The R&B sensation from the 2000, Ne-Yo, graced the 2020 Dubai Expo Jubilee Stage on Sunday 26 March ahead of the launch of his latest studio album in May. The audience roared as the hat wearing multi-talented performer emerged singing Let's go, his 2013 collaboration with Calvin Harris followed by the critically acclaimed She Knows.
With the party tempo set, Ne-Yo proceeded to delight fans by singing a selection of some of his most popular and award winning songs including So Sick, Because of You, Closer and Miss Independent. The appreciative crowd danced, sang along, cheered plus captured clips on their phones.
Taking time to engage with the enthused audience he involved them in a game of ‘name that tune’ before proceeding to sing songs he’d penned and had become hits for other artists. First up was the song that launched his fame Let Me Love You performed by Mario in 2004 followed by Irreplaceable sung by the queen herself, Beyoncé, in 2006. Who would have guessed he wrote these songs, plus countless more for the likes of Rihanna and Jennifer Hudson.
In his nearly two decade career Ne-Yo has achieved much critical and commercial-success. A phenomenal hit maker, he won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album for his second studio album Because of You. Written and produced platinum selling albums and several number one hit singles in the USA, Uk, Japan & Australia.
The talents of this multi award winning American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer and record producer, was evident to all to see. In the words of one of the 5,000 plus concert goers ‘he has real stage presence. I just loved how he involved the audience’.
To whet the appetite of the audience Ne-yo also performed a track from his forthcoming eighth studio album Self Explanatory, which promises to be music that feeds the soul.
By: Sonia Dixon & Delroy Constantine-Simms
