HE’s soundtracked the nation’s break-ups and make-ups with his impressive catalogue of hits.
So when Usher took to the stage for the start of his ten-night residency at London’s O2 Arena, the place resembled a wild hen party.
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Proving that he’s still the smoothest man in music, the American superstar grinded his way through a 36 strong set list that covered his three decade long career with celebrity fans including presenter Maya Jama, who lost her voice because she was singing so loudly, actor Daniel Kaluuya and model Leomie Anderson all spotted in the crowd.
“Tonight is very very special because we celebrate 30 plus years of a career,” Usher said as he arrived on stage.
“Some of you started when I first started. Some of you have joined along the years. I just want to say thank you.
“This Past, Present and Future story is unique. I have been here long enough to recognise there’s so many things that I have been able to go through and come through and there’s still the songs.
“Hopefully that testament has meant something to you. Maybe we fell in love together and we had a good time together.”
Giving Beyonce a run for her money, Usher’s show features no less than seven full costume changes, including a faux fur coat, diamanté encrusted suits and Union Jack leathers.
And he embraces the magic of AI, with a 1993 version of Usher talking to the crowd before he flashes forward to an old version of himself.
Usher explained: “I didn’t start this because I wanted to be the world’s greatest writer or the artist who sold the most albums.
“The show is the one thing that matters more than anything, because you can have a hit record, but can you put on a show? Will you shock people? Will you give them something to remember? This will be remembered.”
When I caught up with him backstage, Usher seemed genuinely grateful for the support.
I can also confirm that as well as being the smoothest man in music, he also has one of the strongest handshakes in the industry.
“You always must have a strong handshake,” he told me with typical charm before adding: “I look forward to reading Bizarre on Monday.”
Back on stage and Usher was working the crowd like a pro and incredibly started hand feeding women in the crowd cherries,
After one blushing fan ate just one of the two cherries, Usher teased:
“You gotta finish what you started. Don’t be shy,” to screams of delight from the 20,000 strong crowd.
A second stage serves as a mock up strip club, with two pole dancers and Usher making it rain with his own branded £50 “USH Notes.”
But it wasn’t all champagne and sex.
Usher also uses his Past, Present and Future Tour to highlight to him what really matters to him – being a hands on dad.
The singer, who married Jennifer Goicoechea in Las Vegas last year, has four children and wanted to be present in their lives, unlike his own father.
Usher said: “I didn’t really know what I needed. In a weird way I was trying not to become my father and it made me make some decisions that as a man I’m not proud of.
“But as a father, when it comes to my kids, I could say with confidence, wholeheartedly, I am, to them, what I wanted my father to be to me.”
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Of course, no opening night would be complete with an epic party to boot – and being Usher he had two.
Beating the weekend traffic in style, the singer hosted a boat party onboard an Uber Clipper with free flowing Dom Perignon champagne for guests including Burberry creative director Daniel Lee and, randomly, Loose Women’s Judi Love.
An insider, who was on the boat with the stars, told me: “Usher’s boat party was epic.
“They renamed the clipper The Yeah Man and had a DJ blasting some of Usher’s favourite songs.
“He spent a large chunk of the trip chatting to Daniel who helped create some of his looks for the show but also got stuck in on the dance floor.”
A second party took place at legendary Soho haunt The Box.
During the bash Usher took to the stage once more to perform a mini set in front of more celeb fans including Raye.
A source said: “Usher hired out The Box for another party which went on well into the small hours.
“It felt like a proper old-school R&B night. Then suddenly, Usher’s on stage, serenading the crowd – with Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder songs.
“The whole room was singing along. It wasn’t just an afterparty – it felt like an extension of the show.”
Usher, if you’re reading this you killed I just hope you’re not too hungover.
Usher’s Past, Present and Future Tour continues tomorrow before further shows in April and May.
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