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Articles: Politics still part of Ronstadt's act

Posted by admin on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 01:32 AM

She got booed at the Aladdin, but at Universal Amphitheatre it was mad love and flowers for Linda Ronstadt.
That unmistakable, full, sublime voice rang clear as a bell Tuesday through a 70-minute set that included selections from the great American songbook, her hits and some timely political patter of the sort she has become noted for in recent days. "Seen any good movies lately?" she quipped. In any other year, it might have seemed like she was making small talk. But in an election year, with a war in Iraq and the specter of terrorism at home, the Tucson, Ariz. native has created controversy with her vocal support and kind words for leftist documentary filmmaker Michael Moore and his anti-Bush blockbuster, "Fahrenheit 9/11." During weekend concerts in Las Vegas and most recently in San Diego, her remarks divided audiences. It even got her thrown out of the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Vegas, where some concert-goers walked out of her show, ripping down posters and hurling drinks. Later, some of those upset with Ronstadt requested their money back. It wasn't the case in L.A. Before the show, the Universal Amphitheatre received five written requests from ticket-holders requesting a refund over the comments Ronstadt made in Las Vegas, according to Mike O'Neal, operations manager for the venue. No requests for refunds were made following the show, although on Wednesday morning, the operations office got a few calls from concertgoers wanting to vent about political statements made during Ronstadt's show. O'Neal says it was nothing out of the ordinary for any concert and that it is usual for the venue to get such complaints, be it Sting, Ludacris or Ronstadt headlining. Not that any of this seemed to make much difference to Ronstadt - once romantically linked to former Gov. Jerry Brown. Throughout Tuesday evening, she peppered the show with political comments and, in return, her fans lobbed words of encouragement and spontaneous affection. "You say whatever you want, Linda," cried a woman, to which Ronstadt, now 58 and full figured in loose-fitting black capris and matching shirt, remarked she had every intention of doing so. Backed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the direction of New Zealand jazz pianist Alan Broadbent, she dedicated Nat King Cole's "Straighten Up and Fly Right" to Enron's former CEO Kenneth Lay and current Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom she called on to "show us that he is not a girlie man." The political drum-beating aside, she offered up a few standards that might fall pleasantly upon the ears of even her staunchest detractors. The songs were from her forthcoming Verve release, which include Cole Porter's "Get Out of Town," Frank Loesser's "Never Will I Marry" and Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life." From there she rode a string of faithful hits from throughout her 38-year career, during which she has wandered over the landscape of American popular music and even the songs of her father's part-Mexican heritage. But there was no mariachi backing her on this night, disappointing a smattering of the Spanish-speaking concertgoers, although they did enjoy her bilingual version of "Blue Bayou," to which they sang along. Ronstadt was still the flawless vocalist she's always been, except during the Jimmy Webb-penned "Adios," when her throat dried out for a moment. But with a cough and a sip of water, she recovered, ranging effortlessly over even the high, distant plateaus of the chromatic scale. Eventually she came down to wild applause and the delivery of a bright bouquet of flowers, which she said were from the "nicest, bravest, most patriotic man," implying it was Moore, who she was about to honor in song. And after her rousing rendition of "Desperado," the Eagles cover that she has been dedicating to Moore along the concert trail, Ronstadt left the stage with only this to say: "God bless America."

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