PICTURES The biggest and best UAE concerts in 2012
The year in music has been anything but quiet. tabloid! takes a look at the stars that stood out on stage in 2012.
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February 17-25: Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival. The only “new boy” on the headline list was Jason Mraz. “I feel like I’m a one-way tweeter,” said Mraz. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
March 6: Madinat Jumeirah. In one of his first interviews since it was announced he would represent the UK at the Eurovision song contest, Engelbert Humperdinck was “confident” ahead of his Dubai show. The 75-year-old crooner came second from last at the show in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 26. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
March 8: Duran Duran at The Sevens. Self-confessed playboy lover Simon Le Bon surprised us all by offering up a recipe for a successful marriage. “You have to want to be married,” he said. “It’s actually as simple as that.” Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
March 9: Snow Patrol at Sandance. The first Sandance event of 2012 was a giant bottleneck of traffic, which eventually resulted in watching the mighty Snow Patrol. M People, DJ Yoda, Calvin Harris and DJ Erick Morrillo also performed to more than 12,000 fans on the sands. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
March 29: Elton John plays du Arena, Abu Dhabi. “I am so fortunate to have had that great live moment in November 1974 with John Lennon, when he joined us ons age at Madison Square Garden and sang Whatever Gets You Thru the Night, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and I Saw Her Standing There with us,” he told tabloid!. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
March 31: Toni Braxton. Dubai World Cup, Meydan. Ahead of her performance, the singer, actress, businesswoman and reality TV star told tabloid! about her “big sister” Whitney Houston. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
April 6: Atelier Dance Arena festival. Dubai Sports City International Stadium. The line-up included Ne-Yo, Leona Lewis, Taio Cruz, Jay Sean, Natasha Bedingfield and Skylar Gray. The acts then hit the city’s clubs for many a club appearance. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
April 12: Eagles at The Sevens, Dubai. The Eagles played country-rock standards, including Life in the Fast Lane and the more timeless Desperado. Don Henley had good things to say about today’s younger stars. “Taylor Swift speaks to the angst and the insecurities of teenage girls and they relate to her message quite strongly. Image Credit: Gulf News achives -
April 20: Bananarama, Hard Rock Café. Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward of Bananarama told tabloid! their “alternative temperaments” is the key to their success. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
June 3 and 4: Madonna at du Arena, Abu Dhabi. It was the concert we were all waiting for. And wait shemade us. Arriving on stage more than 45 minutes late on both nights, Madonna had no apology but instead performed her MDNA show, which certainly raised a few eyebrows. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
June 22: Evanescence, Dubai World Trade Centre. Amy Lee, founder and lead singer of the goth-inspired rock band, didn’t mince her words. “Hell no,” said the straight-talking Lee on whether or not Ben Moody, the band’s now-departed co-founder, guitarist and writer of their hit song My Immortal, was ever missed. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
September 20: Easily one of the best-paid wedding singers out there, Pussycat Doll singer Nicole Scherzinger was reportedly paid $1 million (Dh3.67 million) for a 45-minute concert celebrating a 400-couple mass wedding at the Dubai World Trade Centre. “It’s easy money,” said one report. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
October 19: 50 Cent headlined Atelier Live at Meydan. The American rapper chatted to tabloid! about Broadway shows, hanging out with underprivileged children in Somalia and Nairobi and crying over hand-me-down clothes at his grandmother’s. Image Credit: Gulf News archvies -
October 26: Enrique Iglesias at Dubai World Trade Centre. Let’s just say it wasn’t easy to get much out of him. “But wouldn’t the lovely Anna Kournikova like to be Mrs Iglesias one day?” we asked. “I’m not sure, I’d have to ask her first before answering that,” he quipped sarcastically. The show was a big hit with fans. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
November 1: Smack That singer Akon was a last minute addition to the Beats on the Beach line-up with Missy Elliot, Tamer Hosni and Mel C. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
November 2: CeeLo at Beats on the Beach. After our seventh one-word answer from the man we expected to be as big in personality as the music he makes, tabloid! called Green on his less-than enthusiastic interview style. “What do you mean?” said Green, a little shocked he’d been asked about his lack of conversation. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
November 2: Kylie at du Arena, Abu Dhabi. The first F1 afterrace act was a perfect mix of old and new. The oldest Minogue had the crowd going from the first song, Wow, as she strutted her stuff in a slightly questionable blue jumpsuit (but yes, annoyingly the 44-year-old even pulled that off). Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
November 3: Nickelback at du Arena. The camaraderie was evident when they took the stage as part of the Yasalam after-race concerts — an energetic rock show complete with expletives, drinking on stage and devil horns. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
November 4: Eminem at du Arena. What a show! The rapper gave it everything as he took to the stage for final night of Yasalam. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
November 9: Sandance featured Stereophonics, Benny Benassi, Labrinth, Newton Faulkner and Marco V. The UAE was the first crowd to hear Stereophonics’ single In A Moment live, according to the lads. “The song is about finding some hope in life,” said 38-year-old frontman Kelly Jones. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
November 30: The Jacksons Unity Tour, Adnec, Abu Dhabi. Ahead of their UAE gig Marlon, Tito and Jacky talked showtime, childish pranks and life without brother Michael. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
“Just thought I’d drop in for a party,” Katy Perry quipped as she landed on stage at her Decemeber Meydan concert in a cartoonish leotard, with parachutes on her cap sleeves. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
December 8: Usher and Katy Perry. World Parachuting Championships, Meydan. Competing with Felix Baumgartner at a parachuting event is no mean feat, but Perry and Usher pulled it off. Image Credit: Gulf News archives -
December 11: Chris Brown, Meydan. The US singer more than redeemed himself after a disappointing show last year. Opening his concert with the top 10 hit Beautiful People, he segued into the David Guetta hit with Lil Wayne I Can Only Imagine and then Forever. Image Credit: Gulf News archives