IMAGES JOE JONES WORDS DESH KAPUR
Michael Bublé is back for his first UK arena tour in four years, and it’s not even Christmas, but it really feels like it!
The four-time Grammy winner, was all confidence and smooth operator charm as he took the stage at the AO Arena Manchester to a packed-out venue, looking resplendent in a black suit shirt and tie
The Canadian singer-songwriter was all smiles as he walked to the front of the stage and looked out at the 20,000 faces smiling back at him, and you just know it’s going to be Rat Pack cool as F£$k
It’s a Buble concert so you know it’s going to have everything big production, orchestration overload, beautiful smooth vocals and witty banter and tonight had all those things in bucket loads, this man’s vocals are something to behold, big and powerful and they easily fill the venue, the show is slick and shiny, and it works on every level
He opens up the evening with Anthony Newley’s “Feeling Good” and finished the 20-song set with Gwen McCrae’s “Always On My Mind” but he also throws in his songs “Just Haven’t Met You Yet” “Home” “Higher” and they bring the house down.
It’s amazing how Bublé makes it seem like he is only singing to you when you are surrounded by so many people, but at times it does feel that way, and he makes it look effortless
So after a breath-taking performance on a night that included a 26-piece band, three backing singers, graphics and video screens, there is only one thing to say, and that is Michael Bublé is the consummate performer with a style and panache that you have to see to believe and it’s all backed up with an incredible voice, and if I had to give it a mark out of 10 it would be 10.
SET LIST
1/ FEELING GOOD (Anthony Newley cover)
2/ HAVEN’T MET YOU YET
3/ L-O-V-E (Nat King Cole cover)
4/ SUCH A NIGHT (Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters cover)
5/ SWAY (Dean Martin cover)
6/ WHEN YOUR SMILING (Segar Ellis cover)
7/ HOME
8/ EVERYTHING
9/ HIGHER
10/ TO LOVE SOMEBODY (Bee Gees cover)
11/ HOLD ON
12/ YOUNG AT HEART (Frank Sinatra cover)
13/ ILL NEVER NOT LOVE YOU
14/ FEVER (Eddie Cooley cover)
15/ IF YOUR LOOKING FOR TROUBLE/ALL SHOOK UP/CANT HELP FALLING IN LOVE (Elvis Presley medley)
16/ YOU’RE THE FIRST, THE LAST, MY EVERYTHING (Barry White cover)
17/ IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY ENCORE
18/ CRY ME A RIVER ( Julie London cover)
19/ HOW SWEET IT IS (Marvin Gaye cover)
20/ ALWAYS ON MY MIND (Gwen McCrae cover)
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My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago