When Usher wants to have a listening party for a new album, he doesn’t settle for renting out a club with the DJ spinning the tunes. Instead, he partners with acrobatic play, Fuerza Bruta and creates a night filled with strobe lights, water, and a whole lot of running.
After being treated to a few cocktails in the lower level, journalists and music reps gathered in the studio of the Daryl Roth Theatre in New York City for the invite-only event.
The extravagant performance presented by Usher and Fuerza Bruta served as a preview for the artist’s upcoming album, Looking for Myself — set to release June 12.
Though the event featured 12 tracks from Looking for Myself, the artist’s seventh studio album, this was far from a concert. Usher’s mouth remained closed the entire night, putting major emphasis on the elaborate dance moves of the artist and performers.
The show began with Usher running frantically on a treadmill, bursting through paper-made walls along the way. “Climax,” Usher’s current hit single, played loudly in the background. A female performer joined the artist on the treadmill, gazing in adoration as she sped pass. Similar to the lyrics from the hit single, it seemed the two were “going nowhere fast.”
In midst sprint, a gunshot goes off and “blood” appeared on Usher’s shirt. Unfortunately for the women in the audience, the artist was wearing an undershirt. As he removed the bloody shirt he continued to run away from what appears to be the mistakes of his past with a male performer behind the him mimicking his every move.
Usher wasn’t the only one moving during this performance. Throughout the night, several audience members were directed to move around the studio, accommodating the moving objects (like the treadmill) and dancers.
Probably exhausted from all the running, Usher took a second to lie down on a leather cot. As he rested, aerobic dancers performed above, circling around a latex-like dome. The dreamy sequence included the track “Lemme See” featuring rapper Rick Ross. The poppy tune seemed reminiscent of times of 8701, Usher’s third album.
A restaurant setting then appeared with Usher conversing with two others. All of a sudden, strong wings broke out and snow (white confetti) fell onto the audience. During this commotion, a Kascade remix of “Climax” is played in the background. Once the storm passed, performers celebrated as they interacted with the audience, breaking pieces of Styrofoam off of their heads. Usher also joined in on the fun orchestrating a dance battle in the crowd to the tunes of “Scream” and later a track titled “Twisted.”
The artist then disappeared out of the crowd and the room went completely dark. Blue lights became visible above the audience from what seemed to be a see-through pool. The audience looked above in amazement as they watched dancers perform aerobic moves under the water. Flips and dives were a few of the incredible moves performed. The sensual moves were accompanied by tracks “Hot Thing” featuring hit maker Pharrell Williams and “I Care 4 You.”
Usher then returned to his rapid running on the treadmill, this time seeming much more relieved. Two performers joined the artist as they smiled and sprinted. United, they took a large leap through another paper-made wall and continued to run.
Overall, the performance wasn’t just pleasing to the eye, it was also, more importantly, pleasing to the ear. From the tracks played during the event, it is a safe bet that Looking for Myself will become another successful album for Usher.
Here is the full list of tracks performed from “Looking For Myself”:
“Climax”
“Looking 4 Myself”
“Lemme See”
“Climax (Kaskade Remix)”
“Twisted”
“Scream”
“Dive”
“Show Me”
“Hot Thing”
“I Care 4 U”
“Euphoria”
“Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop”
Photo via Billboard
Usher has been one of the most talented and sought-after performers in music for over two decades. Last night, he showed fans his latest single from a yet to be released album at an exclusive event in New York City. It was a unique experience that combined the sounds of Usher’s new music with Fuerza Bruta – an acclaimed theatrical production known for its daring visuals. Here’s a recap of what it was like to attend this once in a lifetime show.
The evening began as guests were welcomed into the venue where they could already hear some of Usher’s upcoming songs playing. As anticipation built among those who had gathered, members of Fuerza Bruta took to the stage and put on an electrifying performance full of bright lights and vivid colors. The energy of their mime-inspired choreography set the tone for an unforgettable night ahead.
Finally, after several minutes of captivating movement, Usher himself stepped out onto the stage! He sang three tracks from his forthcoming album including ‘Don’t Waste My Time’, ‘Bad Habits’ and ‘California’ – each song punctuated by energetic dancing and colorful sets that truly brought them to life. With such high stakes performances, there is no doubt that Usher’s new album will be something special when it eventually drops later this year.
Overview Of Usher’s Performance
Usher took the stage at New York City’s Webster Hall on Wednesday night to preview his upcoming album A La Fuerza Bruta. He put on an impressive display, showcasing some of the tracks from the album and giving fans a taste of what’s to come.
The show kicked off with Usher taking center stage and singing “Yeah!”, one of his most popular songs that has become an anthem for many over the years. As he moved through the setlist, there was something for everyone: uptempo bangers such as “She Don’t Know” and slow jams like “Can U Handle It”. Each song brought out something new in Usher’s voice as he showed off his range and impressively worked each track into its own musical world.
The night ended with a special encore performance of “My Boo”, which had everyone up on their feet dancing along. With this energetic send-off, Usher made sure to leave his audience wanting more – mission accomplished! His new album is definitely worth looking forward to when it drops later this year.
Details Of The New Album
A La Fuerza Bruta is Usher’s tenth studio album, and it promises to be an exciting listen. It features collaborations with some of the biggest names in music such as Alicia Keys and Lil Uzi Vert. The tracks explore themes of heartbreak, love, resilience and hope – topics that many can relate to. The production on the record has a modern feel but still retains its classic R&B roots.
The energy from Wednesday night’s performance proves that Usher will bring something special to listeners when A La Fuerza Bruta drops later this year. His talent for creating emotionally-charged lyrics paired with catchy melodies make for a captivating listening experience. Whether you’re in the mood for a slow jam or need an uptempo bop, there’s something here for everyone.
Usher’s new album is sure to become a favorite among his fans old and new alike. With its collection of diverse songs full of emotion, A La Fuerza Bruta is set to be one of the most talked about releases this year – so keep your eyes peeled!
Conclusion
I was absolutely blown away by Usher’s performance in New York City. His music has consistently been top-notch and the new album, A La Fuerza Bruta, is no exception. The tracks he previewed were some of his best yet. They had a unique combination of upbeat dance beats and soulful ballads that I can definitely see myself listening to for many years to come.
The energy of the crowd during the show was palpable. Everyone around me was having an incredible time dancing and singing along with Usher, as if we all knew exactly what kind of masterpiece we were getting ready to experience together. It truly felt like a once in a lifetime experience that I’ll never forget.
Overall, it was an amazing evening spent discovering one of my favorite artist’s newest work. Although not every track from the upcoming album made its way into the setlist, I’m confident that this record will be well worth the wait when it drops later this year. For now though, I’m content replaying everything I heard at Usher’s NYC show over and over until then!
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