As the warm rain gently drizzled down through Macau’s inky night sky, a group of people seated in an upmarket Thai restaurant are in a jovial mood. There is, however, no mistaking the fact that they are in anticipation of something. The constant glances from the doorway to their mobile phones make it apparent that more than just a spicy dinner is expected on this night.
Jacobson and other members of the British Business Association of Macao (BBAM) have put in many hours and gone to great efforts to make this year’s annual BBAM Ball an event to remember. And a lot is riding on the messages coming through on their mobile phones.
At the same time, but on the other side of the world, in London, England, singing superstar Robbie Williams is busy hitting news headlines in his usual fast and furious pace as preparations for his first tour since 2006, ‘Take The Crown’, has his legion of fans waiting with baited breath and following his every move.
Back in a rainy Macau another group of fans are also waiting. Their star is due to arrive in the territory at any moment, ahead of his scheduled performance the following night…
BBAM’s chosen theme for this year’s charity ball at StarWorld Hotel was ‘Angels & Demons’, and who could possibly be a better performer to entertain the audience at an event with such a title? None other than Mario Nowack of course!
…I’m sorry, Mario who?
Mario Nowack, also known as Germany’s best Robbie Williams impersonator.
Getting SUPREME, the German Robbie Williams’ cover band from Europe to Macau was a big task, and when they finally arrive at the restaurant, a sudden round of applause brings the long wait to an end.
Tall, smiling and surprisingly bright-eyed given his recent international flight, there is no doubt as to the physical similarity between Mario and the real Robbie. Despite being slightly on the leaner side, the unmistakable cheeky grin being flashed around the room is as close as one could get to the real thing.
The trademark grin is just one of the things that attracted Mario to one of the best-selling artists in the world. After all, cheekiness is not usually thought of as a characteristic of German people. But of course being similarly cheeky is not enough. There is also the question of Mario’s voice.
There is a curious dynamic when it comes to the world of impersonators. What comes first – does one pick an artist to impersonate and do everything possible to make the resemblance credible, or do the similarities overwhelm any decision making and automatically lead to the choice of artist to impersonate?
In the case of Mario Nowack the latter is how the story unfolded. Early on in his singing career he was constantly being told how much he sounded like the man he would later come to impersonate professionally.
“In the very beginning it was hard to believe. I tried to copy and a lot of listening was necessary to do it right. I listened to my own recordings and wasn't really sure if the effect was right. But more and more people started to say ‘you sound just like him,’” the singer modestly explains.
Positive affirmation comes from Lynn Jacobson, a big fan of the British star.
“If you close your eyes when Mario sings, it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between their voices,” she observes.
And there are many others who agree. In 2011, 900,000 viewers tuned in to watch the German talent show My Name Is… where Nowack emerged as the winner in the adult category and was flown to Las Vegas for the world’s biggest convention of impersonators.
The trip to Macau was first time the band had travelled this far and along with the rest of the band members, Waldemar on guitar, Sascha on keyboards, Patrick on bass and Peter on drums, the musicians knew that this would be an experience to remember.
So which songs does he enjoy performing the most?
“I really like the good old ones, like Feel, Come Undone and Angels. Many people recognise those songs the most and there is a really intense and positive atmosphere in the audience when we play those ‘evergreens’”.
If there was any further evidence needed that the guests at the Ball were in for a night they would not soon forget, seeing Mario and the band on stage in Macau performing Angels to a room full of party-goers dressed as angels and demons soon put that issue to rest.
Mario’s commitment and absolute belief in his talent is unmistakable.
“This is an outstanding way to entertain people and there is still a great demand for good entertainers and musicians out there. I am blessed to have the chance to live the music, to perform the music and to feel the music…on stage… as it has become my own over these years.”
