Singer and songwriter Wé Ani garnered a plethora of accolades while appearing on “American Idol” in 2023. But the reality show competition wasn’t her first. She had already competed on a national platform with “The Voice” in 2016. The year before, Wé Ani won Amateur Night at the world-famous Apollo Theater and returned Saturday, Feb. 3, 2023 for a sold-out show in the Apollo Music Cafe. It was the final show in the soundstage space of the Apollo Theater, as The Apollo Stages at The Victoria Theater recently opened, which includes The Jonelle Procope Theater, named after former Apollo Theater president Jonelle Procope, and a second larger theater.
“We started out at the Apollo and it’s really poetic like (Apollo Music Cafe producer) Dwight (Jordan) said to be here at the last Apollo Music Cafe show,” she said. “That’s weird. That’s crazy, but it’s a blessing and I cannot believe that you guys have made this all possible.”
“We can stay in Harlem or be bougie in Manhattan/Go to Magic Johnson’s or just see whatever happens” she sings to the crowd on her song “To The Moon.” The song and what it refers to is familiar to many in the crowd, not only because it’s her, but because it is something that has been contemplated over and over.
Wé Ani, who recently opened for singer Monica in Newark at New Jersey Performing Arts Center, struck a perfect balance of original music and covers, including Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and a soul-stirring version of Beyoncé’s “Dangerously In Love.”
Valentine’s Day arrived a little early, as Wé Ani, who recorded two songs on the Good Burger 2 soundtrack, performed several love songs with one background singer and a four-piece band that included two guitarists, keyboards, and a drummer.
Wé Ani also performed her singles that members of the audience sang along to, including “175 lbs”, and “Disgusted,” before closing out the show with the song that arguably had the most crowd participation, “The Standard.” Whenever Wé Ani performs in the tri-state area, especially in Harlem, it is a show you don’t want to miss.
