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29 March 2024

Concert review: Michael Bublé leaves Dubai mesmerised

Michael Bublé

Published
By Bindu Rai

Perhaps one of the most telling moments of the night was when Michael Bublé pulled off his microphone and went on to sing with just his powerful vocal chords greeting a silent sea of fans, prompting an enraptured member of the audience  to sum up his110-minutes performance with the quote: "Alright, Michael Bublé, you got me."

That was the Bublé magic of the night, which turned cynics into converts and die-hard fans to fall in love with him all over again, as the Canadian crooner performed to an awe-struck Dubai audience on Thursday night in the first of his double bill concerts over the weekend.

"I don't make concerts," he announced on stage. "Concerts are such a bore. I make parties. Do you want to party with me tonight, Dubai?"

‎True to his promise, the energy never once waned as as a dapper-looking Bublé, in a tuxedo no less, jumped into the crowds of screaming fans several times through the night, confessing on stage that he preferred a more "intimate" concert set-up where he's able to interact with his audiences on a personal level.

So it was with that very trademark humour of his given ‎free rein when Bublé kicked off the night with a little tale involving a Dubai-based Twitter fan, 'Anonymous Glen' if you please, who embroiled himself with in a series of one-upmanship videos in the lead-up to the concert that resulted in him bagging three front-row tickets to the night.

‎Opening the night to the sultry tones of 'Fever', followed by 'Haven't Met You Yet," and "Try A Little Tenderness", Bublé's live performance took audiences on a journey through the jazz-age, turning on its soul, before grooving to the rhythm 'n' blues with just a little bit of swing in its step.

‎Letting up on the tempo mid-way through his performance, Bublé crooned a few impromptu ballads at the bequest of his fans, including his duet with Nelly Furtado, 'Quando Quando Quando', before taking fans 'Home' with a grin in check.

Aside from a few sly, good-humored digs at fellow Canadian singer, Justin Beiber, and an impromptu performance of 'Everbody' by Backstreet Boys no less, Bublé also teamed up with the opening act of the night, the multi-talented Acapella group, 'Naturally 7', for an ode to The Tempations with 'Ain't Too Proud To Beg'.

All his monster hits and the highlights of the night included 'All You Need Is Love', 'Burning In Love', 'It's A Beautiful Day‎' and 'Save The Last Dance'.

‎Bublé also didn't miss up any opportunity to pay ode to some of the greats of the music world, be it Marvin Gaye or Leon Russell, the latter whose 'A Song For You', closed the curtains on the night and was also the track that the four-time Grammy winner sang unaided, without a microphone or an in-ear monitor.

‎As the night grew to a close at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, it was with a promise from Bublé that he will keep returning to the emirate for many more concerts in future.

If the fan reaction was anything to go by, this is one promises Bublé just may have to keep.

(Organised by Louder Entertainment, Michael Bublé is also performing on Friday March 13 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium)

Also see: Movie Listings in UAE