Television Review- Bee Gees Tribute

HBT123262-02.JPG Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees arrives at Hawkes Bay airport in Napier ahead of this weekends Mission concert. Photographer: Paul Taylor NEWS WGG 22Feb13 - NAT 22Feb13 - RDP

Reliving the wunderkids the Bee Gees' music in a two hour tribute last Sunday night on TV One was irresistible.

On stage in Los Angeles with a line-up of glorious singers and groups the staging and lighting was superb and a backing orchestra that would have thrilled the performers as it cushioned and enhanced their vocals to glorious musical heights.

Sadly there are those among us who describe the Bee Gees' songs as trite and cheesy but guys these are pop songs by a band of super-powered brothers who literally harmonised from when they were small boys in short pants.

Barry Gibb, the sole remaining Bee Gee, sat in the front row with his family soaking up the music and the memories as the performers all threw their emotional everything into the music.

The distinctive music relived the powerful memories of this group with screens on stage showing Barry's famous and much loved brothers Robin, Maurice and Andy Gibb and the remembrance of their stirring songs.

John Travolta still with his disarming smile of course introduced the disco music from the movie Saturday Night Fever, still a favourite film of all time with disco buffs.

Travolta, who sat beside Barry Gibb, looked great though had obviously been cosmetically enhanced. His face looked taut but he still managed that famous cheeky Travolta grin.

Country singer Keith Urban's silky rendition of the stalwart, much covered To Love Somebody was beautiful.

And the catchphrase heard frequently OMG (Oh My God) was so apt for emotionally charged Celine Dion as she arrived on stage looking every inch the diva.

Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb had written Immortality for her 1997 album, Let's Talk About Love and had sung the harmonies on the track.

Dion, in glorious voice, pushed back the tears as she honoured the memories of Maurice, Robin, Andy, her husband René and her brother Daniel, who both died of cancer last year.

The stars were out in their astral splendour all wearing fabulous gear mostly sparkled, sequined and glittered with most of the women showing, as is the mode, plenty of buffed bare flesh. One singer, Andra Day, was the exception.

Her rendition of Love So Right was sultry with overtones of Billie Holiday and Etta James. And she was dressed in muted aqua silk 1940s influenced wide pants and draped shirt. Her hair tumbled out of a wide silky turban - she was a vision in my book.

John Legend's and Stevie Wonder's How Can You Mend a Broken Heart tipped me up - I swooned with delight.

Latest news this week is that Barry Gibb is now writing the Bee Gees stage musical for Broadway. After 30 years what a legacy it will be to the brothers Gibb the magnificent.