Singapore
Scenic Tour 99
(14 February 1999)
The adrenalin started to build a year back around July 1998. There were rumours that Faye Wong was going to hold a concert here in Singapore in September 1998 and preparations by the Singaporean Fayenatics were already underway to welcome Faye back to Singapore. However, our initial joy turned to disappointment as the organisers announced that Faye wasn't coming to Singapore until this year (1999).
3 Months before the Concert
I couldn't believe my eyes when I read the newslines on Faye's Cyberlink that morning. Faye was coming to Singapore on the 13th and 14th of February 1999! A sudden burst of fresh energy erupted from within me, displacing the tired weariness of hours of study for the examinations then, as I scoured Singapore Fayenatics Home and I found that booking of seats for the concert was now open. My hands were trembling with excitement as I filled up the online form and with abated breath, hit the Submit button.
The date I had chosen to watch Faye perform was on the 14th of February 1999, Valentine's Day. It may be a romantic, symbolic gesture to represent my dedication and fascination for Faye, but actually I was half-decided because I didn't know when I could book out of camp! Luckily for me, the OC (officer-commanding) of Mohawk Coy in BMTC 2 was kind enough to declare a long weekend, so off I could go, to see Faye in action!
1 week before the Concert
The week before the concert was the hardest to pass. Every night in the bunk, while in outfield training, under the bashas at night, I would think of Faye and the concert, of how I would be able to take many photos of her (and hopefully with her) with my Canon SLR with a new 100-300 USM telephoto lens I bought. Eventually, Saturday came and I booked out of camp, happily in anticipation of her concert on Sunday.
The Concert night
It was a long walk from Kallang MRT station to the Singapore Indoor stadium. I didn't know the way, so I followed those in front, but even then, I reached the East Entrance at around 7.45pm. I quickly queued to enter, and was shocked when the security personnel stopped me and asked me to surrender my SLR as no photography was allowed. Arrgghhh...!!! <- this is only a mild understatement...I was very much dissapointed the whole night as I couldn't fulfill me dream of capturing Faye on film....nevertheless.....
The concert started at around 8.20pm, with Faye appearing at the center of the stage and being hoisted up into the air. Suspended mid-air, she started off her song tirade with Emotional Life. Although her side was facing us, I guess the Fayenatics were vocal enough that during one fleeting moment, she turned her head slightly right and nodded at us (in appreciation???!)! From her first song to the last, Faye demonstrated her lengendary singing prowess, which was even more thoroughly felt and enjoyed while "live" with her inside the stadium. She only faltered for a song "Don't break my Heart" (funny...I never heard this song before too) but she quickly laughed it over and continued.
Although Faye herself didn't do much action except for a few skips and mini-dances for some of the fast pieces, we Fayenatics weren't certainly mesmerized til we couldn't move either. Gyrating to the tempo of the bass drums (courtesy of Dou Wei), we waved and stamped and danced for Faye! Waving our green neon sticks and practically moving right until the front barricades, dancing and shouting for Faye, the experience was considerably a "high" one. (I wished I hadn't been sedated by 2 panadols I had taken earlier, or else I would have been even more on a "high"!)
One song followed another and after about 5 costume changes (pity she didn't wear the Red Indian headress this time in Singapore), she started to introduce and thank her crew members - that was when I realised her concert was going to end soon. So soon??!! When her next song, "Wo Yuan Yi (I'm willing)" began, the audience joined in too, singing the chorus parts....and it was with a heavy heart as I heard the familiar tune of "No regrets" start up. As Faye sang the song, she went over to the four corners to thank her audience and there was one part when I think the band paused for too long and she looked back at the band before the band picked up again. Despite our repeated calls for "encore", Faye disappeared down her contraption stage and was whisked off back to her hotel, ending a wonderful night of finally being able to listen to Faye "live" in person....
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