Sam Ryder may have been given the spot at Eurovision last year by Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra, but that didn’t stop him from packing London’s famous Eventim Apollo as part of his UK tour.
The momentous occasion did not escape the Spaceman hitmaker, who endeared himself to audiences by admitting how much he feared that he wasn’t well-known enough to be on top, seeing some of his favorite artists perform over the years.
Fortunately, Essex-born Sam’s fears were unfounded, as he lit up the stage and smiled on the faces of members of the audience, made up of fans of all ages – from pre-schoolers to retirees.
The singer went big in one of his signature suits studded with 15,000 beads and jewels (not unlike his famous denim outfit at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022). With his blonde hair billowing behind him, Sam started the party on a high note with one of his latest singles, The Hot and Upbeat One.
After dazzling the audience with his stellar vocal range, the glam rock-influenced performer relished a witty twist on a bit of classic audience interaction. Sam commanded fans to copy his amazing vocal tracks, knowing full well that it would be a bit difficult to replicate. After leading an impromptu singing lesson, Sam drops a long note impossible for the crowd to transcribe. The star then proceeded to lie doggy in a chair, with his famous locks and beard combed to perfection, as the audience did their best to keep the note for as long as he did.
Once he got the crowd ready, Sam took matters into his own hands again with his David Guetta and Sigala collaboration, Living Without You. And to give the dance anthem a fresh twist for the live performance, Sam rounds out the track with a surprising guitar solo.
Living Without You was soon followed by another pop single, Put the Light on Me, before the 33-year-old showed his honest side by encouraging the audience to rally around those who were struggling to deliver a new and uplifting song, The Mountain.
Sam managed to get the audience to their feet when he delivered a variety of songs, reminiscent of his rise to fame via TikTok. The star lent his versatile vocal skills to Paramore’s Misery Business and Florence and The Machine’s euphoric hit You’ve Got The Love.
Sam almost lost the audience when he announced that More would be his final song of the evening, with many demanding that he play his Eurovision anthem Space Man instead. Evidently a bit of a ruse, Sam eventually returns to the stage for an encore, starting with the romantic ballad Lost In You, before launching into Space Man, much to the delight of the many fans he has gained after becoming the UK’s top performer in the song competition since. 1998.
After finishing his setlist on a high, Sam’s falsetto sent chills as he changed the lyrics to the chart-topping Eurovision song “I don’t wanna go home,” proving just how much the night at the Apollo meant to the singer during his meteoric rise to fame.
Sam Ryder plays at Bournemouth’s O2 Academy tomorrow, 4th April 2023 – get tickets here.
Cheltenham Racecourse and the Isle of Wight Festival also play in summer – get tickets here while you can.
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