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MediaCorp’s 8 Dukes are getting into the boyband spirit

SINGAPORE — Since their inception in April, the 8 Dukes have been compared to a boy band. But at this year’s New Year’s Eve countdown party, Celebrate SG50, the octovirate of MediaCorp’s most promising young actors — Desmond Tan, Zhang Zhen Huan, Romeo Tan, Aloysius Pang, Shane Pow, Xu Bin, Ian Fang and Jeffrey Xu — will actually debut as a musical group.

All singing, all dancing: The 8 Dukes take on the boy band challenge.

All singing, all dancing: The 8 Dukes take on the boy band challenge.

SINGAPORE — Since their inception in April, the 8 Dukes have been compared to a boy band. But at this year’s New Year’s Eve countdown party, Celebrate SG50, the octovirate of MediaCorp’s most promising young actors — Desmond Tan, Zhang Zhen Huan, Romeo Tan, Aloysius Pang, Shane Pow, Xu Bin, Ian Fang and Jeffrey Xu — will actually debut as a musical group.

The 8 Dukes will sing and groove to a medley of ’90s boy band tunes from the likes of Westlife and Backstreet Boys at the countdown show at The Float @ Marina Bay. The group will share the stage with Singapore’s top pop stars and music icons, including Stefanie Sun, Kit Chan, Dick Lee and The Sam Willows, as well as Malaysia’s pop queen Siti Nurhaliza and Korean boyband Big Bang. Celebrities such as Bryan Wong, Joanne Peh, Chua Enlai, Suhaimi Yusof and Kym Ng are also set to make appearances.

Some of the Dukes’ members are embracing their boy band status more than others, as we found out during a rehearsal session over the weekend. “I’m still young — I think I’m still eligible to be in a boy band!” said 29-year-old Romeo Tan.

For Desmond Tan, it marks a return to his roots: The actor was in a band during his school days and also released a single earlier this year. “My boy band history started during my secondary school days when I listened to boy bands, so this will be an interesting one for me,” he said.

Jeffrey Xu was also optimistic. “I think anyone can do it — it’s just about how much effort you’re willing to put in,” he said, adding that one could always get plastic surgery makeover to perfect that boy band look.

Not that he needs it, though. “Fans leave me messages saying that I look like EXO-M’s Lay,” said Xu.

However, the other Dukes are finding it more of a challenge. “We are singing English songs, so it’s a little unfamiliar to me. I’m more into Chinese music,” said Xu Bin.

“Boy band means people who can sing, dance and perform well on stage — and I can do none of the above,” said the self-deprecating Aloysius Pang, while Ian Fang was more straightforward: “Being in a boy band is okay, but I prefer to perform solo when I am on stage.”

During the show, partygoers will get to engage via social media through radio-frequency identification wristbands (which will be used for the first time in this countdown show). The wristband will allow partygoers to upload photos on Facebook and also provides access to several fringe activities. There will be live link-ups to various locations around Singapore — Pasir Ris-Punggol, Ang Mo Kio, Sengkang West and Boon Lay, too.

For those who are unable to make it down to Marina Bay, worry not as you will be able to follow the excitement on Toggle, which will stream the countdown show, as well as the backstage action from 8pm to 1am.

Tickets for Celebrate SG50 are priced at S$68 and S$28 from SISTIC. (The S$128 tickets are sold out.)

Watch the video of the 8 Dukes rehearsing their boyband medley:

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