A grand return to concert scene after a decade

More than 10 years have passed since Stefanie Sun's last concert here at the National Stadium in 2014. Despite the long absence, she is still Singapore's most popular home-grown diva.

- Benson Ang

CONCERT AUT NIHILO SUN YANZI IN CONCERT — SINGAPORE Singapore Indoor Stadium April 5

Her peppy image and frolicking sense of fun have always been part of her appeal, together with her unique, slightly raspy voice. And all these held true on the first of her four sold-out concerts at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, marking her 25 years as a singer.

It was a grand return to the concert scene, and one worth the wait, with Sun's talent on full display on a 71m-wide stage billed as the largest at the venue and before a 7,000-strong crowd.

Against a backdrop resembling a wheat field, fireworks projected on a 14.5m-tall LED wall and six confetti showers, the star appeared on a platform in an oversized flowing white outfit, and kicked off her long-awaited show with her resolute number, My Desired Happiness (2000).

It was the same song she had performed during a surprise appearance at the Dec 31, 2024 gig of her mentors, Singaporean composers Lee Wei Song and Lee Si Song. But the allure of a Stefanie Sun concert has always been the immersive experience of hearing her songs delivered with frisky yet wholesome playfulness.