Singing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President,” in true Marilyn Monroe style, U.S. pop diva Jennifer Lopez on Sunday was called to attend a lavish birthday celebration for a Central Asian leader.
Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov
Although the president at the receiving end of J.Lo’s birthday wish was not as high profile as President John F. Kennedy, the Latina diva serenaded Turkmenistan leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov at a $2-billion Caspian Sea resort.
And Jenny, “from the block” of course, is believed to have made history as the first major Western star to visit the isolated former Soviet republic, AFP news agency reported.
Dressed in a clingy outfit, the singer danced with half-naked backing dancers in a rare performance for the Muslim country, watched by ministers, ambassadors and chief executives of state-owned companies, all of whom applauded enthusiastically, according to AFP reports.
J lo EPA
She later appeared in a traditional Turkmen dress to sing “Happy birthday, Mr President” along with stars from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and China.
Berdymukhamedov’s 56th birthday bash at the glitzy resort in Avaza, which means “land of singing waves,” is officially tied to Turkmen cultural week, which culminated on Saturday with the opening of a yacht club at the resort and a firework display which lasted 20 minutes.
Ahead of the show, members of Lopez’s entourage were busy on Twitter.
“I wonder were all my Turkmenistan followers are!? Hit me up!” her choreographer J.R. Taylor wrote on Twitter account @Didntinviteme, noting that “The Turkmenistan Breeze feels amazing at night.”
“Celebrating the birthday of #Gurbangulyberdimuhamedow President of #Turkmenistan... tonight!!” said the account @JLoDancers.
(With AFP)
