Thirty years of dance, pop and soul on display from Taylor Dayne and Exposé at the Genesee

Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Right around 30 years ago, Taylor Dayne and Exposé were two of the defining acts in the dance pop explosion, also spending considerable time in R&B and freestyle territory. Jump ahead to 2017, and the ladies remain friends and occasional bill mates, bringing in respectable numbers to the gorgeously restored Genesee Theatre in Waukegan to address the ‘80s, ‘90s and now, alongside tributes to a few key superstars the music world has lost throughout it all.

By the time Dayne got to her club-worthy spin on Barry White’s “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love,” the dancing overflowed in the aisles and stayed there through “Tell It To My Heart,” though the mid-tempo might of “Love Will Lead You Back” was perhaps the strongest vehicle to showcase the veteran’s superhuman voice.

Dayne and her four-piece band took the closing slot of the double bill, entering to a mash-up of her own “With Every Beat Of My Heart” and Tina Turner’s “The Best” with the range of any great supreme diva and a svelte figure that resembled someone at least half of her 55 years. She continued to defy age physically and vocally as she seductively danced around a bar stool during “Don’t Rush Me” and then belted out “I’ll Always Love You” with additional soulful authenticity.

Much of her hour was spent down memory lane, whether it was “I’ll Be Your Shelter,” a knockout rendering of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” or Prove Your Love,” though Dayne continues to record and also offered up the beautiful ballad “Born To Sing” (from her recent “Live” project). By the time Dayne got to her club-worthy spin on Barry White’s “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love,” the dancing overflowed in the aisles and stayed there through “Tell It To My Heart,” though the mid-tempo might of “Love Will Lead You Back” was perhaps the strongest vehicle to showcase the veteran’s superhuman voice.

Exposé wasn’t quite as polished when it came to choreography or conversations, periodically bumping shoulders and talking over one another, but at least the ladies get along swimmingly and maintained their notable harmonies. Their spirited half was backed mostly by tracks and started with the bubbly “Exposed To Love,” one of several from 1987’s “Exposure,” the debut that kicked off a stream of seven back-to-back Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 (a first for any girl group).

These record breakers also touched on many other corners of their sometimes overlooked but surely worthwhile career, including “What You Don’t Know,” “Shine On,” “I’ll Never Get Over You (Getting Over Me)” and a funky take on George Michael’s “Freedom ’90.” An acoustic guitarist also joined the trio for an extensive acoustic set before returning to the dance floor with “Let Me Be The One,” swaying to “Seasons Change” and injecting some modern day EDM into “Point Of No Return” to bring the uber-popular flashback full circle.

For additional information on Taylor Dayne and Exposé, visit TaylorDayne.com and ExposeOnline.net.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Genesee Theatre include Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms (Apr. 27); Todd Rundgren (May 3); Scotty McCreery with Jamie Lynn Spears (May 11); Under The Streetlamp (May 12); Barenaked Ladies (May 16); Olivia Newton-John (May 17); Blood, Sweat & Tears (May 18); Jackie Evancho (May 19) and “The Cornerstones Of Rock” featuring The Ides of March with Jim Peterik, The Buckinghams, The Cryan’ Shames, New Colony Six and The Shadows Of Knight (May 20). For additional details, visit GeneseeTheatre.com.

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Thirty years of dance, pop and soul on display from Taylor Dayne and Exposé at the Genesee

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