VARIOUS: Pop star Mariah Carey performs to fans across European cities simultaneously via giant holographic installations

Record ID: 190350

  • Title: VARIOUS: Pop star Mariah Carey performs to fans across European cities simultaneously via giant holographic installations
  • Date: 18th November 2011
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 15, 2011) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARIAH CAREY, SINGER, SAYING: "My hope is that everything is great for the holidays and there'll be snow, there'll be Santa Claus, there'll be all those things and there'll be music and the babies love music. They really respond to music. I sing to them a lot and I'm looking forward to the first time they can come to a concert."
  • Embargoed: 3rd December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Croatia, Poland, Germany, Usa, Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
  • City:
  • Country: Usa Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Poland Germany Croatia
  • Topics: Arts,Technology
  • Reuters ID: LVA831C3RXE3XN2N8ERQ8K5G0YFL
  • Story Text: Just in time to kick-off the festive season Mariah Carey had a special surprise for fans, as the star gave a virtual performance across major European cities on Thursday evening (November 17).
    On-lookers in Frankfurt (Germany), Krakow (Poland), Zagreb (Croatia), Skopje (Macedonia) and Podgorica (Montenegro) were surprised as they watched a life sized hologram of the singer giving renditions of hits including "Oh Santa" and "All I Want For Christmas Is You".
    The projection of the singer's body was joined on stage by four real-life dancers, who were unveiled to the crowds from a giant gift box.
    The event, part of T-Mobile's new advertising campaign "Life is for Sharing" who Carey has teamed up with, took place simultaneously across all five cities with thousands of people joining in and singing along to tracks such as "Hero" and "Silent Night".
    For the singer the technology was a new eye-opening experience.
    "To me doing this or something kind of like ahead of a curve slightly in terms of technology and I think it's -- for the fans it's something where they can feel more involved, they can feel like they're with you they're live cause regardless I'm singing to the fans everywhere in the world doing this you know I mean everybody where it's been broadcasted everybody through T-Mobile so -- I'm all about my fans and this was a way to bring everybody a bit closer," she said.
    All four tracks which Carey performed were shot prior to the event with a single-fixed camera at a recording studio in New York on Nov. 08.
    The singer said she enjoyed the experience and could take to this kind of performance, especially when it comes to costume changes.
    "My favourite part -- when I look, you know when I think back on the whole thing you know it was so much fun -- are the effects when I actually go from where you think it's me there and then suddenly you know the magic happens and I'm still there it's just a whole other moment I love that cause I want that to be reality like I want my quick change to not take five people in a little tiny area on the side of the stage, no, I want the magic to happen immediate be in rose pedals or whatever and sparkles and that should be real you know?" she said.
    While it's barely a secret that Mariah loves everything Christmas, this year marks a first for the Grammy-winning singer who is looking forward to be celebrating with new-born twins Moroccan and Monroe, who she gave birth to earlier this year.
    "My hope is that everything is great for the holidays and there'll be snow, there'll be Santa Claus, there'll be all those things and there'll be music and the babies love music. They really respond to music. I sing to them a lot and I'm looking forward to the first time they can come to a concert," she said.
    Having sold more than 200 million albums Carey is considered one of the top-selling female recording artists in the world. Her holiday album "Merry Christmas" is the best-selling Christmas album of all time, with the self-penned single "All I want for Christmas Is You" still proving a favourite in the festive season.
    Carey had recently re-recorded the tune alongside teen sensation Justin Bieber for his new album "Under The Mistletoe".
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