如果说我们都是看刘德华的戏和听他的歌长大的,一点也不畏过。

或许你的学生时代和我一样,每逢星期天都在收音机旁守着”醉心龙虎榜”,听着”谢谢你的爱”在榜上逗留了33周,也荣登了数次榜首。当时我们都爱买空卡带,等待歌曲播出时,按下那红红的”Record”按钮。在之后,重复地听无数遍,只为了把歌词抄下来。

或许是这个缘故,我们对”旧歌”或”老歌”的歌词都能倒背如流。反观现在的流行曲,如果没有看歌词,似乎都无法立刻记起。

隔了11年再重新登上新加坡体育馆开唱,刘德华在一连4晚座无虚席的万人演唱会上,凭着四面台和坚韧的毅力,展现了香港巨星独有的舞台魅力。他所散发的不只是天王的气魄,霸气十足的排场,满满的诚意。惊人的耐力和体力,也证明他仍”宝刀未老”。

要38年都保持在最佳状态,是有多消神的一件事情。能人所不能,才配得上称为”天王”。

虽然年华逝去,除了脸上多几条鱼尾纹外,他依旧是那个帅气,亲民,谦卑,努力不懈,做事都尽善尽美,对歌迷爱护有加的刘天王。 看着他在堕马事件康复后,容光焕发,神采飞扬,大家都松了一口气。只要他能健康地在舞台上,那就是粉丝们最大的安慰。

演唱会规模之庞大,也看得出刘德华的用心和野心。他竭尽所能地推出新点子,带给观众一些惊喜,也试图拉近和观众之间的距离。

除了考验体力和协调力的大鼓表演,悬挂在半空中环绕馆场一圈,到舞台旁的延伸舞台,和升降舞台的构造都下足了工夫。屋顶悬挂着的”天花板”设计和舞台地面上的巨大荧幕投影,栩栩如生的动画色彩,为演唱会的视觉效果增添了更优等的视觉感官。

在第二首歌曲”中国人”就表演了团队配合度的大鼓演奏。除了担当Main Drummer带领众舞者打鼓的场面,他也得集中精神在舞台慢慢旋转360度的同时,保值节奏感。

华仔悬挂在高空中绕场馆一圈,唱了”谢谢你的爱”。这是为了回馈歌迷们对多年来的爱戴,而准备的惊喜。就算坐在”山顶”上的观众也能清楚地一睹他的风采。

他至今已入行38年,现在58岁还可以在空中”绕圈”和粉丝打招呼,但如果到了90岁,应该会畏高,无法再挑战做同样的事情。他希望如果大家在街上碰到90岁的他,可以给他一个大拥抱,然后说:”你还是很帅”。

一连串的经典歌曲如”冰雨”,”练习”,”男人哭吧不是罪”,”你是我的女人”等,都让人听得如痴如醉的当儿,也起了鸡皮疙瘩,唤起许多回忆。

演唱会的高潮是”Encore”部分。我们熟悉的香港歌手最拿手的”Medley载歌载舞”环节终于隆重登场,原汁原味地展现在新加坡观众眼前。强劲的音乐,动感的舞蹈,舞者在中央舞台一字排开,不断地更换 formation,更加凸显华仔的巨星气势,风范和排场。

最喜欢的是重新编曲的”无间道”,配合很带劲和有气势的舞蹈。尤其是那salute 的 ending pose,怎一个”帅”了得? 小编怀疑华仔一直偷偷地怀抱Rocker梦。因为连续4晚的演出,他出示了”Rocker”手势好多次。

当他意味深长地说忽然觉得自己不是偶像,而是歌手,大家也有所感慨。

就因4大天王里,他算是长得俊俏,拥有精赞演技,但没歌唱或舞蹈底子的他花了很多年,下了很多功夫改善自己在声线上的不足,也学习舞蹈。 他或许不是在4位里头声线最好的,但他可算是最努力的”拼命三郎”。38年的演艺生涯,没有一天怠慢。凡事做到尽善尽美的华仔,舞台魅力和架势十足,仍然靓仔,也一直把歌迷放在心上。

这样的华仔,很难令人不受动摇。

华仔待人诚恳,对粉丝也疼爱有加,完全毫无巨星架子,是他最深得人心的原因之一。

尽管他是香港乐坛的”4大天王”之一,不管是男女老少,任何年龄层的人都爱喊他一声”华仔”。这是一种对他最”崇高”的称呼。这很符合他的作风,不会和任何人划等级。不管到了什么年纪,华仔都是大家心里的Guy Next Door,那么亲切,没有距离感。

就像他说的,那些买不到票的观众不用太担心,他会一直一直办演唱会,直到大家都能进场观赏为止。这也算是很贴心,和歌迷立下承诺,说话算话的举动。

华仔深刻地体会到,要长久的红下去,就要不断地去努力钻研自己的演技,寻求突破,把最好的呈现给大家,才不枉费大家对他的支持和厚爱。绎圈里真正能做到这一点的寥寥无几。

那天的他,特别有感触。或许是因为在受伤后,能获得重回舞台这难能可贵的机会。

他认为观众都给他那么真诚的眼神,让他想更卖力地演出。

华仔为人众情义,也乐善好施,平时也常做些公益活动。除了为许多艺人树立好榜样,他纯属精湛的演技也是许多演员向往的目标。

演唱会的最后一首歌是”真永远”。这首歌的舞蹈编排也是我最为震撼和满意的。在灯光一暗,舞群们都穿着黑色上衣排成一线在华仔左右两旁,有手臂形成”海浪”在波动的形状,层层的涟漪似乎正轻轻地拍打着你我的心房和记忆。

在灯光灰暗时,人们都比较容易探入内心深处,挖掘真实的想法。”永远”很抽象,但只要把握当下,珍惜和所有爱你和你爱的人们相处的时光,就是所谓的”真永远”。

谢谢华仔健康华丽的回归舞台,回到所有爱他的粉丝和观众的怀里,也让大家和他共度了愉快的4个夜晚。

希望下一场巡演不会隔太久。
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“You didn’t just make our dreams come true once, you made it come true 2 times.”- Kian

Westlife’s reunion is undoubtedly one of the best gifts bestowed upon the 80s and 90s kids. No matter how many new groups sprouted over the years, none is as good as old, for old is gold in our hearts.

Do these Irish guys still have it?

Oh yes, they absolutely do.

They age like the finest 1980s vintage wine. Looking as charismatic as yester-years, their vocals amazingly better, a tribute to Queen medley, a marriage proposal, a 48.75-second record breath-holding longest note for “Fool Again”, the thunderous cheers, massive karaoke session & white lights from a 22,000 strong crowd in the biggest indoor arena that they have ever played in their 20 years, pretty much summed up the reminiscence rendezvous.

You don’t need Infinity stones when you have Westlife. Their vocals have got healing and therapeutic powers which can soothe your hearts and minds.

“Eargasm” at its best.

Time came to a standstill when the quartet emerged on stage. We were channeled back to the early 2000s through a time tunnel.

The euphoric pleasures from yester years coming to life before you felt so surreal, making you feel young and old at the same time.

As they sang their new hit “Hello, My Love”, fluttering hearts screamed “Rehi, My Loves!”.

Yes, they are back to S̶W̶E̶A̶R̶ ̶I̶T̶ swoon us all over again with their melodious vocals. The lovelorn fans would no longer be flying without wings for Westlife’s reunion sparks hope and faith and have given them a pair of angel wings.

It was a dream come true twice for Westlife, and us.

The number of people sprouting on their feet, waving their hands, swaying along to their most renown hits, singing along as loudly as they could, screaming for these guys at the top of their lungs, the number of phone screens raised, was a clear indication how much Singapore fans miss Westlife.

The sound system at National Stadium is often described as “substandard”, but Westlife proved they could take full control with their strong vocals.

Classics are best served RAW.

This was most evident during their best hits like “Swear It Again”, “Uptown Girl” and “If I Let You Go”. The crowd reacted the most fervently during these timeless hits and past video snips on the LED screen brought back loads of adolescent memories.

“If I Let You Go” exuded the most Nostalgia vibes as I watched the “young lads” on screen. We could vaguely remember Jamie Teo right in making a guest appearance during “Uptown Girl” back in Westlife’s 1st SG concert.

We could still remember the lyrics of yester years by heart as we sang along line after line. Some things are just etched in the mind and heart.

You felt like a teenage girl once again, going gaga over your long-time-no-see high school beaus who have maintained themselves so well.

Westlife’s vocal has got a therapeutic effect.

Shane sounding as perfect as ever, Mark’s remarkably high notes reminded you of Divas, while Nicky and Kian had a chance to prove they could sing fairly well too. Even more surprising was how Kian managed to pull off “I want to Break Free” so well.

Weslife announced disbandment at the height of their music career in 2012. This decision broke million of hearts worldwide. No matter how fans petitioned for a reunion, how many blank cheques were offered to them, they stuck by their decision to have a go at their personal interests. They thought this was the end of Westlife, and we too, thought this was really it.

20 years passed us by & many things have changed in the course of our lives, including these guys who took a break to get back to normal routine lives.

“What makes a man” seems to be the most apt song for these guys who have tasted fame and popularity, but being able to let it all go at their peak. It takes more than pure courage and determination to stand by what they believed in and wanted so badly.

This was in exchange for a commoner’s life, for more time with their families.

As Nicky put it, they never knew what a “routine” life was. They have matured and nurtured into family men, loving husbands, daddies and pursued their solo interests. Now that they are ready to take on the world stage once more as Westlife, they made good their promise to return bigger and better.

These humble, down-to-earth, fun-loving guys didn’t change.

Their new collaborations with Ed Sheeran have seamlessly integrated them back to the current music scene. There’s an infusion of the latest pop elements in their new tracks. It affirms they did not just want to be a passé nostalgic act, but they still have what it takes to stay relevant now and all ready to move forth to the future.

National Stadium may be the biggest and hottest sauna they have ever played in, but they are just like the bubble tea that quenched our thirst in this humid weather.

We bet Shane wasn’t just talking about the weather when he said it was BURNING HOT. Mark exclaimed it was hard to believe that halfway across the way, people know their songs and names.

Nicky quipped that their lives totally changed when their band enjoyed worldwide popularity. They were grateful for the love and support for the past 20 years, even when they split up, got married and did different things.

Kian confessed they were really worried if they still had it if they were to make a comeback. We didn’t even need to hear the resounding “YES” from the audience to know that’s not a cause for worry at all. Even when the guys had their reservations, we never doubted it.

Kian shared that “You Raise Me Up” was what they sang at his dad’s and Nicky’s dad’s funerals. This song is about family, their beloved departed, the ones that are still here and for all their loved ones around the world.

It was an impactful, heartfelt moment when their soulful rendition comforted our hearts. It was a poignant moment to reflect. The resounding backup vocals from the audience raised goose bumps.

While some may feel it’s a drastic twist from their usual “acapella” performances, I simply love their “Tribute to Queen” segment. How smooth Kian sounded in “I want to break free” caught us by sheer, pleasant surprise. We loved his solo on the electric guitar. It didn’t matter if their butt shaking was a little awkward.

We love how Westlife unleashed the little wild side in them. That clamping and thud-thumping during “We Will Rock You” never gets old. They did a splendid job for “We are the Champions” too.

When it was time for Encore, the silhouettes of these guys walking up the stage was Déjà vu at its best manifestation.

Clad in white suits, they looked like angels descending from heaven, when they began crooning to the all-time classic “Flying without wings”. It reminded us of them donning similar but longer-flowing white suits back in 2001.

Time has been kind to these lads-turned-dads. They are still oozing with charisma; they still make butterflies flutter in our stomachs.

The last song “World of Our Own” depicts their take on life the most. No matter what people say, they held on to their beliefs, without yielding in to allow the world to change them, but for them to build a world of their own.

Now, we are glad that they have let us back in again to their world.

Thank you Westlife for the awesome performance, swooning us with your amazing vocals & positive vibes.

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