Stromae in Afas Live is a sensory adventure of the highest order ★★★★☆

Stromae is not the only one who is nervous on Sunday evening, as he confesses in his welcome speech to the Amsterdam Afas Live when the first two songs have been brought to a successful conclusion. It feels uncomfortable for everyone when the hall lights dim just after half past eight and you are again among thousands of others at a pop concert for the first time. The tension has slowly built up, without anything being needed. The hall opened an hour and a half earlier, there was a line in front of the door that reached as far as the Ziggo Dome, but it dissolved in a flash. The free choice of place went just as smoothly.

The chairs are only there for form, because the 36-year-old Paul Van Haver, as the Brussels pop star is called, has not yet entered the stage when the entire hall stands up. You have to, because later in the evening, when the concert with health reaches a climax, the audience is taught the correct dance steps from the large video screen by Stromae in 3D animation.

How does that feel again? Being ready and coping with the high expectations. Because yes, they are there when Stromae, one of the most interesting pop stars of the last decades, returns to perform after almost seven years. The swelling opening notes of Invaincu are immediately hit. The opening track is the same as that of the third album to be released on Friday multititude† It is still unknown, but immediately sounds familiar. We hear a children’s choir, see orange-red panels flash up and a stage set-up that seems to be copied from Kraftwerk, with the only difference that the four music stands are manned by gentlemen who play a stringed instrument where necessary.

And more importantly: that beautiful, tall, charismatic Stromae appears between the four desks. He raps with power and flexibility about that ‘shit disease’. Hair combed back in two buns, snow-white shirt, black tie. ‘Putain de malaise, toujours je suis invaincu’, he sings. The sound is magnificent. The familiar Stromae sound, with which he caused a furore about ten years ago, has remained. An electronic base, illuminated by warm acoustic string instruments (now played live) and rhythms that come from all over the world. And of course that mighty voice, still with Jacques Brel’s timbre, diction and depth.

Immediately in the second, also new song Fils de joie there is that wonderful clash of styles that always seems so natural with Stromae: a harpsichord over an infectious bailefunk rhythm.

You almost forget to watch the eye-popping animations, this time a marching army with umbrellas instead of guns. The kind of absurdism that will come up more often after Stromae says ‘good evening Amsterdam’. He explains in three languages ​​(”Nerveus’ is the only Dutch word I know’) what the intention is. We are witnessing one of the three so-called previews (the other two were in Brussels and Paris last week) of his new show multititude†

Just like us, he is happy with the ‘lockdown that is down’. Only: actually we want a little more than ten songs and two encores, which together last a little over an hour. We were warned. The complete concerts will come next year, Stromae is in Amsterdam to study his one-hour festival set. It will premiere next month at the American Coachella festival.

In the end, everyone is at peace with that, because the concert is a sensory adventure of the highest order. Two new songs are always alternated with two old ones. It’s just a shame about the breaks, as if a new video clip has to be loaded every time. These are supplemented on stage with live theater. For example, Stromae’s game with an armchair in . is witty Mauvaise journée† symbolizing boredom on ‘a bad day’ in the lockdown.

Stromae saves the best for last. The already known songs l’enfer and health come in even harder than a hit success like Formidable, which is accompanied by a beautiful white decor. The storm and short circuit in Van Haver’s head are in l’enfer beautifully portrayed and even more beautifully expressed. And see that whistle tune health to get it out of your head again.

Of course in the encore everyone goes wild with their ultimate dance number Alors on dance. This has not been possible for two years. Stromae needs an hour to remind you of the unique feeling of togetherness that a great pop concert can give.