If you are going add to some pyrotechnics to a concert, it’s best to let the actual performer get used to it during rehearsals.
It all made for some unintentional hilarity during Waleed Al Shami’s set on Friday night.
Performing in the Al Raha Beach Theatre on Friday – in a double bill with Lebanese pop star Myriam Fares, as part of Abu Dhabi Summer Season – the 44-year-old Iraqi singer experienced a few scares when flames shot out from hidden mini cannons during his one-hour set.
In a strange way, it provided much-needed thrills to his performance, which was bereft of onstage charisma.
A real pity, as Al Shami is a fantastically versatile singer whose dulcet tones never veered off-pitch throughout his performance.
In Wainak his vocals soared effortlessly over a sea of melancholy strings. He was positively charming in his Ana Asli, with its seductive melange of jazz and Khaleeji arrangements.
In the ballad Ashtaqt Lek, his affecting vocals sunk into the poetic lovelorn lyrics and elicited a beautiful melancholy – it deserved the big ovation.
However, all that vocal skill could not mask the fact that he seemed uncomfortable on stage. Stiff, and rarely straying from his mic stand, he suffered from the frustrating habit plaguing many of his fellow Arab pop stars: reading his lyrics from an iPad placed on a lectern.
In many cases, it sucked the energy right out of the track. The quick tempo of La La should have been a show-stopper, instead, Al Shami had his eyes glued to that pesky gadget to guide him along – it made him resemble someone singing along while checking his email.
Myriam Fares had no such problem. A seasoned entertainer, the artist had her lyrics memorised – hence her freedom to stalk either sider of the stage and winningly engage with the audience.
Dressed in a skin-coloured one-piece suit with flared bottoms and her dark auburn hair at its frizzy best, she would have been equally at home on the set of Saturday Night Fever. There was nothing vintage about her entertaining set, however. She showcased her ability to blend Khaleeji styles with western pop sensibilities.
On Min Ayouni, she had her husky voice front and centre on top of full-bodied arrangements featuring the oud, qanoon and synth pianos.
The call and response of Wa Eish Asawi was a highlight; the Khaleeji-style party track made use of the six-piece percussion section.
Large members of the crowd were on their feet to dance, and Fares immediately joined them from the stage. Hopefully Al Shami was watching on from the side of the stage, taking notes.
Abu Dhabi Summer Season runs until September 11. For the full schedule of programmes, visit abudhabisummerseason.ae
sasaeed@thenational.ae
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last 16, first leg
Liverpool v Bayern Munich, midnight, Wednesday, BeIN Sports
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Sweet%20Tooth
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'Ashkal'
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
2017%20RESULTS%3A%20FRENCH%20VOTERS%20IN%20UK
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The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri