Ariana Grande review, O2 Arena: One of the most rousing pop shows of the year
The IndependentSign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. At tonight’s O2 Arena show – the first European outing of the singer’s Sweetener tour – security is tight: sniffer dogs, police presence, a “clear plastic bag” policy for 20,000 ticket holders. But there are few moments of bare faced vulnerability here – “One Last Time” doesn’t get a place in this setlist. Whether she’s dabbling in the cocky rap-talk of “Fake Smile” or nailing the runs on “Dangerous Woman”, Grande has gone from being a mere vocal acrobat to knowing and living in her voice’s nuances. As the audience erupts for “No Tears Left to Cry” and the encore, a super sweet “Thank U, Next”, you realise the whole thing is carved out of Ariana Grande’s heart.
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