WHEN USHER FIRST arrived in Las Vegas two years ago for a stint of shows at Caesars Palace, it had been six years and one-and-a-half albums since he'd done a full tour. But because he is Usher, he quickly shook off any stage rust and transformed himself into one of the most sought-after performers in a town already overflowing with sought-after performers. The Caesars show was such a crazy success that he'd soon parlay it into an even bigger Vegas residency-sweaty, theatrical, lascivious; extremely Usher-down the street at the Park MGM, where he became one of the most dedicated employees on MGM's payroll. And it turns out, he kind of loves having a job.
So it's on a chilly night in December that MGM is throwing its annual company holiday party, about 15 minutes off the Strip in an otherwise bland event space. A Hallmark-movie-handsome singer is belting out jazz standards to a tipsy audience of Gen X'ers who are doing the office party two-step. And inside the glass foyer, between the double doors into the space and another set of double doors outside, is Usher, who is trying to get into the corporate holiday party but-at least for the moment-can't.
He's the world-famous singer of a dozen club anthems and a dozen more crooning, desirous ballads, but tonight the superstar is politely waiting at the door. Across eight studio albums, Usher is one of the defining artists of the '90s and the aughts. His music is for house parties, clubs, breakups, grind trains, and affairs. From his sophomore album, My Way, on, he has become almost synonymous with a good lay or a good time. He performed at both of Obama's inauguration concerts and introduced the world to a shy Canadian teen named Justin Bieber. But in the 2010s his output mellowed, and he seemed to disappear from the spotlight. At least before he found himself again, here, in Sin City.
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