Concert review: Ameizing encore | 4/5

It’s been just over a year since A-Mei performed at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, and this concert was labelled an “encore” show, so, to be honest, I was a little unperturbed if I were to missed this show.

The weekend of Jan 26 and 27 was filled to the brim with gigs, after all. At Gardens By The Bay, the Laneway Festival was underway, with artistes such as Kimbra, Polica, Tame Impala, Gotye and Bat For Lashes taking the stage.

Over in the East, at the Max Pavilion at Singapore Expo, Taiwanese trio F.I. R. was holding court. Our local acts were busy too, with Tay Kexin and Seyra staking their claims at The Esplanade.

But I threw in my hat with A-Mei for two reasons. Firstly, because she really has a powerhouse voice that hasn’t been surpassed by anybody – well, except perhaps by Faye Wong or Kit Chan. No need for Auto-tune or lip synching there. (Beyonce, take note.) And secondly, she rocks.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but from the moment A-Mei appeared onstage, she turned it up to 11. Her voluptuous figure may have been hidden a little by the costumes – the kind that you’ll ooh and ah about at the fashion runways, but not be caught dead in them otherwise – but she still brought a certain sex appeal and charisma that you were swept up in it.

A-Mei provided enough dynamic to keep everyone - all 10,000 fans - engaged and on their feet. Which, in my book, is the secret to a great gig. Who wants to see a show if the music performance plateaus, right? Well, not I, at any rate. You want an emotional rollercoaster ride that makes you sing and sigh at the right moments.

Of course, Jan 26, 2013, might perhaps be remembered by many for other, more political reasons; but for me, it was all about A-Mei and that A-Mei-zing night.