Emerican Life ([info]emerican_life) wrote,
2008-11-13 23:01:00
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  • Mood: infuriated

Rihanna @ Singapore Indoor Stadium - major letdown



The evening started on a promising note. TT and I joined hoardes of screaming 'tweens and entered the Indoor Stadium. I had to contain my laughter as bag inspectors informed patrons that they couldn't bring in their UMBRELLAs...oh, the irony!

Inside, an usher took our tickets and told us we'd been upgraded from balcony seats to terrace ones. Whee! It was first-come, first-seated as we scrambled down the block that we'd been directed to and chose a couple of pretty decent perches. In the end, the balconies were totally empty except for the East one, which was about 15% occupied.

The concert started badly when Rihanna's microphone didn't work for her opening number, Disturbia.

...it left me feeling disturbed.

When she got her paws on a working mic, the lass proceeded to cuss her crew for the foul up with "That was sh*t." She then half-heartedly apologized. She ought to have re-performed Disturbia (that's what I would do, it is simple professional etiquette), but she launched straight on with her set, relying largely on her preternatural lung power to growl out high notes effortlessly with all the discipline of a banshee, leaving the actual singing to be picked up by her backing vocalists most of the time. And forget about even getting half-decipherable enunciation!  

I realised something was wrong when TT pointed out that she was skipping A LOT of the songs on her usual list, substituting the lot with truncated versions of only her mega hits. She didn't dance much and her energy was flagging throughout. She baited the young crowd with cries of, "I love you Singapore! You totally rawk!" but it was clear her heart wasn't in this evening's show.    

After a lacklustre rendition of Shut Up and Drive, she bade the crowd "goodnight", throwing in another, "Singapore, I love you!" for good measure and left the stage, having worked up nary a bead of perspiration despite being corsetted in a faux leather S&M get-up. It was 9:15. The concert had started at 8:30.

After five minutes of incessant 'tween screaming, she emerged to do Take a Bow (Don't tell me you're sorry cos you're not...indeed!) and Umbrella as her customary encore. She left the stage at 9:30 and on came the house lights.

We departed, disgusted and upset despite the upgrade. The throngs of glum faces said it all. I have experienced guest appearances and warm-up acts longer than this concert. If you decided to give this one a miss, then be glad, be very glad you did.

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  • 23 comments

[info]rabil_lian

November 13 2008, 15:39:32 UTC 3 years ago

I think the security was wise to not let the audience to bring in the umbrellas... otherwise you'd see people flinging them onto stage in disgust haha

[info]emerican_life

November 13 2008, 16:00:26 UTC 3 years ago

It was a such a disappointment...we were too shocked to even "boo" at the end of it.

[info]perignonic

November 13 2008, 15:48:36 UTC 3 years ago

hmmmm.... thanks for telling me.. hehe... hugs~~~ how's your new home?

[info]emerican_life

November 13 2008, 16:01:11 UTC 3 years ago

No worries, just my lil bit of public service...it's fine! :)

[info]perignonic

November 13 2008, 16:24:20 UTC 3 years ago

lol... okies... thanks honey :D

hehehe...

see you soon!!

[info]smelly_belly

November 13 2008, 15:49:49 UTC 3 years ago

that photo was so not from tonight right?

anyway, i feel so bad for her actually. the crew IS SHIT. someone shoulda gone on stage sooner to pass her a new mic. she had to storm off the stage to get her own mic, that aint no way to treat a pop princess. naturally the energy level's down.

nonetheless i hope u didn't pay too much! tonight was pretty shit...

[info]emerican_life

November 13 2008, 16:03:10 UTC 3 years ago

Nope. I got it from somewhere else.
Yeah, the opening really screwed up.
I paid $95 for balcony seats and got upgraded to the terrace seats (were they supposed to be $180?)...even so, it was such a lousy experience.

[info]babymicrophone

November 13 2008, 16:04:38 UTC 3 years ago

Oh yes..she is not a great live performer...evident from this years Music Video Awards...her Distubia performance was more disturbing than anything else! Hope you listen to some nice music at home to wash this down and forget abt her concert! Hugs!

[info]emerican_life

November 13 2008, 16:18:13 UTC 3 years ago

It was a serious waste of my time and money. And it's ruined all her songs for me now. :(

[info]everlustinglove

November 13 2008, 18:27:55 UTC 3 years ago

hmmm. agreed. rihanna never struck me as a live performer, much less an artiste with substance. she has no discernible personality apart from claiming to be a "good girl gone bad", and her live singing leaves much to be desired.

what she does have though, is oodles of hype and buzz that she's currently riding out (damn that Umbrella lucky break!) and good catchy song choices. but in 10 years, she'll be nowhere.

i hope you enjoy kylieX much more!

[info]emerican_life

November 15 2008, 05:41:25 UTC 3 years ago

I hope so too...

[info]cl3m3nt

November 14 2008, 01:12:30 UTC 3 years ago

so glad i didn't go. hehe.

[info]emerican_life

November 15 2008, 05:41:49 UTC 3 years ago

Yup! You missed nothing...

[info]mcbealism

November 14 2008, 02:09:28 UTC 3 years ago

You can piss on her umbe-rella ella ella eh eh eh...

[info]emerican_life

November 15 2008, 05:42:30 UTC 3 years ago

And before the concert, everyone was reminding me not to 4get my umbrella ella ella...

[info]punkx80

November 14 2008, 03:26:50 UTC 3 years ago

i was told she cant sing live and not to waste my money on going. i am glad i heed her advice! hehe

[info]emerican_life

November 15 2008, 05:43:12 UTC 3 years ago

Yup! Her lungs are powerful, but she's not a good live performer.

[info]urbank1d

November 14 2008, 03:29:31 UTC 3 years ago

thank god i saved myself for kylie.

ur review made me feel like i did the right thing not watching her.

[info]emerican_life

November 15 2008, 06:38:53 UTC 3 years ago

Yes, it was a waste of time & money...

Deleted comment

[info]emerican_life

November 15 2008, 06:39:44 UTC 3 years ago

Yup. The concert sucked big time.

[info]xepher79

November 14 2008, 11:56:36 UTC 3 years ago

never liked her in the first place.

[info]emerican_life

November 15 2008, 06:40:42 UTC 3 years ago

...I guess Umbrella ella ella must've given you ear worms...and not in a good way!
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