By Anna O’Donoghue
Ladies, ladies, ladies – brace yourselves, it’s Olly Murs.
Think hen party, think Sex and the City premiere then think Olly Murs concert – that’s the vibe I got walking into Live at the Marquee last night.
Groups of women gathered all in the mood for one thing, to dance the night away serenaded by everyone’s favourite cheeky chappy – and only knowing Murs from his X-Factor days I was excited to see what was in store.
Waiting for the main man to arrive on stage I began to rack my brain trying to remember his big numbers – ‘Troublemaker’, ‘Wrapped Up’ and …. before I could think of anymore I was interrupted by the sound of his brass band and a chorus of excited wine-fueled screams.
Dressed in what I first thought was an adidas tracksuit top and grey tracksuit bottoms (don’t worry, he wasn’t), Olly smoothly glided onto the stage quickly reminding me that he’s got some serious moves – no holding back, from the get go. He was there to get the party started.
Knocking out hit after hit, he took the mic and chatted to the audience like he was a long-lost friend.
“I’ve had the week from hell,” he announces from the stage. “I’ve been really sick”
He fooled me.
“I wasn’t going to gig this year at all but when my agent asked me to do Cork, I couldn’t say no – so forgive me I haven’t done this in a while,” he went on to tell to the crowd, who healready had in the palm of his hand.
Oh @ollyofficial I fall more and more in love with you each time 😍😍 #OllyMurs #LATM16 #cork pic.twitter.com/JjdZZWC7cD
— Sarah O' Sullivan (@sarah_Osully) July 7, 2016
Slowing things down a little, his enthusiasm and energy were as present as ever. I know it has been said before, but the X-Factor winner is not just a singer, or an artist – he’s an entertainer.
Big tent, big personality, big band.
Continuing with his 1950’s vibe he belted out Dance With Me Tonight before taking on a medley of 1970s’ hits such as Chic’s Le Freak, Good Times and Sugar Hill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight.
He then impressively finished off the medley with Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk – a song truly made for him.
Knowing exactly how to read the crowd, he lived up to his ‘cheeky chappy’ name with some maybe slightly inappropriate crotch grabs, bum wiggling and overall flanter (flirty banter, according to the cool kids), “I can’t last all night, ladies”.
The crowd loved every minute of it and I couldn’t help getting into the swing of things myself.
He then let us in on a little secret, because we’re friends now – his new single, You Don’t Know Love.
Seeming genuinely pretty nervous to get it going, he knocked it out like he’s been doing it since his trilby hat days.
And although coming from what he considers his new break-up album, it’s surprisingly upbeat and fit right in with the theme of the night.
#OllyMurs exclusive of olly Murs new single!!! Cork, Ireland ❤❤❤❤❤ #loveit #eire pic.twitter.com/4tjy712bj8
— Sarah Moran (@SarahM2028) July 7, 2016
It was straight onto the ‘girls’ Whatsapp group as I walked out of the Marquee, to tell them I’ve been converted.
Olly, Olly, Olly – Oi, Oi, Oi.
And if you couldn’t get enough, Olly took to Twitter to check in with fans, right from his Leeside hotel room.
LIVE on #Periscope: Bored, nervous, needed to chat with you lot.. Single is coming 😬 https://t.co/IV7tYoQUje
— Olly Murs (@ollyofficial) July 7, 2016
Cheeky.
