Emirati singer Alira. JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA

Video of Emirati hitmaker Alira singing Filipino songs in Dubai goes viral

  DUBAI – Emirati pop singer Alira has taken the internet by storm after video of him singing Regine Velasquez’s hit song at a recent concert in Dubai went viral on social media. The Take Flight singer, whose debut song is also a dance craze on TikTok, shocked audiences on December 10 when he took the stage to flawlessly sing popular Filipino ballad Tuwing Umuulan (Everytime it Rains) in his trademark countertenor voice. The video, posted on Expat Media, has gotten more than 380,000 views on Facebook, with more than 10,000 reactions and more than 1,700 shares as of Wednesday (December 15). Watch it below or click here Similar videos were also posted on TikTok, where Alira’s jaw-dropping performance gained combined views of nearly 500,000. The Emirati singer from Dubai shared the stage with Filipino superstars of Paskong Handog sa Pinoy concert at a packed Dubai Festival Arena, performing alongside Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, pop-rock star Yeng Constantino, Asia’s Soul Supreme KZ Tandigan, OPM hitmaker Erik Santos, singer and comedienne K Brosas and singer-songwriter TJ Monterde. The concert was produced and organized by Creative Minds Events Organizing and sponsored by Emirates Draw.

Who is Alira?

Alira, real name Ali Rashed, is an Emirati singer born and raised in Dubai. His parents are both Emiratis from prominent Dubai families. He has three siblings. Alira’s love for music was shaped by his interactions with the city’s multi-cultural residents, including music-loving Filipinos. He is considered the first Emirati pop performer with countertenor vocals, and who also sings in the whistle register. “You will probably be wondering how I could pronounce or even sing in Tagalog.. My story with the Philippines started I was coming back from a trip and I came across a song. I didn’t know what language it was, but then it was actually by a female artist from the Philippines by the name of Angeline Quinto called Patuloy ang Pangarap. So right then and there I took it upon myself, I went home that day and I searched for all the Filipino songs,” Alira told the crowd at Dubai Festival Arena on Friday (December 10). The Emirati pop singer stole the night by shocking the audience with his nuance of Filipino music. He counts Filipino superstar Regine Velasquez Alcasid as among his music idols, and credits his Filipina household staff for their invaluable support to his music starting in his teens. On Friday, the countertenor, who also sings in the whistle register, shocked the audience with his impeccable performance of Tuwing Umuulan, which received cheers and applause from the Filipino crowd. He then launched to his original hit song, Take Flight, before leaving the audience with his final song Kailangan Kita (I Need You), which he said was the first song he learned in Tagalog.

Take Flight a bonafide hit

Alira's debut single, Take Flight, has hit the UAE airwaves, with a Dubai-based radio station calling the Emirati singer and songwriter “an artist to watch”. The club track is Alira’s original composition and features his dynamic countertenor vocal. The song is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Deezer, Amazon Music and Anghami. Listen to it here “Alira is definitely an artist to watch; I’m sure an artist that we will be playing a lot in the future,” Aylissa Boyce, radio presenter at Luv 107.1 radio in Dubai, said during a live interview with Alira earlier this week. “I’ve played it several times.. It’s got that catchy hook. So good!” said Boyce, describing Take Flight, which has also been played in several clubs in Dubai and the rest of the UAE. Award-winning choreographer CL Frostyle, who is working with Alira on a music video for Take Flight, told Expatmedia.net that the song is a “solid hit” and makes him “want to keep on dancing”. For Take Flight, Alira collaborated with Wayne Wilkins, the British songwriter who has produced hits for Beyonce (Sweet Dreams), Jordin Sparks (Battlefield) and Natasha Bedingfield (These Words). He performed the song live for the first time at the UAE Golden Music Festival on December 2 with popular Danish band Michael Learns to Rock and American cover band Boyce Avenue. Alira developed his love for global music at a young age, with the influences of different musical styles from around the world. His eclectic taste in music includes genres like pop, jazz, blues, ballads, rock, country music and classical music. Talking about the inspiration behind Take Flight, Alira told Expatmedia.net he was “looking to create an upbeat song that people can dance, vibe and have a good time with”. He has so far written more than 20 original songs, which he plans to release in 2022. “I want to continue creating songs that connect and inspire people,” Alira said. The pop star is scheduled to perform at Expo 2020 on January 3 to launch the Expo-inspired song that he wrote and composed. PIA/Expat Media
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