Whitney live show is the greatest flop of all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoNNvtb4F0E

Whitney Houston

LG Arena, Birmingham

Despite cancelled shows, bouts of illness and a bizarre comeback on X Factor, fans hoped Whitney Houston would be saving all her love for the Midlands.

How wrong they were. It was more a case of it's not right, but it's okay, when the troubled singer took to the stage at Birmingham's LG Arena last night in front of fans who had paid up to £100 for the privilege of seeing her in the flesh.

She may have belted out some of her hits with gusto. But the past decade of drug battles, a troubled marriage and then divorce from Bobby Brown has clearly taken its toll on the superstar singer.

Technical problems early in the show that saw engineers run on to the stage to sort out faulty microphone equipment set the tone for the night.

And the arena rang out with jeers and boos when, just 30 minutes into the performance, she disappeared for 15 minutes to change her sparkly trouser suit into a striking figure-hugging black gown.

Brother Gary took to the stage in her absence, to the anger of many fans, to perform one of her early hits For the Love of You while her backing vocalists got stuck into Queen of the Night - a song she refused to tackle herself on the night. This was followed by a montage of her previous music videos spanning her 25-year recording career.

When she returned to the angry audience she said: "I heard you. But you have to understand, I thought you would enjoy the video montage." During the night, she regularly walked to the back of the stage to sip water and wipe her brow, and she dropped new hit ballad I Didn't Know My Own Strength from the set because it was "her right". Despite the downfalls, an impressive medley of hits including Saving All My Love, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and How Will I Know?, got the crowd dancing and clapping.

And she was applauded by the crowd when she delayed the start of the up tempo My Love to sign an autograph for one adoring fan. The 46-year-old, who has not toured the UK for 11 years and is recovering from a respiratory infection that led to some shows being cancelled, said: "I'm feeling good myself. Thanks for asking. It has been a long time since I have been in Birmingham, but it is a pleasure to be here again. I thank you for your love, support and loyalty."

A 17-strong set of songs including The Greatest Love of All, All at Once, I Learned from the Best and My Love also managed at times to get her adoring fans back on side.

Amanda Powell, aged 42, of St George's Street, Darlaston, said: "It was disappointing. I don't think she has fully recovered from the recent illness or first night nerves. However, I was glad to have had the opportunity to see her. Perhaps she will improve as the concert tour goes on."

Bank worker Lenore Howell, 42, and friends Ashley Davis, 32, and Sandra Kaur, 25, were among the diehard fans expecting a good night with their favourite singer.

Ashley, a student, of Prestwood Road, Wednesfield, said: "I love Whitney. It's the first time that we've had a chance to see her in concert. We loved it. She went off to change which took a long while."

Concert review by Deborah Stewart.