It’s rare in the modern music lexicon that “chart-topping” and “soulful” appear in the same sentence, but Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini is something of an exception.
It wasn't always the case that he would be described as such, with his first album, These Streets, in 2006 providing the UK charts with several decidedly poppy hits that Nutini himself admits were not quite his cup of tea.
So it is refreshing to see a musician grow up and into his own sound, as Nutini has done with 2009’s Sunny Side Up and last year’s Caustic Love, both of which were commercial and developmental success stories.
Backed by a 10-piece band at Dubai Media City's Amphitheatre on Friday, he opened with Scream (Funk My Life Up), singing hallelujah to the fact that, at 28, he's now in a far better place musically than he was as a raw 19-year-old when he burst on to the scene.
Let Me Down Easy followed, giving the near sell-out crowd some insight into the soul sounds that have heavily influenced much of his recent work.
Coming Up Easy and Alloway Grove added an element of funk, giving the audience a sound to move to, before he showcased a Liam Gallagher-esque whine on Jenny Don't Be Hasty, upping the tempo.
Singing in a distinctive Scottish accent with a sound that harks back to Motown’s heyday really shouldn’t work but somehow Nutini has the right mixture of soul, funk and swagger to pull it off.
His music reminds you of your parents having a party in an Artex-clad living room back in the day, and his lyrics are appealing as they yearn for the simple things in life: loving your family, settling down with the right girl and starting a family.
One Day had couples swaying before Pencil Full of Lead, in a tone entirely different from the album, turned the sway into a stomp.
Better Man and a few album fillers added up to a bit of a lull that could have been avoided with a setlist reshuffle, but a triumphant, trumpet-laden cover of MGMT's Time to Pretend was as rich and moreish as salted caramel.
Candy added more sweetness for the lovebirds in the audience before he finished up with – what else? – Last Request.
For the uninitiated, it may have felt like a long night, with Nutini offering perhaps more than he should have, but fans were left baying for more.
After reaching a stage in his career where he is producing music more attuned to his personal preferences, it will be interesting to see how this young man with an old, worldly wise soul develops his sound on his fourth album.
He made fans wait five years between his second and third but, as he has clearly matured into the artist he wants to be, it’s unlikely such a sabbatical will be repeated – which is good news for those with a love of Detroit’s finest record label.
artslife@thenational.ae
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The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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'C'mon C'mon'
Director:Mike Mills
Stars:Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman
Rating: 4/5
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
MATCH INFO
Brescia 1 (Skrinia og, 76)
Inter Milan 2 (Martinez 33, Lukaku 63)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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MWTC info
Tickets to the MWTC range from Dh100 and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae or by calling 800 86 823 from within the UAE or 971 4 366 2289 from outside the country and all Virgin Megastores. Fans looking to attend all three days of the MWTC can avail of a special 20 percent discount on ticket prices.
THE SPECS
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 680Nm
Price: Dh465,071
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
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Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.