Ariana Grande closed a spectacular three-night stint at the O2 Arena last night

21 August 2019, 13:26 | Written by Amelia Maher

(News)

Pop superstar Arian Grande completed a trio of sold-out shows at London’s O2 Arena last night, with a set that focused heavily on songs from last year’s Sweetener as well as this year’s Thank U, Next.

The string of London dates marked the start of Ariana Grande’s thrilling return to the UK as she sets out on her tour across the country. Opening the show with a completely acapella version of “Raindrops (An Angel Cried)”, Grande quickly set the tone for the evening, which saw her vocals take centre stage.

With a setlist that rattled through huge hits such as “God Is A Woman”, “7 Rings” and “Side To Side”, the experience was only heightened by the slick choreography of Grande’s back dancers and the huge pop production of the show.

Having enlisted the legendary pop show production pioneer LeRoy Bennett – the creative mind behind the show production for the likes of Prince, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga – it was a performance that was as much a visual delight as it was a feast of bangers. Moons dropped from the sky and a pink limousine took to the stage, whilst Grande’s back dancers threw fake money into the crowd.

Yet, it was the closing song “Thank U, Next” that struck the biggest chord, as Grande and her entourage skipped across the stage with rainbow LGBTQ flags in tow whilst adoring fans screamed at the top of their lungs in a show that was as much about empowerment as it was about pure joy.