Harv Roman
Radio Personality : WCEV 1450 AM Chicago
Safire lights up Chicago...
In the words of WCYC Entertainment/Studio 63 Promoter Majic Juan Suarez "Professional, personal, passionate and graceful"...
The Safire show at Chicago's Studio 63 this past Saturday was likely the best show in over a year at the Club formerly known as the Prime and Tender. The K7/TKA show in February, 2004 was the tonesetter for the WCYC Reunion shows, but the Safire show was so good on Saturday that even I must say that it took a full on K7/TKA show by a four man group to set the bar that was reached by Safire at Studio 63.
She set the tone early on at the sound check as she took command and made certain that no shortcuts were taken at her return to the city that she first visited at Navy Pier back in 1988. She could be overheard directing musical traffic at a sound check that more closely resembled a dress rehearsal for last night's MTV Awards.
Once she hit the stage, it was on as she weaved personal stories with her songs as the SRO crowd sang and danced along. She confided to the hundreds in attendance that she didn't even know if she should still be performing at her supposedly older age. With the response she got from the crowd, I expect that she has much more mileage left in her that maybe even she didn't realize she had. She was energetic and her efforts at the soundcheck were rewarded as the light, sound, dance and stage show set the pace for others to follow...too often track artists do just that-they perform to their track with a minimum of prepwork and stage management-not Safire. She earned her keep on Saturday with an extended performance that didn't end when she left the stage...
The remainder of her night was not hanging out in the back office as most visiting artists do. She worked the crowd from wall to wall, hugging everyone in sight, signing over 8" x 10" photos (remember those? You memmer), postcards, CDs, 12" vinyl, and posing for literally dozens of pictures. She worked overtime and enjoyed every minute of it.
Of course, I had a prior work related commitment that night so once again, I wasn't able to hit the stage as I have so often in the past...but my day was made the Majic Juan said "Where were you? Safire asked about you"...now that really tells you something when someone who you have only interviewed and met once before asks for you by name...I'm grinning as I write this and I can't wait to arrange for a follow up interview just to gush a little bit more about my small role in this event.
I'm sure others will chime in with their stories, but that is mine as reported to me by Majic Juan who added that Safire was a pleasure to work with at a time when the egos that helped bring down the movement in the mid-90's are slowly making their way back to stop whatever momentum freestyle is now struggling to regain.
Words of advice-go see Safire perform, watch her work the crowd, watch her command the stage, watch her give the audience all that she has. The short list of others who have kept up this type of performance in my opinion:
Safire
K7/TKA
George Lamond
Judy Torres
Rarely (if ever) do these artists take a night off...I am personal friends with many artists who are not named, and take no offense, but there is a difference in a five star hotel and the rest...four stars aren't so bad, either!
Harv Roman
In the words of WCYC Entertainment/Studio 63 Promoter Majic Juan Suarez "Professional, personal, passionate and graceful"...
The Safire show at Chicago's Studio 63 this past Saturday was likely the best show in over a year at the Club formerly known as the Prime and Tender. The K7/TKA show in February, 2004 was the tonesetter for the WCYC Reunion shows, but the Safire show was so good on Saturday that even I must say that it took a full on K7/TKA show by a four man group to set the bar that was reached by Safire at Studio 63.
She set the tone early on at the sound check as she took command and made certain that no shortcuts were taken at her return to the city that she first visited at Navy Pier back in 1988. She could be overheard directing musical traffic at a sound check that more closely resembled a dress rehearsal for last night's MTV Awards.
Once she hit the stage, it was on as she weaved personal stories with her songs as the SRO crowd sang and danced along. She confided to the hundreds in attendance that she didn't even know if she should still be performing at her supposedly older age. With the response she got from the crowd, I expect that she has much more mileage left in her that maybe even she didn't realize she had. She was energetic and her efforts at the soundcheck were rewarded as the light, sound, dance and stage show set the pace for others to follow...too often track artists do just that-they perform to their track with a minimum of prepwork and stage management-not Safire. She earned her keep on Saturday with an extended performance that didn't end when she left the stage...
The remainder of her night was not hanging out in the back office as most visiting artists do. She worked the crowd from wall to wall, hugging everyone in sight, signing over 8" x 10" photos (remember those? You memmer), postcards, CDs, 12" vinyl, and posing for literally dozens of pictures. She worked overtime and enjoyed every minute of it.
Of course, I had a prior work related commitment that night so once again, I wasn't able to hit the stage as I have so often in the past...but my day was made the Majic Juan said "Where were you? Safire asked about you"...now that really tells you something when someone who you have only interviewed and met once before asks for you by name...I'm grinning as I write this and I can't wait to arrange for a follow up interview just to gush a little bit more about my small role in this event.
I'm sure others will chime in with their stories, but that is mine as reported to me by Majic Juan who added that Safire was a pleasure to work with at a time when the egos that helped bring down the movement in the mid-90's are slowly making their way back to stop whatever momentum freestyle is now struggling to regain.
Words of advice-go see Safire perform, watch her work the crowd, watch her command the stage, watch her give the audience all that she has. The short list of others who have kept up this type of performance in my opinion:
Safire
K7/TKA
George Lamond
Judy Torres
Rarely (if ever) do these artists take a night off...I am personal friends with many artists who are not named, and take no offense, but there is a difference in a five star hotel and the rest...four stars aren't so bad, either!
Harv Roman
Sexyangel329
Honorary CF Member
Again you girl wish I could have made it but you know why but I knew you would give them nothign but above the rest 
Safire is truly something extra special in the freestyle world. She can light up a stage like no other freestyle artist can. I'm sure her asking price is on the high side, but she does deliver!
I knew the show would be a blast!
I knew the show would be a blast!
D.J. Paradise
New member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2001
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Never ever doubt her performances..
We spoke to her that same night and the next day telling us that the night was awesome....She loves Chicago...
Besos ta ya..
We spoke to her that same night and the next day telling us that the night was awesome....She loves Chicago...
Besos ta ya..
Nyasia
New member
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- Jan 2, 2001
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she called me this morning to tell me of her Time in Chicago, and how much she enjoyed her fans there, and how much they appreciated her show, and I said to her, why wouldn't they? she doesn't go up there in MANDI clothes, she gets her outfits made, because she is one of the VERYYYYYYYYY few who knows that singing is not the only thing you give to the fans, you give great performances with your dancing and you give them something to remember you by, especially with your outfits. and I saw the outfit and fell in love with it! that is why she has always been and always will be the #1 female artist to me! no matter what, the Diva turns it out!
*disclaimer* this has nothing to do with the fact that she is one of my truly closest friends
*disclaimer* this has nothing to do with the fact that she is one of my truly closest friends
Sexyangel329
Honorary CF Member
Amen to that Naya I just read this post to her in regards to all Harv said and seh was giggling and Happy and said she loved chicago and felt great and loves her fans. I of course I agree she is #1 and I aint apologizin lmfaoooooooooooooo
HennyLuv159
New member
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I'm sure it was off the hook !!!
Post some pics, so I can show em to Unique...get me some points with my lil' princess !!!
Post some pics, so I can show em to Unique...get me some points with my lil' princess !!!
Sexyangel329
Honorary CF Member
As soon as she gets them to us lol
DENINE1972
New member
I must agree...she is an artist that i look up to. She not only has one of the best voices, her style is endless and she has class above the rest!!! i never got the pleasure of meeting her in person but hope to someday.