On « So Long », it is time for Niall Horan to shine a bit differently, in front of a piano. He leaves us thinking he should play it way more often before singing the charming « Since We’re Alone », opening a space of intimacy. Another languorous song « Fire Away » is playing and violins twirl around before one pop anthem you can’t resist. Niall Horan covers Camila Cabello’s « Crying in the Club » and gradually leads us towards a flamboyant grand finale. Indeed, as the show unravels, the energy doesn’t cease to increase. A spirit of rock blows on « Mirrors » and announces the surge of the encore! As a goodbye, Niall Horan chooses three tracks which effet is inevitable on the public. First, « Drag Me Down » – one of the latest hits released by One Direction – clearly electrify the crowd. It was almost too predictable but the reference to his early career as one of the members of the band feels nice to remember, and fair-play to emphasize. The tension doesn’t drop on the sexy « Slow Hands ». On this song, Niall leaves his guitar aside and becomes a true performer. Going from one end of the stage to the other, he goes for a few dance moves and comes to
meet his public more closely. On the way, he borrows a French flag from a fan front row. Ultimate tribute to the country that welcomes him warmly tonight! Niall Horan ends on Irish accents with the beautiful « On My Own ». A federative track, that lets the music slip away softly... Niall says a last goodbye to his public before letting his musicians close the show alone, as some shinning letters now chant his initial « NH ». If we learned something about Niall Horan tonight, it is clearly that his apparent calm and supposed timidity actually hide a true energy and a delicate selfconfidence. In front of a public that sometimes comes very close to hysteria, Niall Horan doesn’t lose himself and delivers an honest, generous and playful show. The jump from studio to live is totally convincing thanks to simple, solid arrangements and even some surprising reinterpretations, of his own songs or songs of artists that particularly inspire him. Then, if the Zénith’s crowd was clearly won over from the very beginning, the rare people that were left to convince are charmed as well!
WORDS BY CORALINE BLAISE PHOTOS BY NAZYM H. EXCLUSIVELY FOR ON THE MOVE
