December 8, 200816 yr Will Young Dome, Brighton 4 out of 5 o Caroline Sullivan o The Guardian, Monday December 8 2008 o Article history "I'm not going to kiss him," a girl is telling her friend in a decided tone as they show their tickets. She may not be talking about Will Young, but if she is, she is probably the only person at the Dome, male or female, who wouldn't leap at the chance. Young's return after three years with the album Let It Go has occasioned much excitement in Brighton, where he now lives ("We're having an aftershow party at the flat - vol-au-vents from Iceland," he says, to ripples of delight). The venue is full, the merchandise stall is doing a decent trade in £15 teacups with Young's face at the bottom, and when he makes his entrance, shimmying in from stage left, the audience jump to their feet as one. Given their enthusiasm, just breathing the same air as Young would have been enough for many; the fact that he sings, fluidly and well, for nearly 90 minutes must be the icing on the cake. He is a confident, polished figure these days, having mastered the art of interweaving slightly camp chat ("I had a dream the other night that Dolly Parton was my fairy godmother") and supple, heartfelt singing. As he glides through most of Let It Go, Pop Idol seems a distant nightmare. Having dispensed with trimmings such as backing dancers (though for reasons unexplained, there is a Lord Kitchener poster tacked to the drum riser), Young has guaranteed that the show is about his voice, and nothing but. It's relaxed and lightly soulful during the familiar likes of Friday's Child, but there are rents in the smoothness during some of Let It Go's more personal numbers. An acoustic, quivering You Don't Know is especially striking. With George Michael semi-retired, Young is the obvious successor to his job - who would have thought it in 2002? Another goody - thanks to JanetL on Devoted for this one :dance: Edited December 8, 200816 yr by munchkin
December 8, 200816 yr Good grief is that from The Guardian? :o Just shows how things have changed. "who would have thought it in 2002?" - certainly not The Guardian critics. Thanks for bringing it over munchkin, and JanetL for posting it.
December 8, 200816 yr Thanks munchkin for the brilliant review from the Guardian, bit gobsmacked to be honest. :o
December 8, 200816 yr And another great one - thanks to Janet again: :cheer: :dance: Will Young wows audience at Birmingham's Symphony Hall Dec 8 2008 by Andy Richards, Birmingham Mail WILL YOUNG braved sub-zero temperatures in Birmingham last night – and gave his fans a cheeky flash of his bum. The former Pop Idol was in high spirits at Symphony Hall and demonstrated his naked ambition during the unscheduled costume rearrangement. After singing the Brit award-winning single Your Game, flirty Will asked the audience: “Do you want to see the tattoo on my bum?” To roars of “Yes!”, the star turned his back to the crowd, pulled down his skin-tight black jeans and pink pants and pointed to the tattoo at the top of his left buttock. Laughing, he said: “That is the first time I have done that … since I’ve been famous.” So, why do we love Will Young? He’s not cool, by his own admission he’s a ropey dancer and he’s definitely not “street”. And yet Young is impossibly likeable, a guilty pleasure. It helps, of course, that he is responsible for some of pop’s best moments in recent years. He bounds on stage like an excited puppy for the first of his two-night shows at Symphony Hall and didn’t let the energy levels, or his innate sense of theatricality, drop for a second. Young’s adoring fans – and they really are extremely adoring – were treated to a run of his biggest hits, including a wonderful slow funk version of Friday’s Child. Make no mistake, the guy’s got a tremendous voice and knows when to lay it down or ease it back. The hugely accomplished hour-and-a-half set demonstrated why he is the latest standard bearer for unashamedly commercial white, blue-eyed soul, combining upbeat dance numbers with the sort of ballads that leave grown men crying into their pale ale, mulling over the one that got away. His new album, Let It Go, draws heavily on the George Michael template – big arrangements, infectious hooks, strings, jazzy interludes, breathy, overlaid vocals and “look at what a pig’s ear I’ve made of my life” honesty. I Won’t Give Up is a veritable Freedom ’90 while Are You Happy and Grace – all performed faultlessly last night – hark back to the ex-Wham! boy’s lush tales of fractured love, bitterness and scorn. For an encore, Young whipped on a Santa’s hat and pulled off the sultry tango of the Grace Jones’ classic I’ve Seen That Face Before. The night ended fittingly with the luscious Leave Right Now. VERDICT: HHHHI I'm assuming the HHHHI is 4/5 stars. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birming...97319-22427878/ Edited December 8, 200816 yr by munchkin
December 8, 200816 yr Thanks munchkin, so many fantastic reviews from every venue and Will deserves them all, this tour has seen him surpass all his previous ones imo. :yahoo:
December 10, 200816 yr A great review thanks to rosj on Devoted for this one :dance: :cheer: Get Out More.............................Gig News WILL YOUNG (Symphony Hall, Sun and Mon) 09-12-2008 Will Young One of the few winners of TV talent show to actually sustain a worthwhile music biz career, Will Young has been playing two nights at Symphony Hall. Victoria Grainger loves the voice - but has reservations about the show. Did Will Young win Pop Idol? I vaguely remember a TV clip of Gareth Gates and Will clasping a pair of shaking hands to his mouth in stunned delight, so yes, I believe he did. I'd never seen him live before, I have one CD someone bought me, and I didn’t really watch X-Factor-y-Line-Produce-a-Pop star in those days. I’ve always thought he has a stunningly beautiful voice, so I was excited at the prospect of seeing him in the splendid and sonorous surroundings of Symphony Hall. The venue is wonderful, huge but strangely intimate. The acoustics are gorgeous and the lighting for this show was spot on, different changes suiting every nuance of each song. I cannot believe he had to fight for a place to do this. He bounded on to a stage he owned throughout, and delivered a seemingly effortless but highly skilled, technical performance. He was made to do this. He looks utterly comfortable as he chatters, jumps and shares his lovely personality between older, crowd-pleasers and new album material. He shares almost too much. You could see he delighted the die-hards as he chattered and asked us who was going to get booted off Strictly. I wanted more. More drama, a more channelled performance. That he came out in a grey ‘hoody’ and trainers surprised and slightly disappointed me.I was expecting him suited and booted in his quirky and usually snappy style of waistcoat and cravat. It felt too casual. I also disliked that the stalls audience chose to stand and waste a nice seat. I don’t want to stand in Symphony Hall, and the audience was too mixed to feel like just a ‘pop concert’. Some of the older, or infirmed people and the grumpy ones (ahem) who stayed down therefore couldn’t see as well, but I guess jumping up may be the effect he has on a screaming audience of ladies and gents alike, and may be merely testament to my grouchy, growing intolerance. He is funny, warm and engaging, with a great energy and technique. His voice and the control he has over it is absolutely beautiful. If you could get honey-and-lemon soothers for the ears, they’d be bottled cubes of his voice. When he sings the slower tunes, especially Who am I? he stands absolutely still, his face and voice so soulful, sweet, resonant and and moving. I don’t know if it’s the theatre director in me, but when I see a clearly remarkable performer, and I mean not just a singer, but someone who has a theatricality and astute understanding of how to convey a song, it’s a shame it wasn’t more theatrical. His voice has the ability to hold back, then let rip, and the minor keys he often favours induce a poignant melancholy, shown so well when belting out tracks like Your Game, when he is just brilliant. Great venue, great voice, born performer, it’s a lovely show, but when someone has such natural flair and technical ability, it would be nice to see an edgier, less casual, more theatrical and snappier side of such a one-in-a-million talent. (Victoria Grainger is director of Birmingham-based theatre company Untamed Shrew http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/will-young-0912081.html Well pleaseed :heart: :dance: He went for a stripped back 'gig' tour this time round and it works perfectly. :wub: Suited and booted and whistles and bells just wouldn't have worked. It's all about the man and the voice. P.S. so pleased she popped her cherry on such a great tour. Edited December 10, 200816 yr by munchkin
December 10, 200816 yr Author Thanks for bringing the B'ham review over munchkin. So agree with the one in a million comment. :D :D
December 12, 200816 yr Bournemouth Reviews Will Young - a true star 11:30am Friday 12th December 2008 By Hilary Porter » SIX years is like several lifetimes in the music business, which makes it all the more remarkable that Will Young came to prominence through TV’s Pop Idol in 2002. Back at the BIC with a stunning new album, Let It Go, he delivered a performance that was a million miles from the wannabe star we first took to our hearts. He still has the same cheeky boy-next-door charm and there is endless jokey banter between songs. One minute he is telling us about his love of hardware shops: “you can’t beat finding a good broom handle”, the next he is playing with his Secret Santa gift – a pair of musical gloves with which he comically prods various parts of his body! But bounding around the stage for the full 90 minutes dressed in jeans, checked shirt and pumps, his vocals are absolutely immaculate. His voice is sweeter and more intimate than ever before. His perfectly crafted new songs – mostly co-written by himself – are mature and heart-felt, clearly the result of the heartache and disappointment of a failed relationship, making them all the more personal. This bittersweet soulful pop, with its endless catchy hooks, constantly hits the mark. Every song was a gem. The first single lifted from the new album, Hope My Life Changes, goes down a storm but the follow-up, Grace, with its soaring vocals whips the audience up for a standing ovation. From the earlier hits like Friday’s Child and Mystified to the closing Leave Right Now, he could do no wrong. With an appeal that crosses all generations, and one of the finest voices in pop, Will Young is a true star. had to work out some of the song titles :lol:
December 14, 200816 yr "Mystified" :rofl: Not a single bad review this time. Just London to go. Can it be a perfect run? Hope so.
December 15, 200816 yr Two little articles:- http://www.myparkmag.co.uk/articles/entert...s-shy-show.html Will Young's shy show Monday, 15 December 2008 Will Young admitted he was "lost for words" performing in London. The 'Grace' singer - who was raised in the English county of Berkshire but lives in the UK capital - said he was delighted to be playing to a home crowd but felt embarrassed because so many of his loved ones were in the audience. He told fans at the Roundhouse venue in north London: "Isn't this the best venue ever? "I've gone really shy, I don't know what to say, which isn't like me but I think it's because so many of my friends and family are in the audience. "It's so nice to be playing in my home town." Despite claiming to be shy, the singer happily interacted with the crowd, accepting gifts, telling stories and calling for items - including a large glowing garland - to be passed up to the stage. The 29-year-old star ended his 2008 'Let It Go' tour last weekend with a crowd-pleasing set which spanned his six-year career, including early favourites 'You and I' and 'Your Game' and recent singles 'Changes' and 'Grace'. © BANG Media International And a little review in the Daily Star:- http://www.dailystar.co.uk/playlist/view/6...ndhouse-London/ SET LIST - WILL YOUNG, ROUNDHOUSE, LONDON By Natalie Edwards AS Alexandra Burke was being crowned this year’s X Factor winner, it was the last night of a sold-out tour for the original Pop Idol. And the irony wasn’t lost on Will Young either, who asked, “Who is going to win the X Factor final?”, and proceeded to see which contestant got the biggest whoop. From Will you get the full package, including hip wiggling and stage skips that produce screaming fits from housewives. Then there’s his banter between songs. Using an inflatable husband thrown onto stage he could rival Lee Evans for laughs. And a feather boa allows him to camp things up as a sultry drag artist. But let’s not forget, of course, the voice. Who Am I, Leave Right Now and also Changes all show why, after six years, he still radiates bundles of star quality. :)
December 15, 200816 yr Just found another review, from www.thisislondon.co.uk which is basically the entertainment guide for the Evening Standard and London Lite http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/gig-23...ng/gigReview.do Will Young can still go to the ball By Rick Pearson, Evening Standard 15.12.08 While his Pop Idol peers are knuckling down to a gruelling month on the panto circuit, the competition’s original winner, Will Young, marches on. The 29‑year-old singer came to the Roundhouse for the penultimate night of a 20-stop UK tour. Six years after winning the ITV talent contest, the days of number one albums are a thing of the past for Young. However, there are enough highlights on his fourth offering, Let It Go, to keep the faithful coming back for more. In truth, though, it would take more than a bad album for Young to fall foul of his devoted fanbase. This show had the feeling of a members-only love-in, where the faithful congregated to pay homage to the man as much as the music. It was fortunate, really, as some of the material was thoroughly underwhelming. Set opener Very Kind was a slice of forgettable pop‑funk you’d expect to find on a Maroon 5 B-side. Young was backed by a five-piece band and two buxom backing singers. Yet it was sparser moments, such as the delicate Who Am I, where he shone. He was charming and funny between songs. Comedian Alan Carr, who was among an audience made up almost entirely of middle-aged women and gay men, would have enjoyed his saucy tales. He would also have enjoyed a triumphant performance of Changes, the lead single from Young’s latest album. The piano-led ballad built to a thumping chorus that Young belted out like the fine blue-eyed soul singer he is. Pop Idols’ original and best Cinderella can still go to the ball. It gets 3 out of 5 stars. Not great, but not that bad either. I was there on the same night, and I thought the audience was much more mixed! That audience description fitted the Birmingham (Monday 8th) gig, though, which, from what I saw, was 70% female and of those 70% 45+ in age.
December 15, 200816 yr Thanks Toni - some good reviews again . Shame the ES one had to lie about the audience.
December 15, 200816 yr Thanks for posting the latest reviews Toni, what a complete lie about the audience from the ES though. :nono:
December 15, 200816 yr Actually, just realised, I WAS there for the penultimate concert, but the ES review mentions Will asking about X-Factor winner, so they must be talking about the last night. Maybe the audience was completely different on the last night - though I doubt it! ;) Thinking back, though, to the album launch concert, that audience really was dominated by 45+ year-old women, which possibly reflects the makeup of his keenest and most devoted fans, especially those registered on the O/S and Devoted.
December 15, 200816 yr This was posted by Annabelle on D: On both nights I was surrounded by men in the audience....most with there wives and girlfriends, enjoying themselves immensely, when the lights came up I looked around and once again the number of men was nothing short of amazing! I said to my friend as we came out that if anyone in the press uses the old "middle aged women and gay men" thing, then they are either liars or they hadnt set foot in the place! Its probably both! How well Devotees know the press B)
December 18, 200816 yr With thanks to Will4Me on D: Roundhouse, London (Rated 4/ 5 ) Reviewed by Gillian Orr Thursday, 18 December 2008 http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00104/Pg-15-pop-fuller-pa_104422a.jpg GARETH FULLER/PA Witty and warm: Will Young played to an adoring crowd at the Roundhouse in London Last weekend, in a dramatic show filled with tears and self-importance, Alexandra Burke was crowned winner of The X Factor. On the other side of London town, the original TV talent show graduate Will Young was enjoying a quieter celebration of sorts. It was the final night of his month-long UK tour promoting his album, Let It Go, and he was in a playful mood. Let's not forget that winning one of these shows is by no means a golden ticket to fame and fortune (David Sneddon anyone?) but Young has managed to come into his own as an artist, casting off the shackles of Pop Idol, the show that made his name six years ago, to become one of Britain's most respected pop stars. The facts speak for themselves. Four albums, 4 million album sales, 10 top 10 singles, two Brit awards and a movie (Mrs Henderson Presents): not bad going for someone who Simon Cowell once described as "distinctly average". His latest soul-pop album, Let It Go, is a deeply personal account of transition, prompted by the demise of a two-year relationship and the approach towards his thirties. Young's unique soulful voice never faltered throughout the hour-and-a-half set that included "Who Am I" and "Love is a Matter of Distance". However, it was his performances of "Let It Go" and "You Don't Know" that provided the most poignant moments of the evening, both delicate ballads about the end of a relationship that rest on Young's controlled vocals. At other times he shimmied around the stage to the jazzier numbers including "Grace" and "Your Game". The closest Young has to an anthem is probably "Leave Right Now" but everything he tried his hand at, including covers of Joan Armatrading and Grace Jones, was well received by the adoring crowd. Having tirelessly toured around the country for the past month, you might expect Young to be flagging by now. Not a chance. The rapport he created with his audience made it feel like he was playing a much more intimate venue than London's Roundhouse. In between tracks he entertained with jokes and anecdotes about the pressures of life on the road. At one point someone from the audience passed him a pink feather boa which he happily tossed around his neck as he introduced his alter ego, Patti Bourbon. It may have been a much quieter affair than what was going on in The X Factor studio, but it is hard to believe that any of those contestants could bring as much personality, wit and warmth to a stage six years from now. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertai...on-1202205.html That was the atmosphere at all the venues, and what made this tour so special :wub: And not one mention of gender or orientation . Edited December 18, 200816 yr by munchkin
December 18, 200816 yr Author Thanks munchkin. The gig as I recall it. One to print off & treasure. :D
December 18, 200816 yr Thanks for that, munchkin! Now there's a review that sounds more like it's speaking about the same concert as the one I went to! :)
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