The Australian singer-songwriter Tina Arena performs at Cle Dubai on January 22, 2015. Sarah Dea / The National
The Australian singer-songwriter Tina Arena performs at Cle Dubai on January 22, 2015. Sarah Dea / The National
The Australian singer-songwriter Tina Arena performs at Cle Dubai on January 22, 2015. Sarah Dea / The National
The Australian singer-songwriter Tina Arena performs at Cle Dubai on January 22, 2015. Sarah Dea / The National

Aussie singer Tina Arena keeps it classy at Cle Dubai


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

After making a reputation for being the UAE’s premiere celebrity hot spot, the Middle Eastern fusion restaurant Clé Dubai organised an Australia Day celebration featuring the renowned singer Tina Arena.

Perhaps it’s best that the restaurant sticks to hosting celebrities, as the tube-shaped venue is simply not suited for concerts.

The Aussie singer had to make do on Thursday night with a makeshift stage positioned in a small nook of the restaurant, and considering her short stature, the show would have been almost impossible to witness for those at the back tables.

Ever the professional, however, Arena clearly recognised the issue and strolled around the restaurant as she serenaded the crowd with some of her biggest hits.

It may have only been a brisk set, but the 47-year-old demonstrated why she remains one of the classiest singers operating today. Backed by only a keyboardist, she sang her popular tracks with bare-boned arrangements — a treat as it allowed the crowd to appreciate her soprano vocals.

The opener Sorrento Moon was a gentle nod to the Aussie crowd, with the song describing a holiday home on the Melbourne coast.

It’s also a demonstration of why Arena is a songwriter from what is fast becoming another era. While the breezy 1994 song may be classified as pop, it sounds positively vintage due to a leisurely pace that allowed the notes to breathe without sacrificing any of the hooks.

Next up was Burn, another elegant ballad benefiting from the stripped-down arrangements. Arena's experience was evidenced in her restraint. In lesser hands, the lovelorn lyrics would have been belted out, thus robbing the song of its brooding intimacy.

It was Arena's biggest hit Chains that received the most reworking. Instead of reproducing the dramatic vocal fireworks of the 1994 track, Arena went on a different tip. The agony of the chorus was replaced with an almost angry grunt. The aggressive attitude throughout transformed what was a bit of a sappy power ballad into a blues song.

"This is the good thing about doing these small gigs," Arena explained backstage after concluding the set with the joyful Heaven Help My Heart.

“It gives me a chance to try new things. Also, as a songwriter most of these songs are created with just a piano. So if they don’t work in a performance such as this, then the songs are not good enough.”

While Arena admits her two-day UAE stopover was “quicker than what she would have liked” she managed to check out some of Dubai’s highlights.

“I went around the Jumeirah area and that was just beautiful,” she said. “Also, the architecture here is stunning. It seems as if there are no rules, but it all works together at the same time.”

“But generally what struck me about the UAE is that it is the real definition of melting pot and I love that. The country feels cohesive and it just shows how we can all learn from each other.”

Arena said her Dubai show was a way to plant the seeds for a bigger gig as part of her next world tour.

“Playing to new audiences is also part of what still keeps me excited about what I do,” she says. “I will be back.”

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
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Pakistan World Cup squad

Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain      

Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali

Challenge Cup result:

1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults

England's Ashes squad

Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. 

How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410

Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000

Engine 3.5L V6

Transmission Six-speed manual

Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm

Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km