FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Blasts from the past

Blasts from the past

"Hitman" David Fosters and his pals brings music old and new to Bangkok

Canadian musician and songwriter David Foster, who is often dubbed “Hitman” in recognition of the thousands of hits he has composed, was back at Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani last week for a show that also featured five of his illustrious friends.
While the 12,000-seat arena was far from packed, there were sufficient numbers of fans on all three floors to ensure the venue didn’t feel too empty.
Joining Foster on stage this time round were American pop singer and songwriter Richard Marx, former Spice Girls member Melanie C, Chicago’s Peter Cetera, Australian-British singer-songwriter Natalie Imbruglia, and Filipino-German classical singer Gerphil Flores.
Foster appeared less lively and energetic than during his previous concert more than three years ago, no doubt the result of a nasty bout of food poisoning he suffered while in Bangkok. He didn’t allow it to affect the show, however, accompanying most of the artists on his piano and cracking the occasional joke. 
The impresario kicked off the concert with “Winter Games”, the theme song he composed for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, ably supported by a five-man backing band of drums, guitar, bass, keyboard and synthesiser.
Melanie C, known to many of her fans as Sporty Spice, greeted the audience with “sawasdee kha” and mesmerised them with “I Turn to You” before switching into Spice Girl mode with “2 Become 1”, “Too Much”, and “Tell Me What You Want” (also known as “Wannabe”).
“Asia’s Golden Girl” Flores, who came third in Asia’s Got Talent 2015 contest, wowed the audience with her angelic voice while singing “The Impossible Dream”, which she also covered in the final round of the competition. 
Flores was joined on stage by Thai operatic bass-baritone Kittinun Shinsamran for “The Prayer”, with the pair drawing the loudest and most prolonged applause of the night. 
Chicago veteran Cetera accompanied himself on guitar, showcasing his powerful voice on “Glory of Love” and “You’re the Inspiration” along with Foster at the piano. He also covered Chicago’s popular numbers “If You Leave Me Now” and “Hard to Say I’m Sorry”.
Imbruglia, in Bangkok for the first time, sang Celine Dion’s “Because You Love Me”, “Instant Crush” and her own “Torn”.
Marx, who said he last performed in Bangkok in 1988, thrilled the audience with his melodious voice and guitar play
 ing on “Now and Forever”, a soundtrack from the 1994 film “The Getaway”, before swinging into his own hits, which “Right Here Waiting”, “Endless Summer Nights” and “Should Have Known Better”.
Kittinun joined the artists on stage for the finale, Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song” with Foster closing out night with a reprise of “Winter Games”.
 
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