• Onstage, as in his lyrics, Pitbull surrounds himself in bringing video images of sharp suits, glamorous females, fast cars and gleaming cityscapes – in short, every negative stereotype detractors might hold about the global F1 circus. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National
    Onstage, as in his lyrics, Pitbull surrounds himself in bringing video images of sharp suits, glamorous females, fast cars and gleaming cityscapes – in short, every negative stereotype detractors might hold about the global F1 circus. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National
  • But the man nicknamed “Mr Universal” also has hits by the bucketload, and the unlikely Abu Dhabi crowd lapped it up with relish and glee. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National
    But the man nicknamed “Mr Universal” also has hits by the bucketload, and the unlikely Abu Dhabi crowd lapped it up with relish and glee. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National
  • The Chemical Brothers have weathered all the storms, to somehow stay it out on top. And despite the shifting sands, there was not a single concession to dance music’s overnight populism in their meaty, purist-pleasing set at Du Arena – and for this they must be congratulated. Pawan Singh / The National
    The Chemical Brothers have weathered all the storms, to somehow stay it out on top. And despite the shifting sands, there was not a single concession to dance music’s overnight populism in their meaty, purist-pleasing set at Du Arena – and for this they must be congratulated. Pawan Singh / The National
  • There were no epic drops. No cheesy covers. No yelled invitations to “put your hands in the air” – no words exchanged with the audience at all, in fact. For 90 frenetic, brain-bending minutes, the beat at The Chemical Brothers never stopped. Pawan Singh / The National
    There were no epic drops. No cheesy covers. No yelled invitations to “put your hands in the air” – no words exchanged with the audience at all, in fact. For 90 frenetic, brain-bending minutes, the beat at The Chemical Brothers never stopped. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The enjoyment for many is cerebral – while at deeper, darker moments there might have been just a few souls dancing, the audience remained largely engaged, nodding earnestly in studied concentration. Pawan Singh / The National
    The enjoyment for many is cerebral – while at deeper, darker moments there might have been just a few souls dancing, the audience remained largely engaged, nodding earnestly in studied concentration. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Appearing at du Arena on Saturday night, Lionel Richie was onstage moments after the billed 9pm start, leading his virtuoso five-piece band through an energetic Running With the Night, markedly rockier than the 1983 original. Waleed Shah for The National
    Appearing at du Arena on Saturday night, Lionel Richie was onstage moments after the billed 9pm start, leading his virtuoso five-piece band through an energetic Running With the Night, markedly rockier than the 1983 original. Waleed Shah for The National
  • Saving the best for last — like a you-know-what — the night climaxed with the five tunes any fan would be disappointed not to hear. The phone torches came out for Say You, Say Me, the 1985 US number one which still sparked a fire in many dancing, nostalgic couples. Waleed Shah for The National
    Saving the best for last — like a you-know-what — the night climaxed with the five tunes any fan would be disappointed not to hear. The phone torches came out for Say You, Say Me, the 1985 US number one which still sparked a fire in many dancing, nostalgic couples. Waleed Shah for The National
  • Without the theatre of leaving the stage for an encore, the evening wrapped after 95 minutes with All Night Long, which despite a spirited Latin breakdown, felt slightly tame after the excesses of Dancing on the Ceiling. Waleed Shah for The National
    Without the theatre of leaving the stage for an encore, the evening wrapped after 95 minutes with All Night Long, which despite a spirited Latin breakdown, felt slightly tame after the excesses of Dancing on the Ceiling. Waleed Shah for The National

#F1inAD: Taking a look back at the after-race concerts so far at du Arena – in pictures

Olive Obina

November 27, 2016

  • English
  • Arabic

Recapping the Formula One after-race concert performances thus far by Pitbull, The Chemical Brothers, and Lionel Richie at du Arena. Words by Rob Garratt.

UAEMusicAbu Dhabi