S'pore's industrial output falls more than expected in Oct
Posted: 26 November 2012 1352 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore manufacturing output fell more than expected in October as production of electronics and pharmaceuticals slipped.
Output fell 2.1 per cent in October from the same month the previous year, led by declines of 6.0 per cent and 11.7 per cent respectively in the electronics and biomedical sectors.
Economists had forecast a year-on-year drop in total manufacturing output for October of around 1 per cent.
The Economic Development Board (EDB) said in a statement most segments of the electronics industry continued to contract because of weak export demand.
Electronics output slumped 11.6 per cent in the first ten months of 2012.
The EDB said a 12.9 per cent on-year rise in output of medical technology was not enough to offset a 15.3 per cent contraction in pharmaceuticals.
Excluding biomedical, total manufacturing output grew by 0.6 per cent in October from a year earlier.
On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, Singapore manufacturing output rose 3.3 per cent. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output increased 2.3 per cent in October from September 2012.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Monday, November 26, 2012
Real estate industry is dynamic, changes have only just started: Khaw
Real estate industry is dynamic, changes have only just started: Khaw
Posted: 26 November 2012 1244 hrs
SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said the transformation of the real estate industry has only just begun.
He said what used to be regarded as a "cowboy" industry is now characterised by a more systematic and professional process of proper registration and licensing of property agents by the Council of Estate Agencies (CEA).
He added that of the more than 100,000 property transactions each year, complaints made up one per cent of the cases.
Mr Khaw was commenting on the Public Perception Survey released by the CEA in a blog post.
He said the findings showed that the regulatory body, that just turned two recently, hasn't fared too badly.
Mr Khaw said the real estate industry is a dynamic one and that agents will need to embrace continuous learning to stay relevant and bring value to their clients.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 26 November 2012 1244 hrs
SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said the transformation of the real estate industry has only just begun.
He said what used to be regarded as a "cowboy" industry is now characterised by a more systematic and professional process of proper registration and licensing of property agents by the Council of Estate Agencies (CEA).
He added that of the more than 100,000 property transactions each year, complaints made up one per cent of the cases.
Mr Khaw was commenting on the Public Perception Survey released by the CEA in a blog post.
He said the findings showed that the regulatory body, that just turned two recently, hasn't fared too badly.
Mr Khaw said the real estate industry is a dynamic one and that agents will need to embrace continuous learning to stay relevant and bring value to their clients.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
US breaks US$1b for first time in online Black Friday shopping
US breaks US$1b for first time in online Black Friday shopping
Posted: 26 November 2012 1034 hrs
NEW YORK: US shoppers spent heavily online on the crucial Black Friday shopping day, for the first time topping a billion dollars in online sales in a single day, analysts and retailers said.
The four-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend is the kickoff to the US holiday shopping season, and Black Friday has long been considered the critical day that turns retailers' books from red to black.
Consumer spending makes up more than two thirds of US economic activity. So the short but busiest consumer sales season has a huge importance to the US economy for the whole year.
This year, online shoppers spent a grand total of US$1.042 billion on Friday, surpassing last year's Black Friday haul by 26 per cent, according to the consulting firm Comscore.
Another study by IBM Benchmark Digital Analytics saw an increase of 21 per cent in Internet sales, with a surge in orders of mobile devices and tablet computers, in particular.
But the new record might be short-lived.
Coming next is "CyberMonday," the day Americans go back to work and online retailers launch heavy promotions to reel in more shoppers.
"According to norms we've observed over the past three years," retail analyst ShopperTrak said, the Monday after Thanksgiving "should be the heaviest online shopping day of the season with sales approaching US$1.5 billion or even higher."
Across the four-day weekend, US shoppers spent US$59.1 billion, a jump of 13 per cent over the previous year, the National Retail Federation announced.
"It's phenomenal," NRF director Mathew Shay told reporters at a press conference, saying the numbers bode well for the holiday season despite the still-struggling economy.
American consumers spent an average of US$423 this weekend, compared to US$398 last year, the group reported.
However, the NRF did not revise its prediction for the US holiday shopping season as a whole, keeping it at a 4.1 per cent increase year on year, arguing that consumers remain cautious about the economy.
The looming threat of the "fiscal cliff," which could send taxes soaring if Republicans and Democrats do not reach a compromise on reducing the deficit before the end of the year, also had the retailers worried.
And despite the good numbers overall, sales at brick-and-mortar locations were sluggish on "Black Friday:" in-store traffic increased by 3.5 per cent on Friday with more than 307 million visitors, but total sales actually went down compared to the previous year by 1.8 per cent, according to ShopperTrak.
Some of the biggest numbers went to the stores that opened early on the Thanksgiving holiday itself -- a growing trend, especially among large chain stores, that is turning the traditionally family-based holiday into a commercial event.
"Opening on Thanksgiving was a big win," the NRF's Shay said, noting that 35 million people went shopping, a 40 per cent surge over the previous year.
Comscore also noted a jump in online Thanksgiving day sales, up 32 per cent over 2011, with US$633 million in sales, though the IMB Benchmark Digital Analytics survey saw a more modest gain of 17.4 per cent.
But ShopperTrak noted that the Thanksgiving day shopping may have undercut spending usually meant for Friday, without increasing the overall numbers.
- AFP/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 26 November 2012 1034 hrs
NEW YORK: US shoppers spent heavily online on the crucial Black Friday shopping day, for the first time topping a billion dollars in online sales in a single day, analysts and retailers said.
The four-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend is the kickoff to the US holiday shopping season, and Black Friday has long been considered the critical day that turns retailers' books from red to black.
Consumer spending makes up more than two thirds of US economic activity. So the short but busiest consumer sales season has a huge importance to the US economy for the whole year.
This year, online shoppers spent a grand total of US$1.042 billion on Friday, surpassing last year's Black Friday haul by 26 per cent, according to the consulting firm Comscore.
Another study by IBM Benchmark Digital Analytics saw an increase of 21 per cent in Internet sales, with a surge in orders of mobile devices and tablet computers, in particular.
But the new record might be short-lived.
Coming next is "CyberMonday," the day Americans go back to work and online retailers launch heavy promotions to reel in more shoppers.
"According to norms we've observed over the past three years," retail analyst ShopperTrak said, the Monday after Thanksgiving "should be the heaviest online shopping day of the season with sales approaching US$1.5 billion or even higher."
Across the four-day weekend, US shoppers spent US$59.1 billion, a jump of 13 per cent over the previous year, the National Retail Federation announced.
"It's phenomenal," NRF director Mathew Shay told reporters at a press conference, saying the numbers bode well for the holiday season despite the still-struggling economy.
American consumers spent an average of US$423 this weekend, compared to US$398 last year, the group reported.
However, the NRF did not revise its prediction for the US holiday shopping season as a whole, keeping it at a 4.1 per cent increase year on year, arguing that consumers remain cautious about the economy.
The looming threat of the "fiscal cliff," which could send taxes soaring if Republicans and Democrats do not reach a compromise on reducing the deficit before the end of the year, also had the retailers worried.
And despite the good numbers overall, sales at brick-and-mortar locations were sluggish on "Black Friday:" in-store traffic increased by 3.5 per cent on Friday with more than 307 million visitors, but total sales actually went down compared to the previous year by 1.8 per cent, according to ShopperTrak.
Some of the biggest numbers went to the stores that opened early on the Thanksgiving holiday itself -- a growing trend, especially among large chain stores, that is turning the traditionally family-based holiday into a commercial event.
"Opening on Thanksgiving was a big win," the NRF's Shay said, noting that 35 million people went shopping, a 40 per cent surge over the previous year.
Comscore also noted a jump in online Thanksgiving day sales, up 32 per cent over 2011, with US$633 million in sales, though the IMB Benchmark Digital Analytics survey saw a more modest gain of 17.4 per cent.
But ShopperTrak noted that the Thanksgiving day shopping may have undercut spending usually meant for Friday, without increasing the overall numbers.
- AFP/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Rise of the Guardians keep dreams alive
Rise of the Guardians keep dreams alive
By Francine Lim | Posted: 26 November 2012 0934 hrs
A super group with extraordinary powers, each a master in their own field of expertise, saving the world from great evil – sounds a lot like the Avengers. But this time, these superheroes do it just for the kids.
Sword-wielding, tattoo-sporting Santa Claus, 'North' (voiced by Alec Baldwin), is the Cossack-inspired leader of the Guardians and plays rival to Easter bunny, 'Bunnymund' (voiced by Hugh Jackman), who is literally the bunny-equivalent of his voice actor.
The other bubblier members of the Guardians are chirpy hummingbird-tooth fairy hybrid, Tooth (voiced by Isla Fisher), who collects memory-infused baby teeth only to return them when they're most in need and the eternally silent but thoughtfully "vocal" sandman, Sandy, who creates images above his head to communicate.
Yule better believe it, this group of unlikely heroes who only gather when the world is in trouble is anything but childish.
In this movie, with each guardian protecting a crucial aspect of the wonders of childhood, the plan is to thwart the diabolically evil boogeyman, Pitch, who resents having to live under beds and wants to bring back the dark ages.
As Pitch draws on the power of fear and tears down the Guardians' one source of power – children's beliefs in the guardians – help comes from the irresponsible 300-year-old prankster Jack Frost (voiced by Chris Pines) who is recruited by the mysterious Man in the Moon to help melt away the darkness.
Like most family-friendly movies, the film predictably follows the tried-and-tested formula where a wild youth has to come of age and must learn of his life's purpose.
The young man's metamorphosis is a thoroughly magical one, thanks in part to the delightfully detailed graphics surpassing animation studio DreamWorks' previous films "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted".
The 3D technology used complements "Rise of the Guardians", with beautifully crafted visuals and exhilarating action sequences that practically scream "roller coaster!" at every step of the way.
Children will be entertained with the clever use of light and shadows to depict the showdown between good and evil.
As for the older 'kids' - it's time you received your baby teeth back and revisit your childhood, as reinvented myths and fairy tales rarely come as lively and inspired as this.
- wong chee tat :)
By Francine Lim | Posted: 26 November 2012 0934 hrs
A super group with extraordinary powers, each a master in their own field of expertise, saving the world from great evil – sounds a lot like the Avengers. But this time, these superheroes do it just for the kids.
Sword-wielding, tattoo-sporting Santa Claus, 'North' (voiced by Alec Baldwin), is the Cossack-inspired leader of the Guardians and plays rival to Easter bunny, 'Bunnymund' (voiced by Hugh Jackman), who is literally the bunny-equivalent of his voice actor.
The other bubblier members of the Guardians are chirpy hummingbird-tooth fairy hybrid, Tooth (voiced by Isla Fisher), who collects memory-infused baby teeth only to return them when they're most in need and the eternally silent but thoughtfully "vocal" sandman, Sandy, who creates images above his head to communicate.
Yule better believe it, this group of unlikely heroes who only gather when the world is in trouble is anything but childish.
In this movie, with each guardian protecting a crucial aspect of the wonders of childhood, the plan is to thwart the diabolically evil boogeyman, Pitch, who resents having to live under beds and wants to bring back the dark ages.
As Pitch draws on the power of fear and tears down the Guardians' one source of power – children's beliefs in the guardians – help comes from the irresponsible 300-year-old prankster Jack Frost (voiced by Chris Pines) who is recruited by the mysterious Man in the Moon to help melt away the darkness.
Like most family-friendly movies, the film predictably follows the tried-and-tested formula where a wild youth has to come of age and must learn of his life's purpose.
The young man's metamorphosis is a thoroughly magical one, thanks in part to the delightfully detailed graphics surpassing animation studio DreamWorks' previous films "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted".
The 3D technology used complements "Rise of the Guardians", with beautifully crafted visuals and exhilarating action sequences that practically scream "roller coaster!" at every step of the way.
Children will be entertained with the clever use of light and shadows to depict the showdown between good and evil.
As for the older 'kids' - it's time you received your baby teeth back and revisit your childhood, as reinvented myths and fairy tales rarely come as lively and inspired as this.
- wong chee tat :)
Wacky Korean singer makes YouTube history
Wacky Korean singer makes YouTube history
Posted: 25 November 2012 1633 hrs
SEOUL: Psy made his quirky debut in South Korea's K-pop industry back in 2001 but it wasn't until July that he began shooting to global fame with "Gangnam Style" -- now the most-watched video of all time on YouTube.
A rare sense of humour and irony distinguished the chubby rapper, now 34, from his peers in the manufactured world of K-pop and made him an unlikely worldwide success.
As of Sunday "Gangnam Style" -- whose wacky music and dance moves mock the hedonistic lifestyle of the upmarket southern Seoul neighbourhood -- had registered almost 814 million views in four months.
The video has inspired thousands of online imitations of Psy's famous horse-ride dance, and flash mobs of tens of thousands in Paris, Rome and Milan.
The song peaked at number two on the US Billboard's pop chart for seven weeks in a row after sweeping the charts in countries including Australia and Britain.
World figures swept up in the fever include UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, British Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama, who either tried out the dance or marvelled at its popularity.
Psy, whose real name is Park Jae-Sang, gained the ultimate showbiz accolade by teaming up with Madonna in the pop diva's concert and performing a special version of "Gangnam Style" with MC Hammer in the American Music Awards.
YouTube called the music video -- which Saturday overtook Justin Bieber's "Baby" in number of views -- "a massive hit at a global level unlike anything we've ever seen before".
Billboard.com noted it racked up the YouTube milestone in about four months compared to more than two years for "Baby", calling it "nothing short of a pop culture phenomenon".
Psy's dramatic rise has been viewed with a mixture of pride and surprise in his home country, whose music industry has long been dominated by prettified, highly-manufactured girl and boy bands.
Having taken Asia by storm over the past decade with bubblegum hooks and dance moves staged with military precision, K-pop in recent years has garnered a small but growing fan base among teenagers in parts of Europe and America.
But none has come close to the worldwide popularity of the homely Psy.
"Psy is right at the opposite of our typical K-pop stars who are extremely preened and whose every single move is strictly dictated by their agent," prominent music critic Kang Hun told AFP.
Humour, especially satire, is rare in the mainstream Korean music scene and that, coupled with Psy's embrace of his anti-pop idol looks, has set him apart.
The singer, well known at home for his humorous and explosive stage performances, has long been a somewhat provocative figure in Korea.
He was once convicted in Seoul of smoking marijuana. Several of his earlier songs and music videos were banned for those aged under 18 because of what state censors deemed to be overly sexual lyrics or bad language.
In 2007 Psy was forced to serve a second period of compulsory military service after it was revealed that he had continued with his showbiz interests during his first two-year stint.
"Psy has long had very freewheeling, humorous and even provocative elements in his songs which are utterly lacking in most young K-pop idols," Kang said.
"I think 'Gangnam Style' is a pinnacle of such a humourous, non-serious bad-boy style of his. And apparently people around the world can relate to his self-deprecating sense of humour."
Psy himself says he invites laughter and not ridicule.
"My motto is to be funny, but not stupid," he once said in an interview with Yonhap news agency.
It remains to be seen if "Gangnam Style" will prove anything more than a one-hit wonder. Psy is set to release a new album in English and Korean early next year which will be distributed globally.
But even if it takes off, it will be hard to replicate the success of "Gangnam Style", said Han Koo-Hyun, the head of the Korean Wave Research Institute.
"His next song will be able to rack up at least hundreds of millions of views due to the popularity of 'Gangnam Style' but will never be more popular than 'Gangnam Style', said Han.
"This is too huge a success to accomplish twice."
- AFP/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 25 November 2012 1633 hrs
SEOUL: Psy made his quirky debut in South Korea's K-pop industry back in 2001 but it wasn't until July that he began shooting to global fame with "Gangnam Style" -- now the most-watched video of all time on YouTube.
A rare sense of humour and irony distinguished the chubby rapper, now 34, from his peers in the manufactured world of K-pop and made him an unlikely worldwide success.
As of Sunday "Gangnam Style" -- whose wacky music and dance moves mock the hedonistic lifestyle of the upmarket southern Seoul neighbourhood -- had registered almost 814 million views in four months.
The video has inspired thousands of online imitations of Psy's famous horse-ride dance, and flash mobs of tens of thousands in Paris, Rome and Milan.
The song peaked at number two on the US Billboard's pop chart for seven weeks in a row after sweeping the charts in countries including Australia and Britain.
World figures swept up in the fever include UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, British Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama, who either tried out the dance or marvelled at its popularity.
Psy, whose real name is Park Jae-Sang, gained the ultimate showbiz accolade by teaming up with Madonna in the pop diva's concert and performing a special version of "Gangnam Style" with MC Hammer in the American Music Awards.
YouTube called the music video -- which Saturday overtook Justin Bieber's "Baby" in number of views -- "a massive hit at a global level unlike anything we've ever seen before".
Billboard.com noted it racked up the YouTube milestone in about four months compared to more than two years for "Baby", calling it "nothing short of a pop culture phenomenon".
Psy's dramatic rise has been viewed with a mixture of pride and surprise in his home country, whose music industry has long been dominated by prettified, highly-manufactured girl and boy bands.
Having taken Asia by storm over the past decade with bubblegum hooks and dance moves staged with military precision, K-pop in recent years has garnered a small but growing fan base among teenagers in parts of Europe and America.
But none has come close to the worldwide popularity of the homely Psy.
"Psy is right at the opposite of our typical K-pop stars who are extremely preened and whose every single move is strictly dictated by their agent," prominent music critic Kang Hun told AFP.
Humour, especially satire, is rare in the mainstream Korean music scene and that, coupled with Psy's embrace of his anti-pop idol looks, has set him apart.
The singer, well known at home for his humorous and explosive stage performances, has long been a somewhat provocative figure in Korea.
He was once convicted in Seoul of smoking marijuana. Several of his earlier songs and music videos were banned for those aged under 18 because of what state censors deemed to be overly sexual lyrics or bad language.
In 2007 Psy was forced to serve a second period of compulsory military service after it was revealed that he had continued with his showbiz interests during his first two-year stint.
"Psy has long had very freewheeling, humorous and even provocative elements in his songs which are utterly lacking in most young K-pop idols," Kang said.
"I think 'Gangnam Style' is a pinnacle of such a humourous, non-serious bad-boy style of his. And apparently people around the world can relate to his self-deprecating sense of humour."
Psy himself says he invites laughter and not ridicule.
"My motto is to be funny, but not stupid," he once said in an interview with Yonhap news agency.
It remains to be seen if "Gangnam Style" will prove anything more than a one-hit wonder. Psy is set to release a new album in English and Korean early next year which will be distributed globally.
But even if it takes off, it will be hard to replicate the success of "Gangnam Style", said Han Koo-Hyun, the head of the Korean Wave Research Institute.
"His next song will be able to rack up at least hundreds of millions of views due to the popularity of 'Gangnam Style' but will never be more popular than 'Gangnam Style', said Han.
"This is too huge a success to accomplish twice."
- AFP/ck
- wong chee tat :)
SITEX attracts 800,000 visitors, S$40m in sales expected
SITEX attracts 800,000 visitors, S$40m in sales expected
By Sing Geok Shan | Posted: 25 November 2012 2315 hrs
SINGAPORE: The last mega IT fair of the year, SITEX, is estimated to have attracted 800,000 visitors over its four-day run.
Organisers say they expect to rake in some 40 to 45 million dollars at the end of the fair on Sunday.
Some of the eye-catching items at the fair included a robot that dances to "Gangnam style" and a "Tablet-Man" that collects wishes.
Also seen at the fair was a mobile phone that can be used as a hammer and submerged in water.
Four mega IT fairs have been held this year.
In total, the fairs are estimated to have generated visitorship of 3.25 million people and spending of S$247 million.
For the first time, SITEX hosted a tournament featuring 64 of the world's best gamers.
The gamers competed in the popular online games League of Legends and StarCraft II.
"This is something (that is the) first in Southeast Asia, and we are happy to host it and we want to promote this for future events as well," said Henry Chua, projects manager at Singex Exhibition Ventures. "Definitely, gaming is a growing trend right now."
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
By Sing Geok Shan | Posted: 25 November 2012 2315 hrs
SINGAPORE: The last mega IT fair of the year, SITEX, is estimated to have attracted 800,000 visitors over its four-day run.
Organisers say they expect to rake in some 40 to 45 million dollars at the end of the fair on Sunday.
Some of the eye-catching items at the fair included a robot that dances to "Gangnam style" and a "Tablet-Man" that collects wishes.
Also seen at the fair was a mobile phone that can be used as a hammer and submerged in water.
Four mega IT fairs have been held this year.
In total, the fairs are estimated to have generated visitorship of 3.25 million people and spending of S$247 million.
For the first time, SITEX hosted a tournament featuring 64 of the world's best gamers.
The gamers competed in the popular online games League of Legends and StarCraft II.
"This is something (that is the) first in Southeast Asia, and we are happy to host it and we want to promote this for future events as well," said Henry Chua, projects manager at Singex Exhibition Ventures. "Definitely, gaming is a growing trend right now."
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
SMTOWN Live World Tour in Singapore electrifies fans
SMTOWN Live World Tour in Singapore electrifies fans
By Karen Ng | Posted: 25 November 2012 2333 hrs
SINGAPORE: It was a sell-out concert for the SMTown Live World Tour III last Friday.
About 25,000 tickets were sold with prices ranging from S$168 to S$268.
The star-studded show, which cost some S$5 million to put together, featured eight iconic Korean pop acts: Kangta, BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls' Generation, SHINee, f(x) and EXO.
Organised by Korean record label SM Entertainment, the concert was held at the Float@Marina Bay for the first time in Singapore.
The stage took more than 200 people and 96 hours to set up.
For local K-pop fans, SMTOWN might have well been the concert of the year.
There were earlier reports of fans who queued for days to get a good vantage point of the stars at the mosh pits.
"Even though you don't understand the language, you can actually follow the music," said a fan.
"I also love their songs, because it's catchy and fun to listen to and I never get bored listening to them," said 11-year-old Jannah, a fan of the artistes.
Some international fans had also travelled to Singapore to see their idols.
The stars themselves were thrilled to be in Singapore although they were one-and-a-half hours late for their press conference.
"It's been almost 10 years since I was in Singapore in 2003 for MTV Music Awards in Asia," said BoA. "So I'm very happy to be back in Singapore and I can't wait to see all of my fans, of course."
"I think Singapore is such a beautiful place and this is the first time for us here. We want to thank all the fans that came to the airport," said Kris from the boy band EXO.
Stars also shared their memorable experiences backstage, showing that preparations are not always all work and no play.
"Backstage, be it seniors or juniors, we'll always chat, and encourage each other in their performances," said Victoria, the leader of girl group f(x).
"There was once we had a chance to have a drink with our senior, Yunho (from TVXQ), and he got a little bit tipsy after a few drinks," revealed Super Junior member Donghae.
"After that, he did this dance move which was really fantastic, which we'll like to show you one day. It is not a charismatic sort of dance move, it is something you can't imagine him doing."
The mood was electrifying as fans screamed and cheered throughout the four-hour long concert.
The heavy rain towards the end of the concert did little to dampen fans' spirits.
The artistes performed a whopping 50 songs with slick dance moves and ended the concert by performing together and mingling with the fans.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
By Karen Ng | Posted: 25 November 2012 2333 hrs
SINGAPORE: It was a sell-out concert for the SMTown Live World Tour III last Friday.
About 25,000 tickets were sold with prices ranging from S$168 to S$268.
The star-studded show, which cost some S$5 million to put together, featured eight iconic Korean pop acts: Kangta, BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls' Generation, SHINee, f(x) and EXO.
Organised by Korean record label SM Entertainment, the concert was held at the Float@Marina Bay for the first time in Singapore.
The stage took more than 200 people and 96 hours to set up.
For local K-pop fans, SMTOWN might have well been the concert of the year.
There were earlier reports of fans who queued for days to get a good vantage point of the stars at the mosh pits.
"Even though you don't understand the language, you can actually follow the music," said a fan.
"I also love their songs, because it's catchy and fun to listen to and I never get bored listening to them," said 11-year-old Jannah, a fan of the artistes.
Some international fans had also travelled to Singapore to see their idols.
The stars themselves were thrilled to be in Singapore although they were one-and-a-half hours late for their press conference.
"It's been almost 10 years since I was in Singapore in 2003 for MTV Music Awards in Asia," said BoA. "So I'm very happy to be back in Singapore and I can't wait to see all of my fans, of course."
"I think Singapore is such a beautiful place and this is the first time for us here. We want to thank all the fans that came to the airport," said Kris from the boy band EXO.
Stars also shared their memorable experiences backstage, showing that preparations are not always all work and no play.
"Backstage, be it seniors or juniors, we'll always chat, and encourage each other in their performances," said Victoria, the leader of girl group f(x).
"There was once we had a chance to have a drink with our senior, Yunho (from TVXQ), and he got a little bit tipsy after a few drinks," revealed Super Junior member Donghae.
"After that, he did this dance move which was really fantastic, which we'll like to show you one day. It is not a charismatic sort of dance move, it is something you can't imagine him doing."
The mood was electrifying as fans screamed and cheered throughout the four-hour long concert.
The heavy rain towards the end of the concert did little to dampen fans' spirits.
The artistes performed a whopping 50 songs with slick dance moves and ended the concert by performing together and mingling with the fans.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)