Raye Live Review - Incredible, with a dash of d*ckhead audience

I know, I know. What does the audience, the fans, the fandom, have anything to do with Raye, her performance, the way she executed her O2 show in London the other week? Well, unfortunately, for not just me, many audience members were, to put it lightly, dicks. And that ruins an experience for more than an individual - to the point where Raye had to call some of these people out mid song. So, don't worry, I won't make this entire piece on the audience, but I want to preface that my experience was shit, with none of it to do with Raye herself.

I was SO excited for this gig. On the way, I listened to her orchestral version of My 21st Century (Symphony) and teared up on the train. So, naturally, when she sang Ice Cream Man, prefaced with an emotional and teary speech, of course I sobbed silently at the very back of the arena thinking about how I streamed that song to absolute death and now she was singing it, beautifully may I add, right in front of me.

The thing about Raye is, and these are her words verbatim from that night, she's a 'chatterbox' and a 'drama queen' - prolonging her set by a half hour at least with just her talking. As a fan, I was obsessed with it. If you know me, and have read IWTFB from day one, you'll know that I love when an artists personality shines through on stage. But, I write for everyone, and for those who don't love a prolonged show, Raye's, unless on a time limit at a festival for example, probably isn't for you.

Image Courtesy of The Independent

It's honestly the easiest thing to sit here and say that Raye's vocals are insane. They're even better than they are on the Spotify recs. To the point where she will sit and talk to you about nerdy (reminder, I love it) vocal fact for ten minutes straight. Honestly, what I learned most from seeing her live was that she would, in another life, had things not panned out as they have, been an incredible music teacher. Saying that, it's painstakingly obvious that Raye loves what she does. She's one of those people whose soul quite literally reverberates passion as she sings and speaks and even as she moves.

Raw and honest, are among the other outstanding words I'd use to describe Raye's performance - explaining how in the past she has undressed on stage to her underwear and how currently that's not possible for her because of her body dysmorphia, opening up about her painkiller addiction and sexual assault, she is an insanely beautiful person, both inside and out. To share your pain with thousands and thousands, to write such songs and sing them so you connect with each one, to say 'I love you all, I really do you know, I don't take you for granted, not a single one of you', is beautiful. Especially when it's clearly meant.

What I loved most about Raye as a performer was that despite said deep subjects, she had fun, which made everyone else have fun. She commands a stage and yet she also brings a genuine togetherness with everyone in the orchestra and collection singing on stage with her, allowing them moments to shine. With no shoes, taking off her earrings as soon as she's on stage, giggling between each song, there's no doubt that Raye is an impeccable performer - you already know I think she's the most insanely talented singer and songwriter if you follow me as she's my top Spotify artist and has been for over a year. The vibes, to put it simply, are less performance and more 'hey, we're all friends, lets chat and be deep but also have fun and sing together', as if we really were just a room of thousands of friends - and that odd bitch every few hundred people who have no spacial awareness. Please go see Raye live when you can, if you're a fan you'll have so much fun!!

Image Courtesy of The Independent