Concert Review: Khalid Is The Voice of A Generation At MSG
Seeing Khalid perform at MSG felt, oddly, full circle for me. I have been following his career for so long: from his time as an “opener’s opener,” before he debuted, or when he waltzed in the Bowery to sing with Alina Baraz. Like many of his fans, we have watched him grow into a voice of a generation, which is why MSG was packed with millennials and Generation Z’ers who felt Khalid captured how magnificent and messy our lives can be.
In between the concert, a film played that, basically, looked like the Gap version of every time you and your friends decided to drive around for hours. It was a stunning, almost commercial like video of youth, but it helped me realize how the best moments I ever had were simple: just me and my buddies driving for hours or sitting on a couch and talking. In that simplicity, youthful invincibility is born; making you genuinely believe that you, in the passenger seat of McDonald’s run, found the resolution to World Peace. Yet, it was this sentiment that Khalid captured so perfectly in his music. He didn’t make fun of it or diminished it. Instead, his smooth voice buttered over how beautiful it is to feel like you ARE the “bread of Life.”
Khalid – Talk (Official Video)
While the visuals were stunning, and tussled between virtual and ethereal, it was Khalid’s lyrics that draped the room. I had not realized, until I saw a packed stadium singing tracks such as, “Suncity,” “Young, Dumb, & Broke,” “Saved,” and “Location,” Khalid solidified himself as an artistic influencer. He had lyrically, and sonically, embodied the “American Teen,” which made his fans idolize him. While in the bleachers people swayed, in the GA, fans twirled and swirled as if songs like, “My Bad” and “Free Spirit” were the winds to their spiritual mills. It was a surprisingly powerful effect considering Khalid has been the “soundtrack” to many chill instances. I was curious to see how he would play to such a massive crowd, considering he is an artist for the intimate and smaller detailed moments of our lives.
Khalid – Right Back ft. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie
Khalid was excellent in taking his relaxed, humble nature and making it a force that could entertain for two hours. From A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie coming to perform “Drowning” and “Right Back” to a fierce background of dancers, there was always a sense of adrenaline on stage. Yet, Khalid felt like the calm. For however much a beat dropped, his natural steadiness made the audience of thousands feel connected. We were young, filled with hope and no idea how to make our ideas into realities, but, to Khalid, that is the basis of a good song. For More information On Khalid Click Here.
