Wednesday, December 29, 2010

In Singapore: Clapton, Santana, Eagles, McLean, Pointer Sisters, Buble, Jackson And Counting...




It's a bumper harvest in February and March 2011. There will be eight, yes eight, live performances by 60s and 70s music top guns in Singapore. Eric Clapton, The Eagles, Santana and Don McLean will appear these few months to take audiences back with music of yesteryears. Some of them will also be playing their new releases.
Eric Clapton:
Fans can scream his hits, Layla, I Shot The Sheriff, Wonderful Tonight, Tears In Heaven with ease. Basically a blues guitarist, he ranks 4th in the Gibsons' Top 50s Guitarist Of All Times. At 65, he's still king of the pack and started off with The Yardbirds and Cream in 1965. Grief stricken, he recorded Tears In Heaven around 1991 when his son passed away in an accident.
The Eagles:
This group's all time hit, Hotel California is so popular that the introductory guitar riffs are immediately recognisable by Eagles fans. From Desperado, Tequila Sunrise, Easy Feeling, Witchy Woman, Lyin' Eyes to Life In The Fast Lane, this group is one of the most successful in the 70s. Forty years on, they are still touring the world with a brand new song book.
Santana:
Carlos Santana and his namesake band made themselves so pop that they won 13 Grammys to date. From salsa, jazz fusion and latin rock, this man mesmerised the world with his finger-boggling guitar skill when they witness him on stage. Abraxas, Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va, Evil Ways, Soul Sacrifice, You Just Don't Care are just some of the songs in their albums.
Don McLean, Michael Buble, Janet Jackson...
There's a write-up of McLean, the American Pie and Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) man, in an earlier posting. Click Don McLean under 'Labels' below. Michael Buble (90s man but sings pop evergreens), Janet Jackson, Elvis Costello, Iron Maiden and a host of other 60s and 70s pop stars will be coming to Singapore too. While some will be appearing at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, others will perform at the Esplanade Concert Hall or at the new Marina Bay Sands Ballroom.
Comment:
The seat prices are mighty high. Imagine paying about $400 a ticket to watch from the best seat. Even the $100 ones are too much for the general public, especially for some Seniors. When I attended the Engelbert Humperdinck show, there were vacant seats all around.
Follow London:
Perhaps, for those who just cannot manage a hundred dollars for the inexpensive seats, the organisers could follow the guidelines used by London (England) theatres for many years - half price for all unsold tickets a few hours before the show. Worth the long queue?
'Rich' Singapore:
If Singapore is to be South East Asia's entertainment hub then ticket prices should be more reasonable. Perhaps the ticket tax is too high? Seeing that Singapore is displaying its wealth in the newspapers, are the artistes themselves charging high prices? Meanwhile organisers will not bring in shows that will not make a profit. What do you all think?
Images: from Google.
Article: Information from Wikipedia and local newspaper advertisements.
(This posting is not an advertisement.)






12 comments:

nomore said...

Time to say Happy New Year to you and you're all...! Eric Clapton, will he sang his great the Tears in Heaven on Feb and Mar 2011's in Singapore stage?

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Yes, yes, yes. Are you coming? I'll go with you. He will sing all his top hits.

Korea is so cold. It's nice and warm here.Let me know if you decide to make a visit.

nomore said...

As you know already Clapton has been visited in Seoul 1997,2007...and then he also will be here to 20th Feb 2011....Great the guitarist !

Roger said...

Middlemen account for the high ticket prices.

Every party wants their cut so prices will remain high. Take it or leave it is the mantra.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Ah yes, Seoul is one fantastic city where famous artistes are magnetised to perform there because of its superb Korean-constructed concert halls and talented musicians.

K-Pop is the craze now amongst teenagers; even in Singapore too!

Well, perhaps we will find another time to have coffee.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

I don't know about a middleman. With the internet and easy access to the agents in charge, is there a middleman involved?

I think the tickets are pricey because of our entertainment tax and theatre/stadium rentals.

I am not sure. Comment anyone?

Anonymous said...

Some shows in Singapore lost out. Producers went bankrupt. They are no money makers.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

I am not too sure about this. They do break even, as one industry player tells me.

From the news items, some shows have 80% of their tickets sold. Apparently Singaporeans are willing to pay big money to see big stars.

Anonymous said...

nomore said...

Great! It'll be the best stepping to the Happy New Year!!!

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks nomore, Yes many of us are looking forward to the pop star bonus. But, like I explained, not all can go because of the ticket prices.

Anonymous said...

Ticket price too steep for many senior citizens who love sixties music. Price shd be reduced.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

I understand from the organisers that prices for the shows are fair.