Kenji Wu
Rainie Yang
Alicia Keys
Kenji Wu
Kenji Wu
Rainie Yang
Rainie Yang
Penny Tai
Penny Tai
Eric Chou
Eric Chou
Hoobastank
Joi Chua
Ferlyn G
Chriz Tong
Gilded Edge
While some folks spent their New Year's Eve and New Year's Day at Celebrate 2017, 18,000 others were jamming to music superstars from both east and west at Rock On! 2017.
Held at The Float at Marina Bay, IMC Live’s multi-million dollar countdown concert kicked off at about 5.30pm with 21-year-old Taiwanese crooner Eric Chou, who sang five songs including two of his most popular hits ‘How Have You Been’ and ‘Let’s Not Be Friends Anymore’. The celebration continued with local acts Gilded Edge, Chriz Tong, Ferlyn G and Joi Chua.
By 8pm, the crowd had grown much larger - just in time to see Kenji Wu rise up from beneath the platform, armed with his guitar and ready to delve into his first song of the night ‘You Are My Jupiter’. A medley of ‘A General Order’ and a Mandarin version of Queen's 'We Will Rock You' followed, before the Taiwanese singer got playful with his own rendition of Pikotaro’s viral ‘PPAP’ song (which amused concertgoers) and ended with a few ballads.
"I don't know what difficulties you've been through, but I hope you leave them behind in 2016," Kenji said in-between songs. The 37-year-old made no mention of his recent sudden hearing loss, but judging from his performances on Saturday night, the condition has not affected his musicality and showmanship in any way.
Next to be lifted onto the stage, also with a guitar in hand, was Malaysian-born songstress Penny Tai. After delivering a tender and emotional performance of ‘How’s That’, the 38-year-old quipped, "I'm actually not so gentle," and burst out into an energetic line of 'We Will Rock You' to prove it.
However, her inner balladeer was soon back on display for the rest of her set, which included the classic Meteor Garden ending theme ‘The Love You Want’.
45-year-old Taiwanese rocker Shin, sporting blonde hair and a low-cut top, sang his heart out and bounced around the stage like a young performer half his age. He also displayed his softer side with a powerful delivery of ballad 'Wish You Were Here' after dedicating it to audience members who were at the show by themselves, as well as a cover of A-Mei’s ‘Hostage’'.
With the gig slightly over-running at this point, Rainie Yang was quickly introduced when Shin left.
After getting things started with an upbeat version of the heart-wrenching ‘Ambiguous’, the 32-year-old shared that this was her first time feeling so warm while ushering in the New Year. "I've always celebrated New Year in Taiwan when it's cold, but I feel very comfortable now," she said.
Despite the fact that she was battling a nasty flu and had to be put on drip before the show, Rainie's singing was not impacted and she still managed to impress us by hitting all the right notes for ‘Take Me Away’, ‘Wishing for Happiness’ and a cover of Beyond’s Cantonese classic ‘Cold Rainy Night’, which she performed on King of Masked Singer. “I'm eating lots of medicine and taking care of my throat,” she reassured us.
It was 10.15pm when English music fans finally got to rock out to American band Hoobastank, who came in with a bang with 'Just One' and 'Same Direction'. But of course, it was ‘The Reason’, which dominated radio airwaves in the early to mid-2000s, that garnered the rowdiest reception from listeners, who sang along and waved their colourful light sticks around excitedly.
Dramatic lightning and thunder effects signalled Alicia Keys’ entrance at a little past 11pm, as she coolly walked onto the stage and to the piano that was moved to the centre of the platform specially for her. "I have one question: am I in Singapore tonight?" roared the 35-year-old, to which the crowd cheered in response.
After getting everybody revved up with ‘The Gospel’ and ‘28 Thousand Days’, the R&B diva slowed things down with crowd favourites ‘You Don’t Know My Name’, ‘Fallin’’, ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ and
‘Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart’. “I’m so honoured to come all the way here to celebrate the New Year with you,” gushed the multiple Grammy Award-winning artiste. “Thank you for the warm welcome, and thank you for getting us out of the cold weather in New York!”
With the clock inching closer to midnight, Alicia took the chance to share her thoughts before retreating backstage. “We're such a beautiful blended family of people of colours and beliefs, and I hope in 2017, we can more tolerant and loving,” she said, wishing concertgoers success in the New Year.
The epic showcase ended with a ten-second countdown led by hosts Irene Ang and Xiao Zhong, before a spectacular fireworks display lit up the Singapore sky and local band Shirlyn & The UnXPected closed the celebrations.
Source: Toggle byTammi Tan