For a split second I let my thoughts wander, so when the lights drew dim and the crowd in some parts of the Superbowl started cheering and chanting, I was still lost to another place - then I saw him stroll across the stage, passing his band and orchestra and taking a seat at the piano. He didn't even give me a chance to gain my composure, and he began to sing his heart away.
Josh Groban has engraved his mark, I will probably for a long time coming associate the 27th November with his concert. It was spectacular in a way that exceeded all my expectations. I really don't want to use superfluous adjectives and expressions to describe it. But I will say that when he mentioned that it wouldn't take him another five years to come to South Africa to perform for us again, I instantly knew that I would do it all over again.
The thing about him that made everything all the more endearing and sentimental was how well he incorporated us, the audience, into his show. He appeared nothing less than natural and almost had us fooled that we all knew each other on a personal level. He is witty and has a charming sense of humour about him, when he wasn't singing we were laughing. Yeah, he had the ladies wrapped firmly around his little finger. We didn't mind that position either.
The songs that stood out for me through the late afternoon/early evening, what-have-you hours, were You Are Loved (Don't Give Up) from the Awake album and Higher Window from the Illuminations compilation. Oh, and Alejate, it had the room reverberating. Now, that is not to say his other offerings fell short - the show was thoroughly amazing and every song he performed stood stellar in its own right. Lullaby and Weeping performed with the Soweto Gospel Choir impressed the South African audience, naturally. February Song and Mi Mancherai were standouts too, and I have to add You Raise Me Up - it was the sing-a-long song, after all.
The short narrations in between his songs are really something you had to be there for to have experienced and to have established that connection he has with his music and to live it with him. I had many overwhelming goosebumps moments, and I tried videotaping bits and pieces, here and there, of poor quality via my smartphone (which I'm afraid to post here without any rights). So those are the crumbs of memories I'd have taken with me from the concert.
According to him, a fan from the previous night's concert was a little "angry with him" for not performing Vincent, so thanks to her, we were the lucky bunch graced with that performance, which was b-e-a-u-tiful. Broken Vow grabbed hold of everyone's breath too, and you could hear the collective sighs at the end of that last note. It was sublime. A surprise for me was how much I enjoyed Machine, a song I almost never listen to. He did a solo drum set piece, accompanied by his percussionist, now that was hot! You could almost hear the droplets of sexy hitting the stage floor as he oozed such appeal, it was that palpable. It was an enticing variation from his sitting at the piano, that's for sure.
He ended the evening with two encore pieces (Yay! again for us,) Smile was the finisher - we bid our farewells, exchanged some love and Josh's time with us was over. Bittersweet. Sweet, that I would never forget the experience, bitter because it felt like it ended too soon - but how could I hold on to that feeling, when his parting lyrics soothed me with, 'Light up your face with gladness/ Hide every trace of sadness.'
Well, xthank you (that's how he said 'thank you' to us in Xhosa.... Oh, the laughs!) Josh Groban, for an amazing show.
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