MC Solaar Celebrates an Energy Drink Party at the OM in Liège
Iconic French rapper MC Solaar filled the OM venue in Liège Thursday evening with a sold-out show for 1,700 visitors. Claude M’Barali, better known as MC Solaar, once again confirmed why he’s considered a pioneer of French rap. The Senegal-born rapper with Chadian roots, who grew up in the Parisian suburbs, delivered an impressive set of 24 songs spanning his entire career.
Zephir, the new sensation
The evening began with opening act Zephir, a rapper who surprised the audience with his unique style reminiscent of a hip-hopping Stromae. After his debut album from 2023, in which he told the story of “Clyde” trying to discover the world without Bonnie, Zephir took the audience on his new musical adventure. His performance was a perfect prelude to what would follow and whipped up the audience.
MC Solaar
Solaar opened strongly with “À dix de mes disciples” and “Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo,” two classics that set the tone for the evening. But the audience truly went wild when the first notes of his debut single “Bouge de là” played, first in its original version and then in a newer interpretation. It was one of many highlights of the evening, with the heat in the venue ultimately just bearable.
It was already clear then that MC Solaar didn’t want to put just himself in the spotlight, as a notable addition on stage was Miss Linda, one of the two background rappers. Her energetic raps, dynamic collaboration with Solaar, and dance moves brought an extra dimension to the show. She wasn’t just a background figure but a full-fledged source of energy that elevated the atmosphere on stage to a higher level. And that while Solaar alone was already a pinnacle of energy.
The master of French rap
After several energetic performances came a moment of calm with “J.A.Z.Z.”. A cajon and double bass appeared at the front of the stage, and each musician took up a different instrument. The musical introduction began with a virtuoso demonstration on the cajon, followed by warm, deep sounds from the double bass, creating a perfect jazzy atmosphere before the song burst forth in full glory.
The rapper demonstrated his versatility by seamlessly transitioning between old hits and songs from his new album from the “Triptyque” series, “Triptyque: Lueurs Célestes.” His poetic, playful style and sharp wordplay were still as impressive as in the ’90s, but with a new depth that only comes with the years. The roof nearly came off during audience favorites, the aforementioned “Bouge de là” (both parts), “Cinéma,” “Clic clic,” “Dingue,” “Da Vinci Claude,” and ‘Maitre de cérémonie.’ But also during the big hits at the end of the set, the energy in the venue was unmatched.
Amazing audience
Also special was the moment when he covered “Ouvre les yeux,” a cover by Bambi Cruz, followed by a medley of covers that demonstrated how broad his musical taste is. The emotional highlight, however, came during “Solaar pleure,” with the audience singing along to every line as hundreds of phone lights illuminated the hall for the recordings. And that while the audience was already an important part of the show. Not because of conversations with the audience, but precisely because the entire audience sang along word for word to almost every song, kept quiet during the calm parts, and frequently clapped and waved. And we’re not just talking about the first rows, but the entire audience, all the way to the bar in another room of the OM.
Freestyle
The evening seemed to end with an encore of “Merci,” but the audience kept demanding more. MC Solaar returned to the stage and deeply thanked the Belgian audience for their years of support. As a final encore, he closed the evening with a short, improvised freestyle of “Dingue,” a perfect closer that left the audience in raptures.
What distinguished this evening from an ordinary concert was the relentless energy flowing through the venue. It didn’t feel like a traditional performance, but rather like a collective party on energy drinks where artists and audience together blurred the line between stage and hall. MC Solaar and his crew, with Miss Linda as an extra star, kept the tempo consistently high, giving the 1,700 attendees no moment of rest – and they didn’t want it either.
