Catching Akon concert in Singapore

By Angelo Comsti
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Celebrated singer Akon has been the talk of the town these days because of his controversial concert antics. So when news spread that the 27-year-old R&B artist was to perform before a crowd of 3,000 (tickets were limited) in Singapore last Aug. 18, the local press (this writer included) was more than eager to witness (and write) what could be the next day’s entertainment headlines.

Thirty minutes into the concert, I arrived at Downtown East’s D’Marquee Stadium, amazed that the crowd was constantly chanting Akon’s name in the middle of a human beatbox’s performance. It was a free-standing event, and I could understand why.

Right after the host’s short introduction, DJ Benny D warmed up to everyone with his crazy mix of tunes and red kilt. He played familiar songs from the Black Eyed Peas, P. Diddy and Amy Winehouse and stood on the turntable, prompting everyone to join his wicked free-style dancing. For a while, it felt like a Benny D concert until Akon emerged behind the curtains and began his repertoire with “Jam Rock” and “Shake Down,” songs befitting the crowd’s ear-shattering reaction.

Still in anticipation of his latest antic, I watched closely as Akon walked close to the edge of the stage, vulnerable to the arms of many. He asked all to cross their arms in the air, as he sung “Soul Survivor.” He followed it up with his hit single, “I Wanna Love You,” and in the process of singing, stripped his bright yellow shirt to reveal the mark of a bona fide hip-hop artist, a fitted undershirt and a huge silver medallion. This triggered deafening screams from the ladies. Ironically, when Akon threw his shirt to the audience, a tall guy snagged it.

The strip show continued as he took off his last piece of clothing to reveal a body as tight as the undershirt he was wearing. As the women extended their arms to reach for the shirt, Akon began to tell the story of how he fell in love with a stripper, something his parents detested. This, as it turned out, was the inspiration behind the song “Don’t Matter,” which he smoothly segued to. Upon hearing it, the three Pinoy kids standing beside me, as if by impulse, break-danced on the floor. Soon as he started his next song, “Mama Africa,” Akon, like a sacrificial lamb, headed to the crowd and submitted himself to the people, who expectedly tugged his pants, brushed his abs and pulled his head down to steal a kiss.

In what seemingly was a newsworthy moment, Akon picked up a young girl and placed her on his shoulders. DJ Benny D pulled an excited girl from the crowd and gently did the same, worried it might ruin his mohawk. The girls barely moved as Akon, much to the disappointment of the people, performed his last song, “I Tried So Hard.” In an effort to make the audience forget Akon’s absence, DJ Benny D played another round of mixed music.

The concert lasted a little over 90 minutes with a total of 15 songs, and the whole time I was anticipating something controversial to happen. But in the end, I realized that there was something else much more interesting to write about Akon. And that’s the fact that he pulled off a great and entertaining concert, one that did not need controversy to be worthy of being written about.

Editor’s note: Akon photo courtesy of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Share This