The Empress of J-Pop put up a show-stopping performance as the headlining act of a-nation Singapore Premium Showcase


Fans of Ayumi Hamasaki, the Empress of J-Pop, finally had a taste of her show-stopping stage presence and performance at last night’s a-nation Singapore Premium Showcase, 12 years after her first performance in Singapore in 2002 for the MTV Asia Awards.

The petite songstress who just turned 36 years old two weeks ago was the headlining act at the first-ever overseas a-nation concert in Singapore which co-featured artistes like m-flo, Wagakki Band, Sonar Pocket, Aaron Yan and GENERATIONS.

The four hour-long gig held at Marina Bay Sands’ MasterCard Theatres showcased the very best of Japan’s music scene, from Wagakki band’s traditional music fused with modern rock beats to boyband Sonar Pocket’s uplifting songs and m-flo’s party remixes – there was something for everyone.

In the fashion of saving the very best for the last, Ayumi finally took the stage at 8 p.m. Promising to showcase more than just her music at this performance, the award-winning artiste also brought with her a big entourage of at least 20 musicians and dancers (we counted a total of 13 dancers, 5 musicians and 2 backup singers on stage). Despite the limited stage space, no efforts were spared to bring forth the best she had to offer fans.

Thanks to her massive entourage, it felt as if we were watching snippets from her 15th Anniversary Tour A-Best concert unfold on stage. Ayumi’s vocals were in tip-top condition last night too and she impressed with her range, going from soft and gentle to strong and powerful for songs like ‘Memorial Address’ and ‘A Song for XX’.

J-Pop and music enthusiasts weren’t the only ones who thronged the venue for a glimpse of their favourite bands and Queen Ayu. MediaCorp artiste Romeo Tan, who once told xinmsn that his idol is Ayumi Hamasaki, was spotted amongst the crowds last night as he finally fulfilled his dream of watching his “childhood idol” perform live.

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The Empress of J-Pop put up a show-stopping performance as the headlining act of a-nation Singapore Premium Showcase


In a phone interview with xinmsn after the concert, the self-declared Ayu “fan boy” said, “I still feel quite surreal. My mind was in a blank when the countdown started because I’ve been watching her through TV and DVDs for so many years and I’m finally able to see her tonight. I almost felt like crying (laughs). Her songs have been accompanying me since I was young and for more than 10 years and listening to her perform tonight reminded me of my childhood days.”

A true blue Ayu fan, apart from having a personal collection of music CDs and DVDs, Romeo also had no trouble listing the songs (‘Memorial Address’, ‘A Song for XX’, ‘Evolution’ and ‘Boys & Girls’) performed last night. He also shared a little tidbit he picked up from watching her concert DVDs over the years.

“In all her concerts she'd end with 'Who' because the song defines her and it's always her last song in her concerts. And after that song she'd put her mic on the floor and fingers on her lips until the whole hall is completely silent and she'd shout out 'Arigatou Gozaimashita' (thank you in Japanese). After that she'd take her leave. I thought she'd do that tonight but I’m still very impressed with what I saw.”

More than pleased with his idol’s performance, he felt that Ayumi’s segment “made the whole a-nation concert complete” and gave it a beautiful ending. “She actually fulfilled what fans are expecting and what we wanted to see from her. In this short segment, she sang at least 8 songs and still managed to give us surprises. Even during the intervals, there's always something to look out for,” said Romeo.

“I was so envious about those on the right and left aisle because they got to shake her hands,” he chuckled, “For one moment I wanted to run forward and shake her hands too… Seeing her is like many people seeing Michael Jackson. She’s really my childhood idol.”


Click on for more photos of a-nation Singapore!

GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE

GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE, one of Japan’s most popular boybands, sent female fans into a tizzy with their catchy dance songs and sleek dance moves. The boys even performed an English rendition of three songs - 'HOT SHOT', 'ANIMAL' and 'BRAVE IT OUT' specially for Singapore fans.

Sonar Pocket

Sonar Pocket or “Sona Poke” – as what the members call themselves, impressed the audience with their uplifting and easy-listening pop-rap songs such as ‘I Love You. ~100 Regrets~’ and ‘365 Day Love Story’.

a-nation and GirlsAward fashion show

A fashion show featuring popular models like Lena Fuji and Nicole Ishida was held.

Taiwanese artiste Aaron Yan

Taiwanese artiste Aaron Yan performed as a solo artiste in Singapore for the first time and sang a few tunes from his latest music album and drama series.

Wagakki band

Wagakki band pumped things up a notch with their heart-thumping performances, featuring traditional Japanese music instruments and modern music instruments. The result? A truly unique blend of Japanese rock music.

Singaporean singer Stella Seah

Kicking off the music festival is local artiste Stella Seah.
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