Sarah McLachlan to charm the crowds

Sarah McLachlan's ballad Angel is probably as famous as the singer herself.

Released in 1999, it only peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 36 in the UK singles chart.

Often used to enhance emotional scenes on the big and small screen, it has since been featured in a number of movie soundtracks including City Of Angels and TV's Alias, Cold Case, Dawson's Creek, Early Edition, Felicity, General Hospital and The Pretender.

It was performed to mourn the dead after September 11 World Trade Centre terrorist attacks, for comfort and healing following the April 1999 Columbine High School massacre, at Live 8 in Philadelphia with Josh Groban and at Concert for Linda — dedicated to the memory of Linda McCartney.

The Canadian's latest album, Laws Of Illusion, is just as emotional as her previous, but has a twist.

"My message and desire for writing hasn't changed," she told tabloid! from a hotel room in Nashville, Tennessee. "And I know the process hasn't changed either. I write songs about the way I am feeling or the way things make me feel. My songs have an emotional emphasis and take on lives of their own as I write. But I've got a little more aggressive. A little raw. I like it."

Can't wait for the sun

McLachlan, who is booked to perform at The Ball in Abu Dhabi on Friday, the official black tie event of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, says she is looking forward to visiting the UAE for the first time.

"I can't wait to be in the sun. I have 45 minutes on stage to cram in as many of the songs people recognise as possible. I'll do some new stuff, but I want to keep the crowd happy."

A single mother to India, eight, and three-year-old Taja, McLachlan says life is always interesting.

"It's like I have a couple of full-time jobs," she says laughing. "They come first. We go to kids' gyms, the pool. I even drag them to museums for a bit of culture."

But do they want to follow in mum's footsteps?

"The little one loves to sing and she's a bit of an extrovert, so I think she could end up on the stage. India will probably end up a litigator — she argues constantly."

Don't miss it

Table prices for The Ball start from Dh25,000 and are available at theball-abudhabi.com