Michael Buble is back where he belongs, on the stage.
The singer has taken two years out to care for his family after son Noah was diagnosed with cancer, and made his big return amid a thunder storm and torrential rain in London’s Hyde Park.
Buble opened his set with an emotional speech, which saw him choke up as he spoke of returning to the stage for the first time in so long, revealing he was worried we wouldn’t still be any good.
‘This is exactly what I hoped for. You know what you guys, two years. Two years since I’ve been on stage,’ he told the cheering crowd.
‘Like any human being of course I worried…I worried that whatever I had at one point I might not have anymore. I worried that maybe my voice wouldn’t hold out,’ his voice cracked as the crowd wooped and cheered in support.
But as he composed himself, he joked: ‘But I’m better than I was before! I don’t know if it’s raining, or if Frank sinatra’s in heaven crying right now.
‘Just thinking ‘oh damn, they’re going to forget about me.”
The heavens had opened an hour before Michael stepped on stage, but ill-prepared fans stuck it out, grabbing bin bags, picnic blankets and even festival signs to shield themselves from the downpour. Some (i.e. us) stood for three hours without any shield at all for a glimpse of the Bubes back doing what he does best, and he made it so worth it.
‘You’re all still here!’ Buble admired. ‘It’s England and people are drinking and they don’t give a shit about the rain.
‘This isn’t a concert, this is Love Island!’
The huge gig featured firm favourites Home (Buble paid tribute to his return saying he was coming home), Feeling Good, Everything and Haven’t Met You Yet, as well as new tracks. Buble joked his way through the set, telling fans how his son had told him he’d prefer to listen to The Greatest Showman than him, and showing his cheeking side in telling the rain-soaked audience that his romantic music had finally done its job – everyone was wet and sweaty.
At one point, Michael paused and had the crowd singing ‘Olay’, then explained it was because it was what his son sang at him as he left to go on stage.
And at that moment, the little lad appeared to join his dad.
‘I have so much gratitude in my heart on behalf of myself, my family, for your love, for your prayers, for your support,’ Michael said as he spoke of the difficult couple of years he and his family faced after his son received his diagnosis.
‘I want to thank you not only for tonight, for every night. I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me because you have no clue how each one of you singularly, made a difference in my life. I love ya, love ya, love ya.’
He then blew kisses into the crowd and closed the show with a heartfelt rendition of Always On My Mind. Buble made a triumphant return, and despite the terrible weather, kept his fans glued to his set right up until he finally left the stage.
Welcome back, Buble.
