The concert started with a highlight even before actually beginning: “Naturally 7” as a supporting act – that’s about as good as it can get. The guys are just awesome. They “play” all instruments of a song with their voices, which is especially impressive live. I enjoyed their version of Coldplay’s “Fix you” most. At the end of their show they had everyone on their feet dancing their little choreography and singing along. Now that’s what I call “heating up the crowd”!
Then it was time for Michael Bublé. He started his show with “Fever” and continued with a string of jazz standards from “You make me feel so young” to “I’ve got the world on a string“. These songs still sound so fresh and new and I’m glad they get a little face-lift now and then from today’s artists. I wish this kind of high-qual, long-lasting songwriting would be done more today. I mean, honestly, listen to most of the new songs on the radio these days and tell me: Which of these melodies and lyrics are really even worth to pass on to future generations?
Anyway, enough rambling. The next part of the show was a slow one with some beautiful ballads, including my favorite original Bublé tune “Home“. I have to mention here that the stage setting, or more specifically the films/images shown on the huge screen were magical. I know this may sound corny, but I really cannot find a better word. Have a look at the pictures and maybe you will get an idea of what I mean.
Up next was the “covers apart from jazz standards”-portion of the show. For that Michael walked through the audience to the B-stage, which was basically at the other end of the arena. Here he was joined by Naturally 7 and together they brought a little Motown back with songs like “Who’s loving you“. Back on the main stage Michael said his first goodbye with “It’s a beautiful day“, which was so much fun to sing and dance along to.
Luckily, he returned for a few encores. The end of the show really gave me goosebumps. Not only is “A song for you” one of those tunes, that has so many different memories attached to it for me, but also because at one point Michael put away the microphone, pulled out his in-ears and just sang completely unplugged inside this big arena. Suddenly you felt even closer, it immediately created this intimate feeling of him singing to… well, the few of us. It kind of took away that natural barrier between audience and artist. I’ve never thought about it that way. The sudden closeness had nothing to do with space, only with that PA, that’s usually transmitting between artist and audience, being taken away. Amazing! I found this video of it on youtube. I don’t think it can really show what I mean – I guess you had to be there. But check it out to get an impression! This end really was the icing on the cake of a perfect concert and somehow left me with the feeling of having caught a very personal glimpse of Michael Bublé.
music, the world & me 