Concert Review: Arijit Singh 2014 (London)
Concert details:
Date: 29th August 2014
Location: Indigo at the O2 Arena
Organisers: Rock On Music
In what was Arijit Singh’s first time in the UK, the concert at the Indigo kicked off his tour. In an intimate setting, a joyous and excitable crowd was entertained by the singer along with the female singers who accompanied him. Supriya Pathak sang a number of duets with Singh and Aditi Singh Sharma wowed the audiences with her own songs as well as some popular numbers which made many get up and dance in the aisles – quite literally.
Singh Sharma was the first act on. Dressed in summery yellow and ready to put the audience at ease before Singh came onto the stage, she sang her popular numbers like Offo from ‘2 States’ (2014) and Raabta from ‘Agent Vinod’ (2012). Her performance got the evening well underway as Singh’s introduction happened to his most popular song to date; Tum Hi Ho from ‘Aashiqui 2’ (2013). Singh cleverly left the audiences to sing parts of the song and it was a perfect entry on a song that could perhaps have been a good finale.
What followed was Singh’s performance of his own songs mixed with renditions of other songs originally sung by other singers. He went on to sing a duet with Pathak from ‘Aashiqui 2’, Chaahu Main Ya Naa. However, it has to be said that Singh’s choice of songs like Pehla Nasha, Tere Bin, Judaa Hoke Bhi and others made this night one that was different. He sang only a few lines from most but the variety was there to keep the audiences entertained, dancing and singing along until their hearts content.
The second half was started by Singh Sharma again who sang some great songs which have mainly male vocals such as Badtameez dil, Lungi Dance and Pungi. She managed to perform them with much ease and kept a healthy pace to make sure that the final part of the concert got off to a perfect start. Singh then returned and began with Phir le aaya dil from 2012’s ‘Barfii’ and then, once again, gave a variety of songs to the already happy spectators. It has to be said that to hear Kailash Kher’s Teri deewani in Singh’s style was quite something. He then went on to sing full songs; Samjhawan, Sunn Raha Hai and Kabira.
The end of the night came in the same form as it began, with Tum Hi Ho, but this time Singh’s special request was that the audience sang the song with him. He then gave brief introductions of his talented team on stage and thanked the audiences.
Overall, the night was unbelievably special for all those who were there to see this musical talent on the UK stage for the first time. With Singh Sharma’s power-packed performances, there was little to complain about. However, the crowds did prove to be a little bit too excitable and perhaps security could have intervened when members of the audience approached the stage for photos; within hand-shaking distance of the star performer. The intimate setting of the Indigo O2, however, was ideal for the evening and even the lack of security couldn’t change the buzz that the audiences would have felt when the musical extravaganza came to an end.
The night’s song list:
Aditi Singh Sharma
Offo – ‘2 States’
Raabta – ‘Agent Vinod’
Dhoom – ‘Dhoom 3’
Arijit Singh
Tum Hi Ho – ‘Aashiqui 2’
Phir Mohabbat- ‘Murder 3’
Judaa Hoke Bhi – ‘Aadat’
Tere Bin – ‘Bas Ek Pal’
Har Kisi Ko Nahin Milta – ‘Boss’ (with Supriya Pathak)
Mast Magan – ‘2 States’
Kabhi Jo Badal – ‘Jackpot’
Tu Hi Meri Shab – ‘Gangster’
Labo Ko Labo Pe – ‘Bhool Bhulaiya’
Chaahu Main Yaa Na – ‘Aashiqui 2’ (with Supriya Pathak)
Duaa – ‘Shanghai’
Ilaahi – ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’
Ru Ba Ru – ‘Rang De Basanti’
Pehla Nasha – ‘Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander’
Be Intehaan – ‘Race 2’
Aditi Singh Sharma – 2nd half
London Thumakdaa – ‘Queen’
Ainvayi Ainvayi – ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’
Badtameez Dil – ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’
Lungi Dance – ‘Chennai Express’
Pyar Ki Pungi – ‘Agent Vinod’
Gandi Baat – ‘R… Rajkumar’
Subah Hone Na De – ‘Desi Boyz’
Arijit Singh – 2nd half
Phir Le Aaya Dil – ‘Barfi!’
Kya Karoon – ‘Barfi!’
Tum Se Hi – ‘Jab We Met’
Pehli Nazar Mein – ‘Race’
Tu Jaane Na – ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’
Mann Ki Lagan – ‘Paap’
Lambi Judaai – ‘Hero’
Tere Bin Nahin Lagda -Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Jo Vaada Kiya – ‘Taj Mahal’
Lag Jaa Gale – ‘Woh Kaun Thi’
Teri Deewani – Kailash Kher
Hamari Adhuri Kahani – ‘Gangster’
Bhula Dena – ‘Aashiqui 2’
Paani Da Rang – ‘Vicky Donor’
Saadi Galli – ‘Nautanki Saala’
Muskuraane Ki Vaja – ‘City Lights’
Samjhawan – ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania’
Raabta – ‘Agent Vinod’
Jo Bhi Mein – ‘Rockstar’
Sunn Raha Hai Na Tu – ‘Aashiqui 2’
Kabira – ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’
Tum Hi Ho – finale
