Although. The most striking feature is the catwalk during the 23-year-old American’s performances. It is so long that it barely fits in the Ziggo Dome. It is used vigorously by Boone, who has a huge presence. With only him on stage, the stage is filled. “I am back in my favorite city in Europe,” he shouts. A good dose of humor does the rest.
Before he has even sung a single note, Boone is already doing a backflip. That’s pretty much his trademark. Dozens more follow and with every jump he makes, there is a loud scream. Women, especially teenagers and people in their twenties, are in the majority in the Ziggo Dome and not just a little bit.
We are on the ‘American heart’ tour, named after Boone’s second album of the same name, which was released about six months ago. Boone only needed thirteen months for a second album. His debut ‘Fireworks and rollerblades’ was released in April last year, featuring gems such as ‘In the stars’ and ‘Ghost town’. He managed to impress with this.
Benson Boone sang ‘Mystical magical’ on a life-size chandelier, dangling meters high above his fans. © Richard Mouw
That second album may not be as strong, but the new songs appear to be all made to be played live. ‘Electric Blue’ with Boone on piano swings like crazy. ‘Man in me’, with a heavy bit of verbal acrobatics, is also well received.
And then there’s “Momma Song,” a tribute to Benson’s mother. Hundreds of fans hold up a note reading ‘So proud of all you’ve done’, a direct reference to the lyrics of ‘Momma Song’. The gesture touches the American. “How many were made? Five hundred? A thousand?” he asks with a lump in his throat.
The performance of ‘Mystical magical’, the most popular song from his second album, is downright sensational. He sings the song on a life-size chandelier, dangling meters high above his fans.
That song contains the line ‘Moonbeam ice cream / Taking off your blue jeans’, which was added to the lyrics as a joke when Boone and his lyricist had no inspiration. Since its launch, it has gone viral with hilarious videos on TikTok, among others.
His voice is so powerful that sometimes you think there is a band playing along or the record has been set up. But it’s all sung live, without a backing choir.
Then a cover is sung every evening. In Amsterdam it is ‘Somewhere only we know’ by the British band Keane, a song from 2004. Masterfully sung. We hope that Boone releases a double album with all his covers from the tour, because they are all delivered strongly.
There are plenty of critics who think that Boone’s songs are very similar and that he always opens his throat at a similar moment in his songs. They are partly right about that. But his live performances are of a different order. That is an experience.
Benson Boone © Richard Mouw
Fans can only agree with that. Thirteen months ago Boone played the AFAS Live in front of 6,000 fans. Now he is performing twice in the Ziggo Dome, a little further away, where 34,000 people come to watch on Monday and Tuesday.
Boone has become a phenomenon in a short time. The easy-talking master performer knows how to put on a show. This man is a lot of energy and he also throws his muscular body into battle. More people will only want to buy a ticket for him in the coming years.
Benson Boone will perform again in the Ziggo Dome on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.