'I'm just plain lucky'

On her way to the Bryan Adams show, Simran Thadani was thinking about how lucky those people were... the ones who got picked out from the audience to sing alongside the stars on stage. A few hours later, her dream came true!

"The first concert I attended was Bryan Adams Live in Bombay, when I was 11 years old. Since then, I have been a huge fan of his. His show was so good that, thanks to him, I fell in love with live performances. After that, I have never missed a live concert," she said.

A student at the Cathedral school, Bombay, Simran has just finished her HSc examination and is winging her way to the University of Boston in August. "I never thought this would happen to me," she said in a state that is a strange mix of shock and ecstasy. "I mean, you know how it is... that girl who went up on stage with Michael Jackson, people still remember her name. Do you think people will remember me?" she asked wistfully.

"But I don't care even if they don't," she said quickly, brightening up. "I am so thrilled I was actually up there with him. And I sang with him! And I hugged him!! I just can't believe it. I have attended every live show in India, I love watching performances so much that, every time, I land up hours before the show. Today, for instance, we came at 4.30 pm for a 7.30 pm performance. That way, I manage to get near the stage. I think I am just plain lucky."

So, was When you're gone (originally sung by Adams and Spice girl Mel C), the song she sang on stage, her favourite track? "I listen to everything by this man and they are all my favourites. I know the lyrics of each song he has sung, every single one," she declared, while her brother, Shabad, nodded sagely. "She's nuts about him, listens to his music every single day. I think it's cool she got called on stage."

Adams was gracious to make Simran feel like a queen when he told her on stage, "Hey! You're good. And just for that, please get down backstage and collect a few T-shirts for you and your friends."

Clutching the precious T-shirts, Simran refused to part with even one. "I'm not going to give them to anyone," she said firmly.

Simran hopes she will see the show on television before she leaves for the States. "I don't remember anything I did on stage, except that he hugged me and then I sang with him. I hope some channel shows it.

"I think these performances happen everywhere in the US -- in clubs, schools, colleges. But then, out there, people start lining up for the show a night before and things like that. So I don't know if I'll get a chance to watch a live performance anytime soon. This will be my last one for some time. What a show it has been for me!"

Also see:
'I'm wonderful, ain't I?'
Paisa vasool!
Bryan Adams: I don't understand the politics in this country

Photographs: Jewella C Miranda; design: Lynette Menezes

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