JIGME PALDEN PAZO
KATHMANDU: On a cold winter's night, Kathmandu came alive to the romantic ballads of a world famous Danish band as Michael Learns To Rock with its sould stirring tunes and catchy beats that MLTR has become synonymous for the world over, captured the hearts of Nepali music lovers on Saturday evening at Tundikhel in the capital.
The evergreen trio teased the heart strings of Kathmanduites both old and young with their signature tunes that have firmly entrenched their name in the annals of music history. Among the teeny boppers that have become a mainstay of rock concerts was a generous sprinkling of middle aged wannabes reliving the golden age of their youth humming the irresistible tunes of the curiously named band honouring the never-say-die legend of Michael Jackson, even if his music has no direct relation to their unique heart rending melodies.
In the same historic that Nepal Tourism Year gave Nepal its first ever international big-name musical act in the Canadian rocker Bryan Adams, back in February, MLTR descended on the Himalayan nation for an extra dose of genuine world class rock concert. Kicking off with a relatively obscure number, the band immediately proceeded to remind the crowd why they stamped their tantalising name among world class acts, by launching into their classic Sleeping Child that had the audience in raptures. Their first debut hit The Actor followed immediately after, following which the trio expertly mixed their rather obscure non-hits with their successful attempts for a wholesome evening of sheer entertainment.
Even the annual cannon ball firing couldn't come anywhere close to creating the atmosphere of unadulterated magnetism and titillation that the three men from the Scandinavian nation whipped up for the relatively deprived capital of the Himalayan country as the well-heeled and the music aficiandoes of the Valley turned up in droves to sing along and cheer on one of the hot favourites of the Asian continent.
It was a night to shake off the oncoming winter chills and revel in the magic of MLTR as Kathmandu well and truly learned to rock.