Live Review – Michael Burble
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Wednesday 12 February 2020

Review – J Jenke

Michael Buble always had a strong passion for ice hockey and dreamed of becoming a professional player. He is quoted as saying “… if I was any good at hockey I probably wouldn’t be singing right now”. Fortunately for 7,000 Adelaide fans on this Wednesday evening he decided to take up singing. Michael started singing in nightclubs at the tender age of 16, telling the audience he sang “to about 25 people”. Michael released 2 independent albums in 2001 and 2002 without any record company support. He then released his first commercially available album in 2003, and gone on to release 10 very successful studio albums.

Michael Buble walked on stage just after 8pm and for the next two hours entertained and charmed the Adelaide audience. He was backed by a 36+ big band musicians and backup singers. The stage and effects were reminiscent of the big band era. The stage had a large extended walkway leading to another smaller stage on the arena floor.  He made full use of this walkway all evening.

Michael, looking suave and sophisticated, started with the songs Feeling Good and Haven’t Met you Yet. After the second song, Michael promised that with our help he wouldn’t fail to “deliver tonight”. He acknowledged Australia has been through hard times and proceeded to introduce a section in the audience made up of volunteer firefighters. Michael and the rest of the audience took the opportunity to show their appreciation.

My Funny Valentine, (The greatest love song of all time” – Michael Buble) had a “James Bond” theme sound when the band crashed into the chorus. Michael then encouraged the audience to get up and dance to the Dean Martin song Sway, which they naturally did.

Michael talked about his family during the evening, showing genuine love and affection for his wife and children and telling us about his grandfather. He dedicated songs to them during the show.

Michael talked about the thrill of singing to 15,000 people (there were 7,00 in the AEC) and gave someone the opportunity to share a similar experience. He chose a woman out of the audience and asked her what she would like to sing – “but not a song from Frozen”. Joanne, from Kadina, chose Elton John’s Your Song. I’m not sure if this was prearranged or was really random, but Joanne could sing, really sing, and Michael did a duet with her. He jokingly suggested they should tour together.

After singing Forever, a beautiful haunting number, Michael claimed even a security officer at the front of the stage had tears in his eyes. He then dedicated the song Home to his family, telling us how much he missed them when he was away touring.

It was time to move to the smaller stage at the end of the walkway with a small band “just like when I started playing the clubs when I was 16”. Just a Gigolo had Michael walking the small circular stage, shaking hands, having selfies taken and giving some people the experience of having Michael Buble sing to them personally.

Before launching into Chuck Berry’s, You Never Can Tell, he asked everyone to get up and dance and not “to worry about bumping the person next to you, or what that person will think of you as you will never see them again”. Rocking to the tune, Michael even had a toddler up on-stage dancing with him.

Back on the main stage, the show concluded with a version of Julie London’s song Cry Me A River, a song that Michael made his own.

Encores are hard with a big band. While Michael left the stage, you just know there will be more, as the equipment remains on stage. The band played an instrumental song, giving some of the musicians a chance to show their craft. Michael returned and asked the audience to show their appreciation to the band “who make it look so easy, but they work so hard at it. Maybe I should just do what Ed Sheeran does and tour with just a guitar. Ed has made a lot of money doing that” Michael joked.”

A powerful version of You Were Always on My Mind concluded a wonderful evening’s entertainment.

Michael Buble doesn’t just perform a concert; he puts on an entertaining show that truly captivates his audience.