Ne-Yo: Giving Everything Tomorrow

Considering that soul and R&B star Ne-Yo has not had a UK chart hit for a number of years, his popularity showed no signs of waning as the singer arrived at the Leeds Arena for a sold-out concert.

Surprisingly too, many of the Leeds audience members were not even born when the singer released tracks that have become classics, such as Give Me Everything, Play Hard, and the show opener Closer.

Arriving on stage wearing his traditional trademark hat, tipped to one side, his soulful voice was a firm reminder of how much Ne-Yo has been missed. The Michael Jackson dance moves were still present, albeit not as plentiful as in the past. The singer, now 44 years old, let his four dancers share the majority of the dancing.

With a back catalogue that reads like some of the best pop and soul tracks of the last twenty years, this was never going to be a disappointment as far as hit songs were concerned. The singer has also written hits for Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Mario—tracks that were also featured in a show where the energy, enthusiasm, and entertainment never lost a grip.

The Gentlemen’s Lair sequence showed a darker side to Ne-Yo, contrasting well with his usual upbeat style. Add to that some audience participation, where three members of the audience were invited to dance on stage with him, including one Leeds fan who nearly stole the show with her exaggerated twerking, which even took Ne-Yo by surprise, and the result was a resounding success.

Many of the American artists biggest numbers were collaborations with European artists including David Guetta and Calvin Harris on tracks Play Hard and Lets Go, respectively, more pop and dance-based than his usual R&B style. The two tracks provided the perfect finale in a celebration where the confetti cannons, pyrotechnics, and a great entertainer and singer came together in a night where Ne-Yo really did, in the words of one of his biggest hits, give everything tonight.

Photos: Graham CLark

The Champagne and Roses tour continues:
11th March: Newcastle Arena
19th March: Manchester Arena