Monday 7 April 2003

Mariah's S'pore show will go on

If you hear Mariah Carey's soulful voice floating in the night air around City Hall in June, don't slap yourself. You're not dreaming. The American pop singer will be singing live from the Padang on June 11. Never mind SARS. Concert promoter M2 Entertainment says she's "fully committed" to perform at the venue.

The Padang has hosted orchestral concerts in the past, but never a big-scale pop concert. Apart from novelty, M2 Entertainment said the venue was chosen for its central location, which makes it not just convenient for fans but also for the diva - who might be staying in Raffles The Plaza across the street with her crew. Carey is likely to powder her nose and change her wardrobe at the Singapore Recreation Club, which is on the Padang.

Another compelling reason: The Padang is a cheaper venue. M2 CEO Adrian Hobbes said the set-up will cost around $800,000, which is less than half the cost of the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Add a few thousand dollars to the cost of paying for any possible damage to the Padang green, and it is still relatively cheaper than the air-conditioned Indoor Stadium. Carey is rumored to be paid US$1.35 million for her Singapore show. M2 would not confirm the amount.

The upcoming gig promises to be as grand as the one held at Kallang Stadium about three years ago. Not to mention just as exposed. You never know if it will rain - so if you're planning on going, take along your brollies to the open-air show, which will go on regardless of the weather. Only the stage is sheltered, so Carey will not be singing in the rain. M2 is not worried that a rainy day will keep the fans away. Mr. Hobbs said: "They would not let their tickets go to waste, would they?"

Some 4,000 tickets have been sold since sales started over a month ago, says the organizer. There are plans to pack 18,000 people onto the Padang - 6,000 standing and the other 12,000 on plastic chairs. M2 says it's also considering applying for a license to have Andrew Road, which is next to the Padang, closed for a few hours - to cut down traffic noise. But they can always rely on Carey's powerful vocals to drown it, aided by her eight-piece band, four back-up singers and a sound system featuring "delays", which absorb echoes for outdoor concerts.

And if you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the diva on stage without a ticket, forget it. The stage will face the Singapore Cricket Club, and there will be a 2 to 3m-high metal fence surrounding the Padang. But you will definitely hear the voice of the diva. Tickets are going for $59, $99 and $169. For booking, call 6549-7060 or e-mail concerts@M2us.com. Stand a chance to win one out of 100 tickets, worth $59 each, when you dress up as the diva and hit the Bar & Billiard Room at Raffles Hotel at 8pm on April 16.

(The New Paper)

Many thanks to Mariah-Carey.org.



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