I was uncertain whether the Usher concert would actually take place. It wasn't due to any announcements, but rather because amidst the deluge of Met Gala pictures, there he was in New York City just the night before. Dressed impeccably on the red carpet and seen in videos dancing inside, surely he couldn't return overnight for a performance?
But then I reminded myself that this is Usher, one of the hardest working individuals in the music industry, and of course, he was going to show up. After all, this was the second to last show of his series at the O2 Arena, wrapping up the European Past Present Future Tour.
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The show's concept revolves around an AI screen named Celeste, tasked with retrieving key memories from Usher’s past to share with the audience. It had the potential to come off as cringe-worthy, but in reality, the impersonal AI character revealed some genuinely fascinating videos and photos of Usher that resonated with his fans. Some clips were authentic moments from his well-documented life, while others featured AI-generated depictions of Usher conversing with his current self. It truly reinforces the theme of a “Past Present Future” Tour, emphasizing his legacy. We are here for all his work, not just a single album or moment.
With musicians and backing singers positioned at the sides of the stage, an energetic mixed-gender dance crew joins Usher for most of the tracks. Naturally, there are many sexually charged interactions between male and female dancers, with and without Usher, true to his style. There are moments where Usher performs solo, like in ‘U Got It Bad’ and ‘Nice & Slow’, creating a more intimate atmosphere. The occasional use of close-up cameras displayed on the big screens also enhances the feeling of being right there with him.
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By the third song, Usher has already showcased several outfits. I lost track of how many costume changes occurred, both for him and the dancers, but it adds to the dynamic flow of the two-hour show, considering the stage design is quite minimal. The fashion theme definitely leaned toward sparkle and extravagance, featuring many versions of shimmering silver outfits, but the standout had to be a floor-length pink fur coat worn over no shirt, white pants, and pink leather gloves, topped off with Celine sunglasses.
It’s safe to say that Usher still has it. From his dance moves to his vocal performance, when he showcases these skills, they remain as impressive as they were 20 years ago. You could easily close your eyes and feel transported back to the 90s. While we’ve seen it before, it’s still a spectacle to watch him dance and sing effortlessly on roller skates like a professional. However, I found the ratio of live vocals to backing tracks was lower than I’d prefer, especially since he still sounds fantastic.
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The first half of the show was cohesive and tight, containing many of my personal favorite songs, such as ‘U Remind Me’ from ‘8701’ and ‘Burn’ from ‘Confessions’. However, as we moved into the second hour, the performance felt more disjointed. Firstly, there was less storytelling and direction from AI Celeste, making her sporadic appearances feel somewhat abrupt. Toward the end, Usher discusses his absent father and how it influenced his choices as an adult. While this moment is vulnerable and intriguing for fans, it seemed out of sync with the flow of the show by that point.
Secondly, there was significantly less performing. Usher walking through the crowd to feed cherries to certain lucky women (and giving one to Idris Elba for his wife Sabrina) took quite some time and lost its novelty. I think this is more due to social media overload, as we’ve been inundated with clips online.
He later appeared at the back of the arena on a mini stage with two stripper poles and fake money, with pole dancers joining (and Omarion appearing) to "bring us to Atlanta." However, following the cherry segment, this resulted in a lengthy stretch without any singing.
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The penultimate track was ‘Yeah!’, featuring everyone in white, creating a classic show-stopping moment. However, the show ended curiously with ‘Without You’, a song that would have fit better in the earlier dance music segment where he played songs like ‘DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love’.
Usher is undoubtedly an entertainer. Simply the number of shows on this tour is impressive. However, I find myself comparing Usher against his own previous performances. Having experienced his Paris residency in September 2023, I was thoroughly amazed. Although Usher's O2 show was impressive compared to most artists, especially those over 40, I couldn’t help but hold him to a higher standard, one that 'Past Usher' established for himself.
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Words: Nicola Davies
Photography: Chloe Newman
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I was uncertain whether the Usher show would take place. This wasn't due to any official statements, but rather because, amidst the barrage of Met Gala images, he appeared there.