David Guetta is quite possibly the world's biggest DJ. With the help of some firecracker confetti, epic lighting effects, and some multicoloured fireworks, put on one of the most explosive shows the festival has seen thus far.
With a full house, those in attendence were a mixed bunch by any standards. There were industry insiders, neon wielding youngsters, Ibiza obsessed couples, and even some prepubescent teens claiming they had lost their ID when hiding around the corner from the bar asking passerbys to get them a drink.
Supported by UK DJ extroidinaire, Calvin Harris, his set, which included some of his biggest hits as well as a few remixes and smash hits by other artists, was the perfect set up for Guetta to follow.
Stepping on to a loud smoke filled stage, the roar for David Guetta was to be expected. Having had more top 10 hits than any other DJ in the last three years, it wouldn’t be too far out there to say he’s almost as big a household name as Coca Cola or Hoover. Complete with leather jacket and his mid cut blonde hair, which doesn’t know whether it wants to be long or short, the first record to bless speakers was the Sia featuring ‘Titanium’.
Beginnning his set as if he was about to go on a full scale commercial rampage, much to the audience’s appreciation, he went from Snoop Dogg’s ‘Sweat’ to a 30 minute hard house playlist. This is where Guetta began to lose a few people. With guests up top beginning to leave the venue, it was as if his leap back in time to when he was recognised solely for less commercial offerings, such as his Fuck Me I’m Famous compilations and early albums Just A Little More, Guetta Blaster, and Pop Life, weren’t sparking the interests of the those in the audience.
Long drawn out basslines that seemed very samey at times had the once jumping crowd standing still at certain points. Audience interaction was good when Guetta’s signature heart hand gestures came out, aswell as when he decided to gear them up by throwing his hands up as if he was conducting an orchestra, but for the most part fans were either left jumping to a catchy loop or standing still as they were a bit bored of listening to the same electronic arrangement.
Akon’s lyrics for ‘Sexy Bitch’ got the crowd interested again. Excited for the beat to drop in, they were disappointed when the recognised backdrop we all know and love did not appear to be blasting through the Roundhouse. Instead a new and not as commercially catchy instrumental laid the foundations for the track to flow over. This proved to be a theme throughout, recognised hits over unrecognisable beats.
Hitting the nail on the head as far as singalong moments go, OneRepublic’s ‘Apologize’ and Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’ got a remix courtesy of Guetta. Collaborations with Nicki Minaj (‘Turn Me On’) and Chris Brown (‘I Can Only Imagine’) gave the crowd a rush of excitement, as did encore ‘I Got A Feeling’ by the Black Eyed Peas.
All in all the ravers were out to rave and looked like they enjoyed themselves. Fist pumps were out in full force for this miniture party and love reigned supreme... at times. David Guetta’s setlist left a lot to be desired for his iTunes fans. The non inclusion of the Kelly Roland smash ‘When Love Takes Over’ and the KiD CuDi banger ‘Memories’ was a strange choice being that they are two of his biggest UK charting tracks.
With a schedule that incudes regular flights to Ibiza, parties all around the world, and non- stop production duties, perhaps the man from France felt like a break from it all and to just do him. He’s still the world’s most sought after DJ, and judging from the queue around the Roundhouse not admitting anyone else in to the full capacity venue, that isn’t going to change any time soon.
