Venues: The Padang, Singapore
Date: 1st October 2022
Promoter: Singapore GP Pte Ltd
Review by: Anna F.
Special Thanks: The Singapore GP Pte Ltd Team
Photos by Lee Jiawen: TLC | Suede
It was an expected Day 2 at the Singapore Grand Prix but the record turnout of 302,000 fans – the highest in the race’s 13-year history – proved that even torrential rain wasn’t going to dampen anyone’s spirits. Donning ponchos and hats, trying to shield themselves as much as possible from the relentless downpour, which caused the field to be muddy and slippery, everyone turned up more than ready for Singapore’s biggest party in three years. The show was just fated to go on as planned as the skies cleared up just in time for international superstars, Black Eyed Peas.
The American pop-rap group emerged with guns blazing, and with a new member intact: J. Rey Soul, who was a finalist on Season 1 of The Voice of the Philippines, joining the group officially in 2018. Together with will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, they grooved and pogo-ed along with the audience to a set full of well-loved hits including “Let’s Get It Started”, “Boom Boom Pow”, “Where Is The Love?”, and “I Gotta Feeling”.
Spreading love, not animosity, the group showed us all that they really do party to the extremo, even having dance segments where each of them showed off their chops. will.i.am also acknowledged Singapore as being a beautiful country with beautiful people and cool vibes. Coming from the frontman of a musical group that sold an estimated 80 million records, the compliment definitely didn’t fall on deaf ears.
One love – that’s far from all they’ve got but they certainly did give a whole lotta heart to their performance, keeping the energy level up with every song that they delivered. They didn’t just rely on the hype of the tunes everyone grew up jamming to either. Their setlist included some newer ones like “MAMACITA” off their eighth studio album titled Translation and their latest single “Don’t You Worry”, which were a nice change from what we’ve all become used to over the years.
With beats so big, it wasn’t possible to not be captivated by what was happening onstage. will.i.am even joked with the crowd halfway through saying, “Somebody said you guys are tired. Somebody said you guys are hungry. Somebody said you guys are sleepy. Y’all still wanna party with the Black Eyed Peas?” The crowd, of course, responded with deafening cheers, ready to keep the joint fizzlin’ and sizzlin’.
It goes without saying that their fans met them halfway – and also came from all around the world, too, with Belgium, Australia, Italy, and the UK all represented. Guess we all just can’t get enough of this charming bunch and their cheesy tongue-in-cheek sense of humour. “Pump It” also saw the stage ablaze (literally) as the pyrotechnics elevated the already rambunctious tune.
Without a doubt, they proved that they’re on that next level sh*t, from the psychedelic graphics that were on display behind them to the sickest and slickest of rhythms they never fail to come up with. We’ll surely be rockin’ them beats for a long time to come.
Eso es lo que tú y yo vamo’ a hace’.
Up next were the headliners for Saturday: Irish pop sweethearts in Westlife.
“We are all dreamers but are you ready to dream together?” The words dramatically flashed on the screen before the boys emerged from the shadows and took to the stage – with big smiles and dressed to kill, might I add. Comprising members Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne, and Kian Egan – Westlife, as we all grew to love – were in front of us in the flesh.
You know I’m not lying when I say that the show was a spectacle in itself, with colourfully aesthetic graphics and a tasteful use of lasers, which complimented the already high-octane show. The sheer effort that went into the set was almost beyond comprehensible. The guys went through more than three outfit changes – a feat in itself. All whilst delivering impeccable vocals and cheesy yet charming moves that were carefully choreographed and executed to perfection.
The setlist also consisted of a mix of upbeat and slow songs and had something for everyone. Besides classics like “When You’re Looking Like That”, “Swear It Again”, and “Uptown Girl”, the quartet even performed a medley of ABBA songs including “Mamma Mia”, “Gimme Gimme Gimme”, “Money Money Money”, “Take A Chance On Me”, and “Dancing Queen”.
“Twenty-three years later and this is the biggest gig we’ve ever done. We waited for this for a very long time. The fans keep us going. Thank you very much for being here,” Kian shared, as he beckoned everyone to sing along and have the time of our lives.
Injecting some humour into their 90-minute performance, the boys also joked around, taking a jab at everyone who wasn’t following them on Instagram. “Security, could you escort those who are not following us on Instagram, please?” Nicky asked playfully and was met with a retort from Kian who quipped that his bandmate was the one who was desperate for more followers.
Charmed by the reception they were receiving, the guys found a moment to announce that they were going to make another appearance on our shores and we wouldn’t even have to wait that long for it as they would be returning in February next year.
Despite being away from his family on his daughter Layla’s birthday, of all days, Mark’s voice reached, soared, and hit all the right notes. The crowd very sweetly obliged with a lovely birthday song too.
It was a nice touch for the boys to create for their fans a little world of our own in the form of a sensorial extravaganza, as we sang along to the evergreen tunes we all knew and loved. And it’s nice knowing that they’ll always stay true to their roots because they know how far it got them.
Their encore consisted of “Hello My Love”, which was the lead single from the band’s eleventh studio album, Spectrum, and a moving rendition of “You Raise Me Up”. And with that, they ignited a fire in all of our hearts with a love that burns eternally.
So I say thank you for the music.
For giving it to me.