Bassey Is Still Taking Risks, and the Audience Benefits

After more than 40 years of performing, pop diva Shirley Bassey still managed a couple of firsts Thursday night at the Universal Amphitheatre.

She confided that she’d never before played the venue and later noted that her set featured another new experience for her: performing country and western (specifically, the Patsy Cline hit “Crazy”).

The 60-year-old Welsh singer never took the familiar for granted, however, working hard to charm an audience that clearly already loved her. Backed by a 22-piece orchestra, she burned like a supernova from the opening number, her signature hit “Goldfinger,” to the encores. Wearing a dreamy white lace gown that showed off her fit physique, she was playfully seductive and always good-humored, working her expressive alto to every dynamic advantage.

Her brisk 90-minute set drew from various pop eras to explore the power, the perils, the pain of amour. Every gesture and expression spelled “drama” in bold strokes, yet the exaggerated emotions often made the tunes more believable, not ridiculous.

Among her magnetic takes on standards were some positively Lynchian moments: Who would have thought she’d pull off Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is”?

Interpreting rock artists isn’t new for Bassey; she had a big U.K. hit with the Beatles’ “Something,” which she effectively ratcheted up to show-tune levels Thursday. This spin didn’t work as well on “Eleanor Rigby” and “Hey Jude,” but her adventurousness was admirable.

Don’t be surprised if someday, long after today’s rock gods have tumbled, Bassey the Belter is out there somewhere, crooning a Nirvana tune especially for you.