The success story of ‘Welcome to my World’
View(s):The Bishops College Auditorium had a packed audience on the 23rd October 2018, in spite of heavy rains and being a working Tuesday to witness long waited concert by JanakaPalapathwala after three years since his last concert in 2015 in Colombo Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan fans missed Palapathwala as he was performing around the globe to International Audiences. But Janaka couldn’t stay away too long from the Sri Lankan Fans whom he loved most dearly. After the initial introduction by veteran compere Bevil Palihawadane, the Concert was opened by Janaka with ‘Welcome to my world’ and immediately afterwards he sang ‘From a Jack to a King’. Then Palapathwala sang a bit rare rendition of Jim Reeves’ “That’s When I See the Blues in your Pretty Brown Eyes’’ followed by ’Yonder Comes a Sucker’’, ‘’Mexican Joe’ etc. Early songs of the concert were all songs made popular by Gentleman Jim Reevesthat suited Janaka’s Baritone Voice so perfectly.
As a tribute to his Father who passed away last year (2017) Janaka sang ‘’That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine’’ with blurred eyes making the entire audience emotional. Veteran Music Director Harsha Markalanda commented emphatically during the intermission that Janaka gave tribute to his Dad with so much feeling and expression. A rare rendition of famous Gospel Song ‘’He Touched Me’’ was out of this world with Janaka’s very high Tenor Voice. Then Janaka took a few minutes break while the orchestra led by Dinesh Subasinghe played a beautiful instrumental. Janaka came back on stage with a formal Black tie attire singing the Classical version of Italian ‘’O Sole Mio’’ in a very high Tenor OperaVoice that the audience stood spellbound.
After the Intermission, Dinesh Subasinghe and the Orchestra started Sprach Zarathustra the Space Odyssey entry so fantastically just as Elvis Presley entering the building. Janaka walked in dressed up with a Black Jumpsuit and glittering Gold work on the attire singing C.C Rider,recalled nostalgic memories of the late great King himself. The Concert was diverted to a different magnitude with all high tempo songs such as Judy, Rhinestone Cowboy, Sweet Caroline, Delilah, Don’t be Cruel, Jailhouse Rock etc were sung with an electrifying punch.
