The Bryan Adams Media Conference

Entertainment Showbiz Pakistan , Bollywood & World Entertainment
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The Bryan Adams Media Conference
Exclusive Review for GS
By Haris Zuberi
Photography Waleed Zuberi
Guys! :slight_smile:
I had the pleasure of attending the News Conference in Bryan Adams’ honour on Sunday 29 January 2006 at Marriott Karachi during the afternoon.

Apparently Bryan had landed at Karachi from London around 12pm, and was at the conference hall around 230pm.
He was staying at Marriott.

The conference was a nice event attended by a few celebrities and happening names, many editors, journalists and writers from magazines and newspapers and countless reporters and camera crews. It all being an ARY event, other channels didn’t quite seem to have a very prominent presence. BBC, Reuters were among the few foreign agencies present. City FM89 currently the country’s leading FM station was present as they were among the sponsors in some way.

Among the speakers were L>R the CitiBank Country Business Manager-empty chair (sponsor), Salman Iqbal CEO ARY, Shahzad Roy, Bryan Adams, Ali *smthng *Nokia Pakistan (Sponsor), Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan.

The conference lasted about 45 mins after which Bryan had to go check out the concert instruments and then get ready for the concert. He answered questions from the attendees and seemed at home and relaxed with the environment. He appeared to be a fun guy and was friendly and smiling as well as humorous and witty. Sporting dark sun glasses in the already dark room he looked cool wearing a crisp white cotton shirt.

ARY and Zindagi Trust did pull a huge task and it’s all been a great booster for Karachi and Pakistan both. One rather sad thing seemed to be the fact that ARY and Zindagi failed to convince Bryan and his management to interact and relate more with Pakistan’s writers and channels etc to provide better coverage and more interview opportunities. It seemed they (ZT, ARY) intentionally kept it exclusive to their own organizations, which can partially be justified but still only deprives them of the additional hype they could have used.

Bryan and his ZT and ARY hosts were scheduled to fly off to Islamabad in a chartered flight after the concert which lasted till after 2330. The next morning he was supposed to visit the quake affected areas and in the night was scheduled to attend a dinner with 400 people at the President House with the Prime Minister also present.

Karachi will remember 29 January 2006 for a long time as it marks an entry into a new era for the city that has seen a lot of highs and lows. This will hopefully be a beginning leading to many greater feats, for the city and for Pakistan. Having two 5 star international events the same day is an honour for any city, much more so for Karachi. And all gratitude to The Almighty for making it possible for everything to be done most smoothly.
Myself being a die hard fan of Bryan Adams, i sincerely hope he comes back again and often as he’s been doing in India and Dubai.

Passing right by me-Bryan and Shahzad:

Bryan talking to a member of his management:

Bryan talking to someone:

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Re: The Bryan Adams Media Conference

This report in Dawn yesterday, Monday 30 Jan, by Faisal Qureishi Editor Dawn Images quotes one of my questions asked while talking to Bryan.

http://dawn.com/2006/01/30/local2.htm

KARACHI: Bryan Adams arrives in Karachi
By Faisal Quraishi

Karachi, Jan 29: On the day the US issued a travel advisory for its citizens, advising them against travelling to Pakistan, it was heartening to see Canadian rock star Bryan Adams arrive in Karachi for the charity concert, Rock for a Cause, for Shehzad Roy’s Zindagi Trust.

“I have been playing in India for the last 10 years and being here is part of coming back here again,” said the singer known for hits such as Please Forgive Me and Everything I Do, I Do It for You that was also included in the soundtrack of the Hollywood flick, Robin Hood, starring Kevin Costner. Besides this, Adams is also an acclaimed fashion photographer and a philanthropist

Bryan Adams is a fairly popular name in the urban sector and his albums have fared quite well with the local populace. Answering a question about his latest album called Anthology that contains 32 tracks and is contained in two CDs; the singer said that he had been focusing more on touring than coming out with an album. However, he said that he would be starting work on a new album soon.

Talking about the reason for him being here, Adams said that he was intrigued by Zindagi Trust’s ‘I Am Paid to Learn’ programme, focusing on the quake-hit regions of Pakistan and rebuilding and opening new schools there. “It is a noble charity and I am proud to be a part of it,” he added.

During his brief question and answer session with the members of the press, Adams also said that he had just landed in Karachi and his visit would be of two days only. On the last day he will be flying off to Islamabad.

Earlier, speaking to newsmen, singer Shehzad Roy gave details of the charity concert that took place at the Arabian Sea Country Club on Sunday night.

He said that he hoped to raise Rs20 million from ticket sales as Bryan Adams was a very popular name in Pakistan.

Roy welcomed Adams to Karachi, Pakistan on behalf of the people of Pakistan in both English and then in Urdu, saying that it was great to have the Canadian singer here to lend support for a noble cause.

Among those who also spoke on the occasion included David Collins, the Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Samra Muslim of the Zindagi Trust, Ali Mehmood, Ahmed Khizar Khan and Salman Ahmed.

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Re: The Bryan Adams Media Conference

well is he the first western singer to have ever played in pakistan?

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^ I am sure not :)

thanks Haris! Can't see the pics though.....

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^oh sorry rukhsar, let me check them, i was having trouble resizing and they may not have uploaded properly.

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pics fine now.
i hope.

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Yours truly quoted once again;

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\01\30\story_30-1-2006_pg7_36

Adams is the apple of Karachi’s eye
By Mahim Maher

KARACHI: Three little girls, Tania, Neha and Ayesha, are hanging around outside the room where Bryan Adams is giving interviews after his press conference with Shahzad Roy at the Marriott on Sunday afternoon. They grip their small pink notepads and pirated CDs as their father waits with them, patiently shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

“No! Sorry. He’s not giving any autographs,” one of the organizers says to the crestfallen group. “Now, please,” he adds while swatting away the young fans.

Just moments before, Adams was hustled into the interview room just as he was hustled into the press conference at the absurdly small venue, a conference room that should have been a hall. “Adam! Look here!” one plucky photographer called out to the musician as he stood for the photo-op with Roy. “Adam! Adam!”

Bryan Adams was in Karachi to play a charity concert for the Shahzad Roy Zindagi Trust that says it will build schools for children in the earthquake-hit areas. A rather awkward public speaker and mumbler, Roy thanked Adams for helping his trust’s cause. “Bryan people love you in Pakistan,” he said turning to the rock star. “Trust me.” Roy then switched to Urdu to thank Adams but not without saying rather glibly that the Canadian probably didn’t understand a word of what he just said.

Overall, the organizers and Roy appeared to be flying high for organizing the event. “It’s pretty easy for me to sing in front of 10,000 people but it’s really difficult for me to do this so I’ll get this over with as soon as possible,” Roy said, for example, while referring to the press conference.

A little in to his speech, Roy thanked the sponsors only to add rather oddly: “Bryan I’ll just skip you because I just thanked you.”

“Uh…Music rules…thank you,” Roy said before taking his seat.

Thank God, he didn’t make the ‘Rock On’ sign.

While Adams didn’t give any speech, which was quite a relief after the corporate pegs, he did open the floor to questions. “What is your perception of Pakistan; how do you feel being here?” a woman asked.

“I’ve just got off the plane and I feel alright,” Adams replied. “Pakistan is much like the places I’ve been to over the past 20 years…I’ve been in India and I suspect that the response will be similar.”

A newspaper correspondent drew a laugh from the crowd when she asked if Adams planned to visit Pakistan in the future “even if there is no calamity.” She also asked if he had plans to make a fusion of eastern and western fashion as a photographer to which he replied, “Not tonight” with a laugh.

When questioned, Adams admitted that he didn’t have a favourite Shahzad Roy track. “But keep in mind that we’ve only just met,” Adams clarified.

Daily Times asked if the two musicians had been able to rehearse to which Adams replied that they did some singing in the car on the way in from the airport. “Later, we’re going to get some guitars and practice,” he added.

**However, the most amusing question from the press was related to Adam’s duet with Pamela Anderson: “Did you owe her any favours?” the incorrigible young man asked. “Well, it was a case of you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours,” the Canadian replied innocently enough, but the moment was not lost on the crowd. **

Adams seemed to shy from answering financial questions but many people were wondering how much of the proceeds would actually make it to the schools. Roy did specify though that his trust intended to raise Rs 20 million.

After the concert, Adams will fly to Islamabad to dine with the president and prime minister on Monday.

Adams is also scheduled to play in the Middle East, India and Pakistan in February.

The Canadian singer/songwriter and guitarist is one of the most successful recording artists in popular music worldwide. He recently released his 36-selection Anthology album, which spans his entire career from 1980 to 2005.

Masjid-ul-Haram
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LoL Haris. That was really smartly put :hehe: and smartly answered I must say :smiley:

A Great read!!

Getting old
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LOL that was your Q Haris :hehe: !!!
I see the pics now - Thanks :slight_smile: Gosh Bryan adams looks like a g.i.joe figure :-s And I thought Shehzad Roy had gotten his haircut or at least it seemed in the Saali video.

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Good question Haris :biggthumb

Cha gaya hia tu :k:

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:hehe: and what was more fun was how he enjoyed the question and at first didnt seem to have heard right and repeated in question;
“sorry, did she do me any favours…!?”
Cool guy :smiley:

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bryan adams is one of the greatest singer, i wish i was in pakistan at the time of his concert :(

im a stalker :blush:
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Does anyone have any video footage of the show?

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I dont think Fret, very few if any at all, may have footage since cellphones and cameras were not allowed at the concert and the only cameras were from ARY, and as Ive heard, the agreement didnt even allow them to film the concert, so the cameras were out when the show started, or atleast they seemed to abide by the agreement.

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I’m a collector of bootlegs, and I’m sure they have a bootleg of this show out there somewhere. I’ll try to find one. Almost every show is available in either video or audio bootleg.

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fret if you do that i shall give you a big hug

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I’m in the process of finding some video and audio footage of that show. I don’t know the exact details, since the download has not finished yet. I will let you know when (and if) it’s completed.

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watever hapened in the concet.. was it successful ? i heard no aftermath news :konfused:
how did things go?

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Yup I know Fret, and Ive been a fan of your taste and collection :)
Let me know what you find out.

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BiB,
The whole program went very well, the whole trip was a success and the star returned with a promise to be back and was happy with the environment here. The govt appreciated his presence and it was a big hit for ZT and ARY.