mbulelo smpofu
IN a weekend that will go down in South African music history, internationally acclaimed musician Chris Brown dazzled fans with two sold-out performances at the FNB Stadium in Nasrec.
His concerts on Saturday and Sunday marked a monumental occasion in his illustrious career that began in 2002, thrilling thousands in attendance and providing a resonance that many will remember for years to come.
Brown unleashed a torrent of his hit songs, captivating the audience with chart-toppers like Residuals, Angel Numbers, With You, No Air, Sensational and many more. These performances were not merely concerts; they were a celebration of his musical journey, encapsulating the talent and charisma that have defined his career for over two decades.
The response from fans and prominent figures alike has been nothing short of stellar. Renowned South African rapper, Cassper Nyovest, shared his admiration on social media, stating, “I don’t remember the last time there was such a hype of an artiste or a concert in South Africa for a long time. Chris Brown is a star and the catalogue is just second to none. So inspiring to see what hard work and perseverance can build. Wow wow wow!!! Amazing.”
On Saturday, more than 90 000 fans showed up to help Brown make history and when he finally spoke to the audience after singing his heart out, the singer made sure to tell fans how special the night was for him.
“I’ve been waiting my whole life for this kind of moment,” he said before performing a firm favourite, Forever.
The singer expressed his gratitude to the audience for making his dream come true and said he has been longing to touch down in SA again since his last visit.
“I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, I love you guys so much. This night means a lot to me. I ain’t been out here in a long time. I’ve been rocking for two and a half hours and y’all just let me rock. I appreciate that,” he said before the audience started chanting, “Breezy!” on Saturday.
Despite the controversies that have followed Brown throughout his career and in the lead-up to the “Breezy in South Africa Concert”, the fans who disregarded his controversial past to honour the invitation to watch him perform got their money’s worth.
The multi-talented musician, who has one of the most impressive music catalogues, held nothing back when he planned his set for one of Africa’s largest stadiums. Having been dubbed the “Michael Jackson of his generation” and “GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) by his fans, Brown proved why the phrases are not in vain.
Both Brown and his 18 dancers brought nothing but their A-game to every performance. Tyler Terry, one of Brown’s dancers who is also a firm favourite with his fans, stood out, dressed in Lakers gear with Kobe Bryant’s iconic number 24.
The hitmaker performed everything from early classics like Yo (Excuse Me Miss) and Run It! to his latest chart-toppers such as Residuals, Sensational and Angel Numbers/Ten Toes.
His set, which lasted over two hours, gave fans everything and more with excellent production, which included flying above the crowd when he sang Wall To Wall and being lifted out of the stage “Julius Malema EFF rally” style.
The man also gave energetic dance breaks, giving his fans some of the iconic choreography they have seen in his music videos. There were also several shirtless moments for the ladies who fuelled him with loud, squeaky screams as he performed his sexy songs like Strip and Take You Down.
Brown also changed his outfit multiple times, much to his fans’ delight. The performer also made sure some lucky fans had keepsakes as he threw a jacket, a hat and a shirt into the crowd, sparking major envy from those fans who had no chance to catch the items.
As people left the stadium, in their thousands, there was an unspoken consensus that Brown was intentional when tailoring South Africa’s very own “Super Bowl” experience.
There was no sense of feeling short-changed by Breezy from the crowd, who witnessed Brown’s commitment to keeping up with SA through how he incorporated some of the popular local sounds into his set.
His tour deejay, DJ Fresh, kept the audience’s energy up during breaks by playing South African classics like Brenda Fassie’s Weekend Special, Riky Rick’s Boss Zonke and Mgarimbe’s Sister Bethina when he wasn’t playing some of Brown’s songs that didn’t make the cut for the night. —IOL/News24
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
