It might be the least smooth entrance of John Legend’s career. “I’ve never done this on my phone before,” admits the soulful crooner, as he presses record and his slightly flustered face fills the screen. Such is pop star life in the time of Covid-19.
Legend’s low-key concert – streamed live on Instagram late last month and still available online – supported the worthy new campaign #TogetherAtHome, in which live-streaming stars encourage people to also stay in and stay safe.
The All of Me singer's improvised, interactive show also featured his wife Chrissy Teigen and daughter Luna: good famous-family fun. But some YouTube comments were less jolly.
Are celebrity musical concerts creative or tactless?
“No time for these fake 2,” wrote one disgruntled viewer, while others declared that Teigen needed to be the “centre of attention” and that Legend is “a sell-out”.
That seemed oddly harsh, but naysayers will need to get attuned to family-interrupted concerts as the global lockdown continues. A diverse selection of homespun performances has been uploaded in recent weeks, and it’s spreading, although those performances will invariably divide opinion. Broadcasting from a huge, luxurious living room can seem tactlessly egotistical right now.
Cult US singer-songwriter Mishka Shubaly is one sceptical onlooker. “It’s funny, as all this was unfolding, I was like: ‘Here it comes, who’s going to be the first rock star to try to turn this global tragedy into a way to ... oh, hello Bono.’”
U2’s frontman was an early entry on to the viral stage, performing a quickly written song for coronavirus-stricken Italy.
Shubaly, meanwhile, has turned home performances into a highly personal, positive experience. He usually makes a living touring the US and Europe, so the virus shutdown has hit him particularly hard. “I think I’ll be out around $10,000 [Dh36,725] in fees and merchandise sales,” he says.
$100 for a virtual, one-on-one concert
The gruff, gritty singer had already found a novel outlet during the Christmas holidays, however, making personalised songs as gifts (“I love how it’s kind of anti-consumerist, you can’t buy that on Amazon”), and now he’s turning to gigs.
For $100, I'll perform for an hour. You can pick the set list out of any of my songs, I can teach you how to play my songs ... Hell, you can just cry to me about how you got dumped recently
“I want to work for my money. So I came up with the idea of doing live, one-on-one streaming shows for fans. For $100, I’ll perform for an hour. You can pick the set list out of any of my songs, I can teach you how to play my songs, we can jam on them together, you can interrogate me about how or why I wrote them. Hell, you can just cry to me about how you got dumped recently.” Shubaly has also offered to play free songs for fans suffering from Covid-19.
Many other stay-home musicians are also using their time well. Hozier, BTS and Courtney Barnett are among the acts streaming live for various charities, while American singer-songwriter Jewel’s at-home version of her annual children’s benefit concert was drolly retitled: Live from San Quarantine.
The multi-performer affair: recipe for virtual disaster?
Sometimes the show does go on; classically trained singer and comedian Sooz Kempner already uses fake Skype calls in her live gigs: the "callers" are actually pre-filmed clips of Kempner in character, whom she cleverly duets with. Now, a London cabaret night, Saturday Supershow, is trying that for real: two performers, one pianist, all in separate houses.
“It’s very complicated and I’m glad I’m not in charge of the streaming,” says Kempner. “Through the magic of webcams and mics we’ll hopefully be able to sing solos and duets, all professionally mixed at the other end by the producer.” These cabaret shows are free, with an option to “tip” the artists afterwards. But will remote duets work?
“It could go in many directions,” Kempner admits. “Will I just be pixelated, emitting bleeps and blips to a baffled global audience?”
Multi-performer affairs can backfire, after all. Gal Gadot's star-studded version of John Lennon's Imagine was widely mocked, albeit well intentioned, and social distancing is conjuring innovative projects – popular Melbourne punk trio Camp Cope are coping with no live shows through virtual gigging.
“There’s been two weekends of full-day festivals here, via Instagram, which has been really nice, just something to bring a few people together,” says drummer Sarah Thompson.
One event, organised by US musician Erica Freas and UK label Specialist Subject, was a logistically challenging transcontinental affair – with bands from the UK, US and Australia logging on and plugging in. Again, that fest was free, and more about keeping bands and fans together in troubled times, with viewers directed to the performers’ websites and shops.
“It definitely feels weird playing to ‘no one’ even though you’re kind of playing to heaps of people,” Thompson says, but it’s “nice to feel like we were hanging out again from afar. It’s definitely been good for a lot of people’s mental health, I think.”
The challenges of a home concert
Many home shows would be worth catching anyway. Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard and Christine and the Queens’ Heloise Letissier have streamed regularly, with the latter swaying around the studio and the former strumming at home. And electronica troubadour James Blake did a particularly likeable Legend-like session, covering Radiohead and Billie Eilish, over Instagram. “Thank you to the 27k people who joined the little concert from our piano,” tweeted Jameela Jamil, Blake’s partner and occasional heckler.
Proper full-length concerts can take some planning. Norwegian pianist Lars Jakob Rudjord recently released a gorgeous album with an apt title, Let Tomorrow Be Better. Unable to stage a live launch party, he streamed one from his lounge.
House concerts offer different challenges, “especially when you have to be quiet ‘backstage’ so you don’t wake your kids”, Rudjord ruefully recalls. He spent a week practising the songs and technology, but still suffered sound issues early on. Not that he realised.
The kind of community that arises from these live-stream concerts is supercool. I had fans from all over the world watching, more than expected – they didn't catch a word of my Norwegian
“My wife was practically jumping up and down behind the glass door,” he says, with a laugh. An awkwardly placed microphone meant the usually classy musician then “had to lean over the grand piano, like a complete dork”.
That show eventually proved rather successful, however, with a much wider reach than a regular gig. He plans more soon – but will introduce the songs in English.
“The kind of community that arises from these live-stream concerts is supercool,” Rudjord says. “I had fans from all over the world watching, more than expected – they didn’t catch a word of my Norwegian. And also pals from my schooldays, family members, neighbours.
“I think the way artists started doing online shows will have an impact on the music industry that will also last after the coronavirus crisis is over. Hopefully new good things will come out of this.”
Played well, such shows can spread good vibes, and an important message. Going viral was never so vital.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
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
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Read more about the coronavirus
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Kill%20Bill%20Volume%201
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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
The Lowdown
Kesari
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra
Landfill in numbers
• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane
• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming
• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi
• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year
• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away
• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The years Ramadan fell in May
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
On racial profiling at airports
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
SUE%20GRAY'S%20FINDINGS
%3Cp%3E%22Whatever%20the%20initial%20intent%2C%20what%20took%20place%20at%20many%20of%20these%20gatherings%20and%20the%3Cbr%3Eway%20in%20which%20they%20developed%20was%20not%20in%20line%20with%20Covid%20guidance%20at%20the%20time.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22Many%20of%20these%20events%20should%20not%20have%20been%20allowed%20to%20happen.%20It%20is%20also%20the%20case%20that%20some%20of%20the%3Cbr%3Emore%20junior%20civil%20servants%20believed%20that%20their%20involvement%20in%20some%20of%20these%20events%20was%20permitted%20given%20the%20attendance%20of%20senior%20leaders.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22The%20senior%20leadership%20at%20the%20centre%2C%20both%20political%20and%20official%2C%20must%20bear%20responsibility%20for%20this%20culture.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20found%20that%20some%20staff%20had%20witnessed%20or%20been%20subjected%20to%20behaviours%20at%20work%20which%20they%20had%20felt%20concerned%20about%20but%20at%20times%20felt%20unable%20to%20raise%20properly.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20was%20made%20aware%20of%20multiple%20examples%20of%20a%20lack%20of%20respect%20and%20poor%20treatment%20of%20security%20and%20cleaning%20staff.%20This%20was%20unacceptable.%22%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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Profile of Hala Insurance
Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The finalists
Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho
Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson
Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)
Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid
Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola
Bournemouth 0
Manchester United 2
Smalling (28'), Lukaku (70')
MATCH INFO
Everton 2 Southampton 1
Everton: Walcott (15'), Richarlison (31' )
Southampton: Ings (54')
Man of the match: Theo Walcott (Everton)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
