35,000 eyes on him. Metejoor with his pants around his ankles. Two years and five days after his debut album, the artist of the moment entered a packed Sports Palace through the big screens from the toilet. Once on stage, a minimal show followed. But the singer showed greatness in small things. And not only plucked a five-year-old from the audience, but also shed thousands of tears – and could not hold back his own – at a tribute to his deceased friend.
He had promised. Seven years ago when he threw a flower into the hole on Tim’s coffin at the Vosselaar cemetery. His best friend who took his own life. “One day I will sing for you in Het Sportpaleis,” he said. That ‘someday’ became today, the song became ‘Bunk Bed’. And that one flower is a bouquet. “I’ve been waiting for this day every day since,” he said. “I’m going to sing a song about a weekend in London. When we lost Tim but ended up finding him slightly drunk in my bunk bed. Tim was not there but reflected in his and thousands of other tears. “And when the glass is raised, your name is said,” the lyrics said. ” We miss you! Friend, I really miss you.”
Tribute to Metejoor’s best friend, Tim. © Joel Hoylaerts / Photonews
Metejoor came to Antwerp with only two albums and a setlist of 27 songs. That’s ambitious and somehow overconfident. But ‘Love for Music’ was happy to throw a lifebuoy around his neck every now and then. After ‘Horizontaal’ fluttered in all lightness in a much too large hall and ‘Zo Anders’ dropped an early dip in the show, ‘Let me go’ came to the sounds of ‘Housewife’ by Daan with a sauce of dirty guitars. Daan himself signed up earlier. As master of ceremony with a song as intro. It turned out that he was not the only name on the guest list. Alongside ‘Snelle’ and with infectious reggae beats in the medley of ‘Watch us now’ and ‘Smoorverliefd’. The show was exactly one hour away and in the rings of the Sports Palace finally some butts gently kissed their seats goodbye. It was like a lover with evil plans. “Where are the single women?”, it sounded just before ‘She means it’. “And where are the couples? Well, as far as I can give tips to couples… One thing: take care of your wife, because ‘what if she says she’s going tomorrow?’” He paused. ‘She means it’ sounded bitterly harsh.
Metejoor and Snelle in duet on ‘Look at us’. © Joel Hoylaerts / Photonews Metejoor and Babet sing monster hit ‘One in a million’. © Joel Hoylaerts / Photonews
Metejoor came to Het Sportpaleis with four buses of loyal family members and friends as supporters, guests such as Hannah Mae, Emma Heesters, Babet and sister Lisa. With songs like ‘One in a Million’ and ‘This is what my mom said’. Songs that will undoubtedly get a seat at the table of honor of Flemish classics in the future. But Joris also came up with ‘Bunk Bed’. Tim larger than life on the screens. Metejoor with his back to the audience. With a round of applause for his friend. The Sports Palace broke down. Tim reflected in thousands of tears.
© Joel Hoylaerts / Photonews
Joris came without any frills or fireworks. Without acts or acrobatics. But with glitter confetti for ‘Leave us a flower’, with a tight band and an equally tight bark after two months without alcohol. But also with perhaps his most impressive weapon in a canary yellow suit: sister Lisa lifted ‘Shadow’ from the set list. Believe us, little sister doesn’t even have to take her fingers out of her nose to tap the right notes with flair. Big brother did that too for two hours.
During ‘One in a Million’ he picked five-year-old Sterre from the audience.
Five-year-old Sterre was allowed to sing along to ‘One in a Million’. © Joel Hoylaerts / Photonews
Two plates, two Sports Palaces.
For many artists, that means coming home to a house that is much too big.
‘Own Guilt’ proved the opposite. With thousands of lights, the Sportpaleis embraced a song that will be heard often in the future.
Metejoor stumbled over his tears. But came home.
He can do it again on Saturday, and – surprise – again in two years. Reunion in the Sportpaleis on November 1, 2025. Tickets go on sale on Monday, November 6 at 11 a.m. via sportpaleis.be with an early booking discount until December 31, 2023.
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2023-11-03 23:46:04
#REVIEW #Great #small #intimate #sadness #tears #Sports #Palace #broke