Emeli Sandé @ 02 Academy, 19th March, 2017
As bodies filed into the O2 Academy on a Sunday night, the temperature rose, and we all waited in anxious hot anticipation for the night ahead. Emeli Sandé is a Scottish powerhouse whose tunes have been played on repeat on the radio since her debut a handful of years ago. Hoping that her passion and spunk would translate into a live performance, the packed house was in for a treat. Playing tracks from her recently released album Long Live the Angels as well as some old favorites, Emeli Sandé lit up the O2 Academy performing one of the best shows ever witnessed at the venue.
There is something instantly likeable about Sandé. From the moment she entered the stage she was both approachable and commanding, a mixture of sweetness and diva. From the first song, “Heaven,” Sandé controlled the room. The smooth rhythmic blues pop song filled the room with her vocal brilliance, as energy exploded from her and her backing band. A drummer solo with island flavour picked up the energy and immediately had the room in a tizzy. “Wonder” was up next. The island pop song lightened the mood, drawing all that were in the room to a sun soaked island with its tropical vibes and good times.
The paced slowed as “Tenderly” rang through the speakers. A song inspired by Emeli’s trip to see family in Zambia, the song is an extension of the thoughtful lyrical content normally found in both albums. The slow tempo crooner songs continued, with “Free” and “Give Me Something” offering deeply sensitive tunes. Love song “Every Single Little Piece” continued the ballad tunes. It is these types of songs that prove that Sandé has the writing abilities that greats like Celine Dion and Adele possess. Sandé has the unquestionable ability to write in a way that encompasses the excitement and vulnerability of being in love, a balance that not many are able to obtain in such a short song.
A brand new song that was upbeat and percussion driven came up next. Followed by fan favorites “Kung Fu” and “Hurts” the energy was picked back up in the room. “Breather Under Water,” a piano accompanied upbeat song filled with lyrical content of hope and excitement came next. The dance electricity created by the last handful of songs continued as hits like “Heaven,” “Beneath Your Beautiful,” and slower paced “Clown” came through. Fan favorite “Babe,” an upbeat groove song that clearly displays some island roots, continued the party. Finally “Highs & Lows” and “Next To Me” drew the encore performance of “Read All About It.”
Emeli Sandé’s show was electric. Her impressive vocal range was mirrored by her thrilling stage presence, concluding in an epic and incredible show. With the new album and old favorites the next few months of the tour are surely ones not to miss.
Reviewer: Kylie McCormick
Photographer: Johnny Dent