A date with Dubai
“The Dubai World Cup is like a Kentucky Derby back home but this is like it is on steroids … do you know what I mean? It was fantastic,” said the 44-year-old singer Jennifer Lopez. “There’s an amazing energy. Being in my room I could see the horses go by as I was getting ready for my show.”
Watching the world’s richest horse race, which was won by African Story from the Godolphin Stables, was “very exciting”, said Lopez.
“When I saw the fashion on the field, I was wondering: ‘Should I wear a hat? What do I do?’
“I decided to go with a demure dress in white and save the glittery and flashy stuff for the stage.”
At home on stage
Being a mother to two children may be what Lopez is most comfortable with, but it’s the rush of being on stage that keeps her going.
“I am in my element when I am acting and singing,” said Lopez, who has starred in movies including Selena (1997), Maid in Manhattan (2002) and Monster-in-Law (2005).
“I don’t know why, but I feel comfortable out there. I realise that it may be strange to the average person to feel comfortable in front of that many people and sharing that experience and that energy. But it feels great to me.”
During the show, JLo got the audience to their feet with chart-toppers including Jenny from the Block, Ain’t It Funny and I Luh Ya Papi, her latest single.
Dubai rates high
Lopez swears that her performances in Dubai have stood out in her travels.
“I have to tell you and it is 100 per cent true: I did my first world tour in 2012 and Dubai was one of the stops. This was my first big world tour and we went to Europe, Australia, Asia … and Dubai was one of my most memorable shows. It was outside, I remember, with thousands of people. The energy the audience had stuck out ... Dubai was one of the greatest shows on tour.”
Making new music
After 15 years of dabbling in different genres, Lopez is looking forward to returning to her roots with her 10th album (out on June 17), which will include collaborations with the hit producer Max Martin, as well as the singers Robin Thicke and Maxwell.
“You start off doing one thing and it is all you and who you are,” Lopez said. “My first five albums were that. When you get to six, seven and eight you start experimenting, trying different things. What I learnt is that I am who I am and do what I do. That is what I had to get back to and this album is very much about that.”
She knew she was on track with the new compilation when her fans gave her the thumbs-up for the track Same Girl, part of her forthcoming album.
“It is a beautiful song,” said Lopez. “I imagined going back to the Bronx and walking around with a camera and filming it. And I did that. Same Girl had such a big response and I realised that is what people know about me and relate to.
“And this album, musically and emotionally, is a picture of who I am and who I’ve always been.”
aahmed@thenational.ae
