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The World Endurance Championship ended on a high note with a stellar performance by Iraqi singer and composer Majid Al Mohandis on Saturday evening in Sakhir.
The Iraqi heartthrob attracted hundreds of fans, young and old, stirring their emotions with his sultry songs and getting more than a few groups dancing in the aisles.
Dubbed the Justin Timberlake of the Middle East, Majid is known for his top-selling regional hits Waheshni Moot (I miss you to death) in 2005 and Ouzkourini (remember me) in 2009.
The concert was held in co-operation with Rotana Records at the event’s main entertainment area located behind BIC’s Main Grandstand.
All those with tickets to the two-day six-hour-racing spectacle were able to watch the concert but it seemed many had simply purchased race weekend tickets for the musical show.
The devoted Majid followers were soon joined by motorsport fans piling across the parking lot from the stands.
The concert was set to start at 7.30pm as the drivers continued to race around the track.
Families and fans began to flock to the staging area a good 30-minutes earlier to secure the best front row spots for a close-up and personal experience with the star.
Other groups lined-up at the Grandstand patio waiting for the performance to begin.
By the time trucks arrived filled with chairs for the audience the backstage crew members were unable to set them up because so many fans blocked their passage.
As more people arrived, some decided to pick up their own chairs and this reviewer was one of the victims of a race to the front by a teenage yob who rudely sent her flying as he shoved his way past without apology.
As people waited, the band, all dressed in crisp white thobes, picked up their instruments and took to the stage. The stage glistened under the gentle hue of dazzling spotlights which illuminated the performers in dramatic style.
It also boasted two larger-than-life screens that made sure the audience in the back could see the energetic performance in all its glory.
There were 20 musicians playing a range of instruments including the oud, organ, drums led by a conductor decked out in a shiny black suit.
Shortly after the sound check, a young Bahraini host walked on stage to welcome the growing audience which was still flooding in from different parts of the circuit.
As she introduced the band, the classical overtures majestically filled the venue with a tranquil ambience that warmed up the crowd, preparing them for an unforgettable night.
Right before Majid appeared, the crowd’s delicate applause quickly escalated into rapturous applause interspersed with screams.
The handsome star was escorted to the centre of the stage where he waved at fans and immediately stole their hearts with his soft, silky, smooth voice.
He sang of love and romance, which made the girls in the front row swoon and scream shrills of joy, especially when he blew innocent kisses and winked at a few of them.
As the evening progressed, hands reached to the stars, alongside cameras and numerous mobile phones to capture the idol on stage. Many of his followers started to sway in sequence and stomped their feet to the beat of the drums.
Majid’s voice echoed around the BIC and caught the attention of motor racing fans in the stands. As the cars continued to zoom past on the track, the stands soon became desolate as visitors flocked to catch a glimpse of Majid’s magic.
It was worth the wait.
– Mai Al Khatib
*See race report by Abu George
