IT has been 10 years and five albums since his sing-off with a young Gareth Gates, and Will Young is still attracting a huge following – although he's more Pop Connoisseur than Pop Idol now.
New album Echoes with its funky electro vibe, and excellent single Jealousy which he closed his O2 Academy set with, are both good indicators of a successful chart year ahead for Young. Like the majority of his music videos, his new show is very theatrical with a nice balance of songs too.
Rose petals falling from overhead during one of his new ballads, Silent Valentine, was possibly a touch overplayed although his cover of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill is one for Radio 1’s Live Lounge if he ever moves away from his BBC Radio 2 core audience.
Young’s chat also reflects his more mature audience, as he talks about his fixation with antiques and television’s Cash in the Attic. Playing a game of “higher or lower” throughout the show the audience screamed their guesses on a bowler hat, coat stand and fire guard before Will’s promise of taking his top off became a reality.
Highlights included cover Light My Fire, Who Am I and Leave Right Now although a muted minor variation of debut single Evergreen was arguably the most inventive and a homage to his reality TV beginnings.
Musically, it was his jazz style Hit The Road Jack intro with his five-piece band and three backing singers that best showcased his vocals and likeable nature.
The nicest man in pop title is probably his for some time to come and, more superficially, his bounce and wiggle is sure to fixate for a few years yet.
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