On Saturday, June 28, Cher, looking incredibly glamorous in a tie-dyed wrap and adorned with what must have been one of the biggest headdresses ever to grace the KeyArena stage, emerged from a wildly elaborate stage set perched upon an oversized pedestal. As she started her first song, “Woman’s World,” the pedestal lowered slowly to the ground revealing the entertainer as the goddess of showmanship the world knows her to be. Her voice was strong and commanding as every member of the nearly sold-out crowd stood and screamed her name, the lyrics, or just out of pure joy.

It’s easy to mock Cher, 68, for the work she’s had done to keep herself from aging, but even up close she looks far younger than her years should allow. That’s not just a facelift, that’s attitude. She continued to strut around the stage singing with power as lithe, young backup dancers tore at her costume to reveal a tight skin-toned outfit decked out with gems to catch every ray of light as she moved. Still, managing to keep that humongous headdress perfectly placed, it was something to behold.

Opening act Cyndi Lauper, 61, was no slouch either. She made her entrance through curtains at the back of the venue, and interacted with her fans and the audience up close and personal. With fire-red hair, she made her way to the stage dressed in a cape with the Pride flag covering her shoulders and proceeded to deliver, belting out well-known hits like “She Bop” and “True Colors.” Her outfit was mostly black—including a tight-fitting bodice—along with a number of rainbow accessories. No coincidence it was Pride weekend—the singer perfectly matched the mood, vibe, and individual styles of all in attendance.

Looking ageless, both performers were in sync with the festive mood of Pride. And you can bet Saturday’s show wasn’t the last time “Believe” rang through Seattle streets last weekend. E

mschuler@seattleweekly.com