Turning the page of a new chapter – this is how the Filipino singing sensation Charice describes her forthcoming performance at the Yasalam Beats on the Beach in Abu Dhabi during the F1 weekend.
After breaking onto the international scene in 2007, her fame has skyrocketed, with TV appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Oprah providing worldwide exposure.
Charice further cemented her reputation as one of the pop artists to watch with the release of her 2010 self-titled debut album, which spawned the hit single Pyramid.
She also appeared in the American musical comedy-drama TV series Glee, and the movies Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) and Here Comes the Boom (2012).
We caught up with her to find out her thoughts about her early fame, changing musical direction and performing with other artists in Abu Dhabi.
You’ve been to the UAE before, so what makes this visit special?
aI was just looking at the artist line-up and I can’t help but feel excited with the variety of genres and performers. I feel proud at the thought of representing the Philippines and being mentioned alongside other artists that I admire, such as Jason Derulo.
Are you still prone to fits of career retrospection and does everything still feel like a dream?
Definitely. Every time I chance upon some old videos, it still feels surreal and I’m really grateful. No matter what happens, maybe I have something that people will always remember about me.
How would you describe the new Charice and your current artistic direction?
I think I’m at that point where I know exactly what I want. Initially, particularly in the Philippines, people are comparing me to Sarah [Geronimo] or Regine [Velasquez]. I genuinely admire both singers, but I saw myself going a different route even back then – a style where I’m more comfortable.I see my Abu Dhabi performance as sort of a comeback and a chance to introduce the new Charice.
Is there a chance that we will see you again on TV and in movies?
Not at the moment. I’m focusing on music and we’re in talks with a new label in the United States for an album to be released internationally.
Acting takes too much of your time, based on my experience. For now I just want to continue making new music. Perhaps in the future I can dabble again in acting if there’s time and an opportunity.
Charice performs at Yasalam Beats on the Beach concert on the Abu Dhabi Corniche on Thursday. Other performers include Juicy J, Chada Hassoun, Two Tone, Jae Franklin and Nikotin. For more information, visit www.yasalam.ae
artslife@thenational.ae
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Biography
Her family: She has four sons, aged 29, 27, 25 and 24 and is a grandmother-of-nine
Favourite book: Flashes of Thought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Favourite drink: Water
Her hobbies: Reading and volunteer work
Favourite music: Classical music
Her motto: I don't wait, I initiate
