Performance Review: 林志炫 ONEtake Concert 2016 World Tour

Date: 26 August 2016
Time: 8:30 pm
Location: Suntec Expo Hall Level 6
Kaki: 5 others
Rating: 3.5 stars
Language: Chinese

Sypnosis: 
Known as the King of divine voices, his voice is known around the world that is touched by heaven... Veteran taiwanese singer Terry Lin will enchant us with his lovely singing in August 26, 2016 in Singapore! 

Terry Lin will feature his One take world tour concert in Singapore - will orchestrate a premiere group of top musicians, concert master producers, sound and lighting engineers to showcase an extraordinary musical feast to all! 

From his hit song "单身情歌", "离人", "输了你赢了世界又如何", "浮誇" to "煙花易冷", you will definitely be blown away by these popular and classic chinese songs. These songs will bring you to the top of the world! 

Crafted with passion and with his amazing voice, Terry Lin One take world tour will certainly bring fans an unforgettable and heart-warming night!

Review: 
Woo hoo.. it has been a long time since I have been to a performance (that and it's been a long time since I blogged...) The agreement I have with myself is, what's past is past. Let's blog moving forward!!

Anyhow, Terry Lin, the guy who is the teacher and mentor on many a singing competition, really popular nowadays, and a man who has been famous since his days with  優客李林 （Ukelele).  Well, since I am a sucker for sentimental chinese songs, of course I jumped at the chance to go for the concert. 

The 3.5 star rating was based on this. 

Terry's voice is very good and his vocal range is really amazine. His ability as a performer, is.. moderate. Well, I had already managed  my own expectations prior to the concert. The serious type, I wasn't really expecting him to do a song and dance, and frankly, if he had done that, I would have thought it really weird. 

Well, the 1.5 points that he lost was really due to the fact that while he had his rehearsed jokes and one or two witty moments, he was more focused on the delivery of the song in a pitch perfect tone and I think he has this flaw that many really talented people have... which is 自我陶醉... they sort of get so immersed within their own song and the enjoyment of it, that the audience is sort of left out. Of course, the bulk of it, he manages to draw you in on the song as well, but there were some hits and misses.

He also took on a rather experimental approach towards the choice of songs and delivery, so there were some that came out well, and some, not as well. 

The Good: His performance on Jay Chou's 烟花易冷 was so awesome, I felt that he did a better job than Jay Chou in bringing out the emotions of the song. Of course, if I'm not wrong, he had already performed this on some singing competition, so well and good. :) It was a definite plus and I am still irritated that I didn't record it down in some video form or something, so that I can listen to it again. Yes, it was that good. I also wish for his sake that he would be able to lay his hands on more of such songs, if he releases a new album, where he goes 古风... His hit songs are all really awesome as well - 离人。输了妳赢了世界又如何， etc

The Not So Good: I think he likes Jazz. I like Jazz too. But his jazzy songs were more of a miss. Maybe it is because he is not too strong a performer, so the feel of the beat and the jazz and the blues of the jazz just didn't come through. It was pretty painful watching, as something just felt off about the performance on these areas. He had mentioend 

He also had a performance to show off his voice, something like the diva song from 5th Element, but without the funky bits.... imagine that from a guy! Of course, truly impressive. but as there were no lyrics, and his was not like some italian opera or what not, it was just vocals... so... I started to get a little bored and tuned out again... 


So in summary, it was really great listening to such a gifted singer, but of course, if we are talking about entertainment value, he would lose out to other performers. One phrase that my friend made, which would quite aptly sum up the concert, "actually, his concert is abit like listening to the radio right?" his voice is good (although the concert venue is not that great in terms of acoustics) to the point where he is not the sort that needs any sort of technical assistance to make his voice sound better (or to adjust pitch), but yet, there wasn't any difference as his is not the sort where the presence and "live" nature of a concert value adds to his performance. 

Still, if what you wanted was to just relax, listen to a really good singer (not performance), close your eyes and just listen to the music, can consider. If you are looking for an entertaining fun night, he may not be your guy. :) 

Performance Review: 天门决 Legends of the Southern Arch

Date: 11 April 2015
Time: 3:00 pm
Location: Drama Centre Theatre
Kaki: Ms Loon
Rating: 2.5 stars
Language: Chinese

Sypnosis: 
A legendary Wuxia tale of honour, passion and vengeance.

Legends of the Southern Arch is sparked off by events from 60 years ago, when a secret manual was hidden by a cult under the Southern Arch. Legend says that the Arch, which opens every six decades, is due to open again - and he who retrieves the secret manual shall command the Wulin World and reign over the realm of martial arts. 

There has been peace in the Wulin World since the fall of the cult. But the obsession with invincibility continues to draw warriors into battle. The spiral of blood and death threatens to bury their secrets forever. 

Our story begins here. It is a tale of injustice and vengeance, crossing three generations of bloodshed and violence. Now, the Arch is about to re-open and the secret manual will be returned to the world. Will this mark the final battle? 

Review: 
The set was awesome, costuming was up to standard for a wuxia show. Even the fight scenes was within my expectations, and the parts where they had to be strung up was cool, I gave it extra cookie points for it. Real effort!

However, I was disappointed by the convoluted storyline. They kept jumping around the timeline, 10 years ago, Nowm 15 years ago, now, 60 years, now. After some time, I was like whatever. There was too much narrative, too heavy on dialogue and explanations of why things happen. it's a play, we get 2-2.5 hours, keeping it simple is important. It's not game of thrones where you get multiple episodes to introduce the various characters. And the script was just too long winded. Sometimes, I am already bored before they even finish their sentence.

Speaking of characters, the names were all too long. It was funny at the start. But I couldn't remember the names after some time. Sometimes, for the smaller or not so important characters, you have to call darn silly names like 小明， 小兰, along that line. there is no need to give background to every single individual characters. It's an unfortunate fact, but some characters appear, merely to propel the story forward, or as the "绿叶" to the main character. Let it go. For instance, there was a "helper" couple in the inn. They are non-essential, and we don't need to know what strokes or martial arts they are learning, or their role in the past 20 years ago. that would go towards allowing the audience to focus on the main storyline.   

Redeeming qualities include the comic moments, such as 点穴，the weird romance that somehow developed without much warning, but was funny still for certain moments. The beautiful sets, the action sequence...

All in all, simplify the plot, reduce the cast (or reduce airtime for the non-lead cast), up the comic moments, limit the time jumps to max twice, and I think this will go up to a 3.5-4 star performance. 

Performance Review: 张惠妹 AMeiZING 世界巡回演唱会2012

Date: 07 January 12
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Singapore Indoor Stadium
Kaki: GeeNah & her 2 friends
Rating: 4.5 stars
Language: Chinese and Cantonese

Sypnosis: 

张惠妹 AMeiZING 世界巡回演唱会2012.

Taiwan pop diva A-Mei will perform in Singapore on January 6 and 7 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium as part of her AMeiZING World Tour Live concert series.

Celebrating 15 years in showbiz, Asia’s reigning Queen of Mandopop - AMei (Zhang Hui Mei) returns to Singapore with not just one, but two nights of exciting musical extravaganza this coming January!

Best known for her powerful vocals, stage charisma and popular hits, AMei made her music debut in 1996 with her first album SISTERS. It immediately topped the Taiwan IFPI chart for a record nine consecutive weeks and made her an instant hit on the music scene. Having graced the covers of TIME Magazine, AsiaWeek magazine, interviewed by CNN and awarded US’ Billboard Most Popular Asian Artiste award among other achievements, she is the undisputable Queen of the Mandarin pop music scene. Often commended as “Pride of Taiwan”, the multi-award winning vocalist and Golden Melody Award’s Best Female Vocalist remains one of the biggest and most popular music sensations in the Mandarin pop music world.

Review: 
So what did I think of it? It was Ameizing. Really. She is a born performer and she had the crowd eating out of her hands by the end of the first song.

My first impression was that the stage wasn't really something to laud about... it was a pretty standard layout, nothing impressive. But that was soon forgotten as Amei's on-stage charisma and her ability to control the crowd truly is top class. Humble and very willing to communicate with the audience, chit-chats, sharing her thoughts about the song she is going to sing... and being able to bring about the passion and emotions for each of the songs, from the fast paced ones.. that got the entire stadium jumping along. At one stage, I wondered if everyone was prancing and jumping around like a mad person as I was, and thus turned around and took a look around. For the very first time, I saw the audience in the balconies... even those on the 3rd level, (generally reserved for the reserved lots, seats which I take for the artistes which I quite like, but I know it's not a very "high" type of performance, and it's okay to just lean back and enjoy the music without jumping along) were standing up and jumping.

Considering that Singaporeans are a generally reserved bunch, hey, I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed Jacky Cheung's performance, but I didn't even stand up to jump along... that of course, could be due to the fact that A-Mei repertoire of songs has quite a number of fast-paced, jump and and dance along type of songs.

She dances and sings and nary breaks a sweat or a beat... it was a major ktv session I think.. and her vocals.. are WOW. If I were to compare to the king of songs, jacky cheung, I would say, his technique is better. On the other hand... she is able to convey the emotions of the songs is better.  That and it was obvious the budget for Jacky Cheung's show was much higher... more dancers, bigger stage...

Oh oh oh..  and I have to add this. Her costumes, and her make up... were really really good... I think they have managed to really make her look darn good... And I have to say, she's one of the rare few who looks good with long wavy locks (without looking aged by the hair)

I am glad I have attended her concert, something I wanted to do at least once in my life... so.. now I can tick that item off my checklist... and for those of you who are deliberating about whether to go to her concert. Don't wait. Go. :) It's ultra fun and definitely worth the money!!!

Performance Review: Wicked

Date: 10 December 11 
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Marina Bay Sands, Grand Theatre
Kaki: SynocoID & JosC
Rating: 4 stars
Language: English


Synopsis:
WICKED tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. 


Review: 
Ohh... having very vague memories of Phantom, and lovely memories of The Lion King, it was a really wonder experience for me to have watched Wicked. It was a lovely lovely musical. 


Well, for one, I am all for the "story behind" fairy tales and all. I loved reading Phantom (the story behind Phantom of the Opera), the romanticized version... I love watching Shrek and their satirical take on Fairy Tales... and I am now, a fan of Wicked. 


I love how the plot weaves in the characters in Wizard of Oz and provide a very different take. I like how evil is never evil, and it's the need for humans to have a common enemy to unite. Think "Weapons of Mass Destruction". In most cases, it is as the wizard sings, "A man's called a traitor, or a liberator. A rich man's a thief, or philanthropist. Is one a crusader, or ruthless invader? It's all in which label is able to persist". When evil is very evil, sometimes I wonder if it's ignorance... 


In any case, philosophical thoughts aside (cuz there's no end to them), the soundtrack is great! I was actualled sucker enough to buy the soundtrack at $30. Only to wonder if it would have cost less if I had just popped into HMV to get it instead. Haha.. ah well, it's too late. Since I've already bought it, better for me to not know how much lesser it COULD have cost. :) 

And everyone's favourite track?  - I'm not that girl... Close your eyes and enjoy... :)

Performance Review: Jump Comic Martial Arts Performance

Date: 15 November 11 
Time: 7:30pm
Location: IBK Seoul Jump Theatre
Kaki: JoC, SY
Rating: 3.5 stars
Language: Korean


Synopsis:
This musical tells about an eccentric family who brags about their amazing martial art skills. The story begins with a man who’s in love with the daughter of this family and visits their home in which the lady’s grandfather, father, mother and uncle, all live together and are all masters of martial arts. Since her grandfather loves to practice martial arts with all the family members every day, the man has no choice but to join them. 

However, contrary to his weak appearance, he discovers that he is actually good at martial arts and the daughter begins to fall in love with him. One day, two thieves break into their house, but there is nothing for them to steal. All they could do is just run away before they get caught.


Review: 
So... the show is good as generally, I love comedy and for them to mix kungfu (aka, taekwondo, gymnastics, acrobatics, wushu, etc) into the whole performance just meant to me, somebody took time out to think it through, wrote a great screenplay, and which resulted in a performance that is hugely entertaining. 

It gets 3.5 stars for being entertaining, 2-stars for props (although I know, one doesn't watch such shows for props, haha, but you know, I was a backstage helper before and I did spend an entire vacation building up props... there were times when I worried for their safety as the props looked unstable, or weak in structure. Especially while they were doing their stunts on some unstable looking sofa/table... 

However, ultimately, gave it 3.5-stars just cuz the entertainment value is really high, and they must have thought about tourists dollars, or maybe they figured the kungfu sort of performer would not do soliloquy very well, and it's best to let the "body" do the talking... :) Which is the smartest move. Of course, it's not like you will feel very inspired or think deeply after the show. It's a light-hearted, feel good type of performance where you are impressed with all acrobatic these performers are. It's not Shakespeare, and it's not meant to be. :) 

Well worth the ticket price, and it's a fun way to end the evening in Seoul if you are visiting.. remember to book your tickets in advance to get good seats (there's an english website and they accept international credit cards) as I think it's pretty popular with the tour groups... 

Performance Review: 2PM Concert in Singapore

Date: 19 November 11
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Singapore Indoor Stadium
Kaki: JoC, SY, JoC's sistar
Rating: 3.5 stars
Language: Korean, with some English

Sypnosis:
The wait is over for all Singapore's hottest fans who will be able to catch their favorite idol group perform their signature music, mind-blowing dance works, and explosive performance in this mega concert LIVE! The first ever full solo 2PM concert "2PM Hands Up Asia Tour in Singapore 2011" kicks off on November 19 at 7:00 pm at the Singapore Indoor Stadium!

The Concert will be featuring a unique T-shape runway and three mosh pit sections to offer fans an up-close experience with their favorite 2PM members. Only 6000 tickets (including 1800 mosh pit tickets) will be on sale!

Review:
I was tempted to put the rating at 3 stars actually, however, the efforts on dancing and singing and attempts to gel with the audience through the use of English did not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

The Good
The cheoreography was good, their dancing abilities cannot be faulted (even those that were a little off by half a beat), understandable since it's live performance afterall.

The guys looked as hot as ever (considering their fans are called Hottest, I think)... and for my very first Kpop concert, I would say they delivered. I wasn't in time to make it for SHINee's concert some months back, but one of the feedback that the inability to converse with the crowd did leave the concert with a somewhat incomplete feeling, I mean, if you are not going to talk to me, wouldn't that be the same as watching a Concert DVD? So the presence of Junsu, Taekyeon and Nickhun helped heaps, a little more effort by the reminaing 3 dudes to have memorized something to say to the audience would have been good, but I am not gonna complain.

The Can Be Improved
Funnily enough, and perhaps as I wasn't in the mosh pits (one of my regrets, since I generally would prefer to be down there, but it was the day I just got back from Seoul and I knew I would be exhausted, and I was), the truly fun and party-like atmosphere only really came alive at the end, as they were bidding their farewells... the only time I stood up and started dancing with the group, but that too ended 2 songs later... Maybe if they had continued this atmosphere for another 4-5 songs, my score would have gone up by 0.5 star.

I was wondering if it was due to the experience of the group, or the more organized nature of these groups, I mean, if you are a dance group, adding fun stuff would be good. For e.g. having a "faked" impromptu dance competition would have been fun... and maybe a broader theme to stage the concert, e.g. a storyline that runs through, with the appropriate songs brought in... I know there were individual performances and they were fun. I don't know, I think a little something could have been added to add that final "ommpphh" would have made the concert experience more complete.

It  was a rather short concert, at only 2hrs15mins, and since they started at about 715. Ending at 930 meant, they still had a good 1.5 hrs from the 11pm deadline that I know Indoor Stadium has before a fine is levied. Did feel somewhat shortchanged, but a quick chat with friends also revealed that they had sang all their "top hits", so maybe it was cuz they did not have sufficient songs under their belt. Or the physical nature of their performance didn't allow them to dance for 3 hours straight. Well., I wonder...

Overall
Anyway, I am just picking at bones, since the average age of the group is like, what, 22? Still young boys, despite all that biceps... I would say, there should still be a lot more time for them to pick up the experience of truly interacting with an audience, and what it means to put up a smashing concert for a live audience (and not the 1/2 songs they do at the shared concerts). They must remember, there is no "MC" to help hype up the audience, they have to do it themselves... You actually do have to say things like, "C'mon stand up, clap along" and continue making us stand and dance hahaha, it seems stupid, but essential when you are leading a huge group of people... we are all sheeps when we are in a crowd... HAHAHA

And, I am still considering, at $218, if they were to come back next year, would it still be a concert that I want to attend? I am half-hearted about it... it had the potential to be so much better if only the boys had more experience under their belt... and the simple fact that I even bought their tickets has already shown me to be a fan, just maybe not as mindless a fan since I am a lot older.

Ah well, this is a question that I can answer when they hold their next concert...

Performance Review: Jacky Cheung 1/2 Century World Tour Concert 2010-11 (張學友1/2世紀巡迴演唱會)

Date: 30 August 11
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Singapore Indoor Stadium
Kaki: ZXL
Rating: 4.5 stars
Language: Chinese and Cantonese

Sypnosis: 
Jacky Cheung Half Century Tour is one of the most-anticipated musical experiences of the year, as Jacky’s live show is renowned for his incredibly high-energy theatrical presentation of graphics, sets and visual elements, all conceptualized by Jacky Cheung himself. He has been repeatedly breaking records with his current world tour. From the opening show at the Shanghai Exhibition Center at the end of last year to the recently concluded concerts, he has already performed more than 50 gigs.


張學友 Half Century Tour （世紀演唱會）是今年最備受注目的樂壇盛事之一。張學友的現場表演是以他精彩而又充滿活力地呈現戲劇化的圖畫、設置和視覺元素而聞名，所有概念來自於張學友本人。他目前的世界巡迴演唱會曾多次打破紀錄。從去年年底在上海展覽中心舉行的開場秀到最近結束的演唱會，他已經表演了超過五十場演出。


Review:
Well, what do you know, the intended partner I had was ms BN... who unfortunately, due to work, had to give up her tickets. So Ms ZXL was the lucky recipient of a $170 ticket! :) Well, I did get a free ride out of it, so I can't complain.


So, back to the concert, it was great! It was almost a display of athleticism from a man who has hit the half century mark. I am not sure if it was meant to, but since the audience seems to be made up of my age group, the thirty-somethings, it actually left me feeling ashamed of how painfully unfit I was in comparison. 


Still, his voice was really really smooth, some parts I thought I detected an occasional crack, but seriously, after that amount of dancing, it is amazing that he could even continue to sing! I would be bent double trying to get my breath back! 


I also have to admit that he lost me the first part of the performance, not that I wasn't involved, but as I didn't know the songs >< But the dancing and musical like storyline kept me engaged. But of course, I lost my head and just drank in all the old songs that he sang... and I just felt so nostalgic about my youth suddenly and how life has just gone back in the blink of an eye. 


One moment, I was in secondary school, training hard at badminton, trying not to be last in class, feeling unfounded angst about the many things in life (as teenagers are apt to be), and finding solace in music during commuting time, with friends in class, at night in bed... wondering about what life has in store for me... 


The next moment, I am all grown up, feeling angst about the youth that has flown by me, trying to live for the moment, as I realize there is no point in looking past, or to the future, as the moment is now. (while balancing that with planning for the future)... and all that while he was singing.. I almost felt like he was singing my life story... 


The power of a long-staying musician, is that his music has really accompanied you through the many trials and tribulations of life. Even now, when a particular song comes on, and if that song was the one that accompanied me through a particularly poignant stage in life... the emotions and memories of that point would come flooding back... 


Music.. is very powerful. That the man can still bring out such emotions after such a long period of time.. is testament to his depth as a musician and his staying power. 

Performance Review: The Lion King

Date: 2 July 10
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands
Kaki: TH, SA, XiaoMei, The Baker & Wife and the exSM
Rating: 4.5 stars
Language: English (with some African? :P)

Sypnosis:
Experience the heart-warming tale of Simba and his epic transformation from wide-eyed cub to King of the Pridelands. Brilliantly reimagined by acclaimed director Julie Taymor, The Lion King explodes with glorious colors, stunning effects and Elton John and Tim Rice’s Academy Award-winning song ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’. Winner of over 70 major international awards, The Lion King has captivated over 51 million people worldwide.

Review:
Fun fun fun. Delayed as this review is... it's quite worth the ticket price (I had purchased the $128) as I can see the quality of the props and generally the quality of the singing. I don't know if it was cause I was watching an afternoon matinee, most of them had really great voices, but there was one/two where the voice wasn't that great? Hence. 4.5 stars, instead of the full five. However, it is still a very high score as it kept me entertained throughout! :D

Costuming and Props were GREAT! Considering that I worked as a backstage crew for a theatre production before, I think whoever did the props are the smartest. The props are much better than those from other musical production.

I could be biased, cuz I love animals, but I really like the "animals" inside the Lion King. Redundant statement I know. But they are lovely and I can really visualize what "animal" they are based on their costuming...

The difference between a production and a movie, is you come out amazed that everyone would be able to reproduce the same great show day in and day out... that is commitment and that is talent! :)

Go watch if you are in Singapore, try to sit on the ground level along the aisle :)

Performance Review: Liao Zhai Rocks! 聊斋

Date: 27 March 10
Time: 8:00
Location: Drama Theatre
Kaki: SyncoID
Rating: 3.5 stars
Language: Chinese (with English & Chinese Subtitles)

Synopsis:
The latest creation by The Theatre Practice – Liao Zhai Rocks!, a spanking new Mandarin period rock musical takes the stage in March 2010!

Inspired by the colourful folk stories of Qing dynasty classic ‘The Strange Tales of Liao Zhai’, Liao Zhai Rocks! vamps up all things period and brings you into a fantastical world of captivating characters. The scholar, Sang Xiao, wins the affections of Ying Ning, a vixen spirit, only to fall for the ploy of a duplicitous ghost. But when he is poisoned and cast into the underworld, it is the vixen spirit who, driven by true love, embarks on a perilous journey to save him…Liao Zhai Rocks! brings together the prolific talents from the hit musical If There’re Seasons… and creative sensations – composer Eric Ng and lyricist Xiaohan. This medley of arts and entertainment promises to jolt you out of your seats!The latest creation by The Theatre Practice – Liao Zhai Rocks!, a spanking new Mandarin period rock musical takes the stage in March 2010!

Inspired by the colourful folk stories of Qing dynasty classic ‘The Strange Tales of Liao Zhai’, Liao Zhai Rocks! vamps up all things period and brings you into a fantastical world of captivating characters. The scholar, Sang Xiao, wins the affections of Ying Ning, a vixen spirit, only to fall for the ploy of a duplicitous ghost. But when he is poisoned and cast into the underworld, it is the vixen spirit who, driven by true love, embarks on a perilous journey to save him…

Liao Zhai Rocks! brings together the prolific talents from the hit musical If There’re Seasons… and creative sensations – composer Eric Ng and lyricist Xiaohan. This medley of arts and entertainment promises to jolt you out of your seats!

Review:
And so... to be truly upfront about this, this was originally a 3 star performance. However, the stage set and props was truly well done, to the point that it added a 0.5 star to the performance.

So what was good? The acting was pretty good, the singing was good for some, medicocre for others. The stage set was excellent and the time taken for set change was phenomenal, truly an F1 performance if you ask me.

What was bad? The lead actress unfortunately. She acts well, she speaks well, she just can't sing well... most of the time, I could feel that she was shouting out the song... maybe that is her way of expressing angst? But it just sounded too forced, to the point that she would go out of tune at parts possibly due to shouting too much the stanza before.

On the other hand, there was this character who was a water spirit, San Niang, who sang much better. Alas, based on her physique, I could imagine why she was not selected to be the lead actress... a true shame.

The guy was forgetable, and as Synco rightly pointed out, there were gaps in the plot. Like how did the vixen fall in love with a guy whose main purpose was to get her into bed? Where was the courtship? Hmm... then we jump straight to her declaring her love for him... but... there wasn't any scene showing/symbolising their love for each other? weird.

Synco's point was that the plot jumped along too quickly... something I disagree with.. but I do agree that there were gaps...

Overall, it was an enjoyable show. I was entertained throughout... there were some tunes that I thought was overused, and the lyrics were a little mismatched. No fault of the lyricist.. but more that this play could have done better with an original track. Tough for me to concentrate on the song, when all I can think of at the moment was, what was the original lyric to this song? And "feeling" that it is a modern tune... being forcefed into an "ancient" performance.

All in all.. as I said, enjoyable. Fairly worth the money, go catch it if you can. Believe it is still showing.

Performance Review: Peggu Hsu 许哲珮

Date: 27 Feb 10
Time: 3:00pm
Location: Esplanade Recital Studio
Kaki: YD
Rating: 3.5 stars
Language: Chinese

Synopsis:
Her lovely little ballads about balloons, finding Neverland, snow in Germany and imaginary friends may have a touch of childlike whimsy. But listen closely and you’ll find in Taiwanese singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer Peggy Hsu’s songs a blossoming of mature beauty.

This will be Peggy’s first concert in Singapore in eight years. Fall under her spell as she performs, with a full band, songs about life, love and magical dreams

Review:

It was surprisingly, entertaining. It could be because she is more mainstream and less of the eclectic underground musician, compared to the other taiwanese performances I have attended, but it was great, in my opinion, at least for $25, I do not feel shortchanged.

Her voice was good and clear, and I am seriously considering the slightly off pitch moments as... being on purpose? Cuz it does seem like she is able to control her vocals pretty well. In addition, the band she brought along was pretty good, and drums and bass always adds depth to a live performance. As compared to those that are pre-recorded, although I can understand that this would largely be an issue of budget. How many people do you want to fly over, provide accomodation and pay for...

Considering that I was feeling extremely lethargic, the perkier tunes towards the end did a lot to help me wake up. Of course, being an "old" person, her tunes like 气球 and 白色婚礼 reached out to me a lot more. I am not quite sure I like the new rendition of 气球, but I appreciate the effort to rework it. And of course, my all time favourite is 白色婚礼 which even made it into the "repeat mode" tune for about a day my Uni days, no easy feat... *Damn, have I just revealed how "matured" I am?*

Anyway, there were two runs of this performance, with a later evening slot, and I am sure the evening performance would be a tighter and better one. :)

Performance Review: Nylas in Wonderland

Date: 22 Oct 2009
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Esplanade Theatre
Kaki: Skycloud & YD
Rating: 2.5 stars
Language: Music

Synopsis:
Slip away to the idyllic dream world of NyLas where bleeps, glitches and samples float amidst shimmering waves of muted sounds, ethereal vocals and pure whimsy, pulsating with a subtle, sometimes funky, riff.

Nominated as 'Best Vocal Group' at this year's Golden Melody Awards, Taiwanese dream-pop group NyLas combines electronic effects and beats, acoustic guitar, fantastical melodies and lyrics, and elements from rock, ballads and even children's songs to create magical music for grownups.

Review:
Well, this was a rather slow performance, maybe there wasn't sufficient rapport being built and maybe they were just too foreign to me and to the bulk of the audience. So once you are not able to build rapport, a lot of things, communication, etc are lost to us...

Still, the music was actually a little more down my alley, as compared to the Wa Wa concert. Pity they were really not that great in building rapport.. so I left the concert feeling somewhat shortchanged...

Performance Review: STOMP

Date: 10 Oct 2009

Time: 8:00 pm

Location: Esplanade Theatre

Kaki: JoC

Rating: 4 stars

Language: Music

Synopsis:

The international theatrical sensation STOMP is back – fresher, faster and funnier than ever, with brand new routines!

With unstoppable energy and toe-tapping exuberance, STOMP takes the clutter and junk of everyday life – everything from boots and bins to Zippo lighters to tractor tyres and even the kitchen sink - and transforms them into a pulsating, witty, utterly irresistible theatrical event.

To date STOMP has set feet stamping, fingers drumming, adrenalin rushing and feel-good flooding through audiences totalling 14 million across 43 countries, from Las Vegas to Sydney. The show is now in its 7th year in London’s West End and its 16th year on Broadway.

STOMP is a unique multi-award-winning combination of percussion, theatre, dance and comedy that consistently wows audiences and critics alike with its infectious rhythms and ‘pure stage magic’. STOMP will get your pulse racing and leave you stomping for more!

Review:

Well, this was a performance that I had regretted missing the last time they were here in Singapore, so I was really glad to have the opportunity to catch it this time.

Hehe.. was really glad to get a lift from JoC to Esplanade. Getting to Esplanade is really a pain.. as it's rather far from the MRT, even though it's linked via the underpass. And there is a bloody $2 ERP that cannot be avoided if I take a cab, even on bloody Sunday. (And today is Sat, so no hope)... AND.. to get a cab to go home from there is another pain... no cabs want to come into the cab stand, as they are all waiting for us idiots to call .. sorry.. sidetracked from the performance review...

Yes, it was good, a trifle too loud at times, so it's a little jarring. JoC, who is taller than me, did complain of the fact that the seats were rather cramped.. so she can't move. And, the aircon was rather stuffy, so it made her feel sleepy and tired. I was okay actually, but it could be colder.

Anyway, YES, it was a good performance. I was glad I went. I think they are all terribly talented, v creative, and the program was funny. Not too sure how it compared against the previous perfomance, since it's supposed to be fresher, faster and funnier. It was really quite funny. And they were quite good at interacting with the audience.. and I realise that I am quite retarded when it comes to hand foot coordination (I don't believe the stars would predict that I can be a percussionist/drummer anytime soon).

I can't say I was mesmerized, but I was kept entertained from start to end. Maybe I did fidget a little, but it's in my nature to not be able to sit still for prolonged periods.. not in the same position that is.. :)

Should catch it, definite eye-opener. The interesting thing to note is, this would not be something that I think I can watch again.. hhmmm.. it's a good one time type of show.. :)

Performance Review: 魏如萱 - 泡泡音乐会

Date: 11 Sep 2009
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Esplanade Recital Studio
Kaki: YD & Skycloud
Rating: 3 stars
Language: Mandarin

Synopsis:
Ex-frontwoman of Taiwanese group Natural Q, singer-songwriter Wei Ru Xuan – affectionately known to fans as “Waa” (“dolly”in Mandarin) – is one of the biggest female voices in the Taiwanese indie music scene today.

Since going solo, she has sparked, with her clear vocals and unique sound, a new wave of music infused with sweet freshness, turning youthful musings into blissful ditties such as those in her Bubbles and La Dolce Vita albums, and her duets with SodaGreen lead singer Qing Feng in Love in Bohemia for the musical Turn Left, Turn Right.

Review:

Well... hmm... it was rather interesting a program... her voice was definitely unique. Not quite my cup of tea frankly, although I can definitely see why there's such a fascination with her and why she would be hot in the indie scene in taiwan (supposedly, since that's what the synopsis stated, I wouldn't know, since I am not not tracking the scene there, nor am I there in Taiwan for that matter).

Couple of songs that I think will grow on me, but I have heard better. Reading that she had a duet with Qing Feng just makes me wonder who has a clearer voice. IMHO, it would be Qing Feng, and I would say that I would make a fair judge, since I have heard both of them perform live.

Still, there was a lot of chat and banter in the performance, and it was a very interesting look into her character. Given that she is in the "indie" scene, one would supposed that while a lot of the dialogue was probably pre-planned, it still came across as fairly natural and read. It adds a refreshing touch.

Would I attend her concert again, maybe not, since it's not quite down my alley. But I am sure there will be ten others for every me, who enjoyed her performances... Let me rephrase this, if this current performance was somewhat lacking due to the lack of songs (cuz there was more banter and talk than songs) could be due to the lack of songs, if there was a next time, and I get free or really cheap tickets, I may rethink my position. hehe.

Performance Review: The Crab Flower Club

Date: 22 Aug 2009

Time: 8:30 pm

Location: Drama Centre Theatre (National Library)

Kaki: YD

Rating: 3 stars

Language: English

Synopsis:

Five sisters prepare a feast of crabs for their father. This work is partly influenced by poems in Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xue Qin. As the women plan to start a poetry club, bouts of ‘live’ painting and interludes from the works of Franz Liszt punctuate the drama.

Review:

Ok, from a non-artsy point of view, it was fairly entertaining. However... HOWEVER, there were some definite kinks in the program. Such as the fact that there was one particular actress, who had a definite chinese lilt to her voice. It is actually ok, but just a little jarring at times.

Having said that, her performance was good... and so were the rest. But for the topics covered, am just wondering if a chinese play would have done more justice to the topics, and the intricacies... at times, with the dialogue, etc, I felt that they were banging us over the head with the topic of rape, chastity, the helplessness of ladies then. It could have done with a more delicate touch.

But I understand the concerns, for an "ang moh" audience, who may not have grown up with Chinese literature, these may require some headbashing and "in your face" dialogue before it can be made obvious. Some things, to me, are best left unsaid, as the entire experience of why and what and how can be left to the intepretation of the audience. Ah well... still, applause for the show.

Performance Review: Video Games Live

I would do another blog entry on Video Games Live, since I am apt to write about the programs I go to... but Synco has done such a great job of it.. heck... :) Enjoy her version of things.

Click here.

Performance Review: Shut Up! Play

Date: 13 June 2009

Time: 8:00 pm

Location: Esplanade Recital Studio

Kaki: YD

Rating: 3.5 stars

Language: Music (with some English "subtitles")

Synopsis:
A delightfully offbeat comedic musical-play that uses strong audio-visual elements and zany musicians/actors that make music from teacups, water, boxes, grunts and squeals, looping sounds and mixing them with audience input. All this is tied in with a simple Alice In Wonderland influenced tale.Musical numbers including a beautifully atmospheric indie tune and a guaranteed club hit complete with glow-in-the-dark drumsticks will get you bopping away and… did you know that blowing bubbles are woefully underused as a sound effect.. check it out for yourself!

Review:

1) Was it mind-blowing?
Not really, but definitely an above-average performance.
2) Was I expecting something more like Stomp?
I was.
4) Was I disappointed?
A little, and that was more my fault than anything, since I went in with pre-conceived notions of what the program should be.
5) Did I come out feeling displeased?
Not really, as I could see the effort of the performers for the show.
6) Was it engaging?
Ok lah, it was a nice break from another movie, and it's always nice to try and feel 'atas', and go to a performance as opposed to a movie.
7) Any other thoughts?
Well, I think there was a little bit of a cultural barrier, meaning, some of the jokes were very japanese. I got most of them, but some, while I understand how it would be funny in japan, sorta went "whoosh" over my head. It was funny at times, a little long-winded (and that's of course due to the fact that I am a very impatient person).

All in all, can lah, watchable. :)

Performance Review: Olé! The Latin Music Comedy Explosion

Date: 30 May 2009
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: Esplanade Recital Studio
Kaki: YD
Rating: 4 stars
Language: English (with a little Spanish/Chinese)

Synopsis:

Three amigos duel with flaming flamenco guitars, sing with ping-pong balls in their mouths and keep audiences impressed with their extensive repertoire of slapstick comedy and music, ranging from salsa and swing to blues and jazz.

Review:

It was funny and entertaining. Slapstick definitely, but frankly, if you wanted something really intelligent, this is not the correct music program for you.

On hindsight, it was one of those moments where reality was suspended, they had stunts where you just waited for things to go wrong. And when they did go wrong, it was either planned, or they recovered with another joke, which is really great showmanship.

Were they hot looking boys? Not really, were they very funny people and great entertainers? They were. Would I watch this again, definitely (if there was a change to the repertoire, hehe). They were really good guitarists at the end of it. Great comedy.