Sun FM Gossip
When it comes to the concert business in Israel, the country gives new meaning to the term "secondary market" -- as in, a good number of the foreign acts who agree to play there end up having second thoughts and canceling their gigs. Such was the case for Elvis Costello, who canceled two 2010 shows citing his "conscience," and the Pixies, who last year pulled the plug on a festival appearance after Israeli military fired heavily on an aid flotilla bound for Gaza. Macy Gray also debated a return trip to Tel Aviv, polling her Facebook fans for their take on Middle Eastern politics (she ultimately decided to honor her commitment).
And so when it was announced that teen phenom Justin Bieber was coming to Tel Aviv's massive Hayarkon Park, ticket sales were understandably sluggish at first. After all, who wants to deal with the hassle of a refund or the disappointed look on their young daughter's face when Bieber, like so many others, decides to skip the highly volatile stop?
But Bieber didn't bail and even when the Israeli paparazzi had him Tweeting the kind of frustration and annoyance that would send even the most weathered pop star packing, he kept to his word and toured the country, making it as far north as the Lebanese border and scheduled to reach as far south as the Dead Sea, hitting many of the major holy sites and even entering the West Bank, a drive many Israelis are reticent to make.
So when it came time for him to hit the stage just after 8:00 p.m. on a Thursday night, the crowd was all about one thing: appreciation. Promoters hoped attendance would reach 35,000, and thanks to Israel's teenage population and a campaign that offered concerned parents free tickets (with purchase for their kids, naturally), it likely came close. Most of the upper lawn was not filled to capacity, but the lower rung of the field had been densely packed since 4:00, when several thousand superfans showed up for a spot up front.
The vantage point didn't really matter, in the end. Between the giant video screens, spot-on sound and a well-orchestrated stage show that doesn't miss a beat, Bieber delivered exactly what he's known for: heart. Starting with the uptempo "Love Me" and "Bigger," Bieber, who's performed a similar version of his set list for well over a year, put forth the same energy he was getting back from the devoted crowd.