HomeMusicMichael Buble The O2 Arena live review

Michael Buble The O2 Arena live review

Michael Buble is without a doubt the biggest male artist in the world right now. Celebrating his twelfth year in the music industry, Buble is one of the best-selling artists thanks to the huge success of 2009 album Crazy Love and 2011ā€™s festive collection Christmas. His latest album To Be Love, released back in April, has topped charts across the globe and has already passed platinum certification here in the UK. In support of the record Buble is performing 10 nights at The O2 and we went along to see him do what he does best.

Supported by his regular support act and frequent collaborators Naturally 7, Michael Buble arrived on stage at around 8.25pm to a warmed up and enthusiastic audience. We havenā€™t seen The O2 so packed, or buzzing with energy, in a long time but the audience last night were ready to soak in every single minute of Bubleā€™s performance. Arriving on stage under a lifted curtain with a projection of fire on it, Buble opened the night with Fever setting the tone for a classy, sophisticated and enjoyable evening. Immediately his voice was captivating possessing the type of power and control that many singers wish they had.

The set list for the evening was a variety of songs taken from his back catalogue including selections from To Be Loved and a few surprises. It was clear from the songs he selected that Buble knows his audience very well and every single one was met with huge cheers from the audience with plenty of sing-a-long moments. Following Fever was a rousing rendition of his biggest UK single to date Havenā€™t Met You Yet. The song had the audience on their feet, singing their hearts out and dancing away.

In-between songs Buble interacted with the audience showcasing his trademark dry humour. Early in the night he joked that he felt bad for the audiences for his first two O2 shows as he ā€˜didnā€™t give a shitā€™ about those performances claiming he was holding back for this one. Obviously he was joking but itā€™s this kind of cheeky humour that has made millions of people across the world fall in love with him. Mid-way through the set he brought two young fans onto the stage and asked them if they were ā€˜feeling romantic?ā€™ to which they shook their heads and looked a bit starstruck.

Catering for all his fans, Buble made his way across the arena floor during a surprise cover of Daft Punkā€™s Get Lucky to perform a handful of songs on a second stage constructed at the back. This allowed fans, wherever they were sat, to get a glimpse of their idol. For his songs on the second stage he was joined by Naturally 7 and said he wanted to take fans back to the time when music didnā€™t rely on studio magic and auto-tune. Naturally 7 are a vocal harmony group who recreate the sound of instruments with their voices. The highlight of this part of the show was a rendition of the Jackson 5 classic I Want You Back.

Standout moments were hard to choose as every song was amongst Bubleā€™s best. Feelinā€™ Good, the lyrics of which he joked about after his performance, was an audience favourite whilst the emotive Close Your Eyes got everyone feeling romantic. Home was the nightā€™s most emotional moment as Buble dedicated it to his parents who were in the audience. As he sang video of couples and families, some of which featured audience members, was projected behind him. Weā€™d be lying if we said we didnā€™t have a tear in our eye.

During the encore Buble performed three songs including the storming Cry Me A River and Save The Last Dance For Me. He closed his set with A Song For You and sang the final parts without a microphone whilst the audience looked on in awe. His voice still sounded crystal clear proving what an incredible vocalist he really is. As he took his final bow the audience erupted feeling satisfied with his near 2-hour performance.

Michael Buble is in a league of his own. Very few artists these days can hold a show based almost solely on their vocal ability. He doesnā€™t need the huge fancy sets, backing dancers or tricks to keep the fans happy. He just sings his heart out and entertains with his charisma. Buble is a true artist and after seeing him live at The O2 thereā€™s no doubt as to why heā€™s the biggest star in the world. Humble, talented and endlessly charming Buble will always have a fan with us. We canā€™t wait for him to come back again (and again, and again!).

Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip is the owner and Editor of Entertainment Focus, and the Managing Director of PiƱata Media. With over 19 years of journalism experience, Pip has interviewed some of the biggest stars in the entertainment world. He is also a qualified digital marketing expert with over 20 years of experience.

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