Photo: wenn
Puffing out from the smoke on an elevated platform in the centre of the stage, Jason Derulo arrives to deliver the opening falsetto note on his top five hit, 'Trumpets'.
“Tonight we are at the greatest party on the planet,” he pants in a black and white monochrome get up a couple of songs later.
The party's already had Aston out of JLS back-flipping his way around Jacko-heavy vocals. Now it’s got head-sliding break dancing interludes and footage of the chart-topping cheese-meister in conversation about the latest album he’s here to tour.
It quickly all becomes a kaleidoscope of colours and an array of activity all vying for attention. But vitally, right there in the middle of it all, it’s got Jason.
The man who has achieved 11 platinum-selling singles premieres a new song a third of the way through. For a moment you think it's going to be 'Umbrell'a with trumpets and a new dance routine. The background becomes all moody, the rain begins to pour, and it's just Jason and the mic in the centre of the stage once more.
But you can't really hear his next big hit as he strains in vain against muffled acoustics.
The song doesn't really matter, though, because just when you think he might be losing the audience – at this point stood motionless and gawping at the impressive sodden stage effects – out comes the famous, and now extremely wet and shiny, Jason Derulo torso.
He teased us earlier but it's the whole thing this time, lucky us. (He threatens to take the whole striptease thing all the way, pulling down on the buckles of his low hung pants. But he's only playing, the tease).
Former X Factor winners Little Mix appear onstage at one point and attempt to outsing Jason in one of those oh-my-god-this-is-so-meaningful duets reminiscent of the show that made them famous.
It’s all glitz and sequinned glamour – and in no way should their sorrowful poses be mistaken for glazed over and disinterested as they stand stationary like they're waiting in line for the number 108 to Stratford.
But Jason is the bonafide popstar everybody is here to see with the back catalogue teeming with hits. It’s only when he reels off the likes of 'Wiggle', 'Ridin’ Solo' and 'IT Girl' that you realise just how deeply buried in the corner of your brain some of these songs were after years of infinite repeat on Capital FM.
It’s a show-and-a-half that closes on 'Cheyenne', before an encore of his most-recent No.1 'Want to Want Me'. Hit-filled though it is, the sound and the schmaltz and the dud guest performers don’t do it justice. It hasn’t been the greatest party on the planet because of that – but as long as he remembers to pack his trusty torso, Jason will be alright.
