The late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala returned to the stage as a hologram this week, as his 'Signed to God World Tour' opened to a packed house in Toronto, Canada — billed as the first-ever hologram-based world tour by an Indian or Punjabi artiste.
The show used 3D holographic projections of the singer synchronised with his original vocals, alongside cinematic visuals and stage effects. According to the tour's supplied report carried by ABP, no AI-generated vocals were used; the synchronised movements were achieved with a body double and prosthetics.
Family joins the stage
His parents, Balkaur Singh and Charan Kaur, and younger brother Shubhdeep Singh — known as Chhota Sidhu — attended the opening show. The brother took the stage during the performance, sang into a microphone and performed Moosewala's signature thaapi gesture as the crowd erupted.
The show opened with his 2021 track '295'. ABP notes the song has 889 million views and 12 million likes on the singer's YouTube channel, which has 31.5 million subscribers. The Tribune reports that a newly released '295' music video built around archival footage of the family crossed 2.8 lakh views in its first 30 minutes and is now the most-liked Punjabi song on YouTube with over 12.8 million likes.
Ten shows in the first phase
Collaborators of the late singer also performed during the opening night, and fans on social media reacted emotionally to seeing him perform again. ABP lists five more dates in the first leg — Vancouver and Calgary in Canada, followed by New York, Houston and Oakland in the United States, running until November 6. Balkaur Singh told The Tribune the first phase comprises 10 shows in all, with the tour expected to cover Canada, the US, the UK, the UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and India.
Moosewala, born Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, was shot dead on May 29, 2022, in Jawaharke village in Punjab's Mansa district.
Sources:
The Tribune — Sidhu Moosewala's hologram tour opens in Toronto
ABP Live — Sidhu Moosewala hologram show in Toronto
The show used 3D holographic projections of the singer synchronised with his original vocals, alongside cinematic visuals and stage effects. According to the tour's supplied report carried by ABP, no AI-generated vocals were used; the synchronised movements were achieved with a body double and prosthetics.
Family joins the stage
His parents, Balkaur Singh and Charan Kaur, and younger brother Shubhdeep Singh — known as Chhota Sidhu — attended the opening show. The brother took the stage during the performance, sang into a microphone and performed Moosewala's signature thaapi gesture as the crowd erupted.
The show opened with his 2021 track '295'. ABP notes the song has 889 million views and 12 million likes on the singer's YouTube channel, which has 31.5 million subscribers. The Tribune reports that a newly released '295' music video built around archival footage of the family crossed 2.8 lakh views in its first 30 minutes and is now the most-liked Punjabi song on YouTube with over 12.8 million likes.
Ten shows in the first phase
Collaborators of the late singer also performed during the opening night, and fans on social media reacted emotionally to seeing him perform again. ABP lists five more dates in the first leg — Vancouver and Calgary in Canada, followed by New York, Houston and Oakland in the United States, running until November 6. Balkaur Singh told The Tribune the first phase comprises 10 shows in all, with the tour expected to cover Canada, the US, the UK, the UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and India.
Moosewala, born Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, was shot dead on May 29, 2022, in Jawaharke village in Punjab's Mansa district.
Sources:
The Tribune — Sidhu Moosewala's hologram tour opens in Toronto
ABP Live — Sidhu Moosewala hologram show in Toronto
