T

here were no signs of jitters as singer Michael Bublé came to town with his trademark rousing performance for fans at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition BSD in Tangerang, Banten, on Thursday night.

The velvet-voiced Canadian admitted Thursday afternoon that he was '€œreally nervous'€ about touring the region and visiting Indonesia and mainland China for the first time. It was not security issues that kept him from a scheduled concert in 2005 or health scares in the region, but the slow pace of ticket sales.

'€œIn America or Europe, they move much faster. Maybe in a lot of these [Asian] countries people have been ripped off by paying for tickets and then artists not showing up. My manager and promoter [Bruce Allen] told me that when they know you'€™re there, then ticket sales will take off,'€ said Bublé, sans his familiar black suit and relaxing in a checked shirt and jeans.

'€œI also started to wonder if it was a language barrier '€” '€˜do people over there know me and like my music?'€™. But Bruce told me, '€˜trust me, you will love it, you will be making a future for yourself in the biggest market in the world'€™.'€

The four-time Grammy winner, who turns 40 in September, said he was glad he took their advice.

'€œIt'€™s been wonderful, not only for me but for my wife, my in-laws who are with me and also my crew. It'€™s been one of our greatest ever tours.'€

Known for such hits as '€œCrazy Love'€, '€œEverything'€, '€œHaven'€™t Met You Yet'€ and '€œHome'€, Bublé says he tailors each stage performance to his audience, including being aware of social and political sensitivities.

'€œTonight'€™s show will be completely different from yesterday'€™s. It'€™s my mood, how you guys are feeling, the heat,'€ he said.

'€œThere are things I would say in Australia that I would never say here in Jakarta. You have to be [...] respectful of the culture you are in.'€