Singapore Indoor Stadium
29th June 2011
Aphrodite LIVE tour
Excitement and awe.
I felt like a 12 year old, but more contained.
Nevermind that the fiancé and I scraped ourselves out of a major 360 skid on the highway, driving over to Singapore from KL.
And never mind that making it to the Kylie concert was the only passing thought as we spun around in virtual slow motion.
I was finally here.
The build up and the anticipation was an experience on it’s own, watching all the fabulously over-the-top fans dress up in feathers and wings, and glitter and gold. There was a threesome with identical white winged headgear, to match their “Aphrodite.”
Such was her impact. As the mostly matured concert attendees entered in droves, one thing I noticed was the ratio of expats and foreigners to Singaporean/ Asian attendees. They literally made up half the audience, which is a useless fact, I digress.
I panned the stadium and was impressed with the elaborate pillars of a Greek theatre, with black boulders and a centered, giant golden clam shell. The set resembled the cliffs of a Greek isle. All mocks, but pretty stunning nonetheless.
The DJ taunted the audience with Kylie house-mixes amid cheers and flashing stage lights. Then the moment finally arrived. The lights dimmed through thousands of screams, as the LED backdrop lighted up with Greek god and goddess-like swimmers submerged in a deep glass pool. The robed dancers stealthily and gracefully filled the stage from the corners, and goddess Kylie opened with the title track “Aphrodite.” Clad in a mini robe, gold waist cincher (reminiscent of those WWF belts!), and winged head gear, she owned the stage. Her affectionate cry of “Singapore!” was reciprocated with a multitude of screams that merged into one roar.
The stadium was held captivated in her tiny palm as she pranced and sang live- a challenging task, but trust Kylie to take it in her stride and live up to her image as a pop-music entertainer. She kept a glimmering gold bodysuit on, while changing into her D&G designed outerwear. She opened the show with white robes and gold gladiators (pun intended), with changes including a full black feathered hooped skirt and top hat, a gold tiered head piece teamed with a long flowing ivory robe, a metallic-holographic full skirt teamed with knee high matching boots, and a slinky beaded mini dress with a pearl beaded cap- very 70s-ish. With her energy and passion, one would have never imagined her battle and hardship with cancer to emerge a survivor. She definitely did not let that get her down for long, and if it did, she came back even better than before. Effervescent like a fizzy drink with constant bubbles. 
One of the memorable songs was a different rocker take on ”Can’t get you out of my head,” backef up by her band and edgy guitar riffs. Another was a jazzy version of “Slow,” complemented by a bevy of feathered show-girl dancers who enveloped the tiny warbler as she stood centrestage. She managed to incorporate an element of her personal life in her elaborate show- a still image of her Spanish model boyfriend, Andre Velencoso, appeared on the main LED backdrop as she held her hand up high, in tribute to him as her “Cupid boy.” During the second half of the show, there was a break-it-down moment . She emerged with new, sleeked-back hair, frayed denim shorts and a bright orange feather boa over her shoulders to the rhythm of “Step back in time.” While in the moment, she also belted out the crowd favorite “Better the devil you know” as well as her “retro” hit “I should be so lucky.”
The sassy singer had it all. She cheekily bantered with the audience and embodied the spirit of a mortal Aphrodite. During a tender moment when she sang, “If you don’t love me,” much to the audience’s disbelief, everyone retorted, “WE LOVE YOU, KYLIE!” She reciprocated with a shy smile to herself, yet shared the emotion with the thousands in front of her. Her stage persona, much like herself in interviews, was honest and just, well, nice! For lack of a better word. Her band, dancers and back-up vocalists all shone without overpowering. They were the perfect accompaniment and their execution: flawless in their flowing gold, Grecian inspired costumes.
A well executed concert, her costume changes and elevated rope (and might I add, very toned) artists made me appreciate the money spent on our tickets that was worth every Singaporean cent! The cohesive theme was well played out with trojan dancers and gold shields, as well as our Aphrodite who even sang from a carriage at one point. Despite not being able to experience the full waterworks with a real pool and synchronized swimmers in the “Aphrodite Les Folies” tour in Europe, the “Aphrodite LIVE” was still an exceptional show nonetheless.
After years of anticipation- I had bought tickets to her “Showgirl” 2004 tour in Singapore, which was subsequently cancelled due to her cancer diagnosis, and a failed attempt to watch her “X” concert in 2008- I finally saw Kylie in the flesh. I remember being a 7 year-old girl growing up in Perth for a few years, knowing who Kylie Minogue was inevitable. Who’d have known she would subconsciously have an effect on me? From her Coca Cola TV ad, to her music videos on “Rage”, I knew I’d get to see her live someday. And I did.
