DOHA, QATAR — What do Céline Dion, Shania Twain, Michael Bublé, Bryan Adams and his Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani have in common?
They are all sounds Prime Minister Mark Carney heard during a formal lunch with Qatar’s leadership Sunday.
During a lunch with Qatar’s authoritarian leader to formalize a new “strategic partnership,” Carney and the Canadian delegation were regaled by music from a small ensemble of a dozen musicians from the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.
The tunes accompanied a regal meal of lobster, beef and camel meat in the emir’s palatial Amiri Diwan, the leader’s official office building.
The playlist was a blend of Arabic and Canadian music, the latter being an eclectic mix of iconic Canadiana from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s.
Apparently, Qatari leadership is quite fond of Céline Dion, whose songs composed 20 per cent of the 10-song playlist.
The musical ensemble kicked off with Dion’s 1994 smash hit The Power of Love
It was followed by Shania Twain’s You’re Still The One in which she sings about two partners staying together despite obstacles and naysayers.
Dion’s music reappeared later in the meal with a rendition of her legendary Titanic theme My Heart Will Go On.
But the musical energy picked right back up again when the orchestra continued with Bryan Adams’ rock classic Summer of 69.
Michael Bublé’s Haven’t Met You Yet was next on the playlist of the meeting between both leaders and their entourages.
Interspersed throughout the Canadian tunes were Arabic classics such as the musical poem Lamma Bada Yatathanna and Qatari song Adeilk Ya Adolha.
But nowhere in sight were songs from more contemporary Canadian stars such as Drake, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber or Tate McRae.
What’s particularly exceptional about the playlist is that the Canadian delegation had no part in its planning. Rather, the song choices were entirely made by the Qataris. Generally, the hosting delegation will ask Canada’s foreign service to provide musical recommendations for their bands or playlists. But not this time.
During the meal, Carney and the emir put the final touches on a partnership that the prime minister says involves a commitment by Qatar to invest significantly in yet-unidentified “nation-building projects” in Canada.
“We are announcing an ambitious new partnership. We are deepening our ties across trade, investment, defence, and AI,” Carney told reporters after the meeting.
After years of delays, the prime minister said both governments also agreed to prioritize negotiations for a new Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and begin new ones for a double taxation deal that aims to increase mobility between both countries.
Carney also said he invited the emir to attend the Canada vs. Qatar soccer World Cup game in Vancouver, B.C., this summer.
On Sunday morning, Carney was greeted by a grand welcoming display by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani that involved a procession of camels and horses, a band and a small military inspection.
On Monday, the prime minister will travel to Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum annual summit.
National Post
cnardi@postmedia.com
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