Nothing can top playing at the Giza Pyramids in Egypt, according to Maroon 5’s PJ Morton.
In an exclusive interview with The National ahead of Friday night’s concert at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena, the band’s keyboardist and Grammy award-winning solo artist described Tuesday’s show at the historic site as arguably the biggest of the band’s career.
“In my opinion, I have to say that it was bigger than playing at the Super Bowl,” he says, referring to the group’s 2019 Super Bowl 53 half-time show, which was broadcast to more than 100 million viewers.
"I have to say that the Pyramids was better because the Super Bowl show goes so fast. It's about 12 minutes and it feels like a blur," he says.
"But over there in Egypt we had the whole show so we took it all in. I didn’t know where to look, either at the Pyramids behind me or the audience. It is something I'll remember for ever; it was really deep for me."
Morton, who recently released solo album Watch the Sun, says the show capped off an eventful three nights in Egypt, which kick-started the band's Middle Eastern leg of their world tour, which includes the Abu Dhabi show, and Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park on Monday.
"During an off day we did a tour of the Pyramids and that was fascinating, and then we had the sound check at the site and the show," he says.
"The concert itself was amazing because the crowd was just as excited as we were to be there. The show really had this special energy to it and considering what the whole world had gone through with the pandemic, everyone just felt grateful to be there."
Maroon 5’s three-night stay in Abu Dhabi follows a similar pattern.
Arriving on Wednesday in the UAE, the group spent Thursday’s day off taking in the sights of Yas Marina Circuit before preparing for Friday’s anticipated concert.
"This is our first time in Abu Dhabi and it's always cool to see new places and buildings," he says. "I know the guys took some cars around the F1 race track today. We know how special these experiences are and we don’t take it for granted.”
Morton says the band hopes to extend those vibes to fans during their travels.
The Abu Dhabi stop is part of a world tour that began in South America in February 2020 before being halted for 18 months because of Covid-19.
The band resumed the tour in the US last August. They are set to conclude this August, with the last show taking place in Orlando on August 27.
Judging by the 18-song set list played in Egypt, fans in Abu Dhabi and beyond can expect to hear hits such as Moves Like Jagger, This Love, Animals and Sugar.
"We were able to work out a new set list post-pandemic that is very joyful and about having a good time," he says. "I think this is what is needed after being shut down for so long. We all need it."
Maroon 5 perform at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, on Friday. Doors open at 7pm; from D300; etihadarena.ae
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Feeding the thousands for iftar
Six industrial scale vats of 500litres each are used to cook the kanji or broth
Each vat contains kanji or porridge to feed 1,000 people
The rice porridge is poured into a 500ml plastic box
350 plastic tubs are placed in one container trolley
Each aluminium container trolley weighing 300kg is unloaded by a small crane fitted on a truck
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
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Tips for entertaining with ease
· Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.
· As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.
· Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.
· Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.
· The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.
· You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
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MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Burnley 1 (Brady 89')
Manchester City 4 (Jesus 24', 50', Rodri 68', Mahrez 87')
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
