Ne-Yo did something Monday night at the Blaisdell Arena that few entertainers can do:

He bridged generations, leaving a nearly-full house hoping he fulfills his promise to come back to Hawai'i again.

Soon.

Formerly called Shaffer Smith, Ne-Yo proved that old ideals from the Rat Pack era can still make it into today's dress-down world, a pretty good feeling for the adults who came to the concert as chaperones but left as Ne-Yo fans.

Ne-Yo's silky smooth R&B lyrics —most sounding as if they came straight from his multiplatinum albums "In My Own Words," "Because of You" and his latest release "Year of the Gentleman" — didn't involve a single profanity and kids of all ages still cheered.

He proved to be a modern day Frank Sinatra or Sammy Davis Jr. or Dean Martin, whichever you choose to compare him, too. Fact is, all three would never hit the high notes that Ne-Yo can, but if they were alive today, they would probably make it point to belly up the bar with him after the show and trade life stories. They'd probably have him on their iPods. too.

Yes, he was that cool.

In a three-piece suit, fedora on top, but instead of the drink and a cigarette as the props the Rat Packers were known for, Ne-Yo completed his attire with diamond-studded earrings that glistened off the spotlights, and he had just enough bling around his neck to twinkle from reflections every now and again.

He oozed class.

At one point his backup singers dropped roses for the women in the audience (and there were a lot of female fans), and he talked in between songs about being a one-woman man, manning up to failed relationships and taking responsibility.

At another point, he challenged the crowd to sing with him songs that he wrote for others such as Beyonce and Rihanna.

Mostly, though, he just left you feeling good that there's still a place for class and style.

He made it cool to be classy.