Initially, Ralphie Choo’s first concert at the Movistar Arena was going to be the presentation of his second album. There were doubts among attendees, since this information was revealed with the announcement of the show and was never mentioned again. In a moment of sincerity, the Daimiel artist admitted that the album is not ready yet: «There are many things in one’s head and I really want to make it good. “It has to be better than ‘SUPERNOVA’ and it isn’t, it’s something else.” Little is known about this project, apart from the three singles available on platforms and rumors of a title that was confirmed halfway through the evening: ‘CHARMAIN’.
Ralphie looked really distressed that he couldn’t give better news. What he did give was vital advice: “I encourage you to fail again and again, again and again… My mother, who is around, knows that I am the one who fails the most. I invite you not to overthink things and to do them naturally. Fail a lot. Ironic, because Juan Casado Fisaac’s recital was almost perfect.
It was the second concert by a member of Russia IDK at the venue, after the great Rusowsky last September, so Ralphie had to, and managed, to give it his all. No sooner said than done. The instrumental piece that started the show presented the 8 musicians who would be present all night, with keyboards, guitars, flutes, xylophones… but also with synthesizers and various circuits. The composition? Similar to ‘JUAN SALVADOR GAVIOTA’: very Disney, very sophisticated, very conservatory.
The magic landed in the room with the appearance of the artist, who stepped onto the stage at the same time that a disco ball began to illuminate the entire room to the sound of ‘PIRRI’. Ralphie’s movements, reminiscent of both Ian Curtis and Tyler, the Creator, were as eclectic and unpredictable as his music. This went from futuristic pop to Caribbean rhythms in the second song of the set, which seemed to be unreleased. The album won’t be ready, but Ralphie is so sure of some tracks that he sings them without prior notice.
Others that are not new, but it is as if they were, shine much brighter than in the studio version. This is the case of ‘ROCCO’ and ‘TEMPTATION’. During the latter something surreal happened. Suddenly, the spotlight focused on a person who had begun to unleash his best moves on the stairs of the venue. He danced so well, spreading his legs on the narrow steps, that he seemed prepared, but I’m still not sure.
What he most certainly was not prepared for were the inevitable technical problems. Luckily, ones that only lasted a handful of songs at the beginning of the set. A classic: the singer’s voice was not heard enough. It was especially noticeable during the chaotic base of ‘TANGOS DE UNA MOTO TRUCADA’. Of course, taking into account that Ralphie kept taking his in-ears on and off, I think it weighed more on him than on the audience. By the time Mori came out on stage to accompany ‘WCID’, everything was already arranged.
Ralphie Choo did not hesitate to offer during the first three quarters of the concert an elegant and delicate experience dedicated to his most solemn and contemplative songs, leaving the majority of hits and hype songs for the last part. There wasn’t a single pogo until the final stretch of the concert, when they didn’t stop appearing. Part of the audience, it is difficult to say the exact proportion, expected something more similar to what was seen at festivals, in which Ralphie’s sets focus on the most intense part of his discography. Instead, what they got was a gorgeous version of ‘At Your Best (You Are Love)’ midway through the concert.
The murmurs showed that many people couldn’t have cared less, but it was a totally memorable moment. Not only because of the beautiful song chosen, but also because of the surprise of seeing Ralphie sing at the top of his lungs, which is not very common in his work. Not only that, but he managed to make a song previously sung by the Isley Brothers, Aaliyah and Frank Ocean suit him wonderfully. You have to be brave.
The last part of the concert showed that Ralphie is also a hit machine, as well as a total virtuoso. Judging by the public’s reaction, the greatest of these is ‘VOYCONTODO’, without detracting from others such as ‘MÁQUINA CULONA’, ‘ROOKIES’ or ‘VALENTINO’, saved for the encore and capable of making the stands resonate solely due to the number of pogos formed.
Between the sweat and the sudden movements, Ralphie Choo’s hair at times looked like that of David Bisbal himself. I had to say it, even though it has no relation to anything. Who could not be missing from the most special night of the Russian artist IDK is Rusowsky. This was received in a monumental way while an orchestral arrangement of ‘BBY ROMEO’ prepared us for the definitive ‘sing along’. This was immediately followed with ‘GATA’, while Ralphie stole a kiss from Russian. Experimentation and innovation proved to be the new pop. Behind them, two geniuses of their generation.
