Music fans inside Kean Stage’s Wilkins Theater in Union, NJ this Thursday, April 2, 2026 evening are sharing the same dream as they ready themselves for a concert by one of the biggest hitmakers of the 1980s, British singer/songwriter Billy Ocean.
Accompanied by a 9-piece band featuring a saxophonist, three backup vocalists, a bassist, a keyboard player, and two guitarists, Ocean, 76, takes the stage and opens his set with “One World.” Singing with feeling and soul, “So many people/Living in the world today/Trying to find an answer/Searching for a better way,” Ocean is deftly supported by his talented ensemble on this upbeat R&B tune.
Greeting the crowd announcing, “Good evening to you all — are you ready to rock?” concertgoers respond in the affirmative and Ocean and Co. sail into the funky R&B number, “Night (Feel Like Gettin’ Down).” Audience members stand and move to the groove at their seats as Ocean’s backup singers accompany him while he croons, “It’s just one of them nights/One of them nights you feel like getting down, yeah, yeah, yeah.”
After serenading listeners with a funky rendition of “Mystery Lady” where he ad libs vocally to a saxophone improvisation, Ocean talks about wrapping up the current leg of his tour which has taken him to places such as The Bahamas, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Georgia, before acknowledging, “I know where I am tonight — Union, NJ!”
Ocean follows up with the slow R&B ballad, “There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry),” which he performs with feeling and power. Then, concertgoers sing along with Ocean and the band on “Love Zone,” a funk ballad where Billy impresses with his smooth vocal and dance moves, delighting fans who react with hoots and hollers.
Ocean asks, “Do you want to get into my car?” as he shifts into his 1988 #1 smash, “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car.” Music lovers happily sing along on the R&B number’s famous “Get outta my dreams/Get into my car” refrain as Ocean struts across the stage and his background singers dance with synchronized motions.
Ocean moves on to a heartfelt rendition of his 1988 Top 20 hit, “The Colour of Love,” where, after ad libbing with his saxophone player, he organizes a call and response which has concertgoers crooning phrases like “What is the colour of love?” while he vocally ad libs over them to audience cheers and applause.
Ocean announces, “When we finish here, we go back to England where I’ll be going into the studio. Then, we’ll go back on tour bringing the music to the people,” before asking, “You want some more?” The crowd eagerly applauds and Ocean presents an appealing version of Bob Marley’s reggae anthem, “No Woman, No Cry.”
After announcing, “I’d like to sing for you one of my favorite songs of all time,” he launches into a knock-your-socks-off performance of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come,” singing with conviction and power and inspiring a standing ovation.
A Latin beat and an electric guitar solo characterize Ocean’s new song, “Mystery,” before he announces, “Last year, ‘Suddenly’ had its 40 year anniversary,” noting, “I was 40 years younger and sexy,” and joking, “Now I’m 40 years older and I’m still sexy!” A fan calls out, “You rock, Billy!” as he bolts into his 1985 Top 5 ballad, “Suddenly,” where he croons,“Suddenly/Life has new meaning to me,” and holds out his mic to audience members and invites them to sing with him.
Following hoots and hollers, Ocean steps into his 1985 Top 5 dance-pop hit, “Loverboy,” where he sings, “Wanna be your lover, lover, lover boy,” as his band accompanies him with energy and passion.
Ocean inquires, “What happens when the going gets tough?” and the audience exclaims, “The tough get going!” as Billy and the band rocket into his song, “When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going.” On this 1986 Top 5 hit, Ocean gives a charismatic performance twirling across the stage accompanied by his talented backup singers.
A flute trills as a synth bass lays down the bottom on Ocean’s upbeat party song, “Daylight,” and audience members happily sing along on the tune’s “Ooh la la la, ooh la la la la” refrain. Then, after introducing his stagemates, Ocean says, “Let’s all pack our bags and go to the Caribbean.” Sailing into his 1984 chart-topper, “Caribbean Queen,” Ocean sings with emotion on the rhythmic tune’s famous “Caribbean queen/Now we’re sharing the same dream” chorus.
Ocean exclaims, “Thank you all, take care of yourself!” as the audience stands and sings a reprise of “Caribbean Queen” while he vocally ad libs “Gonna miss you” and “You’re beautiful” over top of them. At the conclusion, Ocean blows kisses to his fans, signs autographs, and waves goodnight before he and his bandmates exit the stage.
As concertgoers make their way out of the auditorium, several share their thoughts on tonight’s performance by Billy Ocean. Declares Tracey from Moorestown, “It was an amazing show! Billy was incredible in person; everyone needs to see him!” Yessenia from Hillside agrees, adding, “It was a really fun evening. My dad introduced me to Billy Ocean’s music when I was a kid and I really enjoyed his show tonight.”
Albert from New York City recalls, “I’ve listened to Billy Ocean since I was seventeen. It was an amazing experience to hear him play live all the songs I listened to growing up. He did an amazing job bringing me back to when I was young.” Bruce from Parsippany jokes, “Concerts like this one by Billy Ocean seem to come in ‘waves’ — but he’s got a rich voice that’s soothing to the soul and it was a joy watching him entertain.”
Lastly, Lisa from Glen Ridge insists, “Billy Ocean was awesome! He sounded amazing and his band was incredible, too. I loved hearing his old songs again and his new songs were amazing, too.” Her friend, Andrea from Glen Ridge, concurs, insisting, “Billy sounded better than ever — he didn’t miss a beat,” prior to exclaiming, “Seeing him tonight was a total treat!”
To learn more about Billy Ocean, please go to billyocean.com. For more on upcoming performances at Kean Stage — including singer/actress Eva Noblezada at Kean Stage’s Enlow Recital Hall on April 26 — go to keanstage.com.
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