Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi is no stranger to the big stage, but he admits performing before thousands at the Special Olympics World Games opening ceremony will be a career highlight.
Al Jassmi became the first Arab artist to take part in the annual Christmas concert at the Vatican last year and followed that up with a starring role in the opening ceremony of the Asian Cup at Zayed Sports City a month later.
Fast forward a matter of weeks and he will be back at the Abu Dhabi venue for the opening ceremony of the first Special Olympics World Games to be held in the Middle East.
“It’s going to great and I really can’t wait,” he said of Thursday's eagerly-awaited event.
“There is always something special about the Olympics. I always love watching the inspiring event and the chance to take part in it, in our country, is a really beautiful thing.”
The Emirati singer spoke to The National after wrapping up shooting for his part of the video for the official Olympic anthem, Right Where I Am Supposed to Be.
The song will be revealed to the public when it will be performed at the opening ceremony by a star- studded musical cast that also includes Canadian singer Avril Lavigne, Puerto Rican star Luis Fonsi, Egyptian crooner Tamer Hosny and Syrian diva Assala Nasri.
The video for the song is expected to go online soon after the event, in addition to being played in all participating venues throughout the duration of the Special Olympics.
While the song has not been made available to the public yet, spectators expect an upbeat number.
“It is a really good fusion of East and West,” Al Jassmi said.
“The interesting thing about this song is that the Arab artists will add their talent to a western sounding song. This is something different and really exciting.”
The track's co-writer, Ryan Tedder, who as well fronting the successful group One Republic, has written hits for the likes of Beyoncé (Halo), Adele (Rumour Has It) and Ellie Goulding (Burn), said Right Where I Am Supposed to Be was created for a mass audience.
“This is the kind of stuff I would want to hear, sitting in a stadium full of people,” he said.
“Fingers crossed that everyone will like it.”
