the same 1 as in yesterday's showcase!It's real cool & I started to be the 1st in line to queue up besides the barriers.Around 2.30pm,the queue started to be more crowded & during this time,I chatted with some fans & they were real nice & friendly.Around 3.30pm,Jiha's younger sister,Aisha,came & man,she's dead excited to see Gareth later on & yup,she really envious of Jiha of what she,*ahem*,did yesterday at the showcase & not to mention,meet & greet!
At around 5.30pm,my butt started to go numb for sitting too long on the floor.So much so that I was nearly been paralysed!I talked to some fans & they were surprisely calme & collected over this event & around this time,Jiha finally arrived ,straight after from school!
6-6.45pm:People started to stand up & go near the barriers since the autograph session is supposedly starting like NOW!Oh,we were so wrong!Power 98 DJs JA & Jermery Ratnam,hosts of this event,started to warm up the crowd & yup,gave away stuff like his autographed posters & also er,frisbees & T shirts with the power 98 logo.Everyone in the crowd to fidget & were real annoyed to be waiting for quite some time for Gareth.At 6.30pm,more posters were given off!
6.45-7.35pm:Finally,the moment that everyone had been waiting fro has arrived!Decked in a 2 way light brown & black top,blue jeans & a gorgeous spackling neckalce with a ring pendant around his neck,Gareth took to the stage & man,the crowd went wild!1stly,he belted out an acoustic version of GYOW together with his guitarist.It was smashing!Follow up,he sang AOU with AOU music background that's been played on the speakers!The next few songs he belted out are acoustic versions of enough of me,UM & SITS with his guitarist.It was unbelivable,he got everyone in the crowd to clap,scream & cheer for him!Believe me,the situation was quite chaotic in a good way.Lastly,he belted out SIIS & holy cosmicmuffin!The music of SIIS drowned the whole suntec city mall,with his amazing voice!Even JA & jeremy were blowed over by him!Amazing stuff!
7.35-7.45pm:Before the autograph session start,Gareth as cheeky as always,threw some more posters & also er,bottles of evian water again!,some white towels(with his sweat on his face!)& get this man,1 white bath towel(he naughtily wrapped the towel around Fred!Ahahahhahaa......& not to mention ,use it to wipe his face again!) & off they go into the crowd!
The autograph session offically starts at 7.45pm.Everyone queued & lined up in an orderely manner to get him to sign the album sleeves of the asian edition of GYOW.Finally,after a long wait,my turn finally arrived.Gareth,as polite as always everytime,I handled Gareth my album sleeves of GYOW for him to sign.Surprisely,he knew my name & I said to him:"Cool,you remember me,Gareth thanks!" & he replied to me cheekily :"Sure of course Karen.Yesterday at the rouge club,you told me to remember you for today &(naughtily)you forget so soon abt our date?!"I can't stop giggling & yup,he was just kidding!After the album sleeves were signed by him,I shook his hand again & thank him profusely before leaving the stage.Jiha & Aisha waited for me & both of them thank me endlessly to inviting them to experience this great occasion & yes,we 3 enjoyed ourselves tremendously & left for home.
My thoughts & feelings:As what I mentioned in my earlier report on his showcase+ meet &greet,this's absoultely flattering & amazing to witness such an event.Gareth is no doubt is a real down to earth,sweet ,friendly guy & what a big voice he has too!,despite his huge success with & after Pop Idol.It's amazing that he's still grounded despite all these incredible events that happened in his life.2 thumbs up for him from me!
I wish to make special thanks to BMG S'pore for giving me this great opportunity to meet Gareth twice in a row & not to mention,for organising his showcase,meet & greet,performance & autograph session.No doubt they were huge success.I felt real blessed & flattered to attend all these great events.
Many thanks to everyone in the boards in here,for 'taking care' of me,listening to my nonsense & tolerating my horrible behavior at times!It has been great knowing everyone in here for the past 7 months,ever since I joined here last July.A big hug & thanks to everyone.
May god bless you all & let's look forward to more happy & great events in the near future.
XxKarenXx
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So you did. Thanks
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What follows is a series of personal accounts and newspaper reports, originally posted on GG............
A selection from the tour reviews
GLASGOW
Gareth proved his critics wrong, with the high energy charged performance and left his fans wanting more as he strutted off stage.
BIRMINGHAM
Gareth carried the show with the utmost confidence.
The audience went wild when he performed energetic dance routines and to show he was not just a pretty face the star thrashed out a tune on an electric guitar, played two piano pieces and managed to perform an impressive drum solo.
SHEFFIELD
In a refreshing change to most of his pop peers the boy can sing and performed live throughout. He has worked hard to correct the stammer that helped rocket him to stardom and bravely spoke to his fans throughout encouraging anyone with "problems or disabilities" to overcome them.
No one can deny that Mr Gates has achieved a lot in the two and a half years since he first appeared on Pop Idol. He is the youngest British male to have a chart topping single, has won Record of the Year, written two books, collected several pop awards and now has a few million in the bank.
NEWCASTLE
How would he cut it on his own? Not too badly at all if his debut solo show at the Arena is anything to go by.
An impressive array of pyrotechnics and well choreographed dance moves followed.......Gareth's new material is largely his own work.
Breezing through his act like a seasoned professional it was obvious we were witnessing a more mature Gareth.....
MANCHESTER
His voice possesses a startling range that can take him from the bottom of the scale right up to the ear splitting highs and a versatility that soothes softly through the ballads, beats out to those blues and roars out rock
Okay, so he can write his own songs, but he can also play them too..........Gareth showed he's a very able musician, playing the guitar and keyboards with astonishing skills and the drums like a demon!
Truly an entertainer, the boy was born to perform!
...if you are as cynical and jaded as me you probably never expected him to play the guitar, drums and keyboard and sing his little lungs out for two whole hours........He danced, he sang, he rocked, and he banged on his drums!
NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS
Gareth Gates kicked off his Go Your Own Way Tour on Saturday and proved he is more than a karaoke kid. He showed us he can actually play not just the one musical instrument but two,(?) as he picked up the drums and electric guitar.
New track Go Your Own Way is a decent stab at blue eyed soul.....he plays suprisingly fantastic drums!
As the night wore on Gareth got less cute and more edgy, performing mature-sounding tracks such as Freak my Baby and Just Say Yes.
With thanks to Matilda on ggates who pulled them all together in the first place
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From 'Sheffield Today'
In a refreshing change to most of his pop peers the boy can sing, and performed live throughout. He has worked hard to correct the stammer that helped rocket him to stardom and bravely spoke to his fans throughout, encouraging anyone with "problems or disabilities" to overcome them.
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Liverpool Echo
There were no stupid mistakes for Pop Idol's Near-Miss-man when he took to the stage for his first solo tour.
Maybe because it was Manchester where he did his first audition for the TV Talent, which was to launch his Meteoric career, that Gareth gave it all.
From the first rich note of Unchained Melody, the spiky-haired singer showed everyone why he beat thousands of wannabes to fulfil his dream of pop stardom.
His voice possesses a startling range that can take him from the bottom of the scale right up to the ear splitting highs, and a versatility that soothes softly through the ballads, beats out to those blues and roars out rock.
Of course he sang his hits; Unchained Melody, Anyone of Us and Spirit in the Sky, the latter of which he offered as an encore, but Gareth strutted his way through a stunning version of suspicious minds, gyrating his hips almost as well as the king himself, and a well oiled version of Grease.
But it wasn't about the songs. This was about personal challenges, and for Gareth, the biggest was overcoming his speech impediment. Which he did!
Taking a break between songs he grinned: "I'm going to talk to you now. Why? Because I can!" And he happily chatted between sets showing a sense of humour and proving that at last the speech therapy is paying off. But then, this boy is full of surprises (and no I’m not talking about his affair with glamour model Jordan).
Okay, so he can write his own songs, but he can also play them too. Not happy with just singing the songs to which he'd learnt some very funky dance routines ("Can you tell I've been practising?") Gareth showed he's a very able musician, playing the guitar and keyboards with astonishing skills and the drums like a demon! He even showed off a magic trick he'd learnt.
Hard to believe this is all still relatively new to him, Gareth played the audience like a seasoned pro; loving and lapping up every second as four year olds to 54 year olds screamed, whistled and cheered.
Truly an entertainer, the boy was born to perform! 9/10.
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What follows is a series of personal accounts and newspaper reports, originally posted on GG............
Daily Record THE RAZZ: GARETH GIVES THEM A NIGHT TO REMEMBER Mar 1 2004
LIVE REVIEW: GARETH GATES
With Beverley Lyons And Lee-Ann Fullerton
GARETH GATES proved he is a true pop idol with a stunning stage performance in Glasgow.
The 19-year-old star kicked off his UK tour on Saturday night at the SECC and wowed the packed-out auditorium as he belted out his string of chart-topping hits.
The teenage heart-throb's stammer was virtually non-existent as he laughed and joked with his fans a first for Gareth on tour.
He even teased the girls, asking if they would like to see him in a kilt, and phoned to order himself a pizza for after the show.
Gareth really got the crowd going when he launched into Grease classic Summer Loving and danced across tables. An energetic performance of Comic Relief tune Spirit In The Sky also had fans screaming with delight.
Gareth took the heat off the crowd a little with a rendition of his No.1 hit Unchained Melody, getting fans to sing the lines with him.
The sexy singer made one lucky girl's night when he whisked her on stage to duet with him on Anything Is Possible.
Cute Gareth thanked his fans for sticking by him and even started a round of applause for his Glaswegian speech coach, Michael Hay, who helped him overcome his nerves. Gareth proved his critics wrong with the high energy-charged performance and left his fans wanting more as he strutted off stage.
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What follows is a series of personal accounts and newspaper reports, originally posted on GG............
From Moesey. Newcastle report
Just got back from Ncle tour had a cup of tea but feeling rather tired.heres me little story I wont go into concert content detail as other ppl have already done that and made a good job of it
Just before we were due to leave for the tour we found out Newcastle had a home game with kick off at 7.45pm.shock and horror at the thought of trying to get on the metro trains with thousands of football fans plus Gareth fans.we decided the best bet was to go to the station before the big interchange at Heworth.well it paid off.we had to stand but managed to get onIt is quite a walk to the arena from the Ncle station and it was pouring with rain so we got soaked but didn`t let it dampen our spirits we
Were to excited for that
Entered the arena about 7.10 looked ahead and what a thrill to see all those Gorgeous pics of Gaz staring you in the face omg what a welcome me and Alishia looked at each other and made a dash for the chaotic queue.as everybody else must have done the same on entry all wanting a piece of that our gorgeous Gaz.after fighting our way to the counter we got t shirts posters programme and a couple of those stick lights.gets to our seats armed with pop sweets binoculars and camera.all ready for the off.The supporting act .Skyndeep seemed quite good but we were just waitng for Gaz really and just wanted them to finishThere were different artists pics flashing on the monitors and every time Gareth appeared a tremendous roar went up.well Cat Deeley introduced Gareth on the monitors and we had lift off at 8.30am and we neva came back down to earth til 10.20pm
How he sang while doing all that dancing (eat your heart out Justin)just amazing .and the speech he`s just on a roll don’t think he can stop.His music abilities were exposed to the full and a great kick in the teeth to all those critics who acuse him of being talentless.Loved the bit where he brought a young girl called Jamie up on stage from the audience,when he asked “how old are you”everybody including Gaz thought she said 5 ya could sense him and everyone else thinking she looks old for 5 and then you could see the penny drop and he repeated”no how old are you not how are you”apparently she had said fine.and he laughed and she said 12.(don’t think he could cope with you older teenagers ya`s might wont more than just a chat)maybe he`s saving that for wembly.but he sang anyone of us to her and he was really lovely with her.bet she`ll neva forget that experience.His singing was superb I was really suprised at some of the notes he hit he was on top form and so fit.Im trying to pick a favourite song or performance of the night but I cant there were so many but I loved when he was sort of lying down and hanging over the front of the stage with that cheeky look on his face,it’s was a treat.didn`t want it to end really but all good things gotta end sometime,but what a fab!! night with all those lovely Gaz fans and of course GAZ
Dashed back for the Metro only to find the football match had just finished and Newcastle had won 3-1 so the football fans were as happy as us and we all had a great journey home.
Oh must mention had a good seat but still glad I took my binocs wow Gaz that close well worth it.
Maureen
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What follows is a series of personal accounts and newspaper reports, originally posted on GG............
From Rachel Gates on GG
*Reporting from Gareth studios,This Is Rachel Gates*
Last night Gareth took to the stage at Manchester Evening News Arena...In this Report I will Include my Full report But My Main Duty is to give you all FULL,FULL Details On the Performance!!!
Im quite Tired but I came here this morning because I wanted to give you all the details!
Here goes :
Thursday 4th March,The Day Id been waiting for to come. I had already been to NEC But because this time would be my last...This was the most special. I had to make the most of it.
I headed off on the Train to Manchester at about 12oclock,I wasnt planning on leaving that early originally but I couldnt wait any Longer!!
The Train didnt take too Long....(Wont Explain about the Actual Journey Dont worry!)
Me and My Mum got to Manchester Picadilly at 1oclock,Oh But wait....It was the wrong station! We were supposed to go into Victoria!!
So we had to Get a Tram upto Victoria which didnt take long.
Finally I saw the MEN!! WOOOOOOO!! Atleast I was now there!!
I went outside the Gates of the MEN and there were 2 other Fans (Nice meeting you Both)
....There was a Bus already inside the Yard bit and a few lorries and there was Vans going in and out for Drinks and Catering....Gareth Must have ordered!
But we didnt know whether GARETH was already in or not,The security said He was in there....But why was they waiting outside? Just for Fresh Air?! LOL
So we wasnt Tricked That easily!
Jess and Amy arrived then and they told us that Gareth wasnt there because That wasnt his bus,Might have been his Band bus or sumthing.
So we went away for a bit for a drink and to go the toilets and Jess and Amy had to go to the Hotel to Get Sharon and Yvonne and see whether Lauren had arrived yet.
So me and mum went Back to the MEN and waited....And waited.
Jess,Amy,Sharon and Yvonne Came back and we sat and waited for Gareth because we knew He would come at about 4!
There was more and more Fans arriving by the minute to try and catch a glimpse of MR GATES!! But My God he was cutting it short....2 hours almost we waited to Just see Him arrive!
Lauren had been driving up to Manchester and Had gotten Lost....Hunny You didnt have a very good day did you Darlin? But you got here in the end! (LOL at u Coming past and Beeping!)
And So did Gareth eventually!
We all saw a Bus turning the corner and we Just knew!!
And It was...When it went past we heard someone Banging the windows! Yes Gareth It was
So That cheered us up!!
Ill try and not ramble so Forgive me!!
We went into Macdonalds to have sumthing to eat coz we were starving!!!
We noticed that a Few of Gareths Family were there too,His mum must have been taking the Meet and Greets inside to meet Gareth.
Jess and Amy got to go in to see Gareth....Thank You Soooo Much for getting my programme signed!! Love yaz!!
I met with Lindsay Gates 4eva In Mcdonalds! Lovely meeting you too!!
PERFORMANCE REPORT
6.00ISH
THE DOORS OPENED A BIT EARLIER THAN WE EXPECTED,I MET WITH LINDA AND HER DAUGHTER AND A FEW OTHERS (CANT REMEMBER SORRY)
WENT IN TO BUY MERCHANDISE,GOT A POSTER COS ID ALREADY GOT THE PROGRAMME AND TSHIRT FROM NEC.
I WAS SEATED IN BLOCK A ROW D SO I WAS VERY HAPPY.
I MET UP WITH LOADS OF PEOPLE I HADNT YET MET REALLY INSIDE THE ARENA INCLUDING (SORRY IF I FORGET NAMES)
NADINE (GARETHSBABE) ,JENNI AND JAYNE , EMMA (MRS EMMA GATES),SNOWDROP,SENTIMENTAL AND HER DAUGHTER EMMA,I SAW DR FEVER BUT DIDNT SPEAK TO HIM BUT I STILL SAW YA!
THAT WAS IT I THINK....BUT THERE WAS LOADS OF PEOPLE THERE I WOULD SAY ABOUT 3/4 FULL?? ANYWAY I WAS HAPPY!
I WALKED ROUND A BIT,AND AMY AND JESS AND CO WERE IN FRONT ROW AND TOLD ME TO SIT DOWN
SO I DID....NOBODY WAS SITTING THERE YET AND WE THOUGHT THAT IF NOBODY COMES WE WILL STAY THERE! (WERE SO NAUGHTY GIRLS!!)
WE WERE WATCHING FOR PEOPLE TO COME....BUT IT LOOKED GOOD..THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST ID BE FRONT ROW!
THE SHOW STARTED AT 7.30 WITH THE GIRLBAND SKIN DEEP,I THINK THEY ARE PRETTY GOOD...THEY KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED BUT I WOULD BUY THEIR SINGLE SORRY
BY THE INTERVAL BEFORE GARETH CAME ON,NOBODY WAS COMING TO THE FRONT ROW!
WE NOTICED A FEW OF GARETHS FAMILY IN THE ARENA,AND ALSO KELLY AND HIS SPEECH COACH.
SOMEBODY TOLD ME SUZANNE WAS THERE,WHICH I THINK IS SWEET
8.30 - WE HAD MADE IT! NOBODY HAD CAME SO WE STAYED THERE!
LIGHTS WENT OUT....HE WAS HERE COMING ONTO STAGE PROBABLY....THE BUILD UP CONTINUED....THE SCREAMS WENT LOUDER....(WONT GIVE ANYTHING TOO MUCH AWAY)
I SAW HIM ON STAGE...MY HEART THUMPED AND I JUST WENT INTO A MAD SCREAM WE WERE ALL SO CHUFFED ON FRONT ROW THE MUSIC CAME ON.....HE SANG HIS FIRST SONG.
HE LOOKED GORGEOUS IN HIS BAGGY HOLEY JEANS! AND HIS JACKET AND BOOTS
DONT LOOK NOW IF YOU WISH TO NOT KNOW THE SONGS
- UNCHAINED MELODY WAS HIS FIRST SONG - THE ONLY THINGS I CAN SAY ABOUT THIS SONG IS,IT IS A VERY SPECIAL SONG TO PROBABLY ALL OF US AS IT WAS HIS FIRST SONG RELEASED. IT WAS A LOVELY SONG TO OPEN IT UP WITH FOR SURE
HE SANG PITCH PERFECT
MY STUPID CAMERA STOPPED WORKING AND I WAS LIKE NOOOOOO!! BUT I MANAGED TO GET A FEW
NEXT SONG WAS FOOLISH - WOW IS ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT THIS ONE!!! HE REALLY GETS INTO THE GROOVE ON THIS SONG!! ALL IM GOING TO SAY IS THE BIT ON THE FLOOR
AFTER THIS SONG HE WENT FOR SOME WATER AND BEGAN TO TALK,FOR US FANS IT IS NERVE WRACKING TO WATCH HIM SPEAK AS WE ALWAYS WORRY....LAST NIGHT HE DIDNT STAMMER ONCE IF I CAN REMEMBER.
HE WAS FULL OF CONFIDENCE AND MAY I SAY....HES CRAZY!!
HE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT WAS GREAT TO COME TO MANCHESTER AS THIS WAS WHERE IT STARTED FOR HIM WHEN HE AUDITIONED FOR POPIDOL
NEXT SONG HE SANG AFTER HE TALKED FOR A BIT WAS FREAK MY BABY - ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVOURITES! HIS DANCING IS SO GREAT!! I DONT KNOW WHERE,HOW HE LEARNT TO DO THIS BUT I WAS SHOCKED AGAIN!
ANYONE EVER NOTICED THAT HE CANT KEEP HIS LEGS STILL ONCE?! LOL EVEN WHEN HES NOT DANCING,HIS LEGS ARE ALWAYS MOVING!!
NEXT UP AFTER THIS SONG HE BEGAN TO TALK AGAIN...FULL OF CONFIDENCE....EACH MINUTE HE GRABBED A SECTION OF THE ARENA IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.
HE LOOKED VERY HAPPY TO BE THERE LAST NIGHT AS HE PROBABLY WAS FOR ALL ARENAS....AND HE WAS SLIGHTLY TEARY
HE SPOKE ABOUT HIS STAMMER AND HOW HE USED TO DO THINGS TO TRY AND GET HIS WORDS OUT WHEN HE WAS LITTLE SUCH AS TAPPING HIS LEGS,KISSING (AT THIS PART EVERYONE WENT MAD JUST BECAUSE HE MENTIONED KISSING!) AND ALSO TUTTING.
I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD AT THIS PART WHEN HE TOLD HOW HE WAS CALLED SKIPPY THE BUSH KANGAROO!! HE IS HILARIOUS
THE NEXT SONG HE SANG I FEEL WAS ONE OF HIS OWN PERSONAL FAVOURITES TO SING,SOUL AFFECTION - HE INTRODUCED THE SONG AS THOUGH HE WAS QUITE PROUD OF IT , THE SONG HE SANG BEAUTIFULLY AND HE WAS JUST FANTASTIC!!..I HAVE TO ADMIT BY THIS TIME I WAS PRETTY TEARY!
(HOPE NOBODY IS GETTING BORED?? IM TRYING TO KEEP IT INTERESTING AS POSS!)
AFTER SOUL AFFECTION,HE WENT STRAIGHT INTO JUST SAY YES WITH HIS DANCERS - THIS SONG ISNT ONE OF MY FAVES BUT IT DOES GET EVRYONE DANCING ABOUT AND GOING MAD!! AND I LOOKED AROUND AND THERE WAS LOADS WHO KNEW THE EXACT WORDS INCLUDING MYSELF! ....THE DANCING GOT BETTER AND BETTER AS HE WENT THROUGH THE SHOW AND I GOT MORE AND MORE FLUSHED!
NEXT BEFORE HIS NEXT SONG HE SPOKE FOR A LITTLE WHILE ABOUT HIS STAMMER AGAIN AND HOW HE WROTE SONGS AND PLAYED THE GUITAR AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS TO EXPRESS HIMSELF.
.....HE PUT THE GUITAR OVER HIS SHOULDER READY TO PLAY AND EVERYONE WENT CRAZY!!!
ENOUGH OF ME - HE SANG THIS SONG BRILLIANTLY,THIS IS ONE OF MY OTHER PERSONAL FAVES
HIS PLAYING ON THE GUITAR WAS GREATTTTT AND CAN I JUST SAY "YES YOU IDIOTIC PRESS WHO THINK HE WASNT PLAYING.....HAHA HE WAS!!" AND LIKE GARETH WOULD SAY "ROCK ON!!"
HE THEN HAD A LITTLE TALK ABOUT HIS DRIVING AND HOW HE HADNT PASSED YET," I FAILED ON TV" AND THE DRUMMER DID A DRUM ROLL....UUOOHH GARETHS GONNA KILL YOUU!!
GARETH WENT INTO A BIT OF A MOOD (ONLY FOR A JOKE) "WHAT YOU DOING MATE?? IF YOU WANNA DO THAT YOU CAN GO AND WORK FOR WILL YOUNG!!" AND MY FAVOURITE LAUGH EVER "MUAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA" HIS EVIL LAUGH!!
BUT I THINK HE WAS AFRAID PEOPLE WOULD THINK HE DIDNT LIKE WILL SO HE MADE A LOVELY COMMENT ABOUT WILL.
HE WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE NEXT SONG WHICH HE INTRODUCED AS THE FIRST SONG HE EVER WRITTEN FOR AN ALBUM.
SENTIMENTAL - HE SANG ALONG WITH HIS GUITARIST PLAYING BESIDE HIM...GOD GARETH MADE ME LAUGH WHEN HE WAS LOOKING AT HIM PLAYING THE GUITAR AND HE WAS SAYING "OOOO THATS NICE..OOOHH WELL DONE" LOL!! HES GONE MAD!!
HE THEN WENT OFF FOR A COSTUME CHANGE AS THE GUITARIST CONTINUED TO PLAY WHILE GARETH RUSHED TO GET DRESSED!
THE LIGHTS WENT OUT,AND THE SUN CAME OUT ON THE SCREENS....IT WAS SUNSHINE
GARETH CAME THROUGH THE STAGE ON THE PLATFORM AND HE BEGAN TO SING SUNSHINE...I LOVED THE VERSION OF IT AND I WAS ABSOLUTELY CHUFFED!! I STILL COULDNT BELIEVE I WAS IN FRONT ROW!!
THE DANCERS CAME OUT TO DANCE WHILE HE SANG,AND IT WAS GREAT!
HE WAS WEARING HIS WHITE SHIRT AND JEANS AND LOOKED STUNNING
AFTER THIS SONG IT WAS PIANO TIME
THE KEYBOARD WAS BROUGHT OUT AND GARETH SAT AND PLAYED WHILE HE SANG A FEW SONGS INCLUDING THATS WHEN YOU KNOW (AWWWWWW!!) I CRIED ON THIS SONG!
THEN HE SANG TWO COVERS,HARD TO SAY IM SORRY AND OVERJOYED
THEN HE SANG HIS OWN SONG WMHWTS AND THIS SONG WAS SO BEAUTIFUL AND YOU COULD TELL HE MEANT EVERYWORD.
GARETH THEN WENT INTO HIS ELVIS MODE!! "WERE CAUGHT IN A TRAP...I CANT WALK OUT" THEN WE SCREAMED "BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU TOO MUCH GARETH!!!
GARETH WAS SO FUNNY BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS SCREAMING AND WOULDNT LET HIM SPEAK AND HE WAS LIKE SHHHHHH!! LET ME FINISH!! HE LAUGHED WHEN HE HEARD US SAYING "WE LOVE YOU TOO MUCH GARETH"
"WELL IF YOU WANT TO SAY THAT THATS FINE!"
THEN HE SANG THE FULL VERSION OF SM.....AND EVERYBODY WAS SINGING ALONG THE BIT WHERE HE LIES ON THE FLOOR AND KISSES THE CAMERA OMG
NEXT WAS HIS BIG DRUM OFF!! WAHEYYYYYY!!
GARETH WENT TOTALLY MAD ON THIS PART!! FANTASTIC DRUMMER!!! HE DID A MASSIVE DRUM OFF FOR ABOUT 5 MINS....IT WAS LIKE LOOKING AT A TEENAGER IN HIS ROOM PLAYING BY HIMSELF! HE WOULDNT LISTEN WHEN HIS BAND TOLD HIM IT WAS TIME TO STOP...NOOOO BECAUSE HE WAS ENJOYING IT!
THE DRUMMER GOT A MASSIVE COB ON BECAUSE NAUGHTY GARETH WAS MAKING A SHOW OF HIM!! GARETH WAS LIKE "OH DONT GO WITH THAT PATHETIC HAT ON MATE"
"GO ON WE DONT NEED YOU,I CAN BE THE DRUMMER!"
"OH THEY ALL COME CRAWLIN BACK DONT THEY!?"
HE IS HILARIOUS!!!!
HE THEN WENT BACK OFF AGAIN TO GET CHANGED AGAIN FOR HIS NEXT SONG!!.....A VIDEO CAME ON SCREEN OF A KIND OF PARTY SCENE..YES YOU GUESSED IT "CLUB HOPPIN"
I LOVE THIS SONG ALREADY BUT I LOVE IT EVEN MORE NOW!! HE CAME ON WITH HIS WHITE TOP WITH THE BIG ORANGE 7 ON IT AND HIS BLAZER AND PANTS...HE LOOKED SCRUMMY!! AND HIS DANCERS DANCED AROUND HIM AS GARETH BOPPED ABOUT....THE AUDIENCE DEFFO LOVED THIS ONE!
AFTER THIS SONG HE WENT INTO ANOTHER UPBEAT SONG GROOVE WITH MEEEEE!! HE DEFFO LOVED DOING THIS ONE ASWELL,MAYBE BECAUSE OF HIS GIRL DANCERS ALL OVER HIM I DONT KNOW!
HE SANG IT BRILLIANTLY AND STARTED TO GET A BIT SWEATY!
BEFORE WE KNEW IT....THE SONG WAS OVER AND HE WAS BACK OFF AGAIN FOR ANOTHER COSTUME CHANGE! AGAIN!!??
GREASEEEEEEEE IS THE WORDDDDDDDDDD!!!!
O M G THIS WAS THE MOST GREAT PERFORMANCE EVER!!! GARETH CAME UP WITH HIS TSHIRT AND JEANS (I THINK) AND HIS GORGE SUNGLASSES!!! AND HIS OTHER DANCERS....IT LOOKED GREAT
HE SANG GREASE IS THE WORD....HE WAS BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL!!
....I LOVED THE PART WHERE THEY ARE ON THE SCHOOL DESKS.... I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE DANCERS!!! ARGHHHHHH!!
NEXT....AFTER HE HAD MADE THE CROWD WILD!! HE WENT INTO A BALLAD..I THINK I CAN SAY THIS FOR ALL OF US,IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL TRACK.
ALL CRIED OUT....HE SANG THIS WITH EMOTION....AND I LOOKED AT HIM FOR THE ENTIRE SONG JUST WATCHING HIM SING IT....I COULD TELL HE WAS EMOTIONAL FOR SURE AND LOVED THIS SONG.
I THINK IT IS VERY PERSONAL TO HIM.
SO AFTER A FEW TEARS,A WONDERFUL SONG....HE WENT INTO HIS ALBUMS TITLE SONG "GO YOUR OWN WAY" WITH HIM IN THE CENTRE SINGING AWAY AND HIS DANCERS DOING A VERY SLOW AND SEXY DANCE IN RED.
IT WAS A GREAT SONG
NOW WE ALL KNOW EVERYONE WOULD LOVE TO GET UP ON STAGE AND BE SANG TO BY GARETH....BUT THERE HAS BEEN A LUCKY SOMEONE EACH NIGHT WHO GOT THAT CHANCE.
A GIRL WAS PULLED UP ON STAGE LAST NIGHT....YOU DONT KNOW HOW MUCH I WOULD HAVE WANTED TO GO UP!!
HE SANG ANYONE OF US TO HER,SHE WAS VERY TEARY BUT HE HELD HER HAND AND MADE HER COMFORTABLE.
I LOVED THR PART IN THE SONG WHERE HE SAYS "SHE WAS KIND OF EXCITING....A LITTLE CRAZYYYYYY" I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT HE MEANS.
AFTER THIS SONG HE GAVE THE GIRL THE MOST BIGGEST HUG EVER AND SHE WENT TO SIT BACK DOWN.
HE WENT OFF....EVERYONE THOUGHT THAT ITD FINISHED FOR GOOD AS HE SAID SEE YOU ALL SOON....BUT THE MUSIC CAME ON....LIGHTS WERE STILL ON AND HIS DANCERS CAME ON....IT WAS SPIRIT IN THE SKYYYYY!!
HE WAS GREAT!!!!! AND OMG THAT BIT WHERE HE DANCES YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT I MEAN?!
EVERYTIME HE CAME OVER I WOULD WAVE AND BLOW KISSES AND I GOT A FEW BACK AND I ALSO HAD BROUGHT A THONG TO THROW ON!! AND I HAVENT GOT A GOOD THROW SO I ASKED SENTIMENTAL FROM HERE'S DAUGHTER TO DO IT! IT LANDED ON THE STAGE.....AFTER ABOUT 10 MINS HE ACTUALLY PICKED IT UP!! ARGHHHHHHH!! "WHO GAVE ME THIS?" I SCREAMED!! "MMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!"
I CANT BELIEVE HE PICKED IT UP!! I THINK HE KEPT IT TOO!!
AFTER SITS...IT WAS TIME TO GO
HE DID A LOVELY SPEECH...."AND NOW THE SHOW MUST END...."
I CRIED MY EYES OUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH SAY IT ISNT SO....HE SANG LIKE AN ANGEL AND I BAWLED!!
AT THE END OF THE SONG....PEOPLE WERE CRYING AND SCREAMING.....GARETH CLOSED HIS EYES AND DID A PRAYER I WAS SOOOO EMOTIONAL!!
HE HAD TO GO....HE BLEW KISSES AND WENT OFF THE STAGE.
I COULDNT BELIEVE IT WAS ALL OVER.....BUT FROM IT ALL I GOT A SIGNED PROGRAMME,HE TOUCHED MY THONG!,I WAS IN FRONT ROW! AND I HAD THE BEST NIGHT EVER!!
I WANT TO SAY TO EVERYONE WHO I SAW,THANK YOU FOR SHARING LAST NIGHT WITH ME.....I LOVE YOU ALL AND CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN!!
THANKS TO GARETH FOR BEING AN ABSOLUTE STAR!!!
NOW ALL I CAN SAY IS....BRING ON THE VID!!!!
Thanks for reading!! Hope it wasnt too long?!
Love Rachel!!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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What follows is a series of personal accounts and newspaper reports, originally posted on GG............
Tour Report : Birmingham NEC 29th February 2003
Reporter : Debbie ( gareths_so_fine )
It was 6PM when I arrived at the NEC with my Friend Trish and already the place is packed , we were trying to get near the merchandise to get a Gareth tee Shirt they are really rather nice , Black with a very nice Gareth written across them BUT they are £ 24.00 , by 6.20 pm they had run out!!! The Tour Brochures are great FULL of Gareth pictures OOOOOO so Sexy!!!
We went into The Arena and sat through the support Act , 3 girls whose name was Skin Deep. They appeared to be miming but I guess it sounded ok and they DID keep mentioning Gareth which sent the crowd into 150 decibel screaming FABBY!!!
Eventually after SOOOOO many false alarms LOL when Gareth came on the Big screen and the crowd went mad making us all think it was starting , at 8.30 IT DID!!!
The set had been revealed a few minutes before , I can't really make out what it was to be honest with you but there were 2 sets of steps and platforms the right slightly higher than the left ooooooo we were going to see PLENTY of the gorgeous one!!! There was a Satalite Dish on the left hand Platform which was set on a brick looking wall !!
The house lights went down and music came and a Video screen in the back of the set showed scenes from Birmingham intermingled with CD:UK shots of Gareth, eventually Cat Deely came on and Announced Gareth on the stage YAYAYAYAY we were off !!!!
Gareth appeared on the right hand Platform Singing Unchained melody it seemed to sound more sincere, slower and such a clear strong , heart melting voice that could only be Gareth's , there he was GORGEOUS , wearing a white Tee shirt I think with a brown Jumper with a hood on it that zipped up but it was only zipped a bit at the bottom , to show the tee shirt and a grey leather Jacket and Ripped Jeans , he then walked down the steps singing , the screams were deafening !!!!
He Sang Foolish straight after without a break to speak , there were gorgeous Girls all around him , and he got every High note as easily and cleanly as saying boo FABULOUS , he was dancing soooooo well all sexy with pelvic thrusts and in perfect timing with the girls . He was laying on the floor at one point LOL singing with Girls swarmed all around him, sexy Beast LOL.
He then Sang Freak My Baby , Soul affection and just Say Yes, still Dancing like mad with all these gorgeous girls round him he honestly was never still, he looked HOT!!!! He sounded AWESOME!!!! Note Perfect.
He stopped after Just Say Yes and started to speak to us , bless him he was sooo out of breath , I worried for a moment in case it disturbed his speech…… NOPE on he went with all the professionalism we have come to expect , he told us he was working on his speech, he was fabulous , " Who, he said 2 years on would have believed that we would be here??? I would never have believed that I could stand in front of thousands of you and speak?? Everybody at this point went into rapturous applause and screaming , I think he may have been a bit emotional because he struggled a bit with the next sentence , but he won it over and off he went again, bless him. He told us that he used to be useless at telling stories , but he was going to tell us one …… because he could ….. awwwwww
He said that he had gone through so many phases in his speech , his Drummer made a rude noise with the drums and Gareth told him off and said he would send him to work with Will Young soooo funny. Gareth said he had gone through stages of ooooing and arging, sounding breathy , and tut tut tutting, he said that at this stage his parents told him he souded like Skippy , the Bush Kangaroo LOL , he didn't really like that , but so that he would keep practising they told him that there was an Audition at the local town hall for a skippy part and they had him jumping all about the room tutting , and our Gorgeous One believed it!!!!!! He confessed that he was really embarrassed now , but he had forgiven them LOL. Such a Joy is our Gareth , he told that story with No stammer whatsoever.
He then introduced all his band and his Guitarist, who was a Brummie YAY. Then on came a man with an electric Guitar for Gareth OMG he was going to play it , and MY GOODNESS play it he did !!! He played the Intro to Everybody Wants a Piece of me , he sang the song and played the Guitar ALL THROUGH, together, he and his guitarist sounded Awesome!!!!
He then sat down and sang Sentimental Acoustic with his Guitarist , Fabulous note perfect yet again , Gareth was playful and Happy and LOVING it .
He went off for just a moment announcing" I'll be back in a Minute LOL. He came back in ever such a few seconds.
He was wearing the SUNSHINE outfit you know that tight white top and the loose shirt , and tighter unripped jeans , I had to control myself because he looked SOOOOOOO damn hot , and there were more Girls , and Gareth was dancing the Lambada with them all in turn , swinging them around , wiggling those sexy hips, and doing the moves as though he had been doing them all his life , with ease and with complete confidence , once more he had a period lying on the floor lol
After he finished he asked us all if his Dancing was better LOL Because he though he was no good at it bless him , believe me he is better , he is sexy , he has it perfect , he has worked so very hard at all this . Every Time somebody shouted " I love You Gareth " , he said Thank you bless him.
He then told us that he had real trouble ordering stuff over the phone because of his speech, but he was going to order a Pizza now, because he could AWWWW bless him , he needed our help , he wanted us to shout when he asked us too , as he held the phone out to us , NO CHEESE , he said "Why can't I have cheese", and he was well impressed when loads shouted " because you are allergic to it "
So he gets his phone out and moans at it because it's turned itself off lol he fixes it and orders his pizza 12 Inch pizza with Extra chicken and Mushrooms , and then he holds out the phone and we all scream NO CHEESE.soooooo Hilarious!!!
He finishes with the Pizza call , as a man comes in with an electric Piano OOOOOOO he is going to play that now Fabby!!!!
Indeed he did , he gave us a Brilliant acoustic medley set , as he put it for the young and the older , the mums and Dads and US bless him, he sang as a medley , That,s when you know, Hard to say I'm sorry ,?? Over Time ( A Stevie Wonder song not sure of the title ), What my heart wants to say, very very moving and I could see a few tears around us!!!
He finished with that and then up he got up and said " If I said to you , I'm Caught in a trap, and can't walk out , what would you say , and we all shouted " Because I love you too much baby" LOL he went from side to side asking us to shout it , he said " well that was Rubbish " LOL and sang the song for us LOL He threw a bunch of flowers into the audience while he was singing it bless.
He then went on to tell us about his band and he got to his drummer and said " Shall I play the drums" well of course he did and can he play them OMGG he is awesome!!! And I can tell you the dropped jaws of at least 3 men around me said it all!!!!
After that his drummer made as though he was leaving pretending to be annoyed because Gareth was better than him , Gareth said " where you going?? Oh go on then he said " I can sing, I'll play the drums , LOL , needless to say the Drummer came back LOL with our Gorgeous one saying "OOOOOO you changed your mind and came back then ", cheeky boy lol Such a funny few minutes to watch .
Gareth then went off again for just a few seconds , he came back wearing the same jeans but a tee shirt which was white with a orange number 7 on it and a black jacket, he sang Club hopping darting all over the stage full of energy , loving it more and more sounding fabulous, he then sang Groove with me , still darting about lol . then off he went again LOL Back he came with a blue tee shirt on with number 72 on it and a loose blue shirt over the top , Loads of girls , and he appeared on the top of the left Platform singing " Grease is the Word " he was fabulous really looked the part and he was loving it and was loving the fact that we were loving it !!!
Off again !!! and back a few seconds later wearing a black Tee shirt and Black Jacket and Sang All Cried Out, he had a bit of fluff from the inside of his tee shirt on his face and he was trying to get it off, talk about it and sing the song all at the same time . he gave the fluff up in the end , saying " OOO leave it I'm not bothered, Where's Make up lol
After he finished he playfully shouted for his make up man , who turned up on stage , fixed the fluff and his hair a bit which had become a bit out if place because of all the clothes being dragged over it every few minutes lol.
He then got more dancers on stage all in red and sang Go your Own Way , all sexy moves again !!
He then Got a little girl called Megan from the audience who was 10 up on stage to help him Sing AOU awwwww she was sooooo cute and she was just staring at him and he held her hand and cuddled her , and she did sing a bit bless her . She went off a bit before then end of the song and Gareth finished it singing Birmigham I don't want to loose you in place of the proper lyrics Bless him!!!!
Off he went again for the final Change and the last 2 songs OOOOOOOOO It was nearly over NOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Back he came wearing a dark suit , he looked gorgeous and he sang up on the right hand Platform SITS the girls were different and the routine is MUCH sexier elbows and pelvic thrusts !!!!! And Gareth Loved it as they came down onto the stage from the platform he grinning his head off he never put a foot wrong even though its different!!!!
He then finished with SUCH a moving version of SIIS he looked tired but happy , he thanked each and every one of us and every single person for the tour and all the help , he said loves us all and would ALWAYS love us all because we put him there AWWWWW bless him , He was throwing white Towels into the Audience after he wiped his face with them OOOOOO I wanted one lol , Somebody threw a Bra and he kept it LOL popped it over his Shoulder , and then all toooo soon it was over and off he went , Triumphant and I think very very Happy!!!!
This was 2 hours of PURE joy with a young man that is Brimming with Talent that this country has not seen for many a long year , Gareth is charming , Gorgeous, Determined and most of all Down to earth and he holds such Gratitude for his being where he is . He has worked SOOOO hard not just on the tour , but his speech too , he shocked a few people into silence tonight and will continue to do so . Gareth Blossomed tonight , he stamped his Hallmark all over the Music Buisness , and I now know even stronger that LONG , LONG this will continue.
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LUV
Debbie
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What follows is a series of personal accounts and newspaper reports, originally posted on GG............
From Heather and Rachel. Sheffield meet and greet. 03.03.04
We arrived in Sheffield at 3.15, we had loads of time and was feeling a bit nervous, so went over the road to the pub for a stiff drink!!!
When we came back across we met up with Sarah (wicked laydee) and her friend Amy, we waited in a little room, for what seemed like ages, all the time getting more and more nervous.
They came in a called us out and told up to line up outside the little room, when we were all ready they took us down a long corridor and then into a room which just had a table and a chair in it, we queued up and then the girls in front of us decided to move to the middle of the queue, so then Heather and me were first!!! (panic, panic)
Kelly was wandering about and kept coming in and out from behind a big curtain, then all of a sudden Gareth appeared from behind it, with a big smile on his face, he said "hello",( the whole of the room took a big breath and went oooo, lol) and then sat down at the table, He was wearing karki green trousers and top and a brown leather jacket and brown boots, he looked GORGEOUS!.
He looked across and called us over.
We said can we go together as we were a little shy, lol. I asked him if he would sign me a few things and he said "yes, course", I gave him the tour programme, a photo out of the tour programme that I had printed out, and a birthday card for my little girl, Kelly asked if she was with us, I said no, but she would have loved to have been there, coz every time we go past the old house in Bradford she wants to go knock on the door..gareth went..."aww, bless".
I then gave him the jigsaw and told him it was part 3, lol Heather told him it was all my idea.
I then gave him my gift bag with his prezzies in, he started to go to open it, I nearly had a fit! and told him to do it later, Heather said "open that later its rude", lol he looked at me and laughed.
Then it was Heather's turn, she got her gift bag and got out of it a jar of Yorkshire mixture, well you should have seen his face lol he lifted out of his seat and said "Oh I LOVE Yorkshire mixture" right loud, all the rest of the room could hear him, she also told him about a letter from a fan in Austria, he really seemed to take notice and listen. Heather had her programme signed too and her cover for Spirit In The Sky, the special Edition one, while he was signing it she was looking into his eyes and telling him how well the Red noses had sold in Oxfam, but instead of saying noses she said roses, lol Gareth looked and said "noses"
She told him we had enjoyed watching him on comic Relief and that it was a pity he didn't pass his test. I asked him if he had done any more lessons, he tapped his watch and said he hadn't had time.
Heather also told him we had spoke to his dad on Sunday.
He then asked if we wanted photo's, he got out from behind the desk and I went to stand with him, he put his arm round me and I did the same, Kelly took the photo, when she had done I asked him if I could kiss him and he said yes so I went to kiss him and I had sticky lipgloss on and I got stuck to him, lol when I pulled away I was dying to wipe it off his cheek but though, no betta not!
When it was Heather's turn for the photo, she went to stand next to him and came out with "you are a tall boy aren't you" LOL
We told him were we proud of him and then that was it all finished we wasn't allowed to stay in the room so we just stood outside the door and watched Sarah and her friend have there time with him and then made our way out. We then went back over the pub for another stiff drink!!!
From Heather and Rachel xx
Heather thank you so much for asking me to go with you to the meet and greet i had a brilliant time it really was a dream come true love Rachel xx
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The tour reviews have been deleted on GG and we need to try and pull them together again, so that the fabulous experinces that people shared with us, and the good newpaper reviews are not lost.
I have put out a request on GG as well as here. If anyone has any copies of the personal reviews they (or anyone else) wrote at the time as well as copies of the newspaper reviews, could you let me know, or put them in this thread. We can then keep a copy in our archives.
It doesn't matter if we get duplicates at this stage, we can always cut them out
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What follows is a series of personal accounts and newspaper reports, originally posted on GG............
From Sugar
OFFICIAL WEMBLEY *LAST NIGHT REPORT*
03/07/04
OMG I'm still in shock.
We got there (after such bad traffic) and got into the arena. Natalie, my friend off here, and I decided to see if we could get front row and luckily for us there were quite a few seats at the front so we took two next to each other.
All the way through Skyn Deep (which I thought were rubbish) we were sitting there and no one had come yet, we thought we were in luck!
About 8.20 no one had turned up yet and before we knew it, Gareth was on stage!
He started off singing UM and the first people he waved at were Natalie and I. OMG I was on cloud nine
Then he sang Foolish, abslolutely amazing. After a few more songs, I got another wave!
Gareth then had a chat with us and bless him about Skippy and the kissing (MY GOD, I went WILD!
Then he says 'Right, who wants to sing Suspisious Minds then?'
Next thing I know, he's in the crowd walking towards me and Natalie, he passed the microphone to Natalie to sing into and I leant over, grabbed his hand and sang too. He had trouble releasing his hand from my grip after LOL!
I couldn't believe it! I started crying and before I knew it, he said it was the last few songs - I cried all the way through SIIS and SITS. Gareth looked over at me and saw me crying and I hid my face, lol.
Oh and also my mum waved to Nicki Chapman who was sitting with Suzanne and another man.
So, what a NIGHT!
Also, lovely meeting you LAUREN, Debz Gates, Roz, Chantelle, Helen and Ami xxxxxxxx mwah xxx
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Wow. *Waves hello*
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OMG. This one.........
............is unbelievably yummy
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First verse. Isn't it 'When you cry cos the world's unfair' ?
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I would go for either of the bottom 2 in GGFan's post. Yum yum
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7th March as far as I know
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Interesting. Is that the sort of deal that Emma Bunton has with Fuller then do you think?
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Tour reviews?
in Gareth's Music
Posted
That would be wonderful.