SINGfest, Singapore's first ever 2-day music extravaganza, is set to hit Fort Canning this week. Blazing their way onto our shores are acts famous the world over, and some none have heard of at all.

Join HOOKED as we take you on a trip down Memory Lane, and then fast forward to the future of today's music scene.

The Old

        Any kid who grew up in the 80s and 90s would know every single live act performing on the first day of SINGfest. Honestly, how could anyone forget the Pet Shop Boys with their distinct costumes, Sugar Ray with lead hottie Mark McGrath, and Cyndi Lauper with her electric pink hair?

        But don't get us wrong. It's not just about the image. Just recall their string of #1 hits on the airwaves back in their heyday, and how their pop tunes have infiltrated your subconscious, and you know why these acts are old favourites.

Cyndi Lauper

        Who can forget that grrrl-power anthem "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"? Long before Spice Girls and their supposed female empowerment ra-ra, there was THIS spunky pink haired pop-rock chick.

        Before you think that this is just all sugary pop, Lauper has a collection of hit ballads that has to be in every single die-hard-romantic's CD collection. "Time after Time" is such a classic that it has made its way into memorable silver screen moments - namely "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion" and "Napoleon Dynamite".

        While one would think that a proud mother of a boy would settle down, Lauper is still going strong with her gigs, along with countless collaborations with current artistes. She may have aged, but the spunky persona and invigorating energy never fail to emanate from this lady.

        Though pink-haired no more, HOOKED is still mesmerized with this vivacious gem of the 80s.

Get hooked with Cyndi Lauper at www.cyndilauper.com.

Pet Shop Boys
   
        The electronic-pop duo from the '80s and '90s have such a distinct and infectious sound that their massive hit "Go West" is proudly and religiously played over at Mambo Night every week. Not that anyone is complaining. Their thumping melodic beats are so distinctively 80s that one can't help but bop along, feeling like a kid all over again.      
   
        The duo have not merely rested on their brightly coloured laurels, riding on the fame of their past. Their more recent hit, "New York City Boy" has shown how the duo have managed to retain their distinct sound, and yet make it palatable to the younger generations (read: the y2k generation). 

        Though they have grown up (thus, far from being boys), they have kept their namesake, which has been truly iconic of the 80s and 90s, as well as a proud gay icon for everyone around who believes that we all just need a little love to make "life peaceful there, in the open air, where the skies are blue".

        And we wouldn't want it any other way.

For more information, visit their official website at www.petshopboys.co.uk

Sugar Ray

        Two words: Mark McGrath. *cue fangirl screaming* Honestly, we really just want to put our arms around him, baby.

        Alright, for those of us who are not smitten with the lead singer, who fronts one of the biggest bands back in the 90s, there are many other reasons to love the band.

        While they released their first album in 1995, it was really in 1997 that we were completely floored by Sugar Ray with their massive hit, "Fly". Their third album had strings of radio-friendly tunes that ruled the airwaves and MTV - from radio hit "Every Morning", to softer rock "Falls Apart", and the love-it-or-hate-it "Abracadabra".

        Furthermore, not one to take themselves too seriously, Sugar Ray has made many memorable videos - remember the hilarious kung fu sequence in "When It's Over"? Or simply watch "Answer the Phone" to see how wild these guys get.

Don't wait till it's over to catch up with the boys! Go to www.sugarray.com!