Part I

So I had heard the same rumors that Kat would be doing 3 Andrea Bocelli concerts in Cali. Well, we got our tickets the day before and lucked out with the seats. I had not really told anyone that I was going to the show with, that I was a HUGE Kat Fan. So, I was secretly hoping she would be there (heart racing.mind racing-would she really be here? If she was, what would she sing-SOTR, MYD, THINK-or a duet or 2 with HIM-(OMG) As you walked in to the arena, as always, it is a very overwhelming experience. Bright lights, noise from all the people, vendors hawking souvenirs (of course I bought the Bocelli Tour Program-heavy sucker), the smell of the consession stand, etc...

We made our way to our seats. We were surprised that at the last minute we got such great seats. Much closer than I thought I would be from the seating chart online. I was thinking, wow, if she is here, I am going to get a first-hand, up-close view!

Well, as you went to sit down, there were the evening's program on your seat. It was an 8.5x11 3 fold-2sided-card stock weight, black and white with a slight tint to it. I glanced at the front cover and then looked inside. It has background info. on the Conducter, the Soprano Female, the Baratone Male, the Orchestra and the Choir and the songs for the evening on one side and info. on Bocelli's CD's on the other. As I am looking it over my friend says, hey did you see this? I said, what? She pointed to the cover and said Katharine McPhee, isn't that the girl from AI-the runner up? I said OMG-Holly S**T!!!!! I went back to the song selection and there is was, Somos Novios-Mr. Bocelli, Ms. McPhee .....The Prayer-Mr. Bocelli, Ms. McPhee OMG!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!! Ms.McPhee-I like the sound of that-Ms. McPhee!!!! OMG-she is here-she is in the building-OMG!!!!

Now let me preface this by saying, I am a HUGE Bocelli Fan. My Dad turned me on to him via DVD in 1997 from the Romanza tour. I had been waiting to see him for almost 10 years. But now that I had a true McPheever going, it was all I could do to wait through 18 songs and a 15 minute intermission to see here-who cared how long or short it was-I was going to see Katharine..mmmhmmm

Then I discovered the on-stage tent for the singers to wait in, in between songs. I was fixated on that tent. He's singing and I am watching the tent. 9 years waiting to see this man-this man with the voice of God-and I am fixated on this tent like a dog waiting for you to drop something off your plate on the floor.

Part II

(This part was written at a later date and includes some information already contained in the first part)

She really is stunning! I was at the CA-Bocelli concert. I was in the 11th row.

I was stage height and on a slight angle. I wasn't side stage but on an angle to the corner of the stage. If you were facing the stage I was on the left side.

There was a sort of tent on the back corner of the stage to the side of the orchestra.
The Conductor, Bocelli, the 2 other singers, KAT and 2 other people hung out in until they walked out on to the stage. The other 2 seemed like coordinators for the concert, etc...

They would do a few songs and then the Conductor would walk him in to the tent. The other singers would come out for like 2 songs and then they go back in and get him, etc...

After intermission, I saw her-there she was-walking up the stairs that were uncovered and then in to the tent. It was my lucky day-the tent had a curtain they kept mostly closed. But it was open enough I could see in and I had my binoculars so I was really in close. SHE IS STUNNING! She was herself-I could see her laughing and smiling-drinking water. At one point it was her and Bocelli just before it was her time to come on.

He touched her leg-she grabbed his arm. They stood. A man pulled half of the curtain back and out she came.

My heart racing and pounding out of my chest-there she was. OMG take your breath away gorgoues! That black full-length gown with the white pipping and cinched waist. She is really thin and really tall.

She turned and looked, what seemed like right at us, smiled that amazing smile and waved the pageant wave. The crowd suddenly realizing it was her went wild. Suddenly flashes were going off like mad. People screaming we love you, kat pack, mcpheever!!!

And Bocelli says, Oh you know who this is? They go even crazier. Then they sing.

You cannot appreciate that voice on TV. What a range, and pitch and tone. She hit a note at one point that truly sounded almost operatic.

If you have not seen him-unbelievable. Truly touched by God. I was amazed that when she belted it out you could hear her over him. Over his power. I wish she would do more of that-it was surreal.

In between songs when the conductor asked her questions-that was true KAT versus the Katharine that just performed like a veteran. She was silly, giggly and just the right answer.

After her 2nd song, the Prayer, they all walked off stage, her escorting Andrea. Again as they were going in to the tent she looked our way and wave and smiled.

He came back out and did 3 songs as the encore. I was fixated on the tent with my binoculars. I was trying to look through the nocs with my left eye and at him on stage with my right. LOL They all came back out on stage. Bowed and waved.

People knew it was over and discovered where they were walking to the tent.
Suddenly there were alot more people making their way over to our section.
The screaming began again-Kat, McPheever, Katharine We Love You!

As she walked toward the tent the baritone singer tapped her on the back and said look-

She looked our way again waving and smiling looking up high to the upper deck, middle deck and all over this side of the arena.

Into the tent they disappear. House light come on. No less than 2 minutes later the tent opens. There she is again-breathtakingly beautiful. She waves, smiles, and is saying thank you- thank you as she is trying to look at everyone. She pulls up her dress to not step on it as she makes her way down the steps. Looking up at everyone until she vanished out of site.

She is tall, strikingly beautiful and when she smiles your heart melts. You can feel the postive energy radiating from her. Then add the voice, the giggle and the silliness, not to mention the stand up comedy, and you can't ask for too much more.

When I watch her I can't help but get that feeling of being outside on a beautiful day and closing your eyes and just taking in the feeling of the warm sun on your skin.

To me KATHARINE IS SUNSHINE

PS:Sorry to be so long winded, but when you talk about our girl, it's hard not to be.