G.E.M. Sets Record With Fiery Show

Absence may have made the heart grow fonder, as an eight-year break has catapulted G.E.M. to a new concert record in Singapore.

- Benson Ang

Some 42,000 fans turned up for the Hong Kong singer's National Stadium gig on March 1, the highest attendance for a solo female Mandopop singer in the venue's history. It topped the 20,000 people who went to see local singer Stefanie Sun perform there in 2014 and Taiwan's A-mei in 2016.

During G.E.M.'s show, part of her G.E.M. I Am Gloria World Tour, the 33-year-old commented on the audience's enthusiasm: "You guys are very loud. So loud, I have to increase the volume of my headpiece to hear the music."

She also marvelled at the venue's retractable roof, and said it was her first time performing in a stadium which could be covered.

She had many sweet words for the Lion City. For example, when she was bitten by a mosquito during the gig, she said Singapore had given her a "fei wen" ("flying insect" in Chinese). To reciprocate, she sent flying kisses - also "fei wen" in Chinese - to the crowd.

G.E.M. last performed in Singapore in 2017, doing two shows at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. She also helmed three nights at The Max Pavilion @ Singapore Expo in 2015.