International rock star Bryan Adams was the first western singer to perform in a live concert he just not performed in front of Nepali audience but he won the heart of million of Nepalese. When one of the live audiences explained about the concert to his friend he was very sad for missing it though he wasn’t so much interested in western music.
Bryan, Bryan, Bryan” — people started chanting the name of the star of the evening as the stage was getting set for the first ever international star to perform in Nepal —Bryan Adams. Having been there for hours and after seeing a couple of Nepali bands perform, all those in the Dashrath Stadium were eager to see the King of Ballads live on February 19.
The wait seemed rather long for everyone had been waiting for this moment for months and as the star came on stage dressed in blue jeans and black jacket singing I am coming to Katmandu, the crowd just went mad. Everyone in the stadium was trying facebooking and tweeting about the concert though it was hard to get the network as lots of people are using cell phone there.
For banker Brinda Singh, it was a perfect opportunity: to sing with Bryan Adams live amid a crowd of 18,000 at Dasharath Stadium.
“I’m a banker and I can rock,” she said with poise after Adams called her on stage to sing When You’re Gone, a duet featuring Melanie C. The 27-year-old stared out at Adams throughout the song, wooing the 51-year-old Canadian rock star with sheer poise. It might have been the time of her life for the lady from Bank of Kathmandu as also for the Kathmandu crowd to be part of the first international music concert in the country. It was for the singer himself. Brinda was not just one to sing with rock star but every person present in the stadium and around the stadium sand with him.
“Incredible,” Adams told the crowd which responded with a huge roar. “I want to show the world what Nepal looks like,” he said asking his fans to light up their mobile phones as he captured the scene with his camera; the view from the parapet looked like a constellation in the sky. Wow what a moment was that for Nepalese who are welcoming the tourist this year and are celebrating Visit Nepal year 2011.
Promised 90 minutes. More still, the opening act was unexpected. As the mass waited to sing along to a popular Adams tune, he instead rocked the venue with Bob Segar’s Kathmandu. It was the perfect choice.
After that the crowd was showered with hit after Adams hit. With the rocker dressed in black and hair neatly combed running from one end of the stage to the other, his Nepali fans went hysterical.
One major highlight was in fact Summer of ‘69 from his fourth studio album “Reckless” released in 1984. Even before the song ended, there was non-stop synchronization of “Once more” as Adams smiled and stared at the sea of people. Suddenly in his trademark husky voice, he started, (Everything I Do) I Do It for You. Under the star-lit night, the power ballad from the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves serenaded the audience as their hands swayed in the air with lit-up mobile phones creating a twinkling effect.
The Adams menu kept the crowd completely engaged without a moment of silence. From an acoustic version of Straight From the Heart to the use of mouth harmonica in I’m Ready, and solid rock star acts in 18 till I Die, Cloud # 9, Back to You, and The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You, Adams delivered a world-class concert.
Before the event, skeptics voiced fears of security and even a possible stampede, but Adams proved them wrong—from entry to exit, the crowd behaved its best; they shared a common bond for Adam’s music and more than that a first-time international musical experience. The Canadian too seemed impressed.
“We became friends tonight,” he said adding he had never thought he’d be performing in Nepal while writing or composing the songs he sang Saturday night.
Despite some loathing him or the hype surrounding him, Adams is testament that Nepal is ready to open its musical floor. The concert is an invitation to other international acts.
“We’re proud to be the first international band to be playing in Nepal,” Adams said. “I hope the world opens up for you for more music.”
After spending almost twenty four hours in Nepal and performing infront of thousands of Nepalese Bryan Adams left for India today
Adams who is accompanied by 50 musicians boarded a private plane, according to director of Nepali network of Our Day Cinema (ODC) Simanta Gurung, one of the organisers of Adams' concert in Kathmandu.
Adams had arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday noon and spellbound thousands of his Nepali and foreign fans by singing his songs at the Dasharath Stadium.
