ANASTACIA – #NTK25 – Live in Concert – review

ANASTACIA – #NTK25 – Live in Concert – review
Edel

“For the first time in her career, Anastacia is releasing a live album!” So trumpets the record label. So what were ‘Live At The O2 Apollo Manchester 2017’, ‘Live At The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith 2017’ and ‘A4APP – Live Album’ then? Idiots.

So, another live album. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of ‘Not That Kind’. The one that came out 26 years ago. Although it was recorded in April last year, so they get a pass. Mind you, I do wonder what took them so long because if there is one thing to be said in favour of this recording, it’s that there don’t appear to have been any overdubs. Ask the drummer, if you don’t believe me.

Granted, I’m an uber Anastacia fan, right from the beginning. Twas odd, as it’s not really my Sort of Thing. But what a voice! Incredible. I don’t care what people say, she’s in the Top 3 female singers of my regrettably long life. But this live set is an oddly paced affair. None of the first three tracks are what anyone would call bangers. ‘One Day In Your Life’, ‘Now Or Never’ and ‘Staring At The Sun’. If I’d been there, I’d have been looking longingly at the bar. But then ‘Paid My Dues’ arrive, and things slowly come to life.

But then there’s another sag before ‘Sick And Tired’ and ‘Made For Lovin’ You’ arrive to resuscitate things. Now I have an actual gripe. The gaps between songs. That probably means it was all recorded at different shows (thanks for the no liner notes) but we have the technology. In fact, we’ve had the technology for decades. At least make it sound like one concert. Thankfully, Anastacia is still in fine voice. Yes. it’s lost some top and bottom, but she can still blow most singers off stage. Thank you.

You can hear this on ‘Heavy On My Heart’ and ‘You’ll Never Be Alone’. But, again, they shouldn’t be played back to back. Certainly not at the end of Disc 1. I could barely summon the emotional strength to change discs. Disc 2 has cover versions of ‘All Right Now’ and ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’. One after the over. Please, no. Lose those, and the backing singers medley from Disc 1, and pop in four more Anastacia jewels. It’s all the way to the closing (actual) climax of ‘Left Outside Alone’, ‘Not That Kind’ and ‘I’m Outta Love’ before you remember why you’ve been in (unrequited) love with Ms Newark all these years.

It’s all there on the DVD, as well. And that was one concert, filmed in Brussels, in April 2025. Unusually, for me, I actually prefer this, to the audio. Anastacia sounds fabulous, she looks fabulous, well she’s just fabulous. No more shitty YT footage for me! Even If there is a YT video somewhere below. As a fan for a quarter of a century, I enjoyed this, despite my auld man gripes. But not the place to start for anyone wondering who the heck Anastacia is.

You can buy this at the Evil Amazon websshop, or on the Anastacia online shopping shop, or some other places.