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Rick Pearson's rating
, Will Young can still go to the ball
By
Rick Pearson
15 Dec 2008
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.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (10)
Eminently pleasureable gig but the reviewer had it spot on - I was more overwhelmed by a heady combination of young men's scent and HRT swirling round the roundhouse than a knock out performance...
Will could do with livening things up and may as well play to his audience; why not follow Mesdames Minogue and Madonna and get some decent dancers to accompany his occasional bobbing up and down?
That said, the boy's undoubtedly done well. cheers Will!
- Bethnal'S Greener, London, UK, 16/12/2008 10:33
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I was extremely pleased to see a huge cross section of ages and sexes at both gigs. I spoke to quite a few who had not seen Will live before and were blow away. He was outstanding.
Don't know what you mean about some of the material being "thoroughly underwhelming"? Well it didn't seem that way from the reaction of the crowd near me. People actually like to listen at a Will gig - its his voice that has made his career and he is capable of singing any cover in his own unique style as we saw with the brilliant version of Grace Jones track and Joan Armatrading's Show Some Emotion. Brilliant night.
- Gill, Newton Abbot, Devon, 15/12/2008 20:49
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By anyone's standards the Rounhouse rocked this weekend. The audience, as far as I could see, was very diverse, I'm not a member of any club but I was hugely impressed and surprised by Will Young. He has become a great entertainer, the band were tight, Will's voice impressive and he owned that stage. The fact that he has had four top two albums should be enough to impress even Rick Pearson. Lily Allen enjoyed it!
- Stephen, London, UK, 15/12/2008 14:07
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Well i was also there and was blown away by Wills top class live performance.His voice is to die for ,the banter was hilarious,the fast numbers rocked and the slow ones were a dream. THE AUDIENCE WAS A COMPLETE CROSS SECTION OF AGES & GENDERS.
However Im glad he is at least recognised as a fine soul singer.
- Patricia Page, Chelmsford essex, 15/12/2008 12:59
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Sorry, just to add, having a number 2 album? Not that shockingly far away from having a number one album. Of course, implying it completely flopped was a little more suitable for your review.
- Michelle, Oxford, 15/12/2008 11:08
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Well i went to see Will at the Roundhouse and think your reviewer must have been to a different concert to me ?? The audience were very mixed, i saw children, families, gay men yes, and straight men too, girls, women, etc.
Will was just brilliant and he puts on a LIVE performance better than anybody else in this country, he never mimes, and is our Country's No. 1 male. The place was rocking and the applause thunderous.
Keep it up Will, you are one hell of a performer, and i look forward to when you do your next tour.
- Nita, essex, UK, 15/12/2008 11:04
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It's seems the only requirement to become a music reviewer nowadays, is the ability to lie like a cheap carpet.
If you were actually at Will Young's gig at the Roundhouse on Friday, then you would know full well that the appreciative audience were a wonderful mix of all ages and both gay & straight guys. If you don't like his music, that's fine, but don't lie about his audience, it does both Will, the gig goers and most of all yourself a huge disservice.
Oh and by the way, he didn't reach no.1 with his latest album, but coming in second to the Kings of Leon wasn't bad going was it?
- Sandra Madden, Harrow, UK, 15/12/2008 11:03
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It seems you've assumed all the men attending Will's concert were gay - my husband will find that very funny I'm sure! I'm also not sure I want to be classed as middle aged either (I'm in my early 30's) nor will the crowd surrounding me who seemed to be in their 20's or 30's ... ahh well clearly I'm deluded about how old I really am!
To the concert itself - it was fantastic and Will's voice is sublime and seems to be improving with maturity.
- Kw, Oprington, Kent, 15/12/2008 11:00
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Usually I ignore it, but frankly, I'm getting a little bit tired of blatant lies where Will is concerned. Fair enough if you don't like the music, that's subjective. However, the fact that the audience was NOT made up mostly of middle aged women and gay men, is not. I was at the Roundhouse both nights, and there was a huge mixture of people, young (of which I'm one, thanks!) and old, straight and gay. When reviewers go to see Will Young they seem to get a bit lazy in their reviews (funny that, it's almost like they don't want to give him any credit!), resorting to the usual cliches about houesewives. It's shame because he's a fantastic performer, and a fantastic singer, and he doesn't deserve it.
- Michelle, Oxford, 15/12/2008 10:57
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Was the reviewer actually there? Because I was and the audience was the most diverse audience possible, from teenagers, couples with their young kids, loads of groups of guys (by the way I didn't ask them all if they were gay-did you??) and, yes, a few groups of 'middle aged women' too.
Concert was brilliant. Will's charisma shone through - he totally owned the stage! And that gorgeous voice has never been betterl! And a special mention to the new band who totally rocked, especially on the up-tempo Grace and the beautiful new arrangent of Fridays Child.
By the way, Let It Go entered the charts at number 2, as did Keep On.
- Sara Mitchell, London, 15/12/2008 10:56
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