SINGFEST 2010 (DAY 1)

Fort Canning Park

Of the music festival’s line-up over the three days, Tuesday’s certainly takes the cake for being the most international. There was saucy Katy Perry from California, pop rock band Tokio Hotel from Germany and pop group Wonder Girls from South Korea.

Not every act left a good taste in the mouth, though.

After local singer Inch Chua, alternative rock band The Like and singer-songwriter Orianthi from Down Under warmed up the crowd, the five Girls came on around 8.30pm in an assortment of short dresses. They proceeded to underwhelm with their singing which sounded rather shrill and ragged.

They were also dwarfed by the size of the stage and could easily have done with another, say, five back-up dancers. Or perhaps they could have a live band instead of singing to a minus-one track as if this were a karaoke session.

When they disappeared for a costume change, a music video of theirs played on the screens. It was not a good sign that they sounded considerably better then.

Reappearing in matching denim outfits, they urged the crowd to sing along for Tell Me before ending with their big hit, Nobody.

Their moves were smoothest here, but then again, they have been doing the same routine to this track for two years now so they certainly have had plenty of practice.

Tokio Hotel were up next and while some might dismiss them as goth-lite, they definitely got the crowd going. Next to them, the Wonder Girls seemed like rank amateurs.

In his all-black get-up, lead singer Bill Kaulitz looked like a tall and gangly dark angel with out-of-control shoulder pads. The boys revved things up with their radio-friendly brand of pop-rock and even hauled a motorcycle onstage.

They also knew how to turn up the drama, so Dark Side Of The Sun came complete with jets of flames.

Perry is certainly no wallflower either and she raised temperatures up a notch when she bounced on stage in her two-piece floral bikini and launched into the cheeky I Kissed A Girl.

The party vibe was unmistakable with the large plastic beach balls, the inflatable sea creatures and the glitzy palm trees. Her band and back-up singers were also togged out in a riot of colours.

Knowing that she was the closing act after a long night, she teased the crowd: “Did you save yourself for me?” The answer was a resounding yes.

While the energy level dipped a little when she performed a couple of slower numbers, the mood perked right back up with the catchy hit Hot N Cold.

She picked a “sweaty young boy” and a woman in a blue wig to “dance your pants off” on stage and ended the number by kissing a boy – and a girl.

The bright-eyed party girl also showcased material from her upcoming new album. She strutted about for the in-your-face Peacock and ended the night with the sexy and sunny California Gurls.

The musical feast was over by midnight, leaving fans hungry in anticipation of the treats still to come.

(ST)