Saturday, Nov 13, 2010
Gulf News
Lebanese pop legend and The Beat get the crowd started before Jamaican singer steps up
Abu Dhabi Sean Paul capped off a night of musical variety — in terms of genre as well as quality — on Thursday night at the Beats on the Beach concerts in Abu Dhabi.
The Jamaican singer hit the stage at the free event on the capital’s Corniche following sets from local rockers Sho, Lebanese singer Rola Sa’ad, reggae band The Beat and the traditional sounds of Melheim Zein, also from Lebanon.
Charging through hits including Give It Up To Me, We Be Burnin and Temperature, Paul enthralled thousands of concert-goers of all ages and nationalities who kicked off their shoes for a night of music by the water’s edge as part of the Yasalam series of events around the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Engaging the crowd with constant cries of “Hello, Abu Dhabi”, Paul may have won fans with his nod to the UAE (at one point he even wore a flag), but his set was slow to get started as he appeared to leave most of the singing to his DJ and backup singer, cutting his hits short and employing mainly mixing techniques. For many the biggest attraction on Paul’s stage were his two female dancers.
Earlier in the evening, a smaller crowd was no less enthusiastic when Sa’ad took to the stage to play her Lebanese pop hits, while reformed British ska-reggae band The Beat, who started out in 1978, showed they have lost none of their stage presence or charisma with an excellent, lively set that included their hit songs Mirror in the Bathroom and Tears of a Clown.
Today’s Beats on the Beach lineup kicks off from 7.15pm and closes with Fares Karam, who will be bringing his dabke-inspired brand of Lebanese pop onstage at around 11.30pm.
ABDUL RAHMAN/Gulf News
Heating up the stage
Sean Paul performs during the Beats on the Beach — Yasalam live on Abu Dhabi Corniche on Thursday night.
By Natalie Long ?tabloid! Editor
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