concert Archives - Undefined Declarations

And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?

You may have noticed that I have been covering a lot of music shows in my recent posts. You may have also taken a look at my about page where I mention some facts about myself and how I am 30-something. So you might be wondering why I am living a 20-something lifestyle in my early thirties?

While most people my age could be settling down by getting engaged or married, or possibly already have a bunch of kids at school age, I’m still celebrating my spontaneous twenty-something- like days! I like to contribute this to the fact that I grew up and have lived in Saudi for most of my life. And must add; to somewhat over-protective and controlling parents. Who seemed to give a good amount of importance to people’s opinions and judgmental views. You can’t completely blame them though. Saudi society is quite fierce and tough when it comes to conservativeness and liberality. It’s a very complicated topic that I would need to dedicate a whole post to explain it, and it still wouldn’t be enough!

For now, I just felt like I could use some justification for my sometimes immature and crazy behavior 🙂 Like making sure that I don’t miss out on any cool concerts in town and dragging my “more responsible” and mature friends to them.

So I basically didn’t get to do many things that people in their twenties would do. Although I did argue my way around to some cool concerts in Bahrain when I was a teenager (yes, I was rebellious since then!).

Sometimes, I wonder if my late-lived twenties phase will ever end. Because I enjoy it so much that I would never want to live a different lifestyle!

Moving on to Train’s concert, I used to listen to the amazingly talented American pop rock band as a teenager growing up in Saudi. Yes, my parents were not that strict :p So to me, their show was more of a trip down memory lane to my 90’s in Saudi. When life was much more simpler and easier. When all I cared about was which magazines I wanted to get with me from Bahrain when I went there in the weekend. Yeah I was a weird teenager too! But doesn’t everyone love and long for the 90’s? I personally would go back to those years at any given time.

Arriving to the concert venue, me and my friend were surprised at how quiet it was! there wasn’t even any music playing at some point. And while I expected to see other 30-something Train nostalgic fans at the concert, all I seemed to see were teenagers and a generally younger crowd of people who didn’t look like they were old enough to sing along to “Drops of Jupiter”! My friend had also pointed out that it was her first time to see a five year-old girl at a concert 🙂

Nevertheless, Train put on a great show and sang many of their new and old hit songs. Such as “Hey Soul Sister” and “Meet Virginia”.

They also got the crowd engaged in some songs by asking random people to come up on stage and sing or dance along with the band.

At the end of the show, the band left the stage before coming back to sing my all-time favorite hit for the band: “Drops of Jupiter”. I was glad that I didn’t leave when my friend decided to leave after they left the stage the first time, as I would have missed them perform the ever popular and great track “Drops of Jupiter”. I think I was going to break down and cry when I saw them leave the stage before singing my song!

You must have guessed that I was the only person in that young crowd who was super excited and singing along to “Meet Virgina” and “Drops of Jupiter”! Yes, Dubai makes me feel old. But I stand my ground and continue to act and behave like a twenty-something 🙂

I must confess that I did manage to record some good video clips at the show. But since I am still not familiar with posting videos on this blog (more like, don’t feel like uploading them on you tube as I found out that this needs to be done), I will not be sharing my priceless Train videos for now. Who knows, I might get the motivation required to actually upload videos one day 🙂

So, was my one hour and 15 minutes or so of 90’s music nostalgia worth it? I’d say hell yeah! It was worth every second of the warmth and simplicity and joy it brought to my forever 90’s soul.

Since I’m having issues with my photos, I will only post the links for my favorite Train songs. And I will try to upload more images once I sort out the technical glitch.

Enjoy and long live the undying 90’s spirit!

My Valentine’s Night Out With One Republic!

When I heard that American pop rock band OneRepublic are playing in Dubai as part of the Dubai Jazz Festival main gigs, I was so excited as I am a big fan of their music and more specifically the deep and meaningful lyrics they use in most of their songs.

The concert also happened to be on Valentine’s day, which gives us all a great excuse to go out and attend a show and sing along to some famous hits by a world-famous band.

Having passed on a chance to get free VIP tickets courtesy of Emirates Airlines after I had already purchased my own regular tickets about two hours before I got a call from a friend offering me the VIP tickets only meant that I would get to enjoy the real experience of the Dubai Jazz Fest. Or at least that’s what I kept saying to myself and my companion joining me at the standing area as a form of consolation. But as you might expect, it wasn’t a very effective reason.

However, we did have a great time at the venue! We missed the first act: Gary Honor. But when we arrived, we were enchanted by the ultra hip beats of the highly talented Guy Manoukian. I was actually watching a TV interview with him earlier today. And was impressed to know that the successful pianist and composer is from my generation and had already made it big in the music scene. In addition to his global success.Guy explained that the unique sounds he makes are a blend between oriental music from the region (Persian, Middle-Eastern, North-African) and modern house rhythms. Mostly I liked his inspirational words that said how being successful and realizing your dream has nothing to do with your nationality or ethnic background or culture. But all to do with your talent and efforts in following your dream and never giving up.

I was being carried away with the miniature dessert delights from The Ivy and enjoying my deliciously warm sticky toffee pudding, when OneRepublic had got on stage. Luckily, I managed to get back to our secured spot at the grass on time just as the show had started.

I was glad that they performed their famous hit singles such as “Stop and Stare”, “Apologize” and “Good Life”. While at the same time being disappointed that they didn’t sing the wonderfully composed and written “Say”. Which I think would have been a great song for a Valentine’s day concert more so since it is a very sentimental and emotional song.

Another down side was the fact that the show ended at around 11:43 while we all expected it to last until 12 as it was mentioned in the program booklet.

Nevertheless, we had a remarkable night at the festival park. The weather was amazing (as OneRepublic have declared that too), the snacks at the venue were exceptional, the event was well-organized, and the performance was brilliant.

As the night came to an end, most of us were still walking around wrapped in our soft and warm red blankets as we made our way to take the big bus tour shuttle bus back to the mall. Indeed, it was an enjoyable night characterized with a wonderful ambiance, great music and most importantly: love was in the air!

If you missed OneRepublic’s show last night, don’t worry. As they announced that they are having a world tour in April and are 100 % coming back to Dubai! (those were their words, I am just quoting them).

For now, enjoy listening to one of my favorite tracks by the sensational band:

It was a Snowy Night at Yas Island!

After reading online that the Kanye West concert will be arctic-themed and that twenty snow machines were set up at the venue to dispense snow at the show, I decided to take a winter jacket with me to the show and re-live my London winter days…plus, my jacket could use some air after being stowed in my closet for ages.

To confirm my decision to bring along heavy clothes, on the day of the show, I hear a DJ on the radio advising listeners to take a jumper or a jacket to the concert as it will be a cold night with all the “snow” that will be around.

So me and my friend headed off to the concert well-prepared in our heaviest winter jackets and scarves. Add to that my friend wearing a winter cap and me regretting not getting one to protect my head and hair when the snow falls down!

Luckily, we arrived just as Kanye was about to go on stage. We enjoyed being in the not so packed hip-hop and rapper wanna-be crowd. It was a fun night for people watching. As there were a lot of rapper and gangster dressed teens and tweens…That didn’t stop us from being ones ourselves as we practiced our best hip-hop gestures and dance moves.

I must admit that I didn’t know many of the songs that Kanye sang that night. I heard his track “Clique” on the radio on the same day and that gave me an extra hit to dance and sing along to. I was looking forward to hearing his hit single “Love Lock Down” – a favorite track of mine for him- and I was disappointed that he didn’t sing it. I guess that is the type of hip-hop that I can get attached to. Not the heavy rap and hip-hop style found in his more recent numbers.

Each song at the show had a different theme projected on the big screens, with nature and landscape visuals. When the arctic theme was on, the snow machines started blowing fake snow at a certain area of the venue. Contrary to our expectations of a European-like winter snow and cold breeze, we were amused to find out that the mini snow balls were made out of plastic! and accordingly there was not a slightest winter draft associated with the mild snow fall!

Despite our minor climate surprise, we had a good time chilling to Kanye’s rhythms until we suddenly experienced an end to what was our uber cool night at the extremely comfortable Du Arena bean bags. Not only has the show come to an abrupt end after only an hour and a half of Kanye’s magical voice, we were also asked to get off of our comfy bean bags by the venue staff as they came to collect them from the spot!

When we complained to them that the show has ended so fast, they consolidated us by saying that we could lounge on them at the next show 🙂

I suppose we could have enjoyed listening to more of Kanye’s urban hits. As well as some extra time chilling on the bean bags, gazing at the stars, and making the most out of Dubai’s cool winter breeze.

My favorite Kanye track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcjkkBtXgIc

Till the next big show, stay cool and keep watching this space…