After a long hiatus, Sammi Cheng who had at the start of this century conquered both music and movie markets, finally arrived in town for her comeback concert.

The mood this year was perhaps more sentimental. At her last centre stage Sammi vs Sammi gig in Aug 2004, she dazzled with her bling bling costumes and charmed the audience effortlessly with her radio and KTV friendly hits. After going through a particularly rough patch the last two years, it was as though the event last evening served as a rallying point for Sammi and her fans. Apart from proclaiming her return, it was an opportunity for her fans to show their loyalty to the diva.

In an outfit and make up probably inspired by Ayumi, Sammi took to the stage with three Cantonese songs and asked the obligatory question, “Should I speak in Mandarin or Cantonese?”

Can someone send an email to all record companies and production houses in Hong Kong to inform artistes that while people in Singapore are rather multilingual, there are some- who because of certain regulations-, were not exposed to dialects in the mass media, and therefore not given a chance to take up Cantonese. Anyway, each time an artiste from Hong Kong asks this question on stage, he or she invariably ends up speaking Cantonese. Is that a trick question?!

Oh, I think my Cantonese has improved a teeny weeny bit. I understood like 20% of whatever she said. Muahahah. It was futile to have a translator, cos Sammi’s monologue came fast and furious. Judging from the reaction all round, the audience enjoyed her jokes totally. There was a part where she talked about her parents. I think it was supposed to be touching, cos everyone kept silent. Haiyah, dunno lah. Ask someone else who went.

Yanzi, whose guest appearance was announced after 80% of tickets were sold, came in a subdued get up. While most guest artistes usually do one duet, Yanzi and Sammi sang 「遇見」 and 「綠光」. They recounted the first time they met. Sammi was filming an MV in Taiwan years ago, and she thought to herself, “Why did these people bring a bamboo pole to this place?” During her break last year, Sammi abstained from all public appearances, but showed up at Yanzi’s HK concert.

(This was done mostly in Mandarin, because Miss Sng’s Cantonese also cannot make it.)

I thought Yanzi did a lovely rendition of “Sometimes love just ain’t enough”.

A series of dance hits were presented back to back in the second part of the show. Her shouting in the mic seemed over the top at times though. But the audience on the floor (aka the PA and PB blocks) lapped it up, evident from the fact that most, if not all, of them were on their feet throughout this segment.

In her first encore segment, Sammi appeared in a white suit, tailored to give a mischievous peek at her red bra top beneath. As she descended from the stage, the number of fans who thronged forward was breathtaking. It was almost hilarious as Sammi was seen pulling away from people who grabbed her hand and refused to let go.

As per previous concerts, she invited two fans on stage. She had a condition though. “一定要选肥妹.” Her good natured ribbing at the fans from KL and SG left everyone in stitches. The two girls were very sporting too. In fact, the Singaporean fan even shouted into the mic, “HELLO SINGAPORE!” Hahahah! I’m so proud of her.

Unknown to the public, there was a second encore planned after「終身美麗」. To the surprise of the crew, her entourage left the Indoor Stadium after that song and left 60% of the crowd waiting in vain.

＊Photo credits: Unusual Productions

之前遭遇事業低潮的亞洲天后張惠妹已實實在在衝回中文樂壇最前線。 「STAR」專輯自發行以來連續四個星期蟬聯台灣唱片銷售榜第一名；首波單曲「如果你也聽說」也迅速登上933「醉心龍虎榜」冠軍寶座。獲EMI唱片公司邀請，「全國最文靜DJ」上週末前往台北觀看「STAR」萬人慶功演唱會，是新加坡唯一媒體代表。

9月8日（六）淡水漁人碼頭 晴朗

演出原定傍晚7點開始。 6點10分抵達會場時已見洶湧的人潮。王力宏當天晚上在交通較為便利的中正紀念堂辦活動。但地理因素顯然沒有影響出席A*Mei慶功演唱會人數。 地大人多果然不一樣。

身穿黑色與桃紅色火辣造型的A*Mei拿著專屬麥克風「小白」，在傍晚7點25分登上耗資六百萬台幣(約三十萬新幣)打造的舞台。在八名舞蹈員（四名短裙女生加四名無上裝的男生）的襯托下演唱當晚第一首歌曲「薇多莉亞的秘密」。

我一直都堅信：有A*Mei的舞台，肯定不會有冷場。她果然三言兩語就炒熱氣氛。 A*Mei 頻頻拉著粉紅色絲襪，要求左右兩邊高度一樣，也藉此動作引發歌迷大喊“脫掉！”。十分鐘內就讓歌迷尖叫聲不斷的A*Mei接著演唱抒情單曲。她一邊套上白色上衣，一邊撒嬌地說“好啦！你們這樣(High)，我怎麼唱慢歌啊？！”

「快樂眼淚」及「你是愛我的」是新專輯內兩首讓A*Mei發揮得淋漓盡致的情歌。如果這樣的歌都沒有辦法讓主流市場重新愛上她，那也真的沒有其他靈丹妙藥了。見慣大場面的A*Mei這次顯得相當感動。她不只一次重複「很久沒有​​這樣的感覺」是否暗示著自己有絕對把握東山再起?

漁人碼頭萬人空巷。除了是要和A*Mei齊慶功，部分觀眾也是為了特別嘉賓而來。

「省話新人王」蕭敬騰自「超級星光大道」便累積了高人氣。在合唱被A*Mei形容為”可能是史上最難唱的情歌”「一眼瞬間」後，他將觸角展延到之前沒有被「超級星光」照耀的地區。他要大紅大紫應該不是難事。外型OK，身高OK，歌唱得不錯,，還在舞台上秀了琴藝。偶像該有的特點，他都有了。恭喜。

蕭敬騰獨自演唱「原來你什麼都不要」之後，A*Mei再次回到舞台。連聲感謝所代言的啤酒廠商以及進行線上直播的單位外，A*Mei陸續演繹專輯內新歌以及帶領全場觀眾合唱「如果你也聽說」。

演唱壓軸曲目「永遠的快樂」與「夏天的浪花」的時候，A*Mei拿著水喉射向觀眾，也往自己身上灑水。自High的同時,A*Mei也似乎在預告即將展開的世界巡迴演唱會會有更出人意表的橋段。 Woohoo!

I imagine that hot blooded females clutching that rectangular slip from SISTIC worth between $188 to $888 will be shouting that line with lots of emotion and plenty of exclaimation marks.

I muttered the same line with a hint of disbelief and ended with a fullstop.

It actually took them ten minutes of solid persuasion before I accepted the two tickets worth $488 each. Now, before you people stone me to death because of my apparent arrogance and ignorance, the deal is this. If I get invited, I either accept or decline. There’s no such thing as taking the tickets and passing them on. Not to mention trying to sell $488 tickets at a discounted price outside the stadium.

I didn’t want to waste the tickets, because, erm, I only know TWO of his songs lor- It’s Raining, where he makes hissing sounds, and I Do, cos that song was featured in the concert advertisment. And I have not watched any of his dramas. In fact, I wasn’t sure how he actually looked like until last night. Hahaha.

I didn’t fall asleep during the show, as I feared. Nor did I walk out halfway during the show, as I said I might if I got too bored.

I was trying my best to stay away from my date for the evening. Not only did Miss Ripple Sim suggest we wear raincoats to Rain’s concert, she was shouting into my ears every other minute. And she was asking aloud every other second when Rain would strip. I was hoping the female dancers didn’t understand English, cos she was cursing at them when they got too close to her Rain.

*slaps forehead*

While several media reps who watched him in Hong Kong last year gave Rain average reviews for the performance last evening, I was impressed and awed by his showmanship and ultra slick moves.

Sut sut!

Others may appreciate true blue vocal powerhouses planting themselves on the stage (for most of the night) and belting out hits after hits, I’m a sucker for lots of action and pattern more than badminton at a concert.

Sut sut!

Edit: At least five people saw my post concert interview on TV news and commented in a most brutal manner that I was most unglam.

I’m so hurt.

Hahahaha.

What!?!?!?! I went to watch a concert, not to be watched!

And why is that no one interviews me when I’m all dressed up? And why do I met a reporter I know when I’m not dressed up?

Oh well, that’s life

Notice I hardly use the phrase- “xxx rocks” Or “Stay cool and funky”. Reminds me of an army of teenagers writing in to 987′s Say it with Music or 933′s 弦歌寄意, you know? But this is like the most convenient phrase to use. So…

I declare Sandy’s show as my favourite concert this year.

She charmed the house with her excellent vocal showcase, her sweet feminine smile and that aura- which I also don’t know how to describe lah. So superstar.

As much as I blast retro half the time, I’m a sucker for ballads.

When Sandy brought the mic stand to the middle of the stage and sang 遠走高飛. I thought I saw her tearing.

不如遠走高飛自己解圍 我無路可退
怎麼對你說出口 怎麼對你說愛我
我獨自穿越這條傷心的街怎麼去感覺所有你的一切
我鼓起勇氣忘記這個距離怎麼讓自己習慣了沒有你

I seems that the divas I adore always have relationship problems. Now that Faye is Mrs Li Yapeng, I hope Sandy can be happy too.

I might not have mentioned this before. In the course of my work where I could have amassed a nauseating amount of autographed CDs, autograped photos, autographed whatever, I’ve only asked for something autographed once- a poster of hers.

I’m not exactly a fan fan of hers. I don’t even know her Cantopop stuff and half the Mandopop songs she sang when I was much younger. But there’s no way to ignore her stage presence but to have your butt firmly planted on the seat- unless you really really have to pee- while she effortlessly hits all the high notes. Basically, you just shut up, sit, watch and listen. My friends and family would know that something or someone incredible is needed to make me sit still.

I watched her collect an award at the Singapore Hit Awards a few days before my 16th birthday, her mini concert with Qi Yu at the now defunct Harbour Pavilion the night before I collected my ‘O’s results, and numerous showcases and concerts over the years. I went home each and every time thinking she is the stuff of what legends are made of.