Review: DANNY OCEAN - Live in Sydney
Danny Ocean Ignites The Metro Theatre with a Stellar 'REFLEXA' Tour Performance
Words and Photos by: Adrianne Armida
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Sydney's Metro Theatre was ablaze on Wednesday night as Danny Ocean finally brought his much-anticipated 'REFLEXA' Tour down under! Never at the Metro had I seen a more excited and energised crowd. Showcasing their Latin pride with a sea of flags from Peru to Venezuela, the crowd’s energy and passion was ricocheting off the walls. Smiles all around, when the lights went down the screams of joy and tears started flowing. This was going to be something truly special, and I was so honored to be a part of it!
In the darkness we were met with live black-and-white footage of Ocean putting in his earpieces backstage, getting ready to come out and take the energy straight to 1000. And he absolutely did, by kicking off the evening with the infectious fan favourite 'Monaco'. Ocean set the tone for a night of pure alternative-reggaeton bliss from the very first impeccably smooth-yet-husky note, and we all knew he would do more than just deliver.
Ocean's stage presence is nothing short of magnetic. Clearly elated to be performing in Sydney, he delivered a set that seamlessly blended his trademark slow jams and high-energy hits. Tracks like 'Epa Wei', 'Volare', 'AMOR', and 'Swing' had the crowd (as expected) in the palm of his hand. During ‘Epa Wei’ especially, we were all loving how playful he was on stage, dancing with the mic stand and smiling ear to ear. Ocean is not about coming off as perfect or taking himself too seriously, but rather being in the moment, embodying the music and not being afraid to be a bit cheeky. What also sets him apart for me, is how effortlessly and uniquely he blends Latin rhythms, EDM production, and pop together. He manages to do this perfectly across both slow and upbeat tracks unlike any other artist, and seeing this live it was even better than I could have anticipated. And even if a song is more pop, it never lacks emotion. I could not believe I was finally getting to hear all of this and his insanely smooth, other-worldly vocals live!
One of the standout moments for me was standing in that passion-filled crowd and watching everyone get lost in ‘Amapolas’. There’s nothing quite like a heartbreak anthem to showcase the true love of fans and why an artist like Ocean is so loved all over the world. This audience wasn’t just made up of die-hard fans though, it was truly a community. Total strangers who for a couple of hours all came together to express their love for the songs that have no doubt gotten them through so many highs and lows of their lives. This is what live music is all about.
Ocean is not only a singer, but a songwriter and producer, and you can see he is a true master of his craft inside and out. His presence was a testament to his ability to create music that resonates deeply with his fans.Throughout the show, Ocean's authenticity truly shone through. His genuine connection with the crowd made the Metro feel like it was putting on a private concert, and I live for shows like these! During the bops especially, he made us feel like we might just be in a club in his home country of Venezuela. The perfect mix of slow, heartfelt ballads and up-tempo anthems ensured the energy in the room never waned, and Ocean gave a 10/10 display on the meanings of passion and precision.
As the night drew to a close, Ocean pulled out all the stops with a powerful rendition of his biggest hit, 'Me Rehuso'. When the first “baby no” was sung, every single person (to nobody’s surprise) sang it at the top of their lungs! I am by no means fluent in Spanish, but for years now I have been fluent in Danny Ocean and this was a moment I will hold close to my heart for a lifetime. The crowd sang along to every song in unison, hips swaying as they should, but this song in particular had everyone completely hypnotized.
Adding to the magic of the evening, Ocean took a moment to express his gratitude to the fans, as he did several times throughout the night. I wish I could tell you everything he said (as I am not fluent in Spanish), but it was no doubt along the lines of being grateful to be there with us all. Seeing the reaction to these words is something I always hold in high regard, because it’s those little moments of appreciation that we carry with us alongside the incredible music. Danny Ocean is not just a performer, but a storyteller whose emotive depth and ability to express his narratives of love, loss and longing transcends borders all over the world. If you ever get the chance to see him live, take it with everything you’ve got.
Photos by: Adrianne Armida
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