Cher glides into Philips Arena for her ‘farewell, farewell’ tour

With Cyndi Lauper. 7:30 p.m. May 12. $25.50-$131. Philips Arena, One Philips Drive, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.

“I swear to God, this is my farewell, farewell tour.”

So proclaimed Cher a couple of songs into the opening night of her “Dressed to Kill” tour in late March.

Fans have heard that sentiment before — after all, her 2002-2005 “Living Proof” run was subtitled “The Farewell Tour.” But then came three years in a triumphant Las Vegas residency and now, this four-month aptly named opus that accentuates all of the reasons why the multi-hyphenate, who turns 68 on May 20, continues to be revered and beloved.

“Dressed to Kill” rolls into Philips Arena on May 12, and fans can expect two hours of her Cher-ness (prefaced by an opening set from Cyndi Lauper), a five-piece band, an army of muscled dancers — male and female, to appeal to all facets of her audience — and enough moving set pieces to give any Broadway director heart palpitations.

Here are five highlights:

1. The gilded Trojan horse wheeled onstage by her gladiator-clad dancers for “Take It Like a Man.” The frenetic dance floor popper from her current album, “Closer to the Truth,” was accompanied by a blonde-for-the-moment Cher in a gold-plated leg-baring outfit. The queen had arrived, indeed.

2. When Cher sweetly traded verses with Sonny Bono (ingeniously edited on video) for “I Got You Babe,” it was abundantly clear that he is her forever love. She also slipped in a reference to ex-husband Gregg Allman in Phoenix, joking that he used to call her “old toilet mouth” because of her propensity for foul language. Maybe she’ll recall his Georgia connections while in Atlanta.

3. While her costumes aren’t quite as jaw-dropping as the anthology created by Bob Mackie over the years (the pair parted ways just before this tour after a 40-year working relationship), there are, nonetheless, several highlights. From sleek, black velvet tails and sheer stockings to a flowing maroon wig and garage-sale-chic gypsy outfit (for “Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves,” of course) to a version of her iconic black peek-a-boo outfit for a spirited “If I Could Turn Back Time,” Cher dazzled.

4. Among the career-spanning setlist is the tragically overlooked “Welcome to Burlesque,” from the campy 2010 movie “Burlesque,” in which Cher starred. The sultry song received its well-deserved due with a gleaming backdrop. Another noteworthy musical moment came at the end, when Cher flew over the crowd in a secure contraption to croon the stirring, soaring ballad, “I Hope You Find It” — sending the message that every great party should find room for a little reflection.

5. When Cher speaks, it’s impossible not to put down your drink and hang on every syllable. At her tour opener — which started more than an hour late — she immediately broke the fourth wall and shared with the audience that two hours earlier, she was backstage sobbing. Costumes wouldn’t fit, she was panicked about forgetting dance steps, she broke a fingernail and then got toilet paper stuck to her nail polish. Could you imagine Madonna or Tina Turner or even Bette Midler expressing such vulnerability in front of a sold-out arena? Of course not. Cher is unapologetic and unvarnished — and that’s why we love her.