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John Aizlewood's rating
Reader rating
Description: The Latin pop diva with a night of hit songs.
Phone: 0870060 0870
Website: www.whatsonwembley.com
Trains: Tube: Wembley Park 
Extra info: Air Conditioning, Parking, Pub, Food
If there is an Eighties revival, no one bothered to tell Gloria Estefan’s fans. Her first London show in 12 years saw curtains apologetically drawn across the empty back half of Wembley Arena, while the front half was hardly packed to the gunwales. The elephant in the room was that there was hardly anybody in the room. Yet Estefan has not sold 70 million records, become the most successful Latino act ever and built an empire of restaurants and hotels by chance. The 51-year-old is a trouper and for more than two hours, assisted by a taut 15-piece band and four loose-limbed dancers, she trouped as if nothing was untoward, despite her movement being seemingly restricted by the two steel rods implanted in her back since she fractured her spine in 1990.
She was both a sexy grandmother (moreover, one who has discovered the benefits of a push-up bra) and a ham, hence the misguided appearance of daughter Emily, playing rudimentary guitar and a drum solo during a toe-curling version of School’s Out and tacky big screen photos of British Olympians during Reach. When she yelped through five gloopy ballads on the trot, it was as if we were marooned at the wedding reception from hell.
Yet thunderous versions of Turn This Beat Around and Everlasting Love were brilliantly executed and when she hit her Latino stride during 1-2-3, Oye Mi Canto and the simple but effective I Just Wanna Be Happy, all was joyously well with the world.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
John Aizlewood's report on Gloria Estefan was about him hating it. He's absoutely wrong that half of the Arena was curtained off. It was just about the last third that WASN'T SOLD!!!!! Also, he must have been referring about the empty seats while people were still coming in. Yes, there was an extremely small amount of seats unoccupied but please John Aizlewood, tell the truth for a change. Many people hate reporters for the fact that they just haven't got a clue what they're writing about!!!!
I found out about this concert (yes, I went to the last one 12 yrs ago) only a week and a half before going - severe lack of advertising. Had there been better advertising then Gloria would have comfortably had a week of concerts with a full arena. This tour was a short one; not even a programme to buy.
It was an excellent show and yes I'll be buying the forthcoming DVD as I think I might have a millisecond cameo LOL!
- Daz, Southampton, UK
Evidently the reviewer and I attended 2 very different Gloria Estefan shows on the same night. For a full 2 hour Gloria had the audience 'on their feet', raced her way through 3 consecutive decades of classic hits, showcased a still effortlessly tuneful & stirring voice, and left her audience wowed, engaged and truly appreciative of her talents! True, Gloria's commercial star has waned in the UK in recent years, but judging by those present, those have kept the faith are keeping her torch burning bright. You don't sell 70 million albums and become the biggest cross-over Latin star in history for nothing. This show proved it in bucketloads. An estefantastic experience!
- Steve Foster, Copenhagen, Denmark
I saw Gloria at Wembley,and wow what a fantastic show,everything about it was flawless,she is a true superstar.
Please tour here again soon
- Lj, cambridge
"If there is an Eighties revival, no one bothered to tell Gloria Estefan’s fans. Her first London show in 12 years saw curtains apologetically drawn across the empty back half of Wembley Arena, while the front half was hardly packed to the gunwales."
My points:
- The curtains were not 'apologetically' drawn. The other half was never on sale! It was not as if Gloria thought that she could sell out Wembley Arena with no hit record in the UK for over a decade!
It would be different if she tried to sell out the whole arena, and then the promoters moved everyone forward. If it was the Shepherd's Bush Empire, you would have not been able to fit everyone in. THE WHOLE ARENA WAS NEVER ON SALE!
- The front half was packed! My friend and I were a bit worried about the ticket sales when we were in the Wembley Arena bar, but once we got in there, there were *not* many seats that weren't filled. If there were empty seats, they were really rubbish ones.
- Gloria Estefan's last album was #1 in Holland, and that's why the concert was sold out.... All over Europe!
- Tom Oakley, London
I was in London, Wembley Arena ! The CONCERT WAS fantastic ! Gloria Estefan was amazing ! Totally Un-Missable !
- Nicola Griffiths, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan
Gloria Estefan is a superstar because she is flawlessly brilliant, on stage, live, where it matters most.
She cares about her audience, and is not afraid to show it.
Her voice was superb, as was the band, lighting, and eveything else.
Most of all, Gloria gave herself, she always does, and we will always love her for it, nobody does it better, nothing to plug, no merchandise, just the lady doing what she does best, please do not let this be the last time .
- Adrian Warren, halstead, essex, England
I was lucky enough to see Gloria's concert at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam last week (Friday 5th). It was a sold-out show and a great atmosphere (I always find that weekend gigs have a more enthusiastic audience). Gloria might be one year older than Madonna but her voice sounds much better these days!
The 15-piece band and outstanding dancers put on a very impressive and spectacular show. Personally, I would have liked to hear more of her Spanish-language songs from her Cuban-style albums and maybe fewer of those eighties ballads and cover versions. But with such a broad back-catalogue it is impossible to please everyone.
Unfortunately I think this will be our last chance to see Gloria live in Europe, as she decided 4 years ago to complete one final tour as a way of thanking her fans. So it's a shame that her London show was not better attended, perhaps because many of her fans in other parts of the country were not able to get to Wembley on a Wednesday.
- Ben, Brussels
This review is rubbish ! I have been a fam GE for over 20 years. The show was great - so much so we are considering going to Barcelona next week to see her again. Yes it would have been fantastic if the whole arena was sold but there was virtually no advertising - I heard a radio ad just a few weeks back. It's a crying shame when Madonna can fill the Wembley staduim next door the next night with 100k people with glitz and no substance. Gloria's show on the other hand seemed personal, humble but still full of life and latin magic. The MSM were on great from and it was good to see so many of the old band there especially for me , Teddy Mullett on Trombone and trumpet (coincidentially he played at Madonna's wedding by request - sorry being an anorak now !) My only regrets are there was only 1 London Show and the news I've heard that this was her farewell tour. PS Emily was great - give the kid a break Mr Aizlewood!!
- Tim Lewis, Banstead Surrey
Your editor is clearly not a Gloria fan (!) - comments couldn't be further from the truth. I too was at this concert and felt overwhelmed by her energy and vibrance. She still has an amazing voice at 51, I lost mine half way through the gig! Her welcoming manner is rare amongst stars of today – even revealing she’d just been informed of 3 Latin Grammy nonimations mid-gig - that was a very special and personal touch. Truth be said, I believe a lot of her latest music may not appeal immensely to the UK crowd, but this was perfectly counteracted by her ‘beating’ out numerous English hits back to back which did not cease to keep everyone entertained and wanting more. The whole experience ended on a high and this was definitely a night I will remember for a long time. When's the next one Gloria!?
- T Verea, London, London, England
i don't know what concert John was at but the Gloria concert i saw on wednesday
was absolutely brilliant. There was a good mixture of old and new songs which kept the crowd going all night. gloria looked fantastic and has a very talented daughter. lets hope Gloria doesn't leave it so long before she performs here again.
- Lindsey, harlow, england
I have yet to remember a concert I enjoyed more then Gloria Estefan's. We all basically danced through it - didn't sit a single second. Gloria is on top form, and I'm hoping for more concerts to spoil us in future. Her daughter, by the way, is a raising star too - the girl really has 'it' with musical instruments.
- Amanda, London, UK
I went along to this show last night and I have to say Gloria was on top form! The show started off a fiery salsa latino style and created an equally fiery atmosphere. The tour itself was not heavily promoted, if at all but the turnout was great. Only the front half of the arena was on sale but that added to the intimacy of the show. Gloria is a class act; her energy is enlightening whilst her voice was as amazing as it was when I last saw her at the Birmingham NEC many years ago. The band was mostly part of her old gang with addition. I was 9 rows from the stage so was able to get an excellent perspective of the show. This was a real live show, very little theatrics which some artists today overuse. I would not hesitate to see her again ..............
- Liam Grogan, London
Considering the lack of promotion this show had, I thought the turn out was pretty impressive. They were only ever selling half of the arena, and that half was virtually sold out. And it made no difference anyway - Gloria (who is not actually a grandmother by the way) brought so much energy and passion to the stage, that the audience were up on the feet throughout. Her voice was on top form, and the hits rolled out - including Rhythm is Gonna Get You and 123. She also stormed through some of her recent Spanish hits - which were brilliant - including some from her amazing new album 90 Millas. All in all, a brilliant night.
- Matthew Hemley, London
This concert was absolutely amazing, she did not dissapoint in the least. The show lasted over 2 hours and included all her old hits as well as a few covers which were well carried off. The arena was curtained off but the front half by NO means empty or sparse. The crowd were very much followers from the 80's and beyond but like I said she did not disappoint! She's still got what it takes and still carries the queen of Latin pop!
- Chet, London, United kingdom
