The Verse’s Alex Berdugo tells us what he thought of Jason Derulo at the Brighton Centre on 29th September 2018.
As the Brighton began to reach full capacity, there was a distinct buzz in the air that infectiously spread throughout the audience. With a stellar line-up including Callum Scott and Jae Murphy before headliner Jason Derulo, the night was sure to be special.
The diversity of the crowd that had come to see Derulo on his 2Sides tour was immediately obvious. From dads and their daughters, soon-to-be newlyweds on their hen dos and the local students. Everybody and anybody would have felt at home at this concert.
Before the final act was due to perform, we had already had our hearts melted by Britain’s Got Talent winner Callum Scott. Then, we were shot back in with Jae Murphy. Scott didn’t disappoint with his usual repertoire of emotional ballads, winning the audience over with his genuine passion for the show. Jae Murphy hit us with waves of nostalgia, playing songs such as I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas. Which got everybody warmed up and ready for the one and only, Jason Derulo.
When the lights went down and the screams of anticipation came up, a short cinematic film displayed the safari theme of Derulo’s 2Sides tour. The themed costumes were brightly coloured and ensured that all eyes were on the on the stage.
Derulo opened with one of his strongest numbers Whatcha Say. This was the ideal introduction to his smooth falsetto vocals and popping dance moves. The song was a positive overload for the eyes. Derulo’s stage presence being amplified by scantily clad dancers and the booming bass of the speakers.
From the first song onwards, it was clear that the setlist was going to be a crowd-pleaser. Derulo made sure to not miss out any of his biggest hits. Each one seeming to get louder and louder as the night went on. There were numerous costume changes throughout, bringing out some personality in Derulo and his crew. These also highlighted the progression of Derulo’s career. Creating clear differences between old tunes such as Riding Solo and then more recent bangers like the ever twerkilicious Wiggle.
One of the most notable songs was the 2017 hit Swalla. The vocals were perfect from Derulo and his backup singer, impressively not faltering as he danced simultaneously. There were cheers as a background video showed Nicki Minaj’s rap section of the song. It was a shame that Minaj couldn’t have been there in person, but the performance was still strong enough to go on without her.
The dancing really was one of the main spectacles of the show. It had the effect of enhancing each song with a unique twist each time. The dance group that performed with Derulo were truly top class. You wouldn’t dare look away for fear of missing an incredible display of flexibility or athleticism. There were interesting elements thrown into the mix, such as treadmills that carried the dancers from one end of the stage to the other. There were many 80s vibes in the choreography which was welcomed by all of the audience regardless of age. At times I could have sworn it was Michael Jackson onstage instead of Derulo. The dancing did a great job of separating Jason Derulo’s concert from the shows of many other artists in the same genre.
A small criticism of the concert would have to be that every audience member was seated. This seemed peculiar at a show with a pop artist. I couldn’t help feeling that this limited the potential that Jason Derulo and his following had. People were restricting themselves to only a few dance moves. If everybody on the floor were to be standing instead, I am sure that it would have taken the party to the next level.
Overall, it was a solid night of feel-good pop music. Derulo is as experienced as they come in his genre and managed to prove, once again, that he is at the top of his game. Don’t miss Jason Derulo on his 2Sides tour – he’ll take your breath away!
