It’s amazing to think that 18 years have passed since Shaffer Chimere Smith, better known as Ne-Yo, burst onto the music scene with his debut album In My Own Words and the hit single “So Sick.”
Since then, the Arkansas-born R&B singer-songwriter has dished out one hit after another, gaining accolades that include three Grammy wins and nominations from prestigious organizations such as the American Music Awards.
If anything, the Champagne and Roses Tour is both a celebration and a reminder of Ne-Yo’s brilliance as an all-around artist and performer.
The tour supports Ne-Yo’s 2022 album Self Explanatory, which received mixed reviews from listeners and a lukewarm reception from critics.
As part of the tour's Southeast Asia leg, the Philippines hosted Ne-Yo at the Smart Araneta Coliseum for two nights: October 8 and 9.
DELIVERING THE CLASSICS AND "FUTURE CLASSICS"
A jampacked crowd greeted the 45-year-old hitmaker who opened the night strong with the 2008 hit “Closer” to get the crowd roaring.
He followed it with another familiar tune in “Because of You” before jumping to “Nobody” from the critically acclaimed album Year of the Gentleman.
From the very get-go, it was clear that Ne-Yo wouldn’t hold back on delivering hits. He was eager to dish out his repertoire of familiar songs, performing them early in the show to keep the audience fully engaged.
Ne-Yo was on a roll as he moved forward with “One in a Million” and the smash hit “Sexy Love” much to the delight of everyone in the arena.
In addition to the music, the show was a visual feast, featuring eye-catching visuals that complemented seamlessly the mood of each song.
The theatrical style of the visuals told their own stories without taking away from the actual performance happening on stage.
The dance performances feature a notable raunchiness that might unsettle some conservative viewers, but it's all part of the experience that a Ne-Yo show offers.
Ne-Yo told the audience they could expect to hear the “classic classics”—the beloved old hits—along with his latest material, which he referred to as “future classics,” urging the crowd to give them a chance.
“A Ne-Yo show is made up of two types of songs, ladies and gentlemen. We had the classic classics and the future classics. The classic classics are the ones you already know, the ones you listen to through high school,” the award-winning singer-songwriter said on stage.
“Then you have the future classics. Those are fairly new, you might know as well. But if you give them a chance, I promise you might enjoy them as much.”
As expected, the so-called “classic classics” got most of the cheers and applause, as the beloved tunes "So Sick," "Time of Our Lives," "Miss Independent" flowed one by one as the evening unfolded.
Read: Catriona Gray fangirls over Ne-Yo; recreates iconic lava walk at singer's Manila concert
Speaking of classics, Ne-Yo’s hit ballad “Mad” transformed the venue into a sing-along, with the crowd enthusiastically joining in on the lyrics of this 2008 release, which has become one of his signature songs.
THE ENTIRE ARENA BECOMES A DANCE FLOOR
Ne-Yo’s songwriting talent shone through as the crowd sang and danced along to hits he had written for other artists, including “Take a Bow” by Rihanna and “Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé, with the MC hyping up the audience while Ne-Yo was backstage.
He returned on stage to perform the infectious “Let Me Love You” which he wrote for fellow R&B artist Mario and was released in 2004.
The night concluded with a bang, as party tunes like “Let’s Go,” “Play Hard,” “Time of Our Lives,” and “Give Me Everything” had the audience dancing along with Ne-Yo and his dancers.
The Champagne and Roses Tour proves that Ne-Yo is still at the top of his game, with his days as a performer and hitmaker far from over.
This suggests that his fans in the Philippines can look forward to seeing much more from him in the future.
Ne-Yo’s next stops in Southeast Asia include Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia, before he returns to the U.S. for additional tour dates.
Set list:
"Closer"
"Because of You"
"Nobody"
"Champagne Life"
"One in a Million"
"Sexy Love"
"She Knows"
"Single"
"Lazy Love"
"You Got the Body"
"Mirror"
"So Sick"
"U 2 Luv"
"Push Back"
"Do You"
"Mad"
"Don't Love Me"
"2 Million Secrets"
"Let Me Love You"
"Miss Independent"
"Beautiful Monster"
"2 The Moon"
"Let's Go"
Play Hard Time of Our Lives
Give Me Everything