Afternoon:
10°c
John Aizlewood's rating
, Head West for a wacky ego trip
By
John Aizlewood
12 Nov 2008
THE ego has landed. Part vaudeville clown, part renaissance man and part reassuringly wacky superstar, Kanye West is all you could ask from a tip-top hip-hopper.
And I haven’t seen anything quite so gleefully preposterous as this show since Take That toured with a hologram of Robbie Williams or U2 momentarily decided they were a disco band.
A towering monument to one man’s inexhaustible self-regard, the near-two-hour show saw West alone on stage, aside from the encore when Hammersmith’s Estelle joined the middle-class 31-year-old from Atlanta on their hit duet American Boy. This left a band — who may or may not have actually been playing — lurking guiltily in the unlit orchestra pit.
At one surreal point, the show’s loose concept (some unfathomable foolishness about being marooned on a faraway planet) led to the supposedly terrifying appearance of a floppy rubber animal, the size and ferocity of a child’s bathtime duck. Later, a giant, dim, talking lightbulb reminded West that he was “the biggest star in the universe”.
As if this was provincial repertory, corners had been cut on the props: a cheap backdrop featuring meteorological scenes (if you’ve seen one angry cloud you’ve seen them all); a tacky flashing dancefloor plinth last sighted in a northern nightclub in 1975 and what appeared to be a tiny, possibly cardboard, spaceship console which eight-year-old boys might find momentarily fascinating.
Worse, the lighting was so sub-standard it was soon clear why this was the Glow In The Dark tour. A little more glow, a little less dark wouldn’t have gone amiss. Strangely, West’s voice neither flagged nor varied. Not for nothing, you suspect, were the press seats near the back and, further preventing forensic examination, the inadequate screens neglected to show close-ups.
And yet, amid the rubble, West was magnificent. It may have been a one-man show, but he was the one man who could bring it to life. He preened, he pouted, he pogoed and he sat and listened to a version of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing.
Although he only got the heroic clatter of Love Lockdown right at the third attempt, he enticed an entire arena to make diamond shapes during Diamonds From Sierra Leone. And, more than once, especially on the gloriously overwrought Hey Mama and Good Morning (sung lying down), he was almost as great as he thinks he is.
Kanye West plays the O2 Arena tonight: 0844 856 0202, sold out.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (5)
Al Stuart, Ealing, demonstrates priceless ignorance in his comment. I would be fascinated to know whether he has ever seen a live performance by a hip-hop artist, or listened to music of that genre. Is he so naive to think that Rock n Roll artists hit the heights of modesty, or possibly this is another genre he has never actually seen live.
I saw West last night and his performance was outstanding. As an experimental musician there are few better in the world today, and his ability to entertain without a break for over 200mins was staggering. I can only hope that Al will be fortunate enough to see West next time he is in the UK.
- Charles Francis, West Wimbledon, 13/11/2008 23:21
Report abuse
I was there and tbh he had the right to say what he said. he earnt it....the show was amazing! Everyone was feeling it and the atmosphere was immence...so please before you absolutely pick apart his ego think of what hes done to be able to say that. he knows hes amazing and has a huge fan base thats why he says hes the best. now if he were a small town rapper who was saying hes the king, now that would be different.
WAKE UP MR WEST!!
- M Pasha, Southampton UK, 13/11/2008 19:20
Report abuse
Kanye West is one of the most influencial men is music, he is an outstanding proformer, songer writer and producer. How many people can say they have all those tallents under one belt.... I was there last night at the O2 and he blew me away....
He has every reason to be confident with thousand of people all over the world screaming his name at all of his concert and talented artist all over the world dying to work with him.. He is one of the world greats and no matter what anyone say's you cannot take that away from him.....
- Kelly G, peterborough, 13/11/2008 14:40
Report abuse
"A towering monument to one man’s inexhaustible self-regard"
that pretty much says it all for (c)rap music.
Some bloke waving his arms around or grabbing his crotch telling everyone he great he is.
Rock n Roll it aint
- Al Stuart, ealing, 12/11/2008 19:36
Report abuse
I was at the concert last night and Kanye rocked.
- Melanie P, London UK, 12/11/2008 14:19
Report abuse
