Black Eyed Peas are back and they are better than ever! Why? Because now they are a band of brothers again that know how to get the crowd going. They formed a unity, created an amazing set and still know how to party. The masters of the sun rocked the Hallenstadion and to all the people who didn’t go just because that lady isn’t in the group anymore – too bad, you missed out!
Embracing Technology
Taboo, Apl.de.ap and Will.i.am are into technology and I love it! Artists who are moaning about people in the audience pointing phones at their faces annoy me. I agree sometimes during a beautiful ballade it can be a bit too much. However BEP managed to embrace this trend and used it to their advantage. Before the show they told us to download the tour app and during certain songs we enjoyed an AR experience which was incredible and soooo much fun!!! π
First things first: The Black Eyed Peas came on stage showed us that they are “Back 2 Hip Hop”. The guys rapped superbly and I just felt sooo happy to see them again after 7 years! I still remember their sold out Hallenstadion show like it was yesterday. I really wished that they would start with “Let’s get it started” and they fulfilled my wish π I was up dancing and some other people on the seats were too! One of my fav song is “Imma Be” and yes the song got stuck in my head all night. “Imma Be” turned into “Rock that body” in one swift go. More and more people were caught up again the world of the BEP and started dancing and enjoying themselves. The electronic vibe continued with Boom Boom Pow”.
Welcome Jessica Reynoso
Of course the three guys needed some female vocals and they found it in Jessica Reynoso. Apl.de.ap found her on the Voice of Philippines and made her part of the crew for the Masters of the sun tour. What an amazing chance and the lads gave her room to shine which I thought was lovely. With “Just Can’t get enough” and “Shut up” the Black Eyed Peas continued their hit set. I really loved how much they seemed to enjoy themselves and this naturally transferred itself onto the audience. Everyone had a good time! The stage was set as a huge pyramid with the band playing on level 3 and BEP’s singing on level 2 and 1. They seemed so together and performed in a group which I didn’t feel like that did back in 2010.
For the next one they said the UK peeps went absolutely mental and I think the Swiss audience did quiet a good job too. During “Pump it” there was even a small mosh pit on the side. There was enough space that different groups of people could actually dance or mosh how they wanted. Those gigs are the best! Good atmosphere, space to dance makes for an overall brilliant gig. “Pump it” marked the end of the first hit act.
Act 2 – May we introduce the new BEP
If you watched the Voice UK you’ve noticed that Will.i.am uses the word dope a loot. So this new song “Dopeness” comes as no surprise to me π The new songs are really more hip-hopy again. “Ring the alarm” and “Constant” followed. The pyramid stage actually served as a huge screen and the projections were incredible. But this was topped during the next song. It was time to get out phones and activate the MOTS-app. During “Big Love” we were able to send heart towards the stage. It was so much fun sending as much hearts as I could. I couldn’t stop laughing and the song was over way too soon π
Black Eyed Peas remixed “Dum Diddly” from their debut record with “Mi Gente” and it made for a great party song. After this it was time for each Black Eyed Pea to step into the spotlight by themselves. Taboo was up first. He told us that he’s been battling cancer the last four years and is now super grateful to be back on stage. I was shocked! He smoothlessly rapped to “Rocking the Beat” and deserved the huge applause that followed. Apl.de.ap was up next with “Bebot” and Jessica took the spotlight with a BeyoncΓ© cover “Love on Top”. And finally Will.i.am took the stage with a medley of “This is love”/”#thatPower”/”Scream & Shout”
Final Act – Party on
It was clear that with “Don’t Stop the Party” and “The Time (Dirty Bit)” the Black Eyed Peas wanted us to party on. Almost everyone were on their feet rocking out! Their breakthrough hit “Where is the love?” is still very current and I had goosebumps while they performed it. If you think about it, it’s unbelievable. BEP released it in 2003 and 15 years later it still sounds like it’s written just this year. To finish this amazing performance we needed to get our phones out again to enjoy the AR experience π With “I Got A Feeling” a huge pyramid dance floor stage was projected on top of the actual pyramid stage and the lights on the phone added to the lights on stage and it really was an incredible experience. We were jumping up and down with out phones – sooo much fun π
Have you experienced the MOTS-Tour or have you ever witnessed an AR experience? Share your story here or on Instagram.
Check out my latest gigs: Walking on Cars, Jason Derulo, John Legend
