The art of Muzicality:: May 2011

With Polling Day happening in 2 day's time, I know whose vote I'm rocking for come 7 May 2011. It may well be a historic day for us Singaporeans in more than one way, fingers crossed. Change is definitely in the winds, we can feel it in our bones. Down with apatheticity, Up with authenticity :D

Here are my top five songs (all young female artistes in ode to my group's demographic) to express my building feelings about being given the chance for the first time in my (and many other Singaporeans' lives like my fifty plus-years-old dad, for one) life to truly, ROCK THE VOTE:

1) Paramore - Careful [You can't be too careful anymore, when all that is waiting for you, won't come any closer, you've got to reach out more, more more!]

2) The Veronicas - Revolution [Collectively, yes we can.]

3) Avril Lavigne - What The Hell [Being good doesn't mean being apathetic & ignorant any longer!]

4) Ke$ha- Take It off (Billboard Radio Remix) [Codeword for 'hit it off'. I've reached intense new heights in friendships by 'taking it off' with comrades this period. ;) Let's truly take it off on the Sunday morning after henceforth.]

5) Taylor Swift- Change [U savvy Missys (and Masters)?]

And, what's a music entry like this without referencing my first love in music, Mr A-Z? :D

Jason Mraz - Make It Mine [Wake up EVERYone, how can you sleep at a time like this, unless the dreamer is the real you...MAKE IT YOURS, MINE, YOUR FAMILY'S, FAMILIES', CHILDREN'S!]

To end off, remember this, it's YOUR choice, make it well, as summed up by the youngest political candidate this year, the charismatic Ms Nicole Seah:

The boys from Maroon 5 stopped by Singapore last Monday, 25th April 2011!

^my seat was behind the section of floor seats. Not bad at all. I really enjoyed the lights display from my vantage.

Setlist as follows:

Misery
If I Never See Your Face Again
Harder To Breathe
Give a Little More
The Sun + Billie Jean mash-up
Won't Go Home Without You
Never Gonna Leave This Bed
Secret + What's Love Got To Do With It mash-up
She Will Be Loved
Wake Up Call
Shiver
Stutter
This Love

Encores:

Hands All Over
Makes Me Wonder
Sunday Morning

I shall post up my thoughts as the pictures run (all taken courtesy by yours truly! :D)

^The stage set-up may fool the viewer into thinking the gig was some sort of extravaganza, but, it was actually just a wall of spotlights behind them, against simple no-frills band equipment, which made it special.

I've never seen this kind of set-up live before. The closest that has come to it was The Blue Man Show in Las Vegas, and THAT was spectacular.

I bought a ticket by myself, for myself. First time ever I willed myself to attend a concert solo (I mean, I've been to festivals and other gigs alone, but somehow or other always met up with other fans to rock out together. Maybe because THERE WASN'T ANY MOSHPIT FOR THIS GIG? *ROLLS EYES*). Reason why I didn't want to miss out this gig was because, quite simply, I love a lot of Maroon 5 songs. I am the kind of fan who's not quite hardcore but who still appreciates their music. Savvy? So though I heard only negative comments about their last (and debut) gig here in Singapore back in 2008, I told myself, still, it's Maroon 5 LIVE. Am I going to forsake myself of unforgettable live shows just because of the naysayers? No. I WILL CATCH THEM AT LEAST ONCE IN MY LIFE (AS IT'S TRUE I DON'T LIKE MANY BOYBANDS TO WANT TO CATCH THEM LIVE. IN FACT, I CAN'T RECALL ANY OTHER BOYBANDS I LIKE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. LOL)!! AND THE TIME WAS NOW.

Adam just straight-off opened the gig with no introduction whatsoever into Misery. I don't know, it wasn't like a BANG kind of opening, more like, a rushed letsgetthisshowontheroad kind of feeling. After Misery, he just rushed straight into the second song, If I Never See Your Face Again (no surprises in its arrangement as its on their latest album) . Into the third song, I was getting more warmed up, as it was Harder To Breathe, one of my favourite M5 songs ever. It sounded pretty cool live, and with some freestyle vocal interpretations by Adam thrown in (Video taken by a fan upfront HERE :)). The next song was Give A Little More, one of my least favourites on their new album, another rushed song.

I recorded on video mostly songs which I know the band would be rocking and killing it, check them out, (The Sun & Billie Jean mashup (surprising and chillaxed), Wake Up Call & Shiver mashup (EPIC.), Hands All Over (rawking ;)).

Of COURSE I videoed Never Gonna Leave This Bed. It is THE favourite track of mine off their latest album. However, when the band played it live, the feel was different, the length seemed shorter and the song less sentimental (though it seemed kinda hard for Adam to sing it properly. He probably is missing his gf a lot while out on the road) you know?

There was one moment when the band played She Will Be Loved, and I really thanked the band and Adam for writing a song like that for us ladies, and performing it so tenderly that night. At first, I didn't like the sped up acoustic version (even though I'm all about acoustic, especially Maroon 5 acoustic, but it was just simply Jesse and Adam on here) but as it progressed, and Adam took control of it...it became something magical. Let's just say it resonates(ed) with me at this point in my life. That I didn't want to spoil the moment viewing it through the lens for a single moment and just partook wholly in it.

The song all the more marked a place in my heart as a personal special concert moment when Adam asked the crowd to singalong with him, dividng us into two groups. I was the group who had to choral: If she will... be loved...if she will... be loved....just very goosebumpy to be part of that moment that night.

Watch the awesome audience interaction and extended version in this video below:

All in all, the band DID rock the house down that Monday night, in essence, they killed it. They were just enjoying the music, and in top form that night. 'Nuff said.

Had waited more than half an hour out back for them after the gig, but they just rushed into their vans and left us in the dust. Also, had waited out for them at the airport the next morning, really wanted to send them off as who knows when they'll return? But, didn't manage to catch them, because my stalking skills are crap. Anyway, I've never had much luck with meeting celebrities 'spontaneously' in situations like that. Now that's a whole lotta other stories which I shall recount at another time.

Picture this scenario, I was in the same building and at the same time as Maroon 5 when they were checking in to catch their departure flight to Indonesia, but somehow, I didn't catch a glimpse of them. And I heard only 3 other people were there to send them off. ... ... ... ... ... ...

I'll leave you with like, the thousand pictures (and a few cents' worth) I took below: