UK soul siren Lisa Stansfield may have been “All Around The World,” but finally spellbinds Chicago

Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The majority of America probably doesn’t remember Lisa Stansfield outside of her 1989 album “Affection” and the humongous single “All Around The World,” but to those in the UK and the rest of Europe, she’s a soulful pop goddess with an acclaimed solo career, alongside a platinum-plus collaboration with George Michael and Queen. Although a return to these shores is ridiculously overdue since that very season, it finally came to fruition when the 52-year-old singer/songwriter mounted a tour supporting “Deeper,” which could be considered the long-awaited bookend of sorts to her breakthrough three decades ago.

Now that Stansfield’s experienced how this section of the globe feels about those glorious gifts, hopefully she’ll come back on a regular basis to finally find the attention that’s greeted her pretty much everywhere else.

Yet thanks to artists such as Adele, Sam Smith and a fresh assessment of Michael in light of his premature passing, that soulful pop style is as popular as it was back then, though in the case of Stansfield, she also brought lots of bounce to her step at a comfortably crowded Vic Theatre. Many may have come for nostalgia and they scored at least a sampler, but the current collection accounted for the bulk of material, kicking off with the spellbinding “Everything” and “Deeper.”

The focus turned retro for a version of Barry White’s “Never, Never Gonna Give You Up,” which Stansfield slayed from the female perspective, then went back to the new for the mightily delivered “Hole In My Heart.” In fact, the headliner’s voice continued gliding with ease throughout “Change,” “So Natural” and “Someday (I’m Coming Back),” while bumping up its rich and buttery qualities throughout the “Affection” alum “You Can’t Deny It.”

She kept excelling throughout “The Real Thing,” “People Hold On” and others, but naturally amassed the most resounding applause as she went looking for her baby during the smoothly spectacular “Around The World.” And now that Stansfield’s experienced how this section of the globe feels about those glorious gifts, hopefully she’ll come back on a regular basis to finally find the attention that’s greeted her pretty much everywhere else.

Click here for more photos of Lisa Stansfield at the Vic Theatre.

For additional information on Lisa Stansfield, visit Lisa-Stansfield.com.

For a list of upcoming Jam Productions shows, visit JamUSA.com.

For a list of upcoming shows at the Vic Theatre, visit VicTheatre.com.