Venue: Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore
Date: 2nd March 2026
Promoter: Live Nation Singapore
Review by: Anna F.
Special Thanks: The Live Nation Singapore team
As the nostalgic melody of Oasis’ Don’t Look Back in Anger reverberated through the Indoor Stadium and the lights dimmed, OneRepublic emerged from the shadows to open with RUNAWAY, setting the tone for the night with the upbeat number.
Hailing from Colorado Springs, the pop rock titans delivered a masterclass in arena pop, curating a setlist of anthemic perennials that resonated with lifelong devotees and casual listeners alike. “This is the songs-you-know tour,” Ryan proclaimed more than halfway through the setlist, a nod to the band’s staggering catalogue of hits. Performing Stop and Stare, Secrets, I Lived, Counting Stars, and If I Lose Myself, OneRepublic took their time to showcase their repertoire spanning 24 years as a band.
The night wasn’t without its surprises. The band treated the audience to Need Your Love, an unreleased melancholic gem that echoed hints of their earlier discography. Also making an appearance for the first time ever live was Choke, off their fourth studio album, Oh My My. The deep cut was one of the options from a fan sign that Ryan spotted.
In signature Tedder fashion, the frontman effortlessly localised the lyrics of Good Life, swapping “Colorado” for “Singapore” to a deafening roar of approval. Coupled with his infamous ad libs, falsettos, and impressive piano work, the surprisingly humourous singer, who donned a simple Metallica shirt with one in-ear monitor removed most of the night, held the audience in the palm of his hand.
He also expectedly included some of the songs he wrote for other acclaimed artists in the setlist, performing Beyonce’s Halo and Leona Lewis’ Bleeding Love. Prior to belting Halo, he quipped, “I sing it better than anybody in this audience.”
I don’t need a drink just to fill this cup but I might need the singer of OneRepublic to seriously consider a career in stand-up comedy if this whole music thing falters.
Apart from his regular antics, which included jumps off some of the elevated platforms onstage, the performance was punctuated with poignant, unscripted moments. The band paused to celebrate a crew member’s 13th year working with them with champagne. “Consider this champagne a contract for a billion years,” Ryan said, using the traditional Cantonese toast of yam seng, albeit not dragging out the ‘yam’, but still, A for effort! It was a small yet thoughtful gesture that spoke volumes. Ryan even Facetimed his mum and stepdad – another sweet moment that added a little bit of sunshine to the live experience.
During the acoustic segment, Ryan praised Singapore once again, using their song Life in Colour to say that Singapore looks like no other. This wasn’t just stage banter; Tedder’s love for the city is now indelibly etched in ink, as evidenced by his new Merlion tattoo he showed off on Instagram. For OneRepublic, Singapore isn’t just another tour stop – it’s a permanent part of their story.
The production design was equally meticulous, with a lighting palette specifically choreographed to mirror the emotional arc of each track. This was most vivid during Apologize, where the stage was initially bathed in fiery crimson hues that bled into a warm cobalt as Ryan sang the iconic line, “I loved you with a fire red, now it’s turning blue.”
With a single spotlight on lead guitarist Zach Filkins, we were spoiled with a flamenco-style solo and a total auditory masterpiece, complete with intricate looping, percussive tapping, and expert strumming. In true deadpan fashion, however, Tedder commented a brief, “That was okay,” cheekily rating the spectacle a 5.5. “You were better than in Osaka. You’ll get there one day,” he said teasingly.
“We absolutely love it here. We have so many memories from Singapore,” Ryan said, reminiscing about the first time the band performed at a festival in Singapore in 2008, with Alicia Keys as the headliner.
It’s clear that OneRepublic’s unabashed affinity for this city runs deep. If the crowd’s cheers were any indication, the feeling is entirely mutual. And I don’t know what you’ve been told, but it seems they could get used to the good life here (spicy chilli crabs included!). I’m sure they’ll return to our shores soon.
I ain’t worried ’bout it.