One of the biggest music tours doing the rounds this year is Maroon 5's. The big-selling pop group had been playing their hits throughout the US and Latin America before they arrived in the Middle East this week.
Led by singer and former The Voice US mentor Adam Levine, Maroon 5 took to the Etihad Arena stage in Abu Dhabi on Friday as part of their tour, which also included a breathtaking show at the Giza Pyramids in Egypt on Tuesday.
Speaking to The National before their Abu Dhabi gig, keyboardist PJ Morton said the band aimed to please with a set list packed with back-to-back hits.
"We were able to work out a new set list post-pandemic that is very joyful and about having a good time," he said. "I think this is what is needed after being shut down for so long. We all need it.”
With Maroon 5 celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut single, Harder to Breathe, this year, here are 10 songs that encapsulate their journey from unsuccessful musicians to one of the world’s biggest pop acts.
1. ‘Soap Disco’ (1994)
Maroon 5 formed out of the ashes of former group Kara’s Flowers.
Featuring Levine, guitarist Jesse Carmichael, former bassist and drummer Mickey Madden and drummer Ryan Dusick, the group had a bolder and rockier sound more comparable to bands such as Oasis and Weezer.
Soap Disco was one of their earlier singles and despite not registering in the charts, the ebullient melodies and catchy chorus boded well for the band's next incarnation.
2. ‘Harder to Breathe’ (2002)
In 2002, now called Maroon 5, the band released their debut single. It turns 20 years old in July and it remains timeless.
The strident guitar riffs carrying the track also point to the fact that the new outfit didn't totally ditch the sound of Kara's Flowers.
The new feature here is the lighter touch in Levine's voice, which led to the group being compared to successful pop-funk acts Jamiroquai and Stevie Wonder.
3. 'This Love' (2004)
This was the era in which albums had a longer shelf life, meaning singles from the collection could be released as far as two years after the album.
Such was the case with This Love, which was riding high on the back of Maroon 5's 2002 debut album, Songs About Jane, and the group's relentless touring schedule.
The swooning mid-tempo ballad was pure ear candy and became a mainstay on the radio, landing the group with their first US No 1 single.
4. 'Makes Me Wonder' (2007)
The band got their funk on for the lead single from their second album, It Won't be Before Long.
With Maroon 5 branded pop music's newest stars, the group used that success to fund this pristinely produced track full of zippy keyboards and danceable basslines, which is all carried by another dynamic vocal performance by Levine.
The song landed them a Grammy Award the following year for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
5. ‘Hands All Over’ (2010)
Three albums in, and Maroon 5 have, for better and worse, established their sound of commercial radio-friendly pop and RnB.
Hands All Over gave fans what they wanted and shot straight to the top of the US charts.
6. ‘Moves like Jagger’ (2011)
Songs referencing other singers can succumb to cringe — the awful Do it with Madonna by The Androids — but Maroon 5 pulled it off with this blistering summer jam.
Such is Levine's vocal command, from the lascivious crooning in the verses and irresistible falsetto in the chorus, that you almost forget Christina Aguilera’s solid contribution towards the end.
The man referenced, The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, approved the track.
In an interview with BBC Radio in 2011, he described Moves like Jagger as "very flattering."
7. ‘One More Night’ (2012)
The band freshened things up by adding a looping reggae bassline to this silky pop tune.
This also the year the group's newest member, keyboardist PJ Morton, joined. He demonstrated why he was a shrewd choice by adding some vibrant colour to the sonic mix.
One More Night became an international success and topped the charts in a number of territories in the US and Europe.
8. ‘Animals’ (2014)
By this stage, Maroon 5 were all about chart domination.
To achieve this, the band's chief songwriter Levine expanded his net of collaborators to include EDM DJ Benny Blanco and Swedish producer Shellback.
The trio cooked up this slinky track that came with a creepy music video inspired by the 2000 horror film American Psycho.
9. ‘Sugar’ (2014)
While Maroon 5 have been a mainstay in the upper echelons of the charts for two decades, it is with Sugar that they finally had a track that could be considered a timeless pop classic.
This breezy disco jam has an absolute bullseye of a chorus that will have you singing along immediately.
It is also aided by a brilliant and joyous video of the band cruising around Los Angeles and playing surprise slots at people's weddings.
10. ‘Memories’ (2019)
Despite the band's success, critics never really warmed to Maroon 5's hodgepodge of styles, but the dour reviews thrown at this track are unwarranted. Memories is a tender ballad about cherishing the people we love and the experiences shared.
The track, understandably, has taken on more resonance in the face of the pandemic and has now become a cornerstone of their latest world tour.
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
RIDE%20ON
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
Result
Crystal Palace 0 Manchester City 2
Man City: Jesus (39), David Silva (41)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
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The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Palestine and Israel - live updates
Neymar's bio
Total club appearances 411
Total goals scored 241
Appearances for Barca 186
Goals scored for Barca 105
'Champions'
Director: Manuel Calvo
Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
Rating: 2/5
ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia
Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki
Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky
Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
Abdul Jabar Qahraman was meeting supporters in his campaign office in the southern Afghan province of Helmand when a bomb hidden under a sofa exploded on Wednesday.
The blast in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah killed the Afghan election candidate and at least another three people, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak told reporters. Another three were wounded, while three suspects were detained, he said.
The Taliban – which controls much of Helmand and has vowed to disrupt the October 20 parliamentary elections – claimed responsibility for the attack.
Mr Qahraman was at least the 10th candidate killed so far during the campaign season, and the second from Lashkar Gah this month. Another candidate, Saleh Mohammad Asikzai, was among eight people killed in a suicide attack last week. Most of the slain candidates were murdered in targeted assassinations, including Avtar Singh Khalsa, the first Afghan Sikh to run for the lower house of the parliament.
The same week the Taliban warned candidates to withdraw from the elections. On Wednesday the group issued fresh warnings, calling on educational workers to stop schools from being used as polling centres.
New schools in Dubai
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
More coverage from the Future Forum
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
Gulf Under 19s
Pools
A – Dubai College, Deira International School, Al Ain Amblers, Warriors
B – Dubai English Speaking College, Repton Royals, Jumeirah College, Gems World Academy
C – British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Yasmina Academy
D – Dubai Exiles, Jumeirah English Speaking School, English College, Bahrain Colts
Recent winners
2018 – Dubai College
2017 – British School Al Khubairat
2016 – Dubai English Speaking School
2015 – Al Ain Amblers
2014 – Dubai College
