With you - between you - for you could have been the motto for Anka's concert in Budapest. Though the top-row section of the Papp László Sport Arena was closed, the lower seats and the area in front of the stage were full, and several thousand people clapped their hands as Anka sang and walked among the rows.
One could sense something special about to happen when the nervous security staff started raising their voices at concert-goers who were still in line at the concession stand at 7:30pm, the concert's official starting time. As it turned out, they had good reason to press the stragglers as just five minutes later Anka marched into the arena and started seating latecomers himself, though making them dance first. Anka took his place on stage when the audience was in place while singing his gem Diana.
Anka gave his several thousand fans in the arena a fantastic two hours. Some sang along for the entire performance, and many couples danced. Anka, who has written or recorded almost a thousand songs over his career, and who knows, perhaps better than anybody, what makes a hit a hit, does not disappoint. Though most of the songs in the performance were covers from his album Rock Swings, everyone came away satisfied by numbers as varied as Put Your Hand on My Shoulder, My Way and Wonderwall. When Anka sang Jump!, a number off Rock Swings, a member of the audience produced improvised leaps that surprised even Anka.
He paid tribute to friends gone, such as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., with projections and "duets".
