By Naveen Mathew Menon
KUALA LUMPUR : It was the eve of Halloween and revellers dressed as pirates, she-devils, skeletons, zombies, bloodthirsty vampires, werewolves and Freddy Krueger couldn't resist taking a break from scaring others to visit Changkat Bukit Bintang to party. The event had nothing to do with Halloween but they joined thousands of party goers who were lured to the hip and happening area because world-renowned singer Leona Lewis and Australian pop-rock group The Veronicas were in town for a street concert like no other.
Halloween this year was unforgettable, thanks to automobile giant Volkswagen which brought in international and local music acts for a night of head-banging and rocking in the street.
Setting this musical extravaganza in Changkat Bukit Bintang, celebrated for its pubs, restaurants and nightlife proved to be perfect for the re-launching of three popular Volkswagen cars which comprised the Polo, Golf and Scirocco.
The free street party hosted by Volkswagen Group Malaysia turned out to be a very unique launch for its new models.
Choosing a good watering hole was no easy feat at Changkat Bukit Bintang which is chock-full of them but the good folks at Volkswagen had given special guests wristbands to visit four pubs, El Cerdito, Bermuda & Onion, Elixir and El Cerdo where beer and soft drinks flowed freely during the night along with tidbits.
The air was thick with anticipation by 7pm. Everyone's eyes were glued to the stage as the street party kicked off with music from two groups, Liyana Fizi and Bittersweet.
Their mix of rap and heavy metal music was just the beginning of a long and memorable night.
The audience grew rapidly as visitors sent tweets, called and SMSed friends and family on their mobile phones to join the party pronto.
Much to the delight of the screaming crowd, the emcees for the night gave away freebies such as T-shirts, frisbees and other stuff.
Models positioned strategically at the entrance of various pubs handed out free flags bearing the Volkswagen name, glow sticks and noise-makers to party animals.
Then, Sarawak singer Arabyrd hit the stage, clad in white shorts, a T-shirt which bared her midriff, stockings with the love symbol all over them and a matching Dick Tracy hat. Wasting no time, she got the audience grooving to the beat as she belted out songs like LOV.
Talking to Streets, Arabyrd whose real name is Arafah Edruce said her selection for the night included songs like Blank Wall, LOV, Byrdkick and Drop It. "My music is racy and something that you can always dance to," she said.
"Blank Wall is about a girl telling her ex-boyfriend that she doesn't need him, being gangsta about being broken-hearted. LOV is the first song I ever wrote and it's very special to me," she said.
"I started learning music when I was 15. My father Boudeng and my mom Magie Abg Saufi are in the music industry," she explained.
She brought Famous Crew known for their break-dancing and beat-boxer Shazet on stage to surprise the audience with an added bonus.
Threatening to steal the limelight from the artistes on stage was Mohd Naim Mohd Isa, 25.
You couldn't miss him in the audience because he was hopping and leaping into the air, courtesy of his special hi-tech jumping stilts which allowed him to defy gravity.
The result was spectacular as he leapt, danced and did splits in the air while the divided audience cheered him on.
The crowd was now geared up for one of the two main events.
The Veronicas took over the stage to raucous applause which motivated them to tear the house down with their hits, Untouched, This Is How It Feels, Take Me On The Floor, Hook Me Up and When It All Falls Apart.
Formed in Brisbane in 1999 by twin-sisters Jessica and Lisa Origliasso, The Veronicas have been enjoying sell-out concerts with their electro-pop rock music.
The duo have two albums under their belt, one being The Secret Life of... from 2005 and Hook Me Up from 2007.
They teased the audience by telling them "it's hot out there, but it's going to get hotter" and coaxed them to wave their hands in the air and jump up and down in sync with the music.
They revealed that since local fans were familiar with The Veronicas and their music, they would return for a proper tour in Malaysia.
The organisers saved the best for last.
Fans couldn't wait for Leona Lewis!
She came out dressed in a black lacy dress with a slightly glittering top and a series of bangles wrapped around one wrist.
The crowd went ballistic as she crooned several songs which got everyone's adrenaline pumping. Bleeding Love, Run and Better In Time, her chart-topping hits got the audience singing along.
On the other hand, when she belted out the classic 80's song, Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This, a cover version of Eurythmics' popular song, all she got was silence from a crowd of mostly youngsters who were not familiar with the band.
Sexy songs like Naked, a cover version of Justin Timberlake's hit Cry Me A River and Outta My Head kept the mosh pit going.
Several of her fans kept screaming out for Happy and she obliged.
Her dancers with their chiselled six-pack chests and clad in office attire kept the rhythm going as she rendered several songs.
The night culminated with a series of breath-taking fireworks for the second time that night, providing a fitting end to what many in the audience agreed was one of the best street parties of the year.
Halloween this year was unforgettable, thanks to automobile giant Volkswagen which brought in international and local music acts for a night of head-banging and rocking in the street.
Setting this musical extravaganza in Changkat Bukit Bintang, celebrated for its pubs, restaurants and nightlife proved to be perfect for the re-launching of three popular Volkswagen cars which comprised the Polo, Golf and Scirocco.
The free street party hosted by Volkswagen Group Malaysia turned out to be a very unique launch for its new models.
Choosing a good watering hole was no easy feat at Changkat Bukit Bintang which is chock-full of them but the good folks at Volkswagen had given special guests wristbands to visit four pubs, El Cerdito, Bermuda & Onion, Elixir and El Cerdo where beer and soft drinks flowed freely during the night along with tidbits.
The air was thick with anticipation by 7pm. Everyone's eyes were glued to the stage as the street party kicked off with music from two groups, Liyana Fizi and Bittersweet.
Their mix of rap and heavy metal music was just the beginning of a long and memorable night.
The audience grew rapidly as visitors sent tweets, called and SMSed friends and family on their mobile phones to join the party pronto.
Much to the delight of the screaming crowd, the emcees for the night gave away freebies such as T-shirts, frisbees and other stuff.
Models positioned strategically at the entrance of various pubs handed out free flags bearing the Volkswagen name, glow sticks and noise-makers to party animals.
Then, Sarawak singer Arabyrd hit the stage, clad in white shorts, a T-shirt which bared her midriff, stockings with the love symbol all over them and a matching Dick Tracy hat. Wasting no time, she got the audience grooving to the beat as she belted out songs like LOV.
Talking to Streets, Arabyrd whose real name is Arafah Edruce said her selection for the night included songs like Blank Wall, LOV, Byrdkick and Drop It. "My music is racy and something that you can always dance to," she said.
"Blank Wall is about a girl telling her ex-boyfriend that she doesn't need him, being gangsta about being broken-hearted. LOV is the first song I ever wrote and it's very special to me," she said.
"I started learning music when I was 15. My father Boudeng and my mom Magie Abg Saufi are in the music industry," she explained.
She brought Famous Crew known for their break-dancing and beat-boxer Shazet on stage to surprise the audience with an added bonus.
Threatening to steal the limelight from the artistes on stage was Mohd Naim Mohd Isa, 25.
You couldn't miss him in the audience because he was hopping and leaping into the air, courtesy of his special hi-tech jumping stilts which allowed him to defy gravity.
The result was spectacular as he leapt, danced and did splits in the air while the divided audience cheered him on.
The crowd was now geared up for one of the two main events.
The Veronicas took over the stage to raucous applause which motivated them to tear the house down with their hits, Untouched, This Is How It Feels, Take Me On The Floor, Hook Me Up and When It All Falls Apart.
Formed in Brisbane in 1999 by twin-sisters Jessica and Lisa Origliasso, The Veronicas have been enjoying sell-out concerts with their electro-pop rock music.
The duo have two albums under their belt, one being The Secret Life of... from 2005 and Hook Me Up from 2007.
They teased the audience by telling them "it's hot out there, but it's going to get hotter" and coaxed them to wave their hands in the air and jump up and down in sync with the music.
They revealed that since local fans were familiar with The Veronicas and their music, they would return for a proper tour in Malaysia.
The organisers saved the best for last.
Fans couldn't wait for Leona Lewis!
She came out dressed in a black lacy dress with a slightly glittering top and a series of bangles wrapped around one wrist.
The crowd went ballistic as she crooned several songs which got everyone's adrenaline pumping. Bleeding Love, Run and Better In Time, her chart-topping hits got the audience singing along.
On the other hand, when she belted out the classic 80's song, Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This, a cover version of Eurythmics' popular song, all she got was silence from a crowd of mostly youngsters who were not familiar with the band.
Sexy songs like Naked, a cover version of Justin Timberlake's hit Cry Me A River and Outta My Head kept the mosh pit going.
Several of her fans kept screaming out for Happy and she obliged.
Her dancers with their chiselled six-pack chests and clad in office attire kept the rhythm going as she rendered several songs.
The night culminated with a series of breath-taking fireworks for the second time that night, providing a fitting end to what many in the audience agreed was one of the best street parties of the year.
http://www.nst.com.my/articles/13concert-2a/Article/
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