The Ladies of the 80s tour featuring Taylor Dayne hit NYCB Westbury Friday night. The concert also included Jody Watley and Lisa Lisa. All three ladies had mega hits in the 1980's and all three continue to have powerhouse voices that can still belt the hits!
Grammy Award winning Jody Watley is considered one of the founders of 21st century pop. Born in Chicago, her varied repertoire spans decades and includes Pop, R&B, Hip-hop, House, Jazz, drum & bass, ambient and spoken-word. Her set was short but included her hits, "Real Love" and "Looking for a New Love".
Lisa Lisa and her band Cult Jam, one of the first groups to rise from NYC in the 80’s, are recognized as the originators of Latin Hip-Hop and Freestyle genre, giving rise to many powerhouse divas since their inception.
Lisa Lisa’s first two albums, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force and Spanish Fly, both went Platinum. Her set included “All Cried Out” as well as “Can You Feel the Beat,” “Head to Toe,” and “Lost in Emotion".
The final act, Taylor Dayne, came onstage with technical difficulties. The microphone wasn't working, but like the star that she is, she didn't miss a beat. With the problem finally fixed, she continued to sing incorporating her classic hits, "Tell It to My Heart” (which had turned her into an overnight, international star), “Love Will Lead You Back,” “Prove Your Love” and “I’ll Always Love You.”
The Long Island native was backed by a soulful live band, highlighted by keyboardist Bobby Douglas who, at one point, let out a falsetto so impressive that even Dayne had to stop and applaud.
All in all it was a great show where everyone sang along and danced in their seats. The only issue I had is that the whole show felt a little rushed. When Taylor Dayne came out for her last song, she remarked that they had to travel tonight for the next show, so she would start the next song but then herself and Lisa Lisa would be signing merchandise in the lobby. She sang less than the first line of "Can't get enough of your love" - that was a little disappointing.
Photos by Cindy Goldman