Yeah, we enjoyed a night with Michael Bublé... What of it?
Look. It’s been three-and-a-half years since I wrote my first LeftLion article. I’ve been full-time office staff for almost two of them. I’ve been Editor since September. And I’m sick of hiding my truth. I’m tired of lying to you, reader, and I can no longer lie to myself. So here’s a big one about me: I like Michael Bublé. Yes, I said it - and I meant it. I. Like. Michael Bublé. And no, not just at Christmas.
So, when I got the opportunity to watch the man behind Feeling Good and Haven't Met You Yet at Nottingham’s own Motorpoint Arena, you bet your ass I jumped at it - and it was definitely the right decision. You see, this man knows how to put on a performance. Throughout a night littered with stunning visuals, a super-talented orchestra, and a gloriously early finish time of 9.30pm (yes, I’m getting old), the Canadian wowed audiences with his beloved back catalogue of banging tunes and Grammy-winning new releases.
Whether you’re a fan or not, it’s impossible to deny that Bublé is a genuine, old-school entertainer. He’s constantly strutting around the stage, cracking out his dad-at-a-wedding dance moves, interacting with the audience (one lad called George basically became the star of the night) - this concert felt, as Bublé himself promised, more like a show than a gig.
Yet, with all of the frills and flashing lights, it’s easy to forget that Bublé is an impressive vocalist in his own right. It was only through his slower, more stripped-back tunes like Home and Hold On that his range truly came to the fore - and, despite the crowd being in a party mood for most of the evening, they were brought to a respectful silence throughout these more emotional moments.
So, at the risk of obliterating what little street credit LeftLion still has (goodbye to those glory days as a cool, hip publication), I’m going to say it: Bublé smashed his Nottingham show, and I properly enjoyed it. Let the haters hate, let the doubters doubt - ‘Christmas Boy’ (as he jokingly christened himself) is a top artist all year round.
Michael Bublé is performing at Motorpoint Arena tonight, Monday 8 May
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