From Westlife to Michael Learns To Rock: Why do evergreen bands love coming to Singapore?

By:
On:
In: Asia

A 2007 Taipei Times content that attempted to refute this mood highlights the Danish band’s “undiminished” popularity in Asia as a result of their “avoid noisy beats or loops that get in the way of a wonderful music and an emotionally cohesive verse-chorus-verse music construction.” &nbsp,

The band’s lead vocalist Jascha Richter said that because they are from a non-English talking country, their songs are “quite quick for non-native listeners to know”. &nbsp, Some of their viewers are furthermore learning English and the singer’s music are sold as MP3 downloads with song sheets, the post added. &nbsp,

When their records were released in England, however, they were told their lyrics were” too naive”, guitarist Mikkel Lentz revealed. But this” convenience” that’s resulted in them struggling to be heard in Europe and the US is probably “one of the techniques to our success” in Asia, where the band plays a different set list for music.

” In Europe, it’s more up-tempo. They want to weird out, leap and dancing. You can hear the singing craze of enjoying music in Asia. We play, they sing”, he told Taipei Times.

I believe this successful method also applies to recently-reunited Scandinavian band M2M, whose Asian fandom has since flooded their social media accounts pleading for return music in their state. Clearly we have n’t forgotten the beloved duo– or the lyrics to their perennial bangers Mirror Mirror, Pretty Boy, Do n’t Say You Love Me, The Day You Went Away … You get the drift.

Therefore, I have no doubt that Singapore’s reputation as a top concert venue serves as a successful enjoyment and economic approach to draw these bands back in the day. Trying which, it seems nostalgia usually sells. &nbsp,

However, in my opinion, the transfer of these songs to the area is driven more by a fundamental factor. Our innate interest in music and an equally intuitive understanding of what makes the best KTV song contribute to this culture-shaping devotion for these rings whose songs we’ve memorized. &nbsp,

The more ingrained this enduring charm, nevertheless, the more inexplicable it becomes. You can always tell when a band has it, but eventually you ca n’t quite pinpoint how or why it started at all.

Some may call it a gut feeling.

Continue Reading

Taylor Swift concert review in Singapore: A near-perfect celebration of the singer’s legacy thus far

By:
On:
In: Asia

Additionally, the fixed designs merit praise for advancing the themes of each era. For instance, I had never previously listened to Swift’s 2020 album Long prior to this performance. Despite the interactive history videos that brought to mind the movie’s brooding designs, its area on the Eras Tour was one of my favorites. The Midnights part of the concert deserves another mention because I sincerely believed Taylor Swift had climbed that ladder into the clouds.

Taylor Swift herself likewise appeared to be having fun during the program. She eventually shared with the audience the details of her mother’s youth in Singapore and introduced her to the audience. She also acknowledged the foreign fans who came to see the music and pleaded with them to “make some noise.”

Taylor Swift’s total set list for his first Eras Tour performance in Singapore is as follows:

Lover Age
1. Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince &nbsp, Miss Americana &
2.   Cruel Summer
3. The Gentleman,  
4. You Need To Calm Down, You Need To Calm Down.
5. Lover
6. The Archer  

Brave Time
7. Unperturbed
8. You Belong With Me, &nbsp
9. Like Story &nbsp.

Long Time
10.” The Crap Year is upon us.
11. Willow
12. Marjorie
13. Champagne Issues
14. Handle It

Reputation Age
15 Are You Ready For It?
16. Delicate
17. Do n’t Blame Me, Do n’t Blame Me!
18. Appearance What You Made Me Do, &nbsp

Speak Then time
19. Enchanted
20. Much Live &nbsp

Red Age
21.22
22. Not Do We Ever Regroup Are We Ever Getting Back Together?
23. I Knew You Were Difficulty, I Knew You Were.
24.  All To Effectively

Tradition time
25. The 1
26. Betty
27. The Next Great American Dynasty
28. August
29. Illicit Activities
30. My Tears Ricochet
31. Sweatshirt

1989 Age
32. Fashion
33. Blank Space
34. ‘ Shake It Off’
35. Wildest Desires
36.  Bad Body

Acoustic Instruments
37. Starlight and Mine
38. I do n’t want to live forever and do n’t want to dress.

Midnights Age
39. Haze of lilac
40. Anti-Hero
41. Midnight Rain &nbsp
42. Vigilante S**t &nbsp
43. Bejeweled
44. Mastermind
45. Karma

Continue Reading

Meet Yoasobi, Japan’s hottest musical duo who recently performed their first Singapore concert

By:
On:
In: Asia

In fact, Singapore fans “were so passionate” that Ayase, who serves as a composer for the group, might just use that passion as an inspiration for a future song.

He elaborated: “Singapore fans are passionate and have a very deep love towards Yoasobi. There are all sorts of people here who are all passionate towards the same goal. That’s probably something I would infuse into the music if I ever composed a song inspired by Singapore.”

When asked to explain Yoasobi’s charm as musicians, Ayase mused: “There are many charms of Yoasobi, Musically, we can take on different genres of music. We’re free in the sense that we’re not constrained to one type of music.

“Ikura and I are different, in terms of (musical) texture, but the one thing we have in common is our playfulness. We’re playful in how we approach music. We have a deep love for the music and we release songs that we can present to our fans with confidence, that are based on our playfulness.”

Ayase and Ikura ended the session by re-emphasising their love for Singapore fans and their eagerness to perform here again.

“Thank you for all the love you have given us. Thanks to your love, our Singapore concert was possible. We want to return to Singapore, so please continue listening to our music. We’ll continue making great music, so please continue to give us your support,” Ikura said eagerly.

Ayase echoed her sentiments, adding: “I was very happy to the faces of our fans… We do want to come back again, so please listen to our music and perhaps, perform in a bigger venue so that we can meet even more fans in Singapore next time.

It’s safe to say that Yoasobi’s maiden concert in Singapore was a memorable experience for both the group and their fans alike. Given their continuous rise, it seems like Yoasobi’s story has only just begun.

Continue Reading

‘No culture’, ‘super boring’: Malaysian celebrity Hero Tai draws flak for criticising Singapore on Taiwan show

By:
On:
In: Asia

Huang also used the analogy of cover songs, explaining that “if a song’s original version is not popular, but the cover version is, it is not the fault of the cover singer”. They never said to be original, only that the cover is nicer, he added.

However, it seemed Tai wasn’t done. He upped the ante, retorting that one doesn’t need to stay longer than three days in Singapore and that Singapore’s attractions like Jewel’s Rain Vortex and Gardens by the Bay are “man-made”.

He finally ended his verbal tirade calling the Singaporean guests on the show “man-made people.”

Hero quickly garnered criticism online with one netizen writing: “When a person has an inferiority complex, he will belittle others to make himself feel superior.”

Other netizens also praised the Singaporean guests on the show for responding with grace in the face of the unprovoked attacks saying, “Only the rich can afford to be so gracious.”

Continue Reading

Singapore will have a K-pop international high school, in collaboration with BTS’ Jungkook’s alma mater

By:
On:
In: Asia

K-pop fans will be familiar with the School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA). After all, the prestigious arts school is the alma mater of multiple South Korean idols such as BTS’ Jungkook, Blackpink’s Jisoo and Ive’s Wonyoung.

Now, students from Southeast Asia can experience the learning curriculum of their favourite idols, thanks to SOPA’s collaboration with Singapore Raffles Music College (SMRC). Called SOPA-SRMC, this school will be Singapore’s first-ever K-pop international high school.

During the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Seoul, SOPA principal Hosung Lim said: “As an educator, I am honoured that our educational accomplishments are being recognised globally through this MOU with Singapore Raffles Music College. We are determined to further elevate the School of Performing Arts Seoul’s reputation as an exemplary educational institution not only in Korea but also overseas as an educational institution specialising in K-pop.”

In their press release, SOPA and SMRC announced that they “will identify students from Southeast Asia, primarily Singapore, and offer them specialised K-pop education”.

These students will then hone their skills and be mentored as they are “immersed in a rich tapestry of regional influences”. Additionally, SRMC will facilitate admissions for Korean students aspiring to study abroad.

SOPA-SRMC will conduct all its classes in English. The school will also have a curriculum that’s taught by faculty members from SOPA’s Education System department, which will integrate Korean and Singaporean educational systems.

Ryan Goh, executive director of SRMC said: “The college recognises the impressive achievements of School of Performing Arts Seoul in producing quality graduates with a global footprint. We see this as a unique opportunity to bring the essence of specialised performing arts education from Korea into Singapore and Southeast Asia. This will showcase the exceptional value of industry-focused education and provide the impetus to spur the industry forward regionally.”

Continue Reading