It was a farewell concert last night on Nasimi beach, Atlantis on Dubai Palm. I lived the moment in the present. Without nostalgia. Faithless music isn't representative of an era. It has always been avant-guardish, in a league of its own, experimental, technically superior.
Fifteen years ago, I wanted to buy their first album in Dubai. Its controversial title God is a DJ was censored. The Emirati officials should have known that it wasn't a blasphemous title but rather a celebration of music and music-making. In that particular single they honor contemporaries like Eurythmics and Cause and Effect! Today, fifteen years later, Faithless was singing the single and explaining to his fans: "this stage is my Church!" In contrast, but in musical and ethical agreement, impassive, Sister Bliss on the keyboard player, constructed most of the electronic music.
I should pay a closer ear to hear mention of Moby. Moby is the closest in musical philosophy to Faithless. Both Moby and Maxi Jazz, the lead singer of Faithless, are very involved politically, denouncing injustice and racism and pointing to the fragility of the environment. While Moby may be slightly more "indie" and less "dance" than Faithless, they both produce an incredible quality of music. Last night the musical pulse reverbated in my heart. I didn't dance as much as I inspired the sounds in. I just recognized the very special moment.
My son and I, while studying Eminem for academic purposes (yes, that is possible), noticed his talent with words, his skill in pronouncing them at high speed. Maxi Jazz has the same talent. I don't deny Eminem poetical talent, but Maxi Jazz is considered more lyrical. Last night I paid close attention to the lyrics.
Over the music, the dancing husband (he really got into the groove), I peered towards my brother and sister law and remarked: "he probably had a gig on the TelAviv beach too." This morning my brother did his research and emailed me: "Unlike U2 who endorses noble yet establishment causes (liberal a la Obama) (i.e environment and poverty), Faithless tackles more radical and controversial topics like snubbing Israel on their final tour. "
The crowd on the Atlantis beach was young but not teenager. They had come to hear the last release of a fifteen year old band. They had been partying since 3pm, and had danced to other DJs on the beach for 6 hours before Faithless. Where this multinaltional hip crowd of fans came from I couldn't guess. I called them the Bikram Yoga crowd because they all had the fitness, vigor and alternative taste for this type of music which translates into a willingness to commune in a hot room for an energetic yoga activity! Hundreds of them, in Dubai, out of the woodwork: I recognized a few trainers, a Diesel jeans shop keeper. The rest were an amalgam recreating Ibiza, Bali or Goa in Dubai.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MMlzxz7hk4
Thanks for sharing this, I really would have loved to be there so thanks for painting a nice pic of the event. It's such a shame that this is the final tour. What great music. End of an era.
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