Monday, Sept. 27, 2004 | 8:20 a.m.
However, on Friday night the legendary vocalist proved that she is still quite comfortable being onstage during a show at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.
In the first of two weekend performances at the intimate venue -- Franklin's first Las Vegas shows in over 20 years -- the 62-year-old Queen of Soul demonstrated that while her appearances have been infrequent, her star power remains as bright as ever.
Arriving to thunderous applause from a near-sellout crowd of 1,400, Franklin showed off a world-famous voice so respected that she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame one year ahead of the Beatles and Bob Dylan.
Despite the room's toasty temperature (likely due to Franklin's aversion to direct air conditioning), the heavyset headliner appeared to be enjoying herself, smiling often and thanking the crowd repeatedly for its enthusiasm.
"After being back in Las Vegas with you after 22 years, I'll have fine memories from now on," Franklin announced while sitting for her lone number at a grand piano, "So Damn Happy," which is the title track from her 2003 album.
"There's no question about my being so ... happy."
Wearing a pink caftan-style dress that glittered under the lights, Franklin held her microphone in one hand, pointed around the room with the other and boogied from side to side as she sang.
She was flanked by a massive ensemble: a 19-piece band featuring 10 horn players, three backing vocalists, a conductor and, at times, dancers. The group swelled to 30 on occasion, likely setting a record for the cramped House of Blues stage (unless you count the bullet-proof-vested posse surrounding rapper 50 Cent last year).
Franklin leaned mainly on her best-known material, getting fans singing early with a run of hits that included "(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman," "Think," "Chain of Fools" and "Respect."
Less-familiar songs -- such as the 1960 single "Today I Sing the Blues" and "It Hurts Like Hell" from 1995's "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack -- were no less successful, thanks to Franklin's consistently strong vocal presence.
She may no longer possess Mariah Carey's range or Whitney Houston's ability to sustain a note, but Franklin's singing style remains as dazzling as ever, still loaded with emotive phrasing and inflection.
On the downside, Franklin's set fell far short of the two hours she reportedly performed at each of her two recent Los Angeles concerts.
She sang 13 tunes that clocked in at around 60 minutes, interrupted strangely by a five-minute break that saw several breakdancers take the stage while OutKast's "The Way You Move" played through the speakers.
When she returned, Franklin continued to shine, even coaxing fans up from $150 seats near the stage for an extended take on "Freeway of Love" that evolved into a gospel workout near its finish.
But Franklin then departed without an encore, coming back to the stage briefly to blow a few kisses to the crowd but never getting near her microphone.
The ending felt abrupt, especially considering how the audience certainly seemed to have earned another song or two with its appreciative response throughout the show.
Instead, Las Vegans will have to wait for more of Franklin's magic, until her bus makes its next rare sojourn to the West.
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