The post-pandemic concert craze reveals the quirks of Singapore’s dedicated fans battling for ticket supremacy.
SINGAPORE: With global music icons like Coldplay and Taylor Swift making their way to Singapore, fans are in a frenzy. The validation of being a stop on a world tour is a source of immense pride for the Little Red Dot, and the city has become a hotspot for major concerts.
In the last few weeks, Coldplay added a sixth show at the National Stadium after overwhelming demand for their euphoric live performances. Not long after, Taylor Swift announced Singapore as the only stop in Southeast Asia for her ‘The Eras’ tour. Meanwhile, regional legend Jacky Cheung expanded his show count to eleven, proving that concert mania has firmly taken hold.
For many Singaporeans, this craze has brought them back to the live music scene after a long pandemic hiatus. But observing the concert-goer in action reveals an array of entertaining and perplexing behaviors.
– Queue Numbers and Social Media Drama: When the online ticket queue number matches your phone number, social media becomes the platform for a full-blown broadcast of your misfortune. Fans blame the internet, broadcast public service announcements to foreigners, and beg them to consider other tour stops. The #firstworldproblems are real.
– Scalpers and the Thrill of Resale: The digital age has made scalping as competitive as ever. With multiple devices and rapid-fire clicks, scalpers are quick to grab the maximum number of tickets available. They know the drill – buying high, selling higher – and enjoy the sweet sound of their bank notifications after desperate fans pay $200 over market value.
– SingPost: The New Battleground: The convenience of e-mail has not diminished the fierce competition for concert tickets in Singapore. Fans queue up at SingPost outlets in full force, transforming the formerly dormant locations into the ultimate battleground. The queue, an ever-present fixture of Singaporean life, is at its most intense when a concert is at stake.
– The Regional Fan Backlash: Concert-goers from neighboring countries are often vocal about the exclusivity of Singapore’s ticketing system, with some questioning the dominance of the Singapore Tourism Board in securing world-class artists. The debate about Singapore’s monopoly on major events continues to stir controversy across Southeast Asia.
– Concert Day “Sick Leave” Syndrome: A curious ailment seems to affect Singaporeans on concert days. This mysterious illness strikes schoolchildren and full-time workers, often on weekdays, and miraculously disappears once the concert is over.
– Free Vibes Outside the Venue: Some savvy fans prefer to experience the concert from outside the venue, catching the same audio as the ticket-holders without spending a dime. It’s not just about the music – the experience itself becomes a free, yet surprisingly fulfilling, event.
– The Instagram Overload: Concert-goers bombard social media with stories and posts, flooding their feeds with content from the show. It seems like half the country is attending the same event, yet they each feel the need to share their own take.
– Anti-Device Rebels: Then there’s the breed of concert-goer who staunchly refuses to be glued to their phone. They spend the entire show grumbling at their phone-wielding peers, only to go home and vent about the concert culture online the next day.
– The Chicken Rice and Chilli Crab Simp: Every concert has its moment of fan fervor, especially when the artist praises Singapore’s beloved chicken rice and chilli crab. The crowd erupts in deafening cheers, and everyone in attendance gets swept up in the collective adoration.
– Post-Concert Complaints: No concert is ever without its critics. As soon as the last fan clears out from the Stadium MRT station, social media lights up with complaints about lazy dancing, subpar vocals, or poor sound quality – and often, all of the above.
In the end, the Singaporean concert-goer is as unique as the artists who perform here. Amid the hype, chaos, and fanfare, their enthusiasm is palpable, but so are their quirks. As the music continues to roll in, we can expect even more unforgettable moments from this fascinating species in its native habitat.
