BY GEORGE, THIS BOY CAN SING!

21.02.2008

It's Difficult to say whether it was unexpected or not, but at the Victoria Hall last night Boy George presented a show that was nothing short of brilliant.Simple, unpretentious and possibly underrated, it was pure quality music from start to finish and for some, like myself, it was a night that cast away many previous misconceptions.

First and foremost, bad press aside, Boy George can really sing. Smooth and seductive, his voice is versatile enough to adapt to the multitude of styles he incorporated into his set. From classic pop to jazz, reggae and even gospel, his sound is distinctive, controlled and a pleasure to listen to.

With a theatre that showed a bounty of empty seats, expectations were of a dreary concert lacking in atmosphere and energy. But as soon as Boy George walked on stage, these thoughts were immediately forgotten.

Everything about the evening pointed towards a fantastic night - people loved every minute.

After a couple of bluesy jazz numbers and a song from his musical Taboo, it didn't take long for members of the audience to get up out of their seats.

And with the introduction of Do You Really Want To Hurt Me, the feel-good factor rose dramatically.

While many see his life and appearance as flamboyant, Boy George's current tour, Songs To Make You Laugh And Cry, was simplicity at it's best. Music was at the core and with a band as good as the one he shared the stage with, not to mention the sensational backing singers who were well worthy of the solo numbers they presented, Boy George should be credited with stripping it bare and daring to show raw talent.

Lots of familiar songs filled the night, including the crowd-pleasing Karma Chameleon, Everything I Own and This Little Light Of Mine.

But what truly stood out was just how good this guy actually is.

Beneath all the hype and publicity lies a soulful voice that deserves to be heard.

Liz Rowley<BR