Verdict: Four stars
Scottish superstar Emeli Sande showcased her voice at its best - by putting on a stunning display of vocals at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro tonight.
The star hasn’t be in the favour of Scottish fans of late after cancelling a much anticipated gig at Edinburgh Castle in the summer due to rumoured fatigue.
But she more than made up for the summer no show by belting out a back catalogue of soulful pop classics.
Appearing on stage in an understated manner and dressed in her trademark head to toe black, Emeli stormed into the 2016 hit Hurts.
Surrounded by her backing band and singers, who were all dressed in white and added to the clapping acoustics of the track, Emeli welcomed her fans saying, “Good evening Glasgow. I can’t believe this. It feels so good to be back.”
And the fans were glad to have her back as she continued to produce the pitch perfect vocals on Where I Sleep.
The songstress, who hails from Alford, Aberdeenshire, then showed the audience just how far she has come since her debut, by talking about a venue change from the last time she performed in the city.
She said: “The last time I performed in Glasgow, was in Oran Mor, so to be here tonight is just incredible.”
And as incredible as the SSE Hydro is in size, it was clearly made for artists like Emeli who managed to create an intimate atmosphere through her stunning voice.
Many an artist can easily get swallowed up in the magnitude of the arena but Emeli controlled it to her advantage and even opened up the atmosphere through her up-tempo debut Heaven.
A cover of Janis Joplin’s Piece of My Heart was a highlight and at the risk of sounding like an X Factor judge, she really made that classic her own.
Taking to a piano in the middle of the arena, she then performed Clown, a track she was offered money for to give to Susan Boyle but refused.
Read All About It and Beneath Your Beautiful followed and it was these spine-tingling performances which really cemented the singer’s position as one of Scotland’s best.
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