It’s disgusting how talented some people are; gifted
even. Sadly, it’s very seldom that these rare precious gems are given the
credit they deserve in their lifetime. But sometimes, they capture our
undivided attention at the right time and we give them a platform on which to
make their magic as we watch divided between feelings of awe and envy.
That’s exactly what we experienced at Ed Sheeran’s Divide
Tour.
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| Ed Sheeran, Divide Tour, South Africa Credit: Big Concerts |
On Sunday evening, 24 March 2019, at South Africa’s FNB
Stadium in Johannesburg, 65 000 people were fixated on the musical
geniuses before them. The plural, yes, because not only did Ed Sheeran
mesmerise the crowd, but so did lovely local lady, Shekhinah, and UK talent,
Passenger. How is it possible that one lady with a microphone and two guys with
guitars can captivate an audience? Easy. They are not average. They are musical
magicians who have raw talent beyond measure.
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| Shekhinah, Divide Tour, South Africa Credit: Big Concerts |
Shekhinah’s smooth, angelic voice eased the crowd with
hits such as “Back to the Beach” and “Your Eyes”. It is needless to say that
this SA talent needs to be heard more often. Radio stations and event
organisers: take note. You won’t be disappointed.
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| Passenger, Divide Tour, South Africa Credit: Big Concerts |
Passenger (Michael Rosenberg)…what can I say? He blew us
away.
His quintessential British humour and relaxed stage presence left us feeling as if we’d known him for years. We heartily sang along to thought-provoking songs reminiscent of Bob Dylan’s hits, such as “I Hate,” and shed a few tears as Passenger passionately played his own version of Paul Simon’s “The Sound of Silence” to a hushed audience and “Survivors” while surrounded by twinkling cell phone lights. Those who do not want to admit that they cried, had goosebumps. I can guarantee it. It was, needless to say, magical. The magic is due to continue in November this year...
His quintessential British humour and relaxed stage presence left us feeling as if we’d known him for years. We heartily sang along to thought-provoking songs reminiscent of Bob Dylan’s hits, such as “I Hate,” and shed a few tears as Passenger passionately played his own version of Paul Simon’s “The Sound of Silence” to a hushed audience and “Survivors” while surrounded by twinkling cell phone lights. Those who do not want to admit that they cried, had goosebumps. I can guarantee it. It was, needless to say, magical. The magic is due to continue in November this year...
Then…the opportunity of a lifetime I’d been anticipating
since I heard on the radio he was coming to SA; the man himself: Ed Sheeran.
From the first strum of his guitar, all eyes were glued to the stage.
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| Ed Sheeran, Divide Tour, South Africa Credit: Big Concerts |
Sheeran took us on a journey of various emotions through
his poetic lyrics and masterful guitar playing. We were torn between toe-tapping
highs with hits such as “Castle on the Hill” and “Galway Girl,” to
tear-shedding, lump-in-throat dips with his beautifully haunting rendition of
“Tenerife Sea” (personally, this was the highlight of the evening). It takes
someone special to render a spectator speechless and move them to uncontrollable
tears with just his voice and a guitar. It takes someone like Sheeran to make “Love
Yourself” sound like what he actually meant it to sound like (full of scorn) when
he wrote it for Justin Bieber. That’s Ed Sheeran for you.
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| Ed Sheeran, Divide Tour, South Africa Credit: Big Concerts |
It was refreshing to experience, as with Passenger, a mega star who reacted so naturally to his audience. Sheeran still appreciates his audience and doesn’t forget from whence he came. He, unlike many musicians I’ve seen, smiles shyly when the crowd cheers. This, somehow, makes a massive difference when watching a genius at play. It makes them so much more relatable, even to the point where you feel as if you could achieve just as much if only you’d put your mind to it.
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| Ed Sheeran, Divide Tour, South Africa Credit: Big Concerts |
Humongous kudos must be given to those who were involved
with stage effects, lighting and sound. It was first-class to say the very
least. The screens on stage were curved in such a way that from where I sat,
some of the images looked 3D. More genius at play? Absolutely.
Without a shred of doubt, Ed Sheeran’s Divide Tour is
magic that everyone, fan or no, should experience. Would you want to see
Shakespeare in action if he were still alive? Would you want to meet Einstein,
or hear Mozart himself play live? Yes? Then you know what you have to do…Give
your undivided attention to the magic of Ed Sheeran’s Divided Tour.
Links:
Ed Sheeran
Passenger
Shekhinah
Big Concerts
Review by Andrea Vermaak
Links:
Ed Sheeran
Passenger
Shekhinah
Big Concerts
Review by Andrea Vermaak
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