Dubai concert wows!

Du World Music Festival features wow show from Amr Diab

Three decades of music could be heard reverberating across Dubai this past weekend. From classic 1980s tunes, disconcerting 1990s pop and the latest house beats, music fans had a lot to pick from: the du World Music Festival, the Duran Duran concert and Sandance all took place across the city over two days.

Coming on stage with his 15-piece band, Diab told the audience he planned a loose set and “will keep it upbeat – we will play all the good ones, don’t worry”.

Aside from his irresistible hooks, the pleasure of Diab’s hit-laden set was that fans got to appreciate his expansive musical outlook, which he has possessed since first emerging on the scene in 1985.

Not content with the constraints of Arabic pop, Diab married his husky voice with Mediterranean rhythm and Latin flavours.

El Layla Di was a straight-up bossa nova tune, while Habibi – which Diab dedicated to the Gipsy Kings, who performed at the festival on Thursday – made use of the three flamenco guitarists Diab had on stage. With Amarein, Diab’s versatile voice took centre stage as he lobbed from steady to high-pitched wailing, enlivening the crowd, which maintained its good cheer to the end.

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