Taylor Dayne packs ‘heart and love’ into Vegas shows

Taylor Dayne is bringing what she calls "a soundtrack of your life" to Harrah's Las Vegas for a residency running Nov. 24 through Jan. 2. The 64-year-old singer, known for a string of late-1980s hits, says the show will feature "Tell It to My Heart," "Love Will Lead You Back," "Prove Your Love" and "Can't Get Enough of Your Love." "There is a lot of heart and love," she says.

Dayne, who lives in Santa Barbara, California, says she trains like an athlete for her performances. "For me it has always been about the performance and the raw energy," she says. "I guess it has always been ferocious for me." She acknowledges she still gets nervous before taking the stage. "I always get nervous," she says. "What I love is that every show is different. Every night is new."

The residency fulfills a long-held goal. "Listen, I've been wanting this for years," Dayne says. She notes that when Celine Dion took over Caesars Palace, "there was a real merge between production and artistry in Vegas. It became a no-brainer for me to want to be here. Now, there is a flood of performers making Las Vegas a new Broadway. It's the epicenter."

Dayne frames the engagement as a personal challenge. "I believe that once a year, you need to really challenge yourself," she says. "It doesn't matter if you're a singer, a mother or a business person. You need to find that next 'it' for you. You have to really pull. Stretch yourself. Test yourself. Get creative again." She cites her own history with cancer, menopause and a hysterectomy as sources of wisdom. "As a woman who wants to continually age in a time where people might not want you to stay in the game, you just say, 'Who gives a s—-' and do it anyways. That's also wisdom!"

Music has been central since childhood. "At 4 years old, I knew I wanted to be a rock star!" she says. Growing up in apartment buildings, "music was playing whenever I can remember. Through all these windows and walls, it was all music. … I listened to Joni Mitchell and Tina Turner — it felt so fresh, new and wild." To stay grounded, Dayne says, "I love to meditate and shut it all down. 'Me time' is very important. I take it down, go inward and find the center."

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal