SENEGALESE-American singer, songwriter and record producer Akon may not be everyone's cup of tea, especially those who prefer slow and sentimental R&B tunes or hard-rocking ones.
Nevertheless, the charismatic, muscular African icon got some 4,000 Malaysians on their feet for a good two hours at Mega Star Arena, Sungei Wang Plaza's state-of-the-art concert venue, recently.
Akon went all out to give his fans a "night to cherish" with his charismatic dance moves, booming dance beats and best of all, colourful and captivating large screen images.
In the concert, "Akon the Superfan Tour Live", the award-winning R&B, pop, soul and hip-hop singer serenaded fans with 26 of his popular songs.
The 51-year-old has released five studio albums and collaborated with a host of artistes, including Wyclef Jean, Gwen Stefani, Lionel Richie, David Guetta, Pitbull, Madonna, Wonder Girls, Whitney Houston and Snoop Dogg in his two-decade-long music career.
During his magical night at Mega Star, Akon was dressed in a silver suit and moved energetically on stage. He was accompanied by a male dancer with a silver mask and matching silver suit who mimicked his every gesture and move, as if he was standing in for his "boss" at certain segments of the power-packed songs.
Akon opened the show with the upbeat 'Beautiful Day', followed by his bittersweet laments 'I'm So Paid' and 'Locked Up'.
Blasting his beats a notch higher, he belted out the fast-paced anthems for the downtrodden — 'Ghetto', 'Soul Survivor', and 'Against the Grain' — before greeting his fans with "I love you Malaysia, make some noise!", inviting roaring cheers that reverberated across the hall.
Next up, he delivered the "sexy numbers, 'Sweetest Girl', 'Bartender' and 'Body on Me', complete with large screen images of his "super hot" dancers swaying and spinning with their "killer moves".
Akon yelled, "I can't hear you!'"
The crowd then sang along as he belted 'I'm Back', 'Hypnotise' and 'Belly Dancer', before his mega-hit 'Don't Matter'.
After a very African-sounding song 'Danza Kuduro', Akon got everyone to sway and dance to 'Mama Africa', one of his most "nationalistic" anthems that proved a hit on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
"How many of you are from Asia, Europe, America, Australia and Africa?" asked Akon, inviting his guests to raise their hands and whistle at him.
"Actually, all of us are from Africa! So make some noise!" he replied to the cheering crowd.
"Never forget that Africa is the home of all of us, Mama Africa!"
The countdown to Akon's best-known hit song 'Lonely' began, and after the upbeat songs 'I Tried' and 'Sorry Blame Me', which carried the message that everybody makes mistakes, and ought to learn from them, Akon blasted the iconic song loud and clear.
He said: "This song 'Lonely' is one that I learnt from the great crooner from the USA, Mr Bobby Vinton, and it's specially for those of us who are working hard far away from home.
"Remember, you are never truly lonely so long as you have my music as your friend."
Akon admitted that in his early years away from Senegal, he truly was "Mr Lonely" but perseverance paid off and he soon made lots of friends in the US and around the world.
Akon then took off his silver suit to reveal a white T-shirt that enhanced his well-toned, muscled arms.
"I'm gonna get dangerous now," he remarked, hinting to the crowd that he was going to sing his infectious dance number 'Dangerous'.
He delivered that song with gusto, and did the same with his next few numbers, 'I Wanna Love You', 'Smack That' and 'Sweet Escape', the last of which was made popular by American singer-songwriter Stefani of 'No Doubt' fame.
Another African powerhouse song 'Chammak Challo' followed, and Akon said he was ending his evening with 'Right Now' and 'Work Hard', to songs about the importance of striving hard to create one's own successful career.
The fans readily sang along with him, and he pointed his microphone to the crowd for them to do so.
A brief disappearance and the dimming of lights followed, but everyone in the hall knew it was time for his encore.
They were right, as Akon gave two boisterous anthems of hope, 'When the Rise Up' and 'Freedom'.
His large screen was loaded with colourful visuals of his past concerts, music videos that featured hot dancers, scenes of Africa, including its modern cities, breathtaking landscapes, wildlife and smiling people of different colours, and, of course, his photos with famous international singers.
"I love you Malaysia, you ladies and gentlemen are so great in this wonderful party tonight. I hope to be back some day, you guys are so cool!" said Akon in his parting shot.