Michael Bublé turns Hyde Park festive under a British summer rain

Normally known for emerging in the winter with a Christmas anthem, Michael Bublé has come out of hibernation early. The Canadian jazz crooner now takes to the stage for British Summer Time at Hyde Park. Rain replaces snow, the epitome of a London summer. There is merry cheer resembling the festive season, especially when everyone is united in chanting “Bublé”.

Dressed smartly in a trademark suit, the singer is the image of the perfect gentleman, and the swooning women agree. Bublé does not disappoint, as he launches straight into Feeling Good, instantly making the audience feel better. He takes a risk by playing his biggest hit, Haven’t Met You Yet, next, but this is just what the venue needs to warm themselves up.

The jazz-pop icon likens the rain to Frank Sinatra’s tears, and in the same speech proves he has done his research on the UK by referencing one of the most popular current topics, Love Island. Though he dedicates it to the tv show, his next song, Try a Little Tenderness, somehow does not fit. However, it fits his voice perfectly. He makes singing the powerful song look effortless.

Similarly, his set list is built on covers that people can sing easily to – I’ve Got the World on a String, Crazy Love and Just a Gigolo, but he provides his own spin, making them seem like originals. He is an entertainer over a songwriter, as he commands everyone with his witty anecdotes and incredible vocal range. His simplistic lyrics shine through when he gives a sneak peak of his new record with Such a Night. People can already sing it, despite it being the first time they hear it. That is clearly the crooner’s aim, and he keeps on leading the crowd in singing Home.

Teary-eyed, Bublé says he assumed everyone would leave, but the fans are English, and they’re drinking. That is a true compliment on British determination. In an emotional last song, his son joins him, and he performs Always on My Mind, an ending that has Hyde Park tearing up.

The show is filled with humour, from welcoming everyone to a rain orgy, inviting a random couple on stage to dance to Chuck Berry’s You Never Can Tell, to giving us an education on jazz legends. With his above-average banter, Bublé is more than an average lounge performer.

Regan Harle
Photo: Tom Hancock

For further information and future events visit Michael Bublé’s website here.

Watch the video for I Believe in You here: