Re: The Bryan Adams Media Conference
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.