Bolton raring to go

Timeless pop performer says this time he's fit and well for China concerts

A bad cold on tour five years ago gave American pop singer Michael Bolton his greatest regret in China - he couldn't give a great live concert.

Now Bolton is determined to make it up to Chinese audiences when he tours three cities in China in June - Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. To achieve the best acoustic effect and visual presentation, he has decided to hold his Shanghai concert at the Grand Stage and make available only half of the 8,000 seats for the audience so they can all enjoy good views and audio effects.

"The stage setting will be redesigned to bring out the feeling of a dramatic theater," said Wu Liangyu from Shining On Culture Communication Ltd, representatives of Bolton's concert organizers.

Other international artists, such as Elton John, Sarah Brightman and Eric Clapton have held concerts at Shanghai Grand Stage, choosing the venue because of its convenient location and facilities especially suited for live concerts.

Bolton, who was born in 1953, was among the most popular performers in the world in the 1980s and 1990s. He won two Grammy awards and was nominated a further four times. As a songwriter, he has penned lyrics for Barbara Streisand, Kenny Rogers, Cher and Bob Dylan.

"Bolton was most popular in China between 1994 and 1996, when people bought cassettes or CDs instead of downloading free music from the Internet like they do now," said Wu. "Those who collected his albums have been his most loyal fans. They are now in their 30s and can afford to attend his live concert.

"He still has a large number of fans in China and some of his songs, such as How Am I Supposed to Live Without You, have become all-time favorites and are still played on the radio."

Bolton's China tour is called One World, One Love, named after his latest album.

"Recorded over two years, the album was co-written and produced by myself and reverts to my impassioned, fervent songwriting and melodies, as well as featuring some notable collaborations with the likes of Ne-Yo and Lady Gaga," Bolton said.

"The lead single Just One Love is an uplifting, emotional track that shows me at my best," he said about the album.

Many of his previous hit songs will also be performed at his China concerts.

Since Ticketmaster quit its China operations last year, fewer concerts of Western pop stars have been scheduled in Shanghai this year. "Few performance agencies are ready to introduce contemporary pop stars even if they just won a Grammy because Chinese audiences may not know them," Wu told Exposure. "The Chinese market usually prefers artists of enduring popularity."

8 pm, June 3

Shanghai Grand Stage, 1111 Caoxi Road N

021-5169-1234

280-1200 yuan

CHINA DAILY

(China Daily 05/28/2010 page45)