Tokio Hotel Singapore: THE WEEK THAT WAS: Singfest Day 1

A/N: I'm really beginning to like this reviewer.

Article by Christopher Toh.

This year’s Singfest was given a theme for each of the days. Day One was the “pop” or as I call it, Eye Candy Day. Day Two was Urban Attitude, and Day Three was Get Deaf Day.

Admittedly, it’s a little difficult for me to review Singfest. No, I’m not copping out. But here’s the deal: Most times, people say they want a review, but what they really want is a report. So I’ve decided to separate the two in a simple way. A review is a subjective commentary on a situation, a report is just what the heck happened.

THE REPORT: Quite a few acts played at Singfest this year: Inch Chua, The Like, Orianthi, Wonder Girls, Tokio Hotel, Katy Perry, Diane Birch, Jully Black, Kool And The Gang, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Great Spy Experiment, Hail The Villain, Ian Brown, The Vines, 30 Seconds To Mars, Smashing Pumpkins. It was held at Fort Canning Park.

THE VERDICT: Some people liked it. Some people didn’t. Sixx didn’t get to play. Some people didn’t like it.
And now, the full version…

INCH CHUA

People rushing in to catch Inch Chua’s soundcheck – that’s how good she is
Technically, Singfest was supposed to have started at 5pm, so I got there at 5pm, but thanks to a lengthy soundcheck by Orianthi, everything is late. That means Inch Chua (for that’s the name of the “local band”), kicked off this year’s Singfest as people are rushing in. How that affected her is anybody’s guess, but if I were her, I would’ve taken it like they’re rushing in to see me.

Anyway, Inch plays songs from her new album. I like it. About 50 percent of the crowd agree with me. 40 per cent don’t seem to care either way. The rest are buying food and beer. And the sound mix is actually much better than last time.

Inch got attacked by rabid tee-eating birds before the soundcheck

THE LIKE

Four chicks wearing mini-dresses rockin’ out with retro-pop tunes. What’s there not to like? I like The Like.

The Like backstage

ORIANTHI

This girl can really fire up the fretboard with her playing. It’s an amazing thing to see. And she’s quite young too – only 25. Although I’m not crazy about her attire, which included leopard “prings”, and there were times when I thought she was just getting too serious about it. But when you can play guitar like that, who’s to say what to wear? (I mean, just look at what I’m wearing.)

WONDER GIRLS

Five chicks wearing tight clothing and shakin’ their bon bons with boppy pop tunes. What’s there not to like? But don’t take my word for it: Ask Desiree and Sezairi.

TOKIO HOTEL

Some girl remarks: “That singer looks like Adam Lambert”. Correction, say I. These guys have been rockin’ out since they were 13. They’re now only, what, 20? 21? Nobody even heard of Adam Lambert until two years ago. Besides, Bill actually looks like a cross between Dave Gahan AND Adam Lambert.

KATY PERRY

I love to watch a girl wearing a bikini jumping up and down and playing the guitar. But there was something about Katy’s performance that just didn’t resonate with me.

Sure, I like listening to her songs and I think that, musically anyway, her live versions rock better than the CD. Still, 5,999 other people liked it, so maybe it was just me.

Anyway, she gets two people to dance during Hot & Cold, and one of them, a young boy, totally wimps out! Dude, you should have brung it. But I understand, you’re still young, no chest hair, probably cannot legally smoke or drink. You’ve still got a nice long way to go. Enjoy it.

You got to kiss the California Gurl and like it. At least I hope you did. It’s something you can tell your grandchildren (minus the wimp out part if you want to boast – add the wimp out part if you want to teach them a “don’t be like me” lesson).