By Chesney Hearst, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – French house DJ and producer, David Guetta returns to Rio on November 19th bringing with him the beats that infuse and drive numerous chart-topping hits. Guetta was last in Rio ringing in 2012 on Copacabana Beach during the city’s famous Réveillon, and this time he will be in Barra da Tijuca’s Riocentro.
“Brazil is one of my favorite places on the planet to play. The energy of the people is just incredible,” Guetta told the Rio Times. “I was honored to be invited to perform on Copacabana Beach on [New Year’s Eve] last year.”
“I was the first European artist ever and was blown away. [Two] maybe three million people dancing together; celebrating as one. Its a memory that will stay with me forever,” he added.
Guetta’s upcoming show is part of an on going tour in support of his Sept. 2012 release “Nothing But the Beat 2.0,” an updated version of his “Nothing But the Beat” album released in 2011.
“Originally EMI asked me to do a repack and it was going be like one or two tracks, but then I got caught up in the game and got so excited about making new music that now finally I think there’s seven new records,” says Guetta.
With a career spanning over twenty years, Guetta like a master craftsman with beats as his wood and talented performers as the ornamentation and lacquer, has perfected the art of building a beautifully solid hit. He began DJing in the eighties, but only after adding “producer” to his credentials did Guetta receive international recognition.
Singer Usher makes an appearance as of one of many featured artists on Nothing But the Beats 2.0 in the single, “Without You”. In the video for the song Brazil and Ipanema beach also become a feature, as one of the party sets included with The U.S., Thailand, Africa and Paris.
“The concept is every continent is going back together and you know it’s like one big party and there’s no more different continents. There’s no more different colors,” Guetta explains in a behind the scenes video.
“We are all the same and we are all together and it’s about the love and the music and that’s what the video is and that is what the record is,” he says.
The entire Nothing But the Beats 2.0 theme of bringing things together is also expressed by the inclusion of artists appearing on the same album. The 23 tracks include Nicki Minaj, Ne-yo, Akon, Tegan and Sara, Timberland, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, Taio Cruz, Jessie J, will.i.am, Ludacris and Sia.
When Guetta hits the stage in Rio it will be him alone DJing with no special guests but that won’t make it any less of a party. When explaining the feeling of playing in stadiums compared to that in clubs, Guetta says, “Every time I come on stage and I see the reaction of the crowd, I’m like wow, it’s incredible, it’s magic, you know. If I’m sick, I’m not sick anymore, if I’m sad, I’m not sad anymore. It really carries me higher.”
It won’t be millions of people celebrating this time in Rio, but the show promises to be an experience nonetheless. “I love Rio,” Guetta told The Rio Times, “and am excited to be heading back there.”
Prices for the show vary for men and women ranging from R$110 to R$440 and can be purchased here. More information about the show is also available here.