Ne-Yo and Akon’s Nights Like This Global Tour: A thrilling yet confusing show | Music | Entertainment

Despite only having one song together, Ne-Yo and Akon’s joint Night Like This tour made for an exhilarating night of nostalgia and an adventure of two types of clubs. The singers’ final London show proved to be an eagerly-awaited return as fans flocked to secure their places and get a good view. While the night was filled with their pumping club classics, the stars also set the perfect mellow mood for their emotional slow jams. Across a night like this, though, two major things stood out.

Ne-Yo opened the show with a mash of his hits before bursting into 2008’s Miss Independent and taking turns in the spotlight with Akon. Yet the three-time Grammy winner seemingly grappled with maintaining the same energy as his counterpart. As Akon dominated the stage with a dramatic entrance and the iconic dance duos, Les Twins, he had the crowd jumping while the So Sick brought the temperature down with a different type of club energy.

As he returned to the stage, Ne-yo was joined by lingerie-clad dancers who flaunted their impressive skills on chains and poles which descended from the ceiling.

While the sensual switch had the crowd watching in awe, Ne-Yo slowed the show down almost to a halt, as the concertgoers who had been raving moments ago were mostly seated or taking the opportunity to grab drinks while the bar was quiet.

As the duo continued to share the spotlight, it continued to be a constant energy switch when Ne-Yo returned with his army of near-nude women, which was mostly unnecessary as the chart-topper could’ve dominated the stage alone (alongside his timeless hits).

The headliners also shared the stage for a fun game that highlighted their skills as songwriters and producers, competing to see who had the best. In their Beyoncé-off, Ne-Yo revealed that he penned Irreplaceable, while Akon revealed he had a hand in her Drunk in Love single.

In a rare concert move, the pair seemingly took a page from the theatre and boldly told fans to take a 10-minute intermission, encouraging them to use the toilet or grab a drink.

While concerts traditionally strategise pauses, dancers might have a dance-off or their guitarist or drummers take a solo.

Their comeback to the stage made for an electrifying return as Ne-Yo finally let loose with Closer and Let Me Love You, after premiering some new music from his upcoming Country-inspired album.

The duo closed the show on a high note, performing their only song together, Work Hard, Play Hard, making for a memorable finish.