Has the world gone mad? There we all are, one minute enjoying a blissful Lady Gaga-free existence and the next our eyes and ears are suddenly assaulted by the furious, writhing advance of an artist who, at 22, is busy comparing herself to a young Madonna.
Lady Gaga, or Joanna Germanotta to her parents, is greedily chalking up press inches the world over after the release of her debut album The Fame. The first single from the record, Just Dance, was released on to an unsuspecting public in America in June and soon after notched up a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording.
It then took some time to claw its way to the prime No 1 chart position, landing there finally in January. It's a grindingly catchy tune with heavy reliance on the synthesiser, Lady Gaga's apparent weapon of choice which is used across the entire album.
In truth though, The Fame isn't half bad. Fifteen tracks of upbeat pop of the kind that is suitable for a spin in the gym, but which will doubtless also be pumped out to sweaty clubs across the world this summer. Much like Lily Allen, Lady Gaga spends a good deal of time scorning the heavy weight of fame that rests upon her slender, young shoulders.
"I can't help myself, I'm addicted to a life of material/It's some kind of joke, I'm obsessively opposed to the typical," she purrs ironically in The Fame. "I'm your biggest fan/I'll follow you until you love me Papa, PAPARAZZI," she screams in Paparazzi. But as she's currently cavorting across the globe wearing more make-up than clothing, it's hard to believe she's as disdainful of the attention as is implied.
It has been a strange, chameleon-like rise for the chanteuse. Born in Yonkers to Italian parents, she attended the same, prestigious Manhattan private school as Nicky and Paris Hilton. That musical talent was there is clear. She had learnt to play the piano by ear by the tender age of four, and started performing at open-mic nights in New York by her early teenage years. Then, aged 17, she earned a place at New York's renowned Tisch School of the Arts, one of only 20 people in her year to be given early admission.
To the apparent dismay of her parents, she then slithered into the underground club scene to dabble with the pop and burlesque set there. Her dedication to the musical cause meant that by the age of 20 she had not only signed her first record deal but also penned songs for a number of well-known acts, including Britney Spears, the Pussycat Dolls and New Kids on the Block, with whom she performed at last month's British music awards, The Brits.
The Fame is clearly the result of such immersion in sugary pop. Apart from the good use of the synthesiser, the melodies are ever so slightly predictable, which might explain why her debut single has scored the top position on charts in several countries.
Her voice is strong, though, with echoes of Gwen Stefani or Nelly Furtado and, perhaps as I'm feeling generous, with Madonna, too. "I think what she and I share is that we're both fearless, we both have a lot of nerve," she said modestly of her similarly Italian-American idol in an interview with the British newspaper The Times last month.
Humility comes naturally to Lady Gaga it seems. On her MySpace page, she explains that she sounds like "her male equivalents," and lists Elton John, Freddie Mercury and Boy George as examples. It was Queen's Radio Gaga from which she took her name in fact, and there's a distinct 1980s disco sound that reverberates through the album.
The lyrics perhaps need some work. "Boys, boys, boys, We like boys in cars, Boys, boys, boys," she sings in a track unsurprisingly called Boys, Boys, Boys. "I've heard it before," she tells a previous victim in Paper Gangsta, "Yeah, the dinners were nice, Till your diamond words melted into some ice." How can words melt into ice Lady Gaga? I'm confused.
Overall though, it's an album that makes for fun, aimless listening. Not necessarily one to have on repeat play , but a bit of froth for playing every now and then. In an American radio interview I listened to recently, she announced her intention to be around on the pop scene for the next 25 years. That seems a tad ambitious, but so long as she can survive the current Lady Gaga hysteria, her musical talent should be able to carry her through the next couple of albums at least.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Company%20Profile
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
SPECS
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Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
