Born Beatrice Kristi Ilejay Laus, the Filipina-British singer-songwriter has steadily risen to prominence since her 2020 hit 'death bed (coffee for your head)' went viral on TikTok during the pandemic. However, her internet fame has never overshadowed her artistry—a fact she proved definitively during her electrifying performance at the O2 City Hall.
And despite the fact her journey began with viral fame, Beabadoobee’s audience was anything but casual. Devoted fans filled the venue, singing every word of her newer tracks from her latest album, 'This Is How Tomorrow Moves', with heartfelt enthusiasm.
The night opened with 'California', a track that perfectly encapsulated Bea’s ability to blend sonic elements to paint a vivid picture of emotional turmoil. This set the tone for an evening that explored a spectrum of feelings; balancing the perfect pair of melancholy and joy.
Tracks like 'Glue Song', 'Coming Home', and 'See You Soon' had a bittersweet charm, as her tender vocals explored themes of longing and love—sometimes for people, other times for her cats Kimchi and Miso. These moments contributed to an intimate, heartwarming atmosphere, with Bea’s honeyed voice resonating through the venue, evoking a warm sense of nostalgia.
The performance wasn’t without its lively moments, though. Bea’s dynamic energy shone through in the shifts between tempos and guitar styles, seamlessly transitioning from acoustic to bass to electric. Towards the end of the set, the tempo soared with crowd-pleasers like 'She Plays Bass'. And boy, she certainly does.
"I'm gonna count, and everyone’s gonna jump,” she announced, sparking a wave of movement as fans enthusiastically jumped, danced and swayed.
A standout moment for me was 'One Time', where the audience erupted in fiery unison, stamping and shouting along to the beat as she delivered the cutting lyrics: “Keep on faking, just to make it / What’s the point of fixing problems? / When it’s broken we are shameless / And we never tried to solve ’em.” The cathartic power of this track was undeniable. As the crowd’s voices escalated louder and louder, the stage bathed in red light, the atmosphere transformed into a release of shared anger and emotion - intense yet strangely fun - a testament to Bea’s ability to channel complex feelings into a communal and exhilarating experience.
In short, the night delivered a perfect balance of nostalgia, tear-jerking melodies, and energetic tracks that had everyone on their feet. Beabadoobee’s Newcastle performance was a testament to her talent, charm, and undeniable ability to connect with her audience.
And as someone who had relied on Beabadoobee's music to carry her through lockdown, she lived up and beyond my expectations, so much so that I couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness when the set had ended and we had to leave the venue. But at the end of the day, as Beabadoobee likes to remind us, that's just the way things go.
