I was sitting near the front of the stage while Tom Jones belted out ‘It’s Not Unusual’ and hundreds of his ageing fans poured into the aisles to bop along. I tried to induce feelings of cynicism and revulsion at these middle aged revellers letting loose, but I just couldn’t. As he roared out classic upon classic, my main line of thinking (after getting over how he was so tanned that he looked like he’d been dipped in wood stain), was that he was actually a consummate entertainer who could work a 5,000 strong crowd with ease. Yes, the veteran Welshman had won me over.
I remember having exactly the same thoughts while watching Christina Aguilera do her thing at Emirates Palace a couple of years earlier. At the time, I mused that the blonde New Yorker had a strong bluesy voice, was a decent dancer and knew a storming show when she performed one, but there’s no denying that Tom and Christina are about as middle of the road as a cat’s eye. Over the next few weeks, a succession of artists of a similar chart-friendliness will be storming stages in Abu Dhabi (okay, Guns N’Roses are a slight exception as they can rock pretty hard, but they do have more than enough lighter-waving power ballads to appeal to the masses).
Up the road in Dubai, while the city rarely entices the megastar singers anymore some would argue it has a more diverse musical scene. In recent months, indie legends The Charlatans, hip hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash, abstract turntablist DJ Yoda and drum ‘n’ basser Roni Size have all hit the clubs. So why aren’t these kind of acts being booked for the enjoyment of the capital’s party people?
I made this point while chatting to the owner of a well-known Abu Dhabi nightclub last year. I’d just been to see British DJing legend and underground world music proponent Gilles Peterson spin a masterful set at the Rooftop Club in Jumeirah and asked him why he didn’t consider tempting Gilles to man his own club’s DJ booth. He was adamant this would never happen, stating the demographic fact that Abu Dhabi didn’t have enough Western expats to make it financially viable to sign up lesser known artists.
Whether he’s right or whether it’s a lack of adventurous spirit is debatable, but it’s time to face facts: if an artist hasn’t had much chart success they probably won’t get booked in the capital. But, as proven with Tom and Christina, this isn’t the end of the world. You rarely become a huge international star without some degree of talent (especially in the case of Tom, who’s been packing them in for almost five solid decades) and even if you’re not the biggest fan of their music, you’re unlikely to be truly disappointed. Here’s hoping to see you at the Jonas Brothers gig, then, front centre, rock fingers aloft.
Kate Ashton. Designer. Born again Tom Jones fan.
