The Next Leg Still Rocking Hard At Age 58, Tina Turner Visits The Gorge

In theory, “resilience” means the ability to withstand and recover from compressive stress or change. In person, “resilience” means Tina Turner.

She’s come up from being down professionally and personally, and now brings her “Wildest Dreams” to life at the Gorge on Sunday.

If anyone can rock the old basalt, it’s Tina.

Still high-energy at age 58, she’s running up the mileage on her Hanes “Resilience” hosiery in a 49-city loop through the United States and Canada, on the heels of last year’s sell-out European concert tour.

Look forward to hearing her belt out “Proud Mary,” “River Deep, Mountain High,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and newer material from her “Wildest Dreams” album. A review of her Los Angeles show applauded her tribute to Memphis soul, which included the Al Green song “Let’s Stay Together” and “I Can’t Stand the Rain.”

“I’m not one for standing and singing,” Turner says. “You can listen to the record at home, but onstage, just standing there isn’t enough. I’m not saying everyone needs to run around onstage as I do, but I personally like a lot of production, a lot of action.”

The action will go on for two hours and five shimmery costume changes, aided and abetted by three top-speed dancers and a seven-piece band. Oprah Winfrey recently tagged along to a couple of the Southwestern stops and raved about an onstage elevator that zooms Turner to new performance heights.

Esteem for Tina Turner rose without hydraulics, however, when she proved her resilience in her offstage life. Disclosure of her hard-hitting marriage to Ike Turner earned her the empathy of women who read her book, saw the movie based on it, or understood abuse first-hand, fist-first. The bruises that don’t show take the longest to fade.

Twenty-two years ago, fans of the Ike and Tina Revue never guessed that the rawness of her performance was about her relationship with Ike.

Broke, battered and with four kids to support, Tina struck out on her own in 1976 and struggled for work. She healed inside through her study of Buddhism and connected professionally with a manager who opened doors leading to her present success.

“I don’t have time for bitterness,” she says. “One shouldn’t have time for bitterness when you’re trying to be successful. Work towards what you want - that’s my attitude.”

And that is precisely the attitude that earns admiration. No whining, just pick yourself up and get on with living. Turner proves her passion with every performance and centers herself in herself, not just centerstage.

“I’m at a place in my life where I can move slowly,” says Turner. “I can take what comes … or if the work isn’t there, I can be content.”

She says she is happy just sitting outside “enjoying the sounds of the universe.”

“But when I’m out there onstage, that’s another thing. I believe in the saying, ‘Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.’ I know what kind of show I like to see, and that’s the kind of show I give.”

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CONCERT Tina Turner will perform with Cyndi Lauper opening at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Gorge. Tickets are $44.65 and $34.15, available at Ticketmaster outlets or call (509) 735-0500.