Carl Wolf
Carl Wolf

So last night ended up being quite a surreal experience. After my radio show I bolted across to the Hard Rock Cafe, Mumbai to check out Karl Wolf (aka Carl Abou Samah) do his thing. (He’s this Canadian-Lebanese R&B crooner who was performing as part of the Vh1 Global Music Express and has a really awesome cover of “Africa” originally by Toto. Check it out.)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lOoId21B1Q]

Culture
Culture
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He and his rapper buddy Culture (who I initially mistook to be his body guard, but really can you blame me?)  made a valiant effort to rev up the crowd who were decidedly torn between bopping to his tunes (a surprising number of which seemed to be covers which is a shame because he has a super singing voice of his own) and watching the epic IPL battle between the Mumbai Indians and the Rajasthan Royals on TV. No prizes for guessing who won. To be fair the cricket action was decidedly engrossing (and you know how much I love cricket) and even the staff (who love a good jig, judging by the enthusiasm with which they always do the Y.M.C.A.) were whistling for the Mumbai Indians and not so much for the stage act.

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Speaking of which don’t you just love that as soon as the Y.M.C.A. dance-a-long started everyone stood up and rushed to a vantage point to watch? God I love my India.

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I figured that out when this adorable fellow burst into applause mid-song (presumably for a boundry scored by the Mumbai Indian’s) and grinned at me. He let me take this picure after cautiously inquiring, “You’re supporting the Mumbai India’s or…”

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Shilpa Shetty
Neeta Ambani
Neeta Ambani

Much to Neeta Ambani’s dismay the Mumbai Indian’s lost falling shy by just three runs. Shilpa Shetty appeared to be praying like she’d never prayed before and couldn’t believe her luck when the Rajasthan Royals took that final wicket. But all in all it was fun! A heady mix of music and match fever. Undoubtedly this one’s going down as a nail-biting finish if ever there was one.

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Karl Wolf meanwhile (blissfully unaware of what had just transpired in the hearts of Mumbai Indians fan’s across the globe) wrapped things up with an “I love you Mumbai, you rock!” I can’t help but think that if the Mumbai Indian’s had won he would have gotten possibly the biggest cheer of his career right then and there!

P.S. The words to the song “Africa” go something like this:

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa…

Isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?