Posted November 14, 200915 yr Daily Record :D Pop Idol may be long gone but Will Young's career is Evergreen. Will's set at Glasgow Armadillo was slick and his most relaxed yeat. The 2002 Pop Idol winner's smooth vocals delivered effortlessly on songs including SWITCH IT ON, from his third album, KEEP on, Brit Winner Your Game and show favourite LIGHT MY FIRE. He also wooed the crowd by expressing his love for Glasgow singing Flower of Scotland as he paused for a drink. Songs such as Changes, Friday's Child and Who Am I got the crowd singing along. Will also revealed he wore a kilt the last time he was here and thought he was sexy - until he saw photos of his legs!He donned his tailcoat and stood by a white piano for a section with jazz versions of Ever Fallen in Love, Everybody Wants To Rule The World and then his ballad All Time Love. The jacket came off and will flexed his muscles forbig numbers including Grace and I Think I'd Better Leave Right Now before ending on his first hit Evergreen and winning himself a standing ovation Article by Beverely Lyons Page 19 of Daily Record in Glasgow on Friday 13th November 2009 Thanks to Bumbling. Aberdeen :dance: Will Young delights fans at Aberdeen’s Music Hall Pop Idol winner wows audience By Alison Rennie Published: 14/11/2009 IDOL: Will Young in top form on stage at Aberdeen’s Music Hall. Picture by Andy Thorn SINGING sensation Will Young proved he was a born entertainer as he took to the stage in Aberdeen. The former Pop Idol winner greeted the packed audience at Aberdeen’s Music Hall with an electrifying entrance. Will, dressed in a deep purple shirt, tight black jeans and purple trainers, bounded on to the Aberdeen stage. And the talented star began bantering with the Aberdeen audience, before treating the crowd to two upbeat numbers. Will said: “Why have I never played live in Aberdeen before – the people are lovely! I am having a great experience.” The Aberdeen crowd were straight on their feet from the first song – Your Game – dancing in the aisles and barely sitting down throughout the entire show. However, the best dancer of the evening was up on the Aberdeen stage – Will Young himself Will proved he doesn't just sing his songs, he lives them, gracing the Aberdeen stage with spontaneous moves. Will belted out some of his greatest hits – from when he won Pop Idol in 2004 – but also performed tracks off his new album Let It Go. When he finally left the stage, to Think I Better Leave Right Now and Evergreen, the Aberdeen fans were in rapture. Despite his critics, Will Young excelled and showed his Aberdeen fans why he is definitely a pop idol. __________________
November 14, 200915 yr Thanks TT. Will proved he doesn't just sing his songs, he lives them Oh yes. That,my friend, is soul music :wub:
November 14, 200915 yr Thanks TT, great reviews there and I love this bit and so true, Will proved he doesn't just sing his songs, he lives themthis other part baffled me though, from when he won Pop Idol in 2004 he was touring with his second album then. :lol:
November 16, 200915 yr Tut tut at the mistakes in the Aberdeen review, but since they're praising him, I can forgive them. ;)
November 17, 200915 yr Fabulous review from Manchester: http://www.citylife.co.uk/img/18120/37626_490250_young_retains_some_of_his_early_energetic_charm.jpg Young retains some of his early energetic charm Will Young by Alistair Beech Apollo - given 4 stars. November 15, 2009 SINCE his days as a fresh-faced Pop Idol contestant, Will Young has successfully battled his personal demons folowing his meteoric rise to fame after winning the contest in 2002. Besides an acting spell, he's bagged four number one singles - new compilation The Hits is now doing the rounds - eschewing the tabloid trappings of pop contemporaries to become one of the country's most loved artists. At the opening of a two-night stint at the Apollo, Young delivered a sparkling showcase of singles and newer material. Bouncing on stage to the rock-styled Switch It On, Young appears confident and at ease with his fanatical fan base, pausing to chat between songs as if meeting long-time friends. Pop subtlety Young lived in Manchester during his lead role in The Vortex at The Royal Exchange theatre, and no doubt found familiar faces before him on the night. His velvet-like vocals are flawless throughout, while the energetic and boy-ish charm remains from his early career. Top ten single Changes is delivered with stylish aplomb, bringing the Apollo to its feet, while a hip-shaking run through of The Doors' Light My Fire shows Young's ability to shake up and re-imagine classics from the past. Leave Right Now, arguably his best song, is a glorious lesson in pop subtlety, while All Time Love is a tearful standout. Striking recent single Grace leads the way for an encore of Evergreen, the Westlife cover that catapulted Young into the nation's hearts and left tonight's crowd singing their way home. Reviewed: Mon, 16 November, 2009 http://www.citylife.co.uk/music/reviews/17...nt_and_stylish# Absolutely. :wub: Thanks to Rosie on D for finding this and the actual newspaper scan is below: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/curlywurly/Will%20Young/willreviewedited.jpg Edited November 17, 200915 yr by munchkin
November 17, 200915 yr Author Thanks munchkin. Read the review on Devoted but hadn't seen it in print. :D
November 17, 200915 yr Thanks munchkin, a great review from Manchester and I think he's a national treasure too. :heart:
November 19, 200915 yr Author Blackpool Will shows why he's successful « Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryPublished Date: 18 November 2009 Will Young Blackpool Opera House YOU would probably be surprised by the number of songs in Will Young's back catalogue you actually know. It's hard to believe the frightfully posh, seemingly shy and utterly sincere singer has been a presence on the British pop scene since 2002. The fact no seat in the Opera House was empty from the stalls to the gods, however, spoke for itself. On the surface the release of a greatest hits album seems premature, but in truth in a 90-minute set, if you didn't know the songs from the outset, after the first verse you felt as though you did. Smart in a pair of astonishingly tight black jeans and with an infectious, impish grin, it was hard not to be drawn in. The audience ranged massively in age, but his set list proved his mass appeal. Changes, Friday's Child, Light My Fire, Grace and Old Time Love produced massive cheers. In between songs, he spoke to mention people's birthdays and acknowledge every whim of an affectionate and impeccably behaved crowd. A section with a piano accompaniment proved popular and saw him cover The Buzzcocks' Ever Fallen In Love and Tears For Fears Everybody Wants To Rule The World. His heartfelt but humble performance ultimately proved the prowess in live performance which perhaps catapulted him to reality TV fame in the first place. Performing his new single Hopes And Fears, however, and hearing the screams for smash hits Leave Right Now and Evergreen – it proves Will Young has travelled a long way and deserves every inch of his success. Lisa Ettridge
November 19, 200915 yr Thanks TT, what a wonderful review and it could have been written by one of us, a very honest and truthful review and she definitely sees and hears what we all do. :wub:
November 20, 200915 yr Author Newcastle :D From Newcatle Evening Chronicle Will wows the City Hall Great review Will Young City Hall. Reality show success story and all round nice guy, Will Young, hit all the right notes last night when he packed out the City Hall, and reminded us why he catapulted into the nation's heart all those years ago. Since becoming the first winner of Pop Idol in 2002, he has remained at the top of his game and recently released a greatest hits album. A dapperly dressed Will made his grand entrance to the opening drum beats of Switch It On. His energetic greeting had the crowd out of their seats, and he kicked off with a spattering of hits spanning four albums; with Changes, Tell Me the Worst, and Friday's Child being particular favourites. The lovely thing about is that you really can tell he is having a great time; he genuinely enjoys what he is doing and has a sense of energy and openness about him that is endearing to any audience. Add to this some great audience banter, in which he commented on how friendly Newcastle is, told stories about his grandparents and shouted "I love you too" to some lucky fan, and its easy to see why he's had the longevity that most of his peers can only dream of. Thriving on the support of a fantastic backing band, who look like they could have stepped out of the sixties. Will's natural rapport only adds to the relaxed atmosphere, and emphasises his old-time charm: he's polite, he's well dressed, he respects his elders, and, oh yeah - he can sing! Light My Fire has become synonymous with the singer, and as the audience sang along to every word it was easy to forget that its not his song. Through a powerful note perfect rendition of You and I, heproves that whatever the song calls for, he'll do it with a genuine smile plastered on his face. The highlight was no doubt the piano accompanied tracks, and the Buzzcocks' punk classic, Ever Fallen in Love, was wonderfully performed. As with All Time Love, in which the audience provided the harmonies, the simplicity of the piano and his vocal adds a lovely touch. Ending with a fantastic performance of latest single Hopes and Fears, and classic hit Leave Right Now, Will left the stage before returning for his encore and the song that catapulted him to fame, Evergreen. Afitting note to end on, and judging by the amount of swaying arms in the room-audience anthem of the night. Easy to forget just how much of a gift singer Will is, but judging by this performance I think it it right to say that the nation undoubtedly made the right choice all those years ago. Sorry Gareth! http://www.whatsonne.co.uk/gb/music/...stle-city-hall Thanks to Val. Edited November 20, 200915 yr by truly talented
November 21, 200915 yr Author Liverpool Review: Will Young, Liverpool Empire Nov 21 2009 Liverpool Echo Add a comment Recommend (2) 1 2 next THE Big Book of Reality TV Clichés clearly got lost in the post on the way to Berkshire. Will Young, winner of Pop Idol, didn't win the nation's heart because he went on an emotional journey, nor because he had a sob story to tell. He won because he was talented and innovative. A self-confessed politics geek, he described his career highlight as appearing on Question Time. Quirky, funny and interesting, he's gone on to carve his own furrow as a singer, songwriter, philanthropist and actor. And Liverpool loves him for it. Sauntering on to the Empire stage in the skinniest of skinny black jeans and a blue top, he shone with the joy of a man who was loving every minute. Kicking off a 17-song Friday night set with Switch It On, he powered through Your Game, Changes and Tell Me The Worst before the screams really began for Light My Fire. His voice was almost obscured as those lyrics he first sang on Pop Idol rang back at him, the crowd clapping, cheering and singing along with each familiar line. Backed by an impressive band and a pair of female vocalists, Will was in good voice, showing off his pleasing mix of soul and jazz with lyrics from the heart. He explained how he'd spent the day doing singing workshops at Lipa, in between telling jokes and reading out messages the crowd had thrown on to the stage. Rattling through Fridays Child, Who Am I, You And I, Fallen In Love With and Everybody Wants To Rule, Will showed off his versatility, but the biggest cheers came for the most familiar material. All Time Love almost brought the house down. Again, they chorused in union to Leave Right Now. The lyrics are a tale of a relationship torn apart, of heartbreak, loss and sorrow. But you’d never know it to see the crowd of girls screaming and cheering every line. Rounding off the night with the beautiful The Letter and then his first chart topper Evergreen, he showed just why his meteoric rise should give hope to aspiring musicians everywhere. Talent will out, it seems. 8Friday's Child
November 22, 200915 yr Just read those reviews... :cry: They make such brilliant reading :wub: ..finally..eyes and ears are open.. :cheer: As the last line of the last reviews says...Talent Will out. :wub:
November 22, 200915 yr Four Stars from the Times.. With seven years, four platinum albums and a spell as an actor since his Pop Idol triumph, Will Young has an aura of national treasure. At the first of two sold-out concerts at Apollo, the audience’s affection for him was obvious, not only from the lengthy applause that greeted his arrival and the standing ovations that peppered his set, but also the respectful singalongs that never once drowned him out and the absolute silence when he spoke. An unfunny mid-set skit about mother-in-laws should have made for an awkward moment but Young just confessed his comedy shortcomings and the fans howled with laughter to show that they loved him nonetheless. Young is an unflashy performer: he doesn’t dance, he keeps his outfits low-key (he swapped shirts in a costume change and donned a black velvet jacket), he favours subtle visuals and he employs a discreet backing band. He almost fools you into thinking that he is playing an intimate set at a bar, rather than a 4,000-seater venue. Young seems somewhat old-fashioned compared with contestants on The X Factor. Were he trying to win a TV contest now, viewers would probably vote him off for not being flamboyant enough. Yet it was his very ordinariness, combined with his sweetly soulful vocals, that was cheered at the Apollo. “I feel like this is a home show because I live five miles from here,” said Young, who divides his time between London, Brighton and a country retreat. “You can all come back to mine after.” Several of the audience, you suspect, were waiting later to take him up on the offer. His 90-minute set was bursting with his best-known songs, reflecting the recent release of a hits collection. Your Game, Grace, Friday’s Child and a fabulous Leave Right Now had the crowd on its feet and not even a dubious jazz-funk backing stopped fans from singing along to Changes. His cover of Light My Fire was surprisingly seductive and the inventive ad-libbing showed how far he had come from Pop Idol. A couple of beats-backed tracks did not win the crowd completely and there was a worrying moment when, backed only by piano, Young attempted to rework the Buzzcocks’ Ever Fallen in Love, to which the fans sat down. They were lured back by a bizarre, jazz-club version of Tears for Fears’ Everybody Wants to Rule the World. He closed with his debut hit Evergreen, which for years he has refused to play live. He may have included it only to flag his hits album, but there was a sense that he had at last put to bed his cheesy beginnings. Tour continues at Colston Hall, Bristol, tomorrow Edited November 22, 200915 yr by Sweetwilliamfan
November 22, 200915 yr A couple of beats-backed tracks did not win the crowd completely and there was a worrying moment when, backed only by piano, Young attempted to rework the Buzzcocks’ Ever Fallen in Love, to which the fans sat down Erm...we Actually sat down to listen to his voice. :huh: ...which at times you really need to do..it's called appreciation. :wub:
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