SINGfest, Singapore's first ever music extravaganza was held at Fort Canning over the National Day holidays. Nearly 8000 people turned up for this star-studded event, and went away in anticipation of an even bigger, better SINGfest 2008!

    HOOKED takes you through two days of pure music therapy, and relives some of the more spectacular moments.  

DAY 1: AUGUST 8, 2007

Great Danes!

    The honor of kick-starting the festivities goes to Danish rockers, Sasha Bach Band. MySpace regulars would be familiar with these four boys, who have performed in Singapore before, at venues like Timbre and Bar None.

    Giving the crowd a mix of hard-hitting rock songs, as well as slow rock ballads, the Sasha Bach boys gradually warm up the crowd for the evening.

    It's still much too early for the audience to fully appreciate their music, as most are preoccupied with finding a choice spot on the grass rather than what's going on onstage. Regardless, the band gets some enthusiastic festival-goers up on their feet to headbang to their songs.

Turn-Table Twins

    To keep the crowd from getting too bored between sets, British DJs Eye Candy Twins take the stage and play their signature sounds. In tune with the Pop/Rock line up for this music extravaganza, the twins spin old favorites like "Smells like Teen Spirit" and "Sweet Child O' Mine".

    Rock purists might scoff at their efforts, but they definitely manage to entertain the crowd during the set changes.

Shaggy-delic, Baby! Yeah!

    There is an expectant silence as stagehands set up the instruments and tune them. Suddenly, what seems to be a technical glitch, serves to drive the crowd wild.

    *bass hits once*

    *cue screams*

    *bass hits again*

    *cue more screaming*

    A deep and familiar voice comes on. "Mr Lover-lover...ohhhhhhhh"

    And that, ladies and gentleman, is when the party really starts at Fort Canning. Every bum on that grassy patch gets up and hits the ground running, as Mr. Bombastic-Call-Him-Fantastic makes an explosive entrance onto the stage.

    With his infectious tunes, and high-energy dancing, Shaggy gets everyone grooving to the beat in no time. Things definitely heat up as bodies started to sway, gyrate and yes, even grind to the music.

    Now THIS is what we call a music festival. None of those picnicker types, thanks. We'll save that for WoMAD.

    Always the cheeky performer, Shaggy's mike magically appears from his pants, which gets quite a lot of women all hot and bothered. A "Parental Advisory" label should have been attached to his performance for the young ‘uns out there. Nonetheless, everyone is left grinning, laughing and satisfied by the end of Shaggy's performance.

    No pun intended.

All Choked Up

    Proving to be a favorite with the *cough* older generation and expats, The Stranglers succeed where others before them have failed. This band - that has been around for more than 30 years - has the more, um, venerable members of the audience actively moshing among themselves, and singing along to the words that only they seem to know.

   Every band that comes to Singapore often comments on the hot and humid weather. Despite performing in the night, our tropical weather still proves too much for the band. So how does one deal with such a situation?

    Take your cue from one of their guitarists - simply rip your shirt off! And fortunately (or unfortunately), a couple of enthusiastic members in the crowd follow suit. Having a big, overbearing, shirtless and sweaty man reliving his youth is completely fine by us - just give us 1m of personal space please.

    But hey, The Stranglers still know how to work the stage like the veteran punk-rockers they are.

    Good on them, we say!

Who Just Wants To Have Fun?

    Emerging to the resounding screams of an adoring audience (we hear that Sugar Ray are equally excited), Cyndi Lauper has the rim of her massive black hat pulled low over her face.

    She lifts up her hat, flashes those pearly whites at the fans in front row, and kicks off her set with two new songs from her upcoming album.

    Proving that Madonna isn't the only woman capable of many changes, Lauper whips off her hat to reveal a jet black wig - only to take that off one song later to reveal her pixie-cut green hair, much to the jubilation of the crowd.

    "True Colours" is possibly THE song that gets most of the audience, young AND old, singing along at the top of their lungs, some in tune, and others... not quite in tune. Friends and strangers link arms and, instead of lighters, wave their cellphones in the air.

    Either concert audiences are getting more high tech, or that no-smoking-in-public-places rule is really taking effect.

    Easily one of the most memorable parts of Cyndi Lauper's set is her duet with Shaggy on "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". Who wouldn't want to have fun with this feisty combo?

    Infusing reggae beats, impromptu lyrics, and even a short dance-off with this infectious party tune proves to everyone that Cyndi Lauper is still a musical force to be reckoned with.

Sugar Daddies

    While it's been a while since we've last seen the guys from Sugar Ray, it seems that things have not changed!

    With overwhelming stage presence, along with friendly and mischievous bantering with the crowd in between songs, Mark McGrath comes close to Shaggy for being the favorite male performer for the night.

    Giving little bytes about their songs, McGrath takes a quick dig at Good Charlotte frontman, Joel Madden, in his intro to "Falls Apart".

    The intro to "Answer The Phone" also gets the crowd laughing and nodding in agreement - according to McGrath, it's a song about trying to get over someone, but not quite succeeding, and therefore calling them for the umpteenth time.

    Aside from performing their hit singles, Sugar Ray gives their fans a taste of good old rock music with a teaser of "Sweet Home Alabama", and their own rendition of "Sweet Child O' Mine", that everyone air guitars along to.

    For the girls only: Okay, okay, of course, we have to add that Mark McGrath is still very much the heartthrob. (Might we also add that this hottie is pushing 40?) He's also one of the few people that we'd forgive for wearing shades at night - just because he looks so darn good in them.

Go Weeeeeeeeeest!

    Perhaps saving the best for last, the Pet Shop Boys finally take the stage a good 7 hrs since the concert started. It's definitely worth the wait, especially for a good portion of the audience still up on their feet and staying into the wee hours of morn.

    With the most elaborate set out of all the acts (they had special lighting, and a calendar plastered on the backdrop), it feels like a concert of their own!

    Their performance includes dancers and back up vocalists, as well the memorable outfits that the duo has always been known for. Fans are elated, and those who aren't, are ready to be converted.

    The Pet Shop Boys are everything that one imagines them to be. Showmanship, drive, and passion makes them a top-notch class act. It only serves to show that the duo is dedicated to giving the audience their all - no matter what the scale of the gig is.

    Most are disappointed when the Pet Shop Boys pack up their props and leave the stage, but hey, what's a little suspense to keep the fans on their toes, eh? The duo comes back after about a two-minute interval, and closes the night with a soaring rendition of "Go West" that gets everyone, yes, everyone, on their feet, waving their arms in the air and belting out the chorus into the wee hours of a Thursday morning.