Fans are 'crazy in love' with dazzling Beyoncé

Tens of thousands crowd Ferrari World to watch the pop diva.

ABU DHABI // Judging from the rapturous cheers that greeted Beyoncé last night, this much is clear: Abu Dhabi is crazy in love with the Grammy award-winning pop diva. Delivering plenty of hip-shaking sassiness, soaring vocals and billowing glitter, the 28-year-old glamazon dazzled tens of thousands at the packed Ferrari World Concert Arena on Yas Island.

"Welcome, Abu Dhabi!" she proclaimed to the screaming crowd after opening with the dance-club thumping R&B hit Crazy in Love. "Are y'all ready to dance?" The high-powered hit, backed by a live band, was exactly what the 15-year-old sisters Joelle and Lana Chammas, from Lebanon, wanted to hear. "If she opens with Crazy in Love and closes with Sweet Dreams, I'd be happy," Joelle said, minutes before the black curtain parted and revealed the songstress in stilettos and a bejewelled gown.

Fans were also eager to hear chart-topping cuts such as Single Ladies, If I Were a Boy and Halo from Beyoncé's 2008 platinum-selling album, I Am - Sasha Fierce. Spectators had mixed reactions to the organisation of the event, which was the first Yasalam Live concert leading up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Jo Flening, who arrived by car from Dubai, said several public toilets were out of order and the signs to Yas Island were confusing. Her journey took 90 minutes.

However, Ruth Burrows, a 41-year-old from the UK, said she was impressed by the shuttle service from Marina Mall. "My journey here was great and very fast," said Ms Burrows, who left the mall at 3:30pm and arrived within half an hour. "But it's a bit crowded in here now. I think the problem is there aren't enough boundaries separating the crowd." Michael Lim, a bus dispatcher, said the shuttle system transported more than 1,100 people from the mall to Yas Island between 3.30pm and 6pm.

As hundreds of people queued for buses, there was some concern from the crowd because they thought they had to be on the island before 6pm. But the cut-off time for access to the island applies to private cars, not buses. Last night's show opened a weekend of superstar live acts. The British funk group Jamiroquai known for hits such as Canned Heat and Cosmic Girl will bring its jazz grooves and trip-hop beats to the stage tonight at 8pm.

On Saturday, the Tennessee quartet Kings of Leon will belt out their brand of Southern rock anthems. The Boston multi-platinum rock outfit Aerosmith, fronted by the flamboyant Steven Tyler, will round out the performances after the race ends on Sunday evening. The band are famous for tunes such as their power ballad I Don't Want to Miss a Thing and the stadium rock classic Walk This Way.
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