UrbanWire

It was Friday the 13, but mythical bringers of ill-fortune weren’t giving the revellers outside Zouk at 7.30 pm a hard time. Although girls in wicked red outfits pounced on unsuspecting party-goers, like cheeky devils, spraying red dye into their hair, they were, after all, attending the night of ‘The Red Affair’. Less than 24 hours before the 3rd MTV Asia Awards, the showcase, featuring the likes of Stacie Orrico, Blue, Javier, Too Phat, Urban Xchange and Sheikh Haikel, was set to propel the already escalating tidal wave of local celebrity-frenzy.

Hosted by MTV VJ Utt and radio station Perfect 10 DJ Jean Danker, the showcase was an exclusive invite-only event.

The effervescent Sheikh Haikel was the first to take the stage, belting a hip-bending version of ‘Ash’uruhu’ off his latest album, For Sure Too. This larger-than-life devoted husband and father got a tad breathless while introducing his next song, ‘Ode to My Girl’, a silky declaration of love for his daughter, Triqka. However, Haikel ‘lamented’ that Triqka was much too young to watch him perform that night. He may have been as well performing for the other ‘girl’ in his life, Annabelle Francis, who was watching him from the side of the stage.

Urban Xchange and Too Phat, respectively Singapore and Malaysia’s reigning hip hop entities, each took their turns to whip the hip hop vibe into audience. During Too Phat’s set, the guys brought in a group of break dancers, whose zany antics, like putting their heads between each other’s legs, and snazzy dance moves were set to impress. Too Phat went on to perform ‘Just a lil’ bit’, a groovy collaboration between the group and Warren G, off their album Too Phat 360.

Though they didn’t perform a full length song, winners of MTV Asia Awards ‘Favourite Pop Act’ category Blue crooned an a cappella version of ‘One Love’ and Simon Webber even performed a solo rap. Their appearance was extended on stage as 5 fans from the audience, who had been picked out previously by Utt and Jean, were slated to compete for the best impersonation of a Blue song.

Though the other contestants did a better rendition, the crowd pleaser of the night was someone who possessed a monotonous voice, but an earnest demeanour, winning over the crowd with his ‘best try’ and evoking a repetition of another William Hung phenomena. He eventually gained the loudest applause and walked away with a slightly bashful smile.

Javier may be the new kid on the music scene (his self-titled album is only out next month) but this 25-year-old from Boston is set to make waves in the genre of male singer/songwriters. Performing with another guitarist (who bears uncanny resemblance to Ricky Martin), Javier’s soulful baritone was soothing both in song and in speech. Exuding sincerity and a natural sense of humour, Javier egged on the guys in the room to move towards a girl they were interested in while he sang a song about love, but commented that “no one seemed to move” after he was done.

Stacie Orrico ended ‘The Red Affair’ on a casual note – donned in a plain white spaghetti top and green skirt, she performed acoustic versions of hits ‘More to Life’ and ‘Stuck’ and her upcoming single ‘I Promise’, a uplifting balled written by Diane Warren.

An unlucky Friday the 13? The audience at ‘The Red Affair’ would have to disagree.