Okay okay, I didn’t actually go anywhere. I experienced a Niall Horan concert from my bedroom.
On October 13th, Niall announced through social media that he was going to be playing a special live-streamed show from Royal Albert Hall in London on November 7th. He explained how all of the proceeds from tickets would go to his touring crew, and the #WeNeedCrew relief fund, as all of these people have been out of a job due to the pandemic. I immediately was all for it, as it was for an amazing cause and because I’ve still been slightly down about not getting to see Niall this summer since he had to cancel his tour. He had four different times the Livestream would be shown, which was a really nice idea. I bought tickets for the 3:00 p.m. EST time and eagerly waited for the next few weeks until the day it was set to happen.
On November 7th, I was emailed a YouTube link to the Livestream, which was set as an unlisted video meaning only people with the link are able to view it. I sat on my bed, put my headphones in, and excitedly waited for it to start.
The show opened with Niall on a stool under a spotlight singing a song from his second album Heartbreak Weather titled Dear Patience. It was a perfect way to open, as over the last few months he’s explained how this song has been what he feels like the perfect anthem for 2020. He didn’t write it with this in mind, but Niall often talks about how that song now represents being patient with life going back to normal, with the government, and quarantine in general.
After that, he played the more upbeat title track Heartbreak Weather, and in turn, all the lights turned on to reveal his band and the gorgeous empty arena he was performing in. He ended up playing a good mixture of songs from both of his albums and took a couple of breaks to speak about the purpose of this concert, and how he was thankful to all of the viewers for buying tickets. Another highlight of the show was when he introduced his surprise guest Ashe, the artist behind chart-topper Moral of the Story that was re-released with Niall tagging on a verse. They joked how unbelievable it was she made it, as she had to quarantine for two weeks before flying out to London. They sang their version of the song so well I almost forgot I was watching a live show.
And that was the vibe I got throughout the entire hour.
I forgot I was in my bedroom. I felt like I was front row at Royal Albert Hall, dancing the night away with my favorite artist. Maybe I’m biased, as Niall has been my favorite One Direction member-gone-solo for almost a decade, but his stage presence and charisma are infectious. I was excited for (but skeptical about) this show, however, I was blown away by how much it exceeded my expectations. He showed up in an iconic pair of double patterned pants with his favorite guitars and made me feel like I was really at a concert for the night.
The end was what really struck me though.
The last song he performed was Flicker, a song recognized by fans as probably his saddest, but most beautifully written song. He sat on a stool with only an acoustic guitar just like he began, however, this time all of the lights were up, showcasing the crew and band behind him packing up their instruments and equipment. It was the perfect reminder of why this was happening. All of the money raised by viewers in 151 countries around the world was for them. During the show, Niall called them, “…the engine room of our industry,” which is completely true. It was such a good gesture for an amazing cause, and I hope more artists take note of this event and maybe hop on the trend in the future.
The whole thing was a win-win situation for everyone.
The fans got to see Niall perform songs from his second album released in March that he hadn’t gotten a chance to yet due to the pandemic, Niall got to get back to doing what he loves, and his band and crew got the much-needed support and recognition.