From sultry slow jams to stadium-shaking bangers, Usher brought the heat to Yas Island.
Abu Dhabi has been significantly enhancing its reputation as a premier destination for hosting world-class concerts. With Coldplay kicking off 2025, followed by Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez and many others keeping the momentum going, the announcement of Usher headlining Club Social at Etihad Park felt like the cherry on top.
Now, if you’re a millennial, there’s a 100 per cent chance that you’ve listened to Yeah! on repeat. It wasn’t just a banger of a song but the anthem of the early 2000s. It was the equivalent of the iPhone ringtone before the iPhone even existed, as Yeah! blasted on every incoming cell phone call. Sorry Apple, Usher did it first.
As someone who’s been a fan since Yeah! took over every teenager’s playlist — attending an Usher concert felt like a full-circle moment, a blast from the past, and a chance to live out some long-shelved high school fantasies of a 13-year-old, finally at 33.
Usher headlined day two of Club Social and turned the whole night into a high-powered dance party. As part of his Past Present and Future tour, he hit the stage after a countdown that had the crowd buzzing. Dancers graced the stage first, and then in walked Usher — sultry and smooth — wearing a shimmering black long coat over a sleek all-black silhouette.
You could tell, he was here to light it up. With dramatic lighting and a whole lot of crowd noise, he opened with Hey Daddy, setting the tone for what would be a night packed with sensual swagger and expert choreography.
Soon, Usher stripped off the coat, broke into slick moves, and jumped into Caught Up without missing a beat. Each track came with a visual punch. For You Make Me Wanna, Usher rocked a fedora with a feather. He then switched his black tank top with a brushed black-and-white denim jacket and baseball cap for U Remind Me, sending the crowd into another nostalgia spiral. Other hits that lit up the night included U Don’t Have to Call, Love In This Club, and We Know How to Party — and boy, we did. His vocals were still on point, and his energy was through the roof. At 46, he’s still got it. With effortless spins, shoulder pops and pelvic drops, he danced like gravity didn’t apply to him.
Then came Nice & Slow which is where things got a little steamy. Usher returned in the black silhouette, this time with a parachute jacket. Moving on, he lay on the stage while performing Burn with actual flames shooting from the stage. Talk about setting the stage on fire! He brought things down a notch with Superstar, even jumping down to meet fans to get up close and personal – keeping it PG and cherry-free (if you know, you know).
After a quick break, Usher reappeared in a striking all-white ensemble, contrasting his previous look. Donning a rib-patterned white jacket, pants and hat for OMG, Usher’s robotic dance moves paired with strobing lights gave this performance a futuristic twist. It perfectly embodied the Past Present and Future theme of the tour. He then dropped DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love and Bad Girl, complete with smoke blasts that added an extra layer of oomph.
By then, everyone knew the finale was near. But then Usher said, “Alright, let’s get to it,” — and just like that, the intro to Yeah! dropped. The entire crowd immediately came alive as if someone had hit the reset button. The energy shot back up and arms were raised high in the air. People were jumping, dancing, and yelling lyrics like they were back at that high school party in 2004. It was the moment everyone was waiting for — a generational anthem that united the entire audience.
But Usher wasn’t done yet. He closed the night with the mega ballad Without You, accompanied by a confetti explosion that felt like the emotional bow on an already perfect evening. From body-defying choreography and outfit changes to fire shows and fan interactions, Usher’s concert was a full-on production. You’d think with all those moves, the man would be gasping for air — but he didn’t miss a single beat. Instead, he ushered the crowd into a space where nostalgia hit hard and every song unlocked a memory. It was a journey through past, present, and future, led by an icon who still knows how to own the stage.
GO: Visit www.clubsocial.ae for more information.