When asked about how he created his music and who influenced him, he said that it is a natural process and that some of the greatest initial influences on him included Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. “They had a big impact on me and my music,” he said.
When asked to name his favourite songs and albums that are closest to his heart, Iglesias said: “I have written so many songs in my life and I consider all the songs I have written my kids and it is very hard for an artist to choose between his children.”
In response to the query what his fans in the UAE and the region should expect from his first Sharjah concert and whether there are any surprises in store for his audience, the Latin music legend said: “I would like to keep the surprise a surprise. I can only say that I am happy to be back performing in the UAE and it is going to be great fun.”
Asked about his message to his many fans in the UAE and the Middle East, he said: “I am very, very thankful to all my fans in the UAE that throughout all these years, they have kept my music alive in their souls.”
6 Surprising Facts about Happiness and Music – https://t.co/1UnXvVLsz7
— Dubai Chronicle (@DubaiChronicle) May 1, 2016
The first Julio Iglesias concert is the latest of Sharjah’s initiatives aimed at promoting the appreciation of art and cultural sensibilities in the emirate. Al Majaz Amphitheatre itself has been part of the movement to enrich the art and cultural scene in the UAE and the region, providing quality and healthy entertainment with a purpose to the public.
Al Majaz Amphitheatre was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in 2014, as part of the celebrations marking Sharjah’s crowning as the Islamic Culture Capital for 2014. The Roman colosseum-style amphitheatre opened with the epic oratorio Clusters of Light, tracing the remarkable journey of Islam’s evolution. Al Majaz Amphitheatre has since hosted a galaxy of Arab and International artists, including most recently the Greek music legend Yanni and Arab maestro Marcel Khalife.
From performing for the first time in Madison Square Gardens in New York in 1976 to record-breaking performances in Chile, Japan, Brazil, Colombia and around the world all these years, Julio Iglesias has come a long way. He sold more than 1,200,000 copies of his album “De niña a mujer” in just six months in Japan and he sold more than 2,000,000 copies of the same album in Brazil in 11 months.
