Ne-Yo And Akon - Having The Time Of Their Lives In Leeds

The idea of having two artists tour together with each taking turns on stage is not an entirely new one: Paul Simon and Sting pulled it off together on tour many years ago. Whilst their own music might have been entirely different from each other, the pairing of Ne-Yo and Akon is a good one – both come from the same pop, soul and R&B backgrounds.

The onstage DJ had already whipped up the Leeds First Direct Arena stage into a frenzy even before Ne-Yo made his first appearance of the evening, standing looking as undeniable as ever in his trademark black fedora as he sang a snippet of the Michael Jackson hit, The Way You Make Me Feel.

Between the two artists, they have had eight Number One singles with tracks that have been a mainstay of radio stations, particularly in Europe, that have swept the airwaves from Sweden to Spain.

Whilst both may share the same musical inspirations, each one’s characters is completely different: Ne-Yo, the suave and sophisticated singer with his energetic dance moves, that incidentally owe a lot to Jackson, contrasting well with the infectious charisma and party vibes of Akon.

The often jazz-inspired Ne-Yo songs benefited from the horn and string section making Miss Independent and She Knows sound even more magical. If Akon had been the life and soul of the party, Ne-Yo provided the sophisticated after-party soundtrack.

In just under three hours, the pair reminded the Leeds audience of a classic period in pop music that is somehow sadly missing in today’s pop climate.

Akon was as energetic as ever, interacting with the sold-out audience, even at one point being carried on the back of one of the road crew as he took selfies with the fans who were standing at the front of the stage.

With the first of his many hits being performed, Smack That was a joyful and exuberant affair that highlighted the power of live music.

The second half of the evening saw Ne-Yo in a more relaxed tone with She Knows, Mirror and Sexy Love showcasing his soulful and emotional vocals before the two singers had a battle of head-to-head hits that they had a hand in either writing, producing or performing on. The inclusion of Lady GaGa’s Just Dance wasn’t as mysterious as it may have sounded – Akon co-wrote the song with GaGa.

As they continued with another plethora of hits that included tracks that they had recorded individually with artists ranging from David Guetta to Pitbull, the energetic finale never felt like an excuse to rekindle past glories; instead, it was a reminder of how the two, between them, were intertwined into the fabric of pop music’s rich tapestry.

With the David Guetta cover of Play Hard concluding the evening, Akon and Ne-Yo danced in unison on a night that seldom ends up as joyful as this.



The tour continues with three further dates at Co-op Live in Manchester on Friday 1st May, Saturday 2nd May and Wednesday 6th May

https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/ne-yo-akon-tickets/artist/5667625