Famous bands and singers play Romania in 2012
The year 2012 brought some high fly names from the international music scene to Romania. Here is a review of some of the most important concerts of 2012. For the list of upcoming 2013 concerts, go here.
The long waited American alternative rock band, Linkin Park, performed for the first time in Romania on June 6, 2012, making a show for 13,000 Romanian and foreign fans at Romexpo Complex in Bucharest. With the bands PhenomeOn, Coma and Zdob si Zdub in opening, the event was one full of energy. Linkin Park performed songs like “Faint” which opened their performance, “Papercut”, “With you” and “Runaway”.
For the second time in Romania, the Swedish pop band Roxette performed a concert on July 19 in Cluj-Napoca at Cluj Arena, which was a big hit for the 22,000 fans that had the opportunity to listen to the Swedish duo. The band opened the show with the songs “Dressed for Success” and “Sleeping in My Car”.
After the EUR 125, 000 bill footed by the Romanian Tourism Ministry for promoting Romania through her concert in Romania, Lady Gaga managed to gather a crowd of 35,000 on August 16, 2012 at the National Arena in Bucharest. With an eccentric atmosphere created by the special effect of the technique production, and with her outfits and songs which brought her 186 awards won and 295 nominations since 2008 , the concert was a great event for Lady Gaga's fans, that she calls “little monsters” .
The American rock band Red Hot Chilli Peppers turned the Bucharest concert into a memorable show in the National Arena for the 45, 000 fans. With their energetic appearance and a lights show, the band performed songs like “Can’t Stop”, “Californication”, “Under the Bridge”, “Monarchy of Roses”, among others.
The second concert of the Irish band The Cranberries in Romania took place in Bucharest on October 11, 2012 at the central pavilion Romexpo, brought along fans for a charismatic rock show which started with the song “Just my Imagination” followed by “When You’re Gone”, “Linger”, “Ridiculous Thoughts”, “Dreaming my Dreams” and the famous “Zombie” which ended the evening.
On November 1, 2012, the famous guitarist Steve Vai appeared at the Palace Hall in Bucharest, in a concert which was part of his “Story of Light” tour to promote the album with the same name. After performing for the second time in Romania, the guitarist managed to impress again a crowd of 4,000 with songs like “Gravity Storm”, “Weeping China Doll”, “The Moon and I” or “Rescue Me or Bury Bury Me”.
The concert performed by the authentic American singer Macy Gray on November 22, 2012 at the Palace Hall in Bucharest, was an event full of jazz, blues and electro, where Macy Gray appeared with outfits ranging from elegant to "ghetto love". She performed songs also from her latest album called "Covered" . With songs like "Beauty in the World" and "I Try" along with the solo moments of the band, the event turned out to be one to remember.
The first concert of the British singer Bonnie Tyler on December 8, 2012 at the Palace Hall in Bucharest brought the music of the '70s and '80s to the Romanian stage. With touches of rock, pop, country and blues, the singer performed songs for a crowd of 4,000 who listened to the famous "Eclipse of the Heart" and "Faster Than the Speed of Night".
Ioana Toader, ioana.toader@romania-insider.com
