Music for the Young at Heart
Posted on 21st May 2026
It’s not often that the Corn Hall hosts a genuine 80s legend (Toyah qualifies but that was a while ago) but Paul Young is the real deal. One of the biggest stars of that decade, he rubbed shoulders with everyone from George Michael to Stevie Wonder, sold more records than just about everyone else, and was the opening voice of the Band Aid single. Performing in front of a packed-out Corn Hall, he may look a little older these days, but don’t we all? He can still fit in the black taffeta jacket that he wore on the cover photo of No Parlez!
The emphasis of the night was stories rather than songs, despite kicking off with an acoustic version of ‘Love of the Common People’ with the help of his long-term friend and band member Jamie Moses. Afterwards, the pair of them sat down for a chat punctuated by video clips and interjections from a woman in the front row who was obviously having the very best night of her life. What could have grown tiresome, as she piped up again and again, was actually rather sweet. This was an evening for fans, and Young and Moses treated her like the gents they are.
Those fans no doubt already knew his career started with Streetband, before the surprise success of their novelty B-side, Toast, ironically torpedoed their long-term future. The big band sound of the Q-Tips didn’t last much longer, as synthesisers heralded the rise of the solo performer. We got to see both on screen in this slickly stage-managed evening, before an unusually upbeat version of ‘Wherever I Lay My Hat’ reminded us of his golden years. It was followed, after a self-deprecating introduction, by Angel from his 2023 album ‘Behind The Lens’, which actually suited the voice he has grown into rather better than the classics.
In the second half, names were not so much dropped as showered, as he shared tales of Bruce Springsteen taking his photograph, sneaking up behind Stevie Wonder to wish him happy birthday, or being Freddie Mercury, albeit for just one song. Italian singer Zucchero, the tex-mex band Los Pacaminos and singing with George Michael were explored with a lightness of touch, before the final two songs, ‘Everything Must Change’ and ‘Come Back and Stay’, rounded off an evening that was a nostalgic wander down memory lane for the faithful and a delightfully entertaining education for the rest of us.