Elva Hsiao wowed Singaporean fans with an equal measure of glitz and warmth.
Contributed By Esther Ang
Glitter and bling was the order of the evening, as Taiwanese Mandopop songbird Elva Hsiao rocked Singapore with her WOW World Tour concert on Sep. 4 after a seven-year break from her last concert here. Themed after her latest album, Diamond Candy, the stage and props were set to dazzle as Hsiao was gradually lowered onto the stage in a gigantic diamond-shaped spaceship. Strutting out in a diamond-studded spacesuit and sporting short, cropped hair, the diva looked every inch the Asian counterpart of Lady Gaga.
Fans were ecstatic as she kick-started the evening with a medley of fast dance tracks, executing groovy dance moves in sync with every beat of the song. Besides the diamond-shaped spaceship, elaborate props such as a big disco ball and huge alphabet light boxes were used to enhance the performance. In one of the songs, “L.O.V.E,” four huge, multi-colored light boxes in the shape of the letters “L”, “O”, “V” and “E” were pushed onto stage as dance props. After the song, the letters were re-arranged to form “ELV@” creating a perfect backdrop for the next song, one of her signature tracks entitled “Yi Ge Ren De Jing Cai” (“A Person’s Wonderful Life”).
Topping the flashy props, the thrilling pyrotechnics and festive confetti, however, was Hsiao herself. Projecting stage presence and charisma in bucket-loads, the shapely diva showed off her figure in a number of costume changes which included everything from tight leggings and leotards to miniskirts and gowns.
Proving to be beyond eye candy, Hsiao showcased her vocal strength and versatility in practically every song throughout the night. Alternating from fast to slow tempo in between high and low notes, Hsiao pulled off each song in a manner befitting her status as one of Asia’s hottest singing stars. The song lineup was planned to coincide with her life journey, with each song marking specific periods in her life.
As she sang the song “Qiang Wei” (“Rose”), she shared that it represented the most depressing period of her life, and that it was a song she was very emotionally attached to. Emotions indeed were riding high, as confetti fluttered down the stage ceiling and fans waved their light sticks in support of their idol. Throughout the evening, a sea of luminescent light sticks, LED boards and mini “light sabers” could be seen swaying to the tunes. At every break, fans whistled and screamed “Elva, we love you!”
In the short two-hour concert, Hsiao spent a fair amount of time updating fans about the recent events in her life and even shared with them issues close to her heart. In one of the chat segments, she sought for the continuing support of her fans should she decide to go public about her relationship. On a lighter note, she joked that she would like to be Stephanie Sun’s neighbor if she decides to migrate to Singapore some day.
 |
| CN PHOTOS: POH YANG ZHENG |
“Elva is real. It is not easy to be a high-profiler and an artiste who is willing to be transparent,” said Albert Goh, a real estate agent who also said that he would continue supporting the star, negative press or not. The concert atmosphere was casual and intimate, despite the obvious fact that no expenses had been spared in the stage display and visual enhancements. “I could see that a lot of effort had been spent in engaging the audience”, said Winnie Lim, a student.
Sure, she’s no Lady Gaga, but for the 7,000-strong crowd that witnessed Hsiao’s stellar showmanship and irresistible charisma, there was nobody else they would rather have gone gaga over that night.
