Turn on the pop

Arrived at Bukit Kiara just after 3pm and already there was a long and slowly crawling queue outside the main gates. The reason for this - they were checking all bags for cameras which weren't allowed at the venue

Did they think we're still living in the 90's or something? Almost everyone's got camera phones these days so what's the point of the ridiculous camera ban anyway? Little did I know then that it was to fulfill the demands of an ex diva.

Determined shutterbugs managed to find ways of smuggling in cameras, even huge SLRs with their assortment of lenses. What fun would the concert be if we couldn't take pictures to make others envious of the great time we had there?

Anyway, after almost an hour in the queue we finally got in. The special passes Orang Rawa gave us got us in the less crowded exclusive area much closer to the main stage.

After claiming our spot in the field, it was time to enjoy the show. I didn't take many shots of the acts earlier in the day for the fear of having my camera confiscated. I thought it'd be safer to wait till it got a little darker before I got bolder with the camera.

Hannah Tan in the background

Joe Flizzow and his highly energetic posse

My more lethargic posse ;)

Elliot Yamin came on later as the first act in the evening session...

... and barely a minute into his second song, it started to drizzle. The timing couldn't have been more perfect since one of the lines of the song he was singing, Find A Way went "The rain is falling from the sky, it's getting harder to stay dry". Fortunately it wasn't heavy and it cleared up before the end of his act.

That's my camera lens on the big screen

In between major acts, while the stage was being set up for the following act, it was the turn of the audience to provide the entertainment. A number of non camera-shy individuals made the long wait a lot less boring with their various antics each time the camera was upon them, and their faces on the big screen. I was too shy and could only grin widely when the camera pointed our way.

Me in the middle grinning away while trying to snap a pic from the screen

As the night progressed, more of our local artistes came on stage and performed their rendition of well known numbers.

Nikki's vocals were superb. Too bad Vernon had to scrap the idea of her flying onto the stage with wires. It would have been the grandest entrance of the entire concert. Sure Kak Whitney makan hati punya.

Noryn Aziz also showed off the powerful vocals. Pity the sound system had glitches towards the end of her bit and her voice totally disappeared behind the accompanying music.

Noryn in her starting "If you've got it flaunt it" pose

When Anuar Zain took the stage, the faulty sound system was still not yet rectified. The first few verses he sang were inaudible.

When his voice could finally be heard, I was somewhat disappointed. Being a big fan of his music, I wish he could have sang ballads from his latest album. Those would have brought out his vocals better than the cover versions he did last night. But then it would have gone against the concept of the local artiste's joint performance that night.

Jac's vocals was as always, top notch.

Just let her sing anything and this girl will surely nail it. I bet she can even do Keronchong better than those who are veterans at it.

By 9pm the crowd was probably at it's maximum in number. The entire area in front of the stage was a sea of faces, all on their feet, all having a blast to the sounds of house music blaring from the speakers. Even the field behind the main area was packed with people, but with a more laid back crowd, seated on the grass and a lot less boisterous.

Shaggy came on stage after 10pm and got the crowd even more energetic. This man surely knows how to get the crowd going.

Shaggy striking a pose

What?!?!? U gonna put that picture above on your blog?!?!

Handsfree singing

He truly is a magnificent entertainer. A true pro in engaging the audience to be one with his performance.

Shaggy's naughty moves had the gals going wild and the guys pretending to look the other way.

Shaggy's backup vocals were stars in their very own right.

After Shaggy, it was time for what was billed as the main act of the night - Whitney Houston. Half and hour later the stage was all set. The crowd was full of energy and ready to party on.

Well maybe not this section of the crowd...

Suddenly there was an announcement from the organisers that no photography or recording of any kind was allowed while Whitney was performing and that security personnel would confiscate cameras of those ignoring this warning. OK so that explains the bag checks at the entrance.

Lets play a game of spot the ex Malaysian Idol contestant

Almost an hour and 3 other camera ban warnings later (each one followed by a loud reverberating "Boooooooo!!!"), Whitney was still nowhere in sight. I wondered if she decided not to perform after hearing those "Booooooo's from the audience". Hamdi SMSed that they were probably resuscitating her and administering Naloxone backstage.

Finally at about 12.30am Whitney came on stage. Due to the camera ban I already left the stagefront and was seated alone on the field at the back. Phone cameras are one thing but if your lugging around a bulky daddy of a camera, it's bound to attract the attention of security thinking you're getting tabloid shots of Whitney. So no pictures of her are on this blog, I'm sorry. Instead here are some bigger stars than Whitney that night.

I was shocked to see Whitney on the big screen. Arel's SMS is a clue of what she looks like today, "....kalau tgk dari dekat ni terang2 perut dia dah boroi mcm aku..."
'Perut boroi' and navel baring outfits really don't mix well together.

Sorry Whitney obviously doesn't want people to see her face for free so I'm going to have to censor this pic

Not having heard her sing for a long time, all I can say is that her performance was a let down. It's hard to believe she could butcher her own songs. Well some of them were okay, but some were just totally butchered beyond repair. I'm sure if Simon Cowell heard her last night, he'd tell her never to choose Whitney songs for her next performance. By the time she went into her third number, the field at the back of the main area had more than 1/3 cleared up, but it wasn't because people were going to the front to see her up close.

People were actually leaving while Whitney was still performing. Don't know whether this was because:

1. It was really late and people were exhausted
   
2. People didn't want to get caught in the traffic jam leaving the area
   
3. People were irritated at not being able to take photos of her performing
   
4. People felt that she can't sing anymore
5. People think that she's yesterday's news
6. Shaggy rules
7. All of the above

We were too tired by 1.15am so we made a move as well. At least we got to hear her singing " I will always love you" during our long walk back to the main entrance. Jac would have sung it much much better though.

P/S: Apa la "The Star" - all my shots of Shaggy are way better than the one you put up in today's newspaper. Maybe I should start selling my pics...

P/P/S: If you enjoyed reading this review, sponsor la tiket free selalu. Cheers.

All pics taken with my trusty Olympus E-510 & 40-150mm kit lens