On Saturday night it was the turn of Adnan Sami to thrill Gautengers with equally frenetic energy accompanying his unique style of singing and stage charisma at Emperors Palace near OR Tambo International Airport.
“I can’t believe it’s been seven years and 145 kilos ago that I was in Johannesburg,” Sami jested in a self-effacing way as he welcomed the audience.
He was remarking about the fact that he had lost that much weight two years ago after doctors had warned him that he would die in six months unless he did something desperate.
“It’s water – 0 calories!” Sami joked later as he took frequent sips from several bottles of water laid out next to him.
The change not only gave Sami a completely new look, but also allowed him to move about the stage in a way that he could not have done before.
Having mastered the art of drawing the audience in for his items, Sami had them singing along with the lines of some of his most popular songs.
Clearly enjoying the mood of his fans, Sami delighted them further as he engaged his six musicians in a very different jugalbandi (competitive duel between two musicians, usually on percussion and a wind or string instrument).
Sami waved his hand and fingers rapidly to get his two tabla and dholak players to match his movements.
The piano skills with which Sami had earlier acquired the title of fastest piano player in the world were also very evident again as he played versions of his hit songs adapted for a stage show.
After non-stop frenetic moves for over an hour on stage, Sami asked his audience: “And some of you have been asking how I lost weight?” He returned to do the same in the second half.
Often a show of this length featuring a single artist, especially a male singer without female accompaniment, can get tedious, but that was not the case here as Sami more than made up for that by winning the audience over.