Usher's Concert at London's O2 Arena: The Heir, Apparently

Usher's entire concert at London's O2 Arena plays out rather like one long Michael Jackson tribute.

About a third of the way into his second show at London's O2 Arena, Usher takes a moment to remember Michael Jackson. "While we don't get the pleasure of seeing him perform here," he says, "I have the opportunity to pay tribute to him."

In a scene so surreal that it could have been lifted from a Monty Python sketch, a pair of silver high-topped sneakers arrives onstage, bathed in white light, via a conveyor belt. Usher spreads his arms, looks to the heavens and asks, "Do I have permission to fill these shoes?" Quite when Usher thinks he remembers seeing Michael Jackson perform in a pair of silver basketball shoes is unclear. He dances briefly to the opening refrains of Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, but that's far from the only nod to Jackson in tonight's show and as the evening wears on it becomes increasingly clear that he's not going to be filling Jackson's shoes any time soon – although not for lack of trying.