This was my first time attending a Sonu Nigam concert. He was OUTSTANDING!!! It was held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, NJ (just outside of NYC)! Its considered one of the best in NJ for performing arts, theater and music.
The show started at about 8:30pm. The host/MC for the evening was actress Manasi Verma. She acts in some Ekta shows. To be honest, a performer like Sonu Nigam really didn't a MC. 😆 She really didn't have much to do to be honest. All Manasi did was introduce Sonu Nigam and the other two singers. At the start of the show, she said that the entire troupe were missing India for the first few days. But now in Jersey, they felt like they were back in India. 😆 Of course, everyone cheered and clapped.
Sonu Nigam's live band/orchestra performed in the beginning. One of the percussionists played a piece on the tabla. I dont remember his name but he was awesome! One of the band members sang Roobaro from RDB. Very well sung! 👏
The show started out with a few songs by Sowmya Roah. She sang Aankhen Mein from Company, Laila Laila from Samay and Nach Baliye from Bunty Aur Babli. They were all her original songs.
And then finally, Sonu Nigam made his grand introduction. Manasi introduced him. Before he came on stage, he started singing Kal Ho Na Ho (with a classical touch)! Then his bg dancers (there was eight of them- four males and four females) came onto stage. They were dressed as butterflys or something. 😕 Then Sonu entered and sang Suraj Hua Maddham! Awesome singing! Even if Kal Ho Na Ho was superb in the beginning. Honestly, Sonu made his own songs his own again! 😆 He told us, the audience, that this evening would be one we would never forget! He was right! 😃 It was a memorable concert, especially for people like me who had never been to a Sonu concert before. Oh yeah, Sonu was wearing jeans, a beige tank and a pinkish-peach jacket. Just some extra information for diehard Sonu fans. 😃 He also thanked everyone for PACKING the NJPAC. 😆
Sonu then said he wanted to make a good impression on the audience- that's why he didn't ask everyone to laugh, cheer or clap ath start. Sonu wants to start each concert singing soft songs before having the audience dance, laugh, do bhangra and cheer! 😆 He next sang Mera Rang De Basanti from The Legend of Bhagat Singh. Beautiful song and singing by Sonu. 👏
Next came songs like Saathiya, Chanda Ki Doli, Mere Haath Mein (Fanaa), Gumshuda, Sun Zara, Bijuria! Let me say, Sonu brought DA HOUSE down with Bijuria! Everyone in the audience was going crazy especially when Sonu did his famous Bijuria step! He even took off his jacket while performing and everyone went even more CRAZY! 😆 There was also a melody of songs- Dil Mangta Hai, Rafta Rafta Nazar etc. Awesome 👏 and everyone was cheering, clapping, dancing!
Sonu then shared his musical journey with the audience. he said he started out singing very sad songs and he used to get fan letters that said 'we understand your pain' etc. There was no SRGM, Idol back then so people didn't know and he had to accept whatever songs came his way.Sonu then said he realized he couldn't follow the footsteps of his Idol and so he had to sing fast, upbeat songs as well. He made his whole joke about how every song nowadays has the word 'baby' in it and how 'baby' can be anyone- mother, father, boy, girl, grandmother- and that 'baby' doesn't mean what it used to mean. 😆 It might not sound funny here but it was hilarous.
Sonu then sang one of his fast, chartbuster hits- Just Chill Chill. He even imitated HR nasal style while singing. Umm, it was funny. 😆 Sorry HR fans. He also introduced his fellow band members during the Just Chill song.
Sonu also sang the Main Hoon Na title song but like I said before, he made his own song his own again by singing the song like a melody. He sang some old songs (one was Kishore Da's Phoolen Ke Rang Se) intermixed with the Main Hoon Na song.
The second half of the show began with one song by Sowmya Roah. She took a request from the audience- Kajra Re. She sang it pretty well, considering its not her own song. Some people in the audience were telling her togo back before she even started singing. I know everyone wanted to see and hear Sonu but they should have gave her a chance. Imagine if Meenal or Monali were singng instead. It would suck if people were booing at them. Plus, Sonu needs rest so thats why the other two singers were performing.
Next came Agam Kumar. I wasn't aware of the fact that he was Sonu Nigam's father until the end when Sonu annoucned that. While Kumar saab was performing, people kept saying 'we want Sonu, we want Sonu' and Kumar saab was saying 'who do you want?' But he continued singing. He sang three old songs. Very well sung! 👏 Manasi said he had a hit album called Bewafa in 2005.
Next Sonu came back again. Sonu was wearing a white kurta (with sequins) and also gray pants in the 2nd half. LOL, don't ask me why I'm including all these detail. 😆 This is for all the diehard Sonu Nigam fans. And yes, his hair is still puffy and even longer than before. You can hardly see his forehead now!
He started out the 2nd half with Tumse Milke from Main Hoon Na! He had background dancers for the performance. I was waiting for this song from the beginning. 😃 Rocking performance! At the 'hayy, tumse milke part' he kept saying 'hi' to the audience and waving his hand. 😆
Next Sonu sang the KANK title song. He had the music in front of him since its a recent song and I think its his first time singing it live. Excellent singing and it was so melodious! People kept screaming 'once more, once more'. I wish he had sung it again. The song almost brought tears to my eyes.
Then Sonu Nigam was like this is a democracy and I'm democratic so I will take some requests from the audience. 😆 He sang Deewana, Tu, Piya Bole, Kasto Maaza and Sandese Aate Hain (I was waiting for this song!)
Sonu invited Sowmya back on stage for the grand finale. They sang Mahi Ve, Bole Choodiyan. Before the Bole Choodiyan performance, Sonu told everyone to go crazy, forget about everything and everyone and just dance ond go crazy! 😆 Lots of people followed his advice. Sonu also invited people to come near the stage. He ended the fast songs finale with Tere Rang Balle Balle.
The show ended with a dedication to everyone who had come near the stage and the audience in general- Kal Ho Na No! Beautifully sung and he added a jazz flavor to the song as well. He asked everyone if they would miss him and of course everyone said yes! Sonu even shook hands with everyone near the stage, a nice gesture IMO. 👏
Awesome awesome concert and like Sonu Nigam said in the beginning, its one show that no one will forget! Memorable! 👏 He said in the middle of the show that many people didn't want the show to happen since it ended up being competition to the Himesh Reshammiya show. But Sonu thanked the sponsors (Bridgeline Entertainment) for organizing the show and also audience for coming and making the show a success. 👏 Sonu said he wanted everyone to enjoy LIVE MUSIC! And hell yeah, we did! At least I did. 😳
Edit: One of the requests from the audience was DO PAL from Veer-Zaara! Sonu Nigam sang this without any background music or orchestra! Excellent. He only sang it for a minute or so of the song, but it was sooo beautifully sung!
Pix (not that clear, sorry): just click on the pic to enlarge
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