Pitbull’s performance at Du Arena – an opening night slot traditionally saved for an Arabic all-star bill – was announced, out-of-the-blue, just two weeks earlier. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National
Onstage, as in his lyrics, Pitbull surrounds himself in bringing video images of sharp suits, glamorous females, fast cars and gleaming cityscapes – in short, every negative stereotype detractors might hold about the global F1 circus. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National
But the man nicknamed “Mr Universal” also has hits by the bucketload, and the unlikely Abu Dhabi crowd lapped it up with relish and glee. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National
The Chemical Brothers have weathered all the storms, to somehow stay it out on top. And despite the shifting sands, there was not a single concession to dance music’s overnight populism in their meaty, purist-pleasing set at Du Arena – and for this they must be congratulated. Pawan Singh / The National
There were no epic drops. No cheesy covers. No yelled invitations to “put your hands in the air” – no words exchanged with the audience at all, in fact. For 90 frenetic, brain-bending minutes, the beat at The Chemical Brothers never stopped. Pawan Singh / The National
The enjoyment for many is cerebral – while at deeper, darker moments there might have been just a few souls dancing, the audience remained largely engaged, nodding earnestly in studied concentration. Pawan Singh / The National
Appearing at du Arena on Saturday night, Lionel Richie was onstage moments after the billed 9pm start, leading his virtuoso five-piece band through an energetic Running With the Night, markedly rockier than the 1983 original. Waleed Shah for The National
Saving the best for last — like a you-know-what — the night climaxed with the five tunes any fan would be disappointed not to hear. The phone torches came out for Say You, Say Me, the 1985 US number one which still sparked a fire in many dancing, nostalgic couples. Waleed Shah for The National
Without the theatre of leaving the stage for an encore, the evening wrapped after 95 minutes with All Night Long, which despite a spirited Latin breakdown, felt slightly tame after the excesses of Dancing on the Ceiling. Waleed Shah for The National
