From a makeshift stage at Dubai Festival City to the Egyptian pyramids and now the home of the Abu Dhabi Formula One, Maroon 5's growing fortunes over almost three decades mirror the rising spectacle of their regional concerts.
Friday night's gig, as part of the F1 after-race concerts series, was one of their biggest yet, with around 30,000 people at Etihad Park witnessing the greatest hit set with all the sleekness and professionalism of a Las Vegas show. This is literally the case for the five-piece, considering their setlist is a virtual replica of their sporadic residency at the Park MGM Las Vegas.
This was good news for fans and ideal for a setting like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where the entire audience had access to the gig as part of their overall race ticket. For 90 minutes, the 20-song hit fest – indeed, nearly every track was recognised by the crowd – offered an ideal representation of the band’s commercial prowess and undeniably tight musicianship.
Beginning with one of their darker offerings, Animals, frontman Adam Levine’s resonant voice showed no signs of wear and tear after a year spent mostly on the road, including shows at the Qatar Grand Prix and Mumbai earlier this month. His pristine voice swelled through the ascending notes before switching to the guitar and leading the band into a riotous rock hoedown.
One More Night, with its faux reggae groove and assertive basslines, was also a treat, with fans straining to match some of Levine's seamless falsetto notes. The group explored these Caribbean influences further in Stereo Hearts, another reggae-inspired pop track buoyed by the bobbing keyboard notes from PJ Morton.
By the time their breakout 2002 single Harder to Breathe arrived, one couldn’t deny the music’s unerring ability to please. Levine remarked while introducing the band to the crowd: “Now this is more a guideline than a rule – we just need you to dance and sing along with us.”
Levine led by example, moving like Mick Jagger and shimmying like David Bowie along the T-shaped stage while leading the crowd in one of many call-and-response routines. And the hits kept coming: Payphone, with its loping falsetto vocal melody recalling the best of Phil Collins, was delivered with suitable precision, while the soulful Sunday Morning remains glorious 22 years later.
I Wanna Be Your Lover by Prince, released four months before Levine's birth in 1979, offered an insight into his early influences, as he delivered the strident disco-funk tune more as a loving tribute than high-powered karaoke. Morton then took to the floor for his solo gospel-soul track, Please Be Good to Me, showcasing the kind of dynamic songwriting that earned him and the track this year's Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance.
Following the barrelling version of Moves Like Jagger, Maroon 5 ended the show with an encore of She Will Be Loved, Girls Like You and, perhaps their greatest hit, the undeniably brilliant Sugar. Fine-tuned and barely breaking a sweat, the band left the stage, making this whole pop stardom thing look quite effortless.
The concert series continues with hip-hop star Eminem performing on Saturday and concludes on Sunday with British rockers Muse.
Other F1 weekend gigs happening on Yas Island
On the club front, Turkish DJ and deep house producer Mahmut Orhan will perform today at Garden on Yas at W Abu Dhabi, located within the Yas Marina Circuit. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Australian spinner Fisher will take the stage at the F1 pop-up of Dubai venue Bagatelle, also situated within the hotel.
Access to concerts as part of the after-race series is exclusive to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders
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The five pillars of Islam
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
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THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
FORSPOKEN
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Dubai World Cup Carnival Thursday race card
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
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Predictions
Predicted winners for final round of games before play-offs:
- Friday: Delhi v Chennai - Chennai
- Saturday: Rajasthan v Bangalore - Bangalore
- Saturday: Hyderabad v Kolkata - Hyderabad
- Sunday: Delhi v Mumbai - Mumbai
- Sunday - Chennai v Punjab - Chennai
Final top-four (who will make play-offs): Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The five pillars of Islam
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Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
Dubai World Cup Carnival card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm - Ziyadd; 7.05pm - Barney Roy; 7.40pm - Dee Ex Bee; 8.15pm - Dubai Legacy; 8.50pm - Good Fortune; 9.25pm - Drafted; 10pm - Simsir
WIDE%20VIEW
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
