November 22, 200915 yr Erm...we Actually sat down to listen to his voice. :huh: ...which at times you really need to do..it's called appreciation. :wub: And also respect SWF - which unfortunately a couple of people didn't think was the done thing and whisltled and calledf out during the song - my husband was not a happy bunny :arrr: Loving the reviews and apparently tonight was even better than last night - how dare he :lol: :yahoo: :cheer:
November 23, 200915 yr :cheer: The Times one is in the paper today and the heading is.. "Ordinary boy on the way to being a National Treasure!" :wub: :dance: Thanks to Willsdoc on Devoted.
November 23, 200915 yr Author Loving The Times headline. :wub: WILL YOUNG WOWS LONDON Will Young treated fans to a rare performance of his debut single 'Evergeen' when he performed in London at the weekend. Will Young wowed London fans with a greatest hits set on Saturday (21.11.09). The 'Hopes and Fears' hitmaker performed a career-spanning list of tracks at the city's Hammersmith Apollo, including a rare outing for first single 'Evergreen' – the song released when he won UK TV talent show 'Pop Idol' in 2002 – to close the evening. Looking comfortable and relaxed, the singer chatted with fans between songs, taking an impromptu poll to see who the crowd favoured on UK TV contest 'The X Factor' after revealing he had been watching backstage up until the point where he was due to start his performance. Whenever he spoke to the crowd, silence descended with the audience hanging on his every word - though when a joke about families fell flat, the singer simply laughed it off and mocked his own inabilities as a comedian. Hits including 'Your Game', 'Leave Right Now' and 'Light My Fire' were interspersed with cover versions, including a piano-backed interpretation of The Buzzcocks' punk classic 'Ever Fallen In Love' and a jazz version of Tears For Fears hit 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World'. http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf...london_1123325
November 23, 200915 yr So many great press reviews the best for any of his tours i think :dance: Thanks everyone for posting
November 23, 200915 yr Another...thanks to Karaj on Devoted. :cheer: The Guardian...four Stars! :dance: http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2009/11/23/1258984638535/Will-Young-at-the-Hammers-001.jpg A genuine talent ... Will Young. :wub: Seven years after being crowned winner of Britain's first Pop Idol television show, Will Young is celebrating the release of a greatest hits album, starting with two shows five minutes from his front door. But his thoughts are elsewhere. "I was watching X Factor before this," he says, tantalising the crowd. "Some major things have gone on." Having helped The X Factor's Cheryl Cole with her share of wannabes, Young's keen to talk shop, canvassing opinion on the contestants and showing off his Stacey Solomon impression. "All in niceness, not nastiness," he adds hastily. "You have to cover your back these days – in case I want to get on the show." Following four successful studio albums and 10 Brit award nominations, Young's first single from The Hits, Hopes & Fears, failed to trouble the top 50. Still, every move he makes tonight elicits squeals of delight from mums and daughters, along with matey cheers of "C'mon Will!" from men. Young is what Robbie Williams once was: the pop star next door, chatty, funny and sincere. Between slices of soulful pop and lovelorn ballads, he talks to the crowd as if gossiping to friends, not just admitting that he dances in front of "reflective surfaces" at home, but giving a demonstration. Accepting a bouquet from the front row, Young trills a melody, mixing Barbra Streisand's You Don't Bring Me Flowers with the West Ham anthem I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles. He's chummy with his five-piece band and two female backing singers, singing to the latter and aping their moves. But while the girls wear what look like sequin and feather embellished bin liners, Young is dapper in a fitted shirt and black bow tie for the sleek Switch It On and classy Your Game, before donning a velvet smoking jacket for some loungey covers. Accompanied by a piano, he finds tenderness in Buzzcocks' Ever Fallen in Love, although his versions of Tears for Fears' Everybody Wants to Rule the World and the Box Tops' The Letter stir unnecessary memories of his talent show past. With classics like Leave Right Now, Who Am I and Grace, Young proves he has moved beyond such karaoke. During the encore Evergreen, the crowd finally stop checking their phones for news of Jedward and seize the chance to sing along with a genuine talent. At Colston Hall, Bristol (0117-922 3686), tonight. Then touring. Edited November 23, 200915 yr by Sweetwilliamfan
November 23, 200915 yr Thanks for the latest reviews, every one has been great and how could they not be? He's note perfect on every song and the whole show is excellent from start to finish. :cheer:
November 24, 200915 yr Author Another 4* review from the broadsheets. :yahoo: Thanks for bringing it across Bev.
November 24, 200915 yr wow they really have been great and i can't believe another 4* from the broadsheets :dance:
November 25, 200915 yr Author Bristol Evening News Headline: YOUNG CHEEKY CHAPPY WILL'S JUST A CLASS ACT. "Artists like Will Young show Bristol's shocking lack of suitable music venues up for what it really is. While the Colston Hall looks great after the refurb and is always a pleasant background, it is simply not the place for big pop acts or souls songstresses to strut their stuff. Most Will Young fans aren't ashamed to proclaim their love from the rooftops, clap wildly and dance in the aisles at at £35 a ticket nor should they be. While I was one of those hoping for a soothing sit down gig, those full to bursting with Will appreciation should not have been shushed and chided for a bit of whooping and screeched " I love You's" - they deserved an arena for their passion. I'm not a die hard fan but it is impossible not to like this big chinned cheeky chappy as he cavorts on stage. He has oodles of vocal talent and is clearly a genuine good soul, who has not forgotten his humble beginnings as one of the first ever reality talent show products as shown with his hugely popular choice of encore - his first hit, Evergreen. He literally oozes energy and a sense of fun, whether it's prancing in jeans so tight 'they made him feel like a Ken doll', bunny hopping to croon excitedly beside his brilliant backing singers or indulging in some Riverdance-esque moves which would make Michael Flatley cringe. Young is unpretentious, charming and compelling. His hits are numerous and last nights playlist an accurate showcase of his skill- with the more uptempo numbers like YG, You and I, LTOYW and LRN hauling the audience to their feet. The look was almost Rat Pack and I was surprised by the big band jazz quality of some of the songs, an authentic style which may be lost in production on cd's. But Young is clearly at his best when he has reduced the audience to a sea of waving arms and catch in your throat sing-alongs and with WAI and ATL, he did just that. But I liked him most when he stripped it down to just him and pianist Dave Tench, out in front doing raw impassioned versions of Tears for Fears, EWTRTW, and the Buzzcocks EFIL. And his take on The Doors LMF was surpringly awesome. With Ace Support from Bristol band Phantom Limb, this was a night which blew the cobwebs away if the howling gales hadn't already." by Polly March, she gave 8/10
November 26, 200915 yr Author Thanks to Rosie. Swindon Review. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Young at heart 11:22pm Wednesday 25th November 2009 By Stephanie Tye UNTIL last night, Will Young’s lasting memories of the Oasis were not happy ones – he split open his chin at a birthday party there when he was little. But hopefully the warm reception the singer received when he performed at the leisure centre last night went some way to making up for it. Tweeny-boppers and granny rockers alike got to their feet as the Pop Idol winner took to the stage dressed in a dark blue shirt, tight trousers and a black bowtie. Bouncing around the stage it became obvious that being in front of a crowd is something that comes naturally to the singer and is somewhere he loved to be. By the time the opening chords of his second number, Your Game, rang out around the room he had the crowd under his spell and singing along. With an impressive back catalogue Will belted out hit after hit. From Changes and Grace to All Time Love and Light My Fire they kept coming. There was even a jazz section which included cover versions of Everybody Wants To Rule The World and The Buzzcocks’ Ever Fallen In Love With Someone, which was received with rapturous applause. And his charisma only increased as he interacted with the crowd. “I’ve been hear before, I used to come swimming here – but not in this room obviously, that would just have been a bit weird,” he said to cheers and laughs from the audience. “I came here for a birthday party when I was five and I hit my chin and had to have butterfly stitches. So do I have fond memories of the place, not really at the moment, but tonight is much better.” Telling stories and cracking jokes in between numbers, Will was relaxed and engaging. The biggest reaction of the night came when he sang his 2003 number one hit Leave Right Now. The whole room burst into song immediately, which brought a smile to the cheerful singer’s face. Clare Weston, of Marlborough, had been looking forward to the gig since the date had been announced. “I’m a really big fan,” said the 29-year-old. “I’ve followed him ever since he was on Pop Idol and think he was absolutely fantastic. Leave Right Now is my favourite song and he sent a shiver down my spine when he sang it. And Elaine Harvey, of Stratton, said it was the best gig she’d been to all year. “He was amazing, he has such a wonderful voice,” said the 57-year-old. “It’s great to see so many different ages here and I think he went down a treat with them all.” Back © Copyright 2001-2009 Newsquest Media Group -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/47...Young_at_heart/ Edited November 26, 200915 yr by truly talented
November 28, 200915 yr Author Ipswich http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v55/NoWillPower/random/Will_EADT_281109028.jpg Thanks to Carol. Liverpool. http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w230/MaryW_2007/LiverpoolEcho001.jpg Thanks to Mary. Edited November 28, 200915 yr by truly talented
December 2, 200915 yr Apologies if any of these have already been posted elsewhere: Will Young - Hammersmith Apollo, London (22/11/09) Posted Fri 27 Nov 2009 6:53PM GMT by Reviews Editor in Down The Front Seven years ago, who would have predicted that Will Young would be the one solo reality TV star able to alchemically convert short-term megafame into a long-term career? On "Pop Idol", he lacked rival Gareth Gates' sob story and radiant good looks, his charisma was low key and his voice pretty but frail. Coming out as gay at the very moment he was attempting to leap from contestant to pop star was also seen as a crippling disadvantage, so it's gratifying to see him take the Apollo stage tonight, promoting a surprisingly rich hits collection, and soaking up a rapturous reception. In case you think it's unfair to rake over his reality TV past, Young himself seems utterly comfortable with it, one of the many reasons he is likeable. He spends much of tonight gossiping agreeably about the evening's "X Factor" results and imitating contestants, when he's not detouring into camp frivolity or bad in-jokes. If it weren't for the band assembled around him, and the 5,000 strong crowd, it would be easy to imagine you were getting cheerfully drunk with him in your local, with occasional karaoke breaks. Certainly, he isn't one for big budget showmanship; there's no choreography on display, and little dancing, apart from some shimmying through a flamboyant "Your Game". Perhaps that's because tonight's set leans heavily on the tender, vulnerable ballads that made his name. "Leave Right Now" remains his best known song, but even though some of the crowd may have grown a little tired of it, Young apparently hasn't, leaning into the microphone and delivering an impassioned, pleading vocal. "Who Am I" is even better; melodically fragile and gentle, and a perfect complement to Young's voice. It's lapped up hungrily by the many women here for whom his sexuality is either an irrelevance or a challenge. "Grace" is more urgent, but also showcases the understated heartache that he delivers so well. Only a couple of songs truly fail: the crowd are ecstatic when Young encores with his long-neglected debut "Evergreen", but all he proves is that he was right to ignore this insipid, bloodless little song, while a loungey cover of Tears For Fears' "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is strangely uncomfortable. The most serious criticism you could make of tonight is that it's a little old fashioned and one-paced, which is why rumours of his next album being dance-led are encouraging. If he can rise to that challenge, as he has to so many others, Will Young will be charming us for some time yet. by Jaime Gill http://new.uk.music.yahoo.com/blogs/downth...o-london-221109 Review: Will Young, Harrogate International Centre 8:31am Tuesday 1st December 2009 By Ian Sime » Everyone has an opinion of The X Factor, but more than most, original Pop Idol winner Will Young has a vested interest in how well each act performs. Indeed, very early in Saturday’s proceedings, he held an impromptu straw poll as to which contestant the Yorkshire crowd preferred. As expected, Young proved very comfortable on stage and a great communicator, chatting with the audience on many subjects. Even when a gentleman at the back asked Young if he could “have his babies”, the performer responded by saying: “Now, that would be an interesting proposition”. Although he may have come to prominence on Pop Idol, Young has proved himself to be an artist of great stature, so much so that he is now promoting a superlative Greatest Hits package. Of course, all the songs on the album were showcased. But the audience was also treated to stripped-back, bluesy versions of Tears For Fears’ Everybody Wants To Rule The World and, more surprisingly, The Buzzcocks’ Ever Fallen In Love With Someone, proving that a great song will always triumph, regardless of the arrangement. Jazz is undoubtedly a major influence on Young’s present work. Actually Friday’s Child, Who Am I? and Grace are already smooth jazz standards, and you suspect that a more mature Mr Young may become a regular at Ronnie Scott’s. However, although the jazzy Leave Right Now is probably his finest moment to date, Evergreen was left as the encore, proving that Young will never totally shake off the Pop Idol tag. http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/whatson/music/4...ational_Centre/ Some nice pix with this one :heart: Will Young at Sheffield City Hall Published Date: 01 December 2009 By Claire Lewis AS this year's series of X Factor draws to an end Will Young's gig in Sheffield last night proved the success of TV talent shows in finding new pop stars. Seven years after he shot to fame by winning the Pop Idol contest – the predecessor to X Factor – Will packed out the City Hall. While some winners have disappeared from the limelight after enjoying an initial flush of success, 30-year-old Will has paved the way for other talent show winners and is forging a career for himself not only as a musician but an actor too. But last night was all about his singing as he performed his back catalogue of hits, saving Evergreen, the song which catapulted his career, for the finale. Fans of all ages – from young children to pensioners – made up the audience, with Will's wide appeal obvious to see. Despite most of his songs being slow and easy listening, his fans still spent almost the entire night on their feet swaying along to his mellow tones. More up-tempo numbers, including Light My Fire, gave his fans the chance to dance. But, changing the tempo again, Will was stripped bare with his cover version of Never Fallen In Love, which he performed alone on stage with just his pianist. The simple arrangement showcased his voice and was followed by a cover of Everybody Wants to Rule the World before he went into some of his most well-known hits including All Time Love and Leave Right Now. The concert forms part of a national tour to coincide with the launch of Will's latest album – The Hits – last month, which celebrates his chart successes to date. http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Will-Young-a...City.5871359.jpNot sure of the source for this one - thanks to RosieD on Devoted: Review: Will Young at NIA Birmingham Dec 2 2009 Review by Jasbir Authi DESPITE the yearly churning out of X Factor wannabes and other talent show winners, there is no suggestion that Will Young’s star has faded. Heralding from a talent show background, Young, the original Pop Idol 2002, has certainly established himself as an talented adult artist in his own right. Dressed casually in black polo neck top and grey trousers, he was comfortable and chatty on stage and was backed up by an impressive band as he belted out tracks from his album, The Hits. The predominately female crowd enjoyed Friday’s Child and were treated to a great blues version of Tears For Fears’ Everybody Wants To Rule The World. Who Am I? was sung slowly and soulfully and everybody lapped up his jazz version of Leave Right Now. In between giggly chats about his fears of the ageing process and his bum dropping, Young gave a mesmerising rendition of The Buzzcocks’ Ever Fallen In Love With Someone, while Love The One You’re With, had everyone on their feet. Evergreen was left as the resounding encore. VERDICT: 4/5Thanks to Carole on Devoted for this one: :dance: A Birmingham review. http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/1...wers-out-hits/ Talented idol Will powers out hits It is seven years since Will Young shot to fame as the winner of Pop Idol. Now, at 30 and after four studio albums, he has rolled out his greatest hits for Christmas. And, while on former tours he has perhaps been keen to ignore his reality TV past, at the NIA last night he was happy to acknowledge the origins of his success. He even encored with his first hit, Evergreen, a song that has been significant by its absence during previous visits to Birmingham. Young has matured into a singer with an impressively broad fanbase. He clearly feels comfortable in their company, indulging in a gossip between songs on subjects ranging from memories of his Pop Idol tour to Airfix model-making. And there is no denying his talent. He was pitch perfect for the 90-minute set, with classics like Leave Right Now, Who Am I and Grace mixed with a smattering of covers, incuding a tender version of the Buzzcocks’ Ever Fallen in Love and a wonderfully sophisticated jazz cover of Tears For Fears’ Everybody Wants To Rule The World. Absolutely - so many of the reviews have commented on this. He can chatter for Britain :lol: Erm - it's his "Hits" album tour :P Edited December 2, 200915 yr by munchkin
December 4, 200915 yr Thanks for the latest batch of reviews munchkin, I hadn't seen those of till now. :D
December 4, 200915 yr DJ from Heart breakfast Giselle's Blog Friday 4th December Will Young was AMAZING last night!!! Went to see him at the New Theatre in Oxford. Not only has he got a unique and pitch perfect voice, but he's also really funny - almost stand up standard! He had a go at playing the piano...but was rubbish! One of the audience challenged him to play the Eastenders theme...he gave it a go but really messed it up and we all laughed. Jokingly, he said, 'yeah...I don't like Oxford much." Haha. He also revealed he'd spent the day shopping and had bought some wooden coat hangers...which he'd got rather excited about, lol. He took the mick out of how some of his teachers walked at school and it was hilarious. Towards the end, he changed out of a black polo neck top and into a white shirt. The outfit reminded me of Russell Brand and bizarrely the outfit seemed to make Will go more camp! The gig made me realise how many hits he's had. My fav songs on the night were All Time Love and Who Am I which he sang beautifully. I was really pleased that he finished the night with Evergreen...the song he released after winning Pop Idol back in 2002. Thinking about it, Will Young is the only reality TV star I've ever actually voted for. I really wanted him to win because of his outstanding voice. Hasn't he done well!!! http://www.heartoxfordshire.co.uk/Article.asp?id=804441
December 4, 200915 yr Wales online [south Wales echo] Music review: Will Young, Cardiff International Arena Dec 4 2009 by Maxine Ashford, South Wales Echo AT a time when The X Factor is reaching its climax it’s reassuring to know that some winners of such reality TV ventures actually go on to become stars and maintain that status beyond the first year. One such example is Will Young who, since winning Pop Idol in 2002, has gone from strength to strength playing to vast crowds as well as building quite a successful acting portfolio along the way. No longer is there the shy, almost embarrassed performer we saw on our TV screens all those years ago. Instead we have a star who is confident and witty, a showman who, above all else, can sing live. His latest tour is to promote his Greatest Hits album and as soon as he took to the stage to the beat of Switch it On, it was clear the arena seats were going to be surplus to requirements. Rather dapperly dressed in a black polo neck sweater and grey slacks, he was joined onstage by his five-piece band plus two female vocalists as he performed hits including Changes, Grace and Leave Right Now, but there were reminders of where it all started for Will with Light My Fire and his final song Evergreen, the hit that catapulted him to stardom. There was plenty of time for witty banter with the audience, the occasional impression of Eddie Izzard and some classic cover versions including Everybody Wants To Rule The World, My Baby Just Wrote Me A Letter and Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) which came to an impromptu end when someone shouted “Yes, you Will” and caused the star to giggle too much to continue. One thing is very clear, Will Young loves to perform whether it be in large arenas or more intimate venues. He has the energy around the stage of Mick Jagger and the charismatic smile of Marti Pellow; yet more compliments and accolades to add to his collection. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-l...91466-25316905/
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