Mariah Carey performed at what must be the world’s most awe-inspiring concert venue this week, as she belted out a set at the pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt. The ancient backdrop surprised even the diva herself, who exclaimed to the 3,000-strong crowd, “Wow! I can’t believe I’m standing here!
“I mean you guys you’re maybe used to it, but us,” added Carey, pointing to backing singer Trey Lorenz, “that man comes from a town with 300 people only, and and I’m from New York.” The gig, for Middle Eastern telecommunications firm Etisalat’s third anniversary, was the hottest ticket in Cairo on Monday night – so hot, in fact, that even the stage caught fire: “In Egypt getting ready to go on stage and suddenly there was a surge of power and an electrical fire started under my feet!” the star tweeted.
Carey’s 13 song set included crowd favourites like ‘Always be my Baby’ and ‘Hero’, while last year’s single ‘Obsessed’ also featured. And as the video below shows, Carey may have had ancient Egyptian fashion in mind when she chose to perform in a typically chastening ankle-length dress.
Celebrities frequently visit the pyramids: last year saw newly-elected US president Barack Obama taken round the ancient landmarks by Egypt’s antiquities chief Zahi Hawass(click here to watch a video). Yet some stars aren’t always given a warm welcome. Last year saw Hawass embroiled in a mini-scandal when he described RnB singer Beyonc Knowles as ‘stupid’.