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Judy Boucher turns down hands of time

“You caught my eye…” These four words were enough to send scores of people who turned up for a Valentine’s Day gig at BICC on Sunday night to stand and dance.

The audience could not give the main act of the night Judy Boucher a chance to be heard in silence past those words, as both the young and the old, in unison, joined the legend in singing along.

Judy Boucher was a marvel to watch and listen to
Judy Boucher was a marvel to watch and listen to

“If it is love my dear welcome to my world, and let us share the good times together, it’s only one world, lets share it together, cause all my eyes can see is you my dear,” fast became an anthem, so irresistible that almost everybody in the auditorium was singing along.

Some lovers took the opportunity not to only dance along but reaffirm their commitment by looking in each other’s eyes while singing along.

Who said this was a sit and watch show?

Awestruck, Judy could not contain her excitement as after the song, she took the time to acknowledge the resounding welcome the fans gave her, “pretty a good way to start the night Malawi. This is so nice,” she said as she beamed with a contagious and effortless smile.

From Some Broken Hearts Never Mend to Tears on My Pillow, the crowd- young and old, with some notables, sang along to the soulful love songs which Boucher sang with as much emotion as the lyrics hold.

Compassionate, sad, emotive, Boucher’s music was sweet and sensational, typically the way one would melodically feed from a legend whose songs you only heard as you grew up.

The titles of her music tell much of the emotions she loaded in her golden olden music, with somewhat poetic undertones, songs like That Night We Met, Turn Back The Time, Sweet Dreams of You, Trying To Get Over You, Share My Love With You Lovely Paradise and Mr. Dream Maker among others, the couples in the houses had a good time.

Particularly, engineer Paul Kulemeka and his wife, Kondwani, were in a world of their own as they held hands and momentarily stood up to shake their bodies to the leisurely unwind of reggae, R ‘n’ B and soul music.

Even the much younger generation who probably fell in love with Boucher’s songs could not resist it, as the St. Vincent born songstress brought back the spirit of love and romance as she relived the 1980s and 1990s music.

Presidential advisor Ben Phiri was the classical example of the middle aged folks as surely he forgot the pressures that come with working in a high political office, but spent time boogying.

Conspicuously looking old and a bit frail, for one hour she had the audience eating from their palms as everything she did on stage was magical, while entertaining the revellers with her sweet voice.

She stunned many as Judy proved that inside her there’s still that bigger and lively personality audiences across the globe have been accustomed to in her prime years as well as a professional act that a few have witnessed in the country.

Full of emotions, good coordination as well as interpretation of what she was singing and her actions and gestures, she slowly transformed into a hot-blooded being. In her powerful voice, she belted out the hits that have made her to be what she is today and with the help of the South Africa based All Nations band.

The band was also in a cloud of its own as the members showed that they took the time to study the legend’s music as well as serious rehearsals.

Earlier on, Lucius Banda serenaded the audience with some of his love tracks including Stacy, Udzandilakwira, Kennedy, Tina, Nthawi, Zakukhosi, Start Again, Esther and Nabanda.

He performed some of the songs with Wendy Harawa and Malawi’s star saxophonist, Dan Sibale who as usual, dazzled fans with his skill on the instrument as if his life depends on it.

If you missed Judy Boucher’s concert you ought to kick yourself. The singer who made our parents feel lovey-dovey is still going strong.

The one hour she shared her sweet voice with revellers, the audience could not hold back as old turned gold.

 

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