ShareBilly Ocean performing his Here You Are – The Best Of Tour at The Royal Concert Hall Nottingham on Friday 28th April 2017.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
When Billy Ocean asked a packed Royal Concert Hall crowd last night if they wanted to misbehave, they didn’t need to phone a friend for an answer.
With no fan fare or fuss the sprightly 67 year old walked casually onto the stage to a rapturous welcome and opened with his 1980 single, Are You Ready. Dancing from one end of the stage to the other he had this audience in the palm of his hand with the like of Upside Down, Pressure and Love Zone.
With a smile that illuminated the auditorium, he let his singing do the talking. Slowing the tempo right down for his classic The Colour Of Love, Ocean’s incredible vocal talent truly shone through.
At the first bars of Love Really Hurts Without You, the audience were on their feet and as they were encouraged to sing along, nothing could have stopped them. Red Light Spells Danger had people including the staff, dancing in the aisles, whilst No Woman No Cry induced plenty of arm waving and singing of the chorus.
Slowing things down again for a beautiful version of There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) and an awesome Suddenly, the crowd were back up for Get Outta My Dreams Get Into My Car, and set closer When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going.
With a very tight but unassuming five piece band and three backing singers, including his daughter Cherie, he was back on for a wonderful cover of The Moody Blues’ A Simple Game before the place erupted for Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) which brought an end to an evening of entertainment which could have gone on all night.
Taking the time during his set to sing happy birthday to an 81 year young audience member, there was nothing pretentious about the man or last night’s performance; he was born to entertain and that is just what he did with aplomb!
