Selena Gomez performing. Photos courtesy of the artist BEC Tero
Last Friday night, where did we go? Clubs are boring, so we decided to relocate our dance floor to Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani. Selena Gomez was there with her Revival Tour.
Queue in the dancers. Break out the strobe lights. The American pop princess was giving Thailand a blast!
We thought we’d lost all hope when Taylor Swift tay-ed (to adopt the Thai slang meaning “to ditch”) us two years ago after the military rolled out their tanks. But Gomez was unfazed. She was even seen taking photos near the Erawan Shrine. Well, the heart wants what it wants, right?
It was the 24-year-old singer’s first performance in Thailand. All the teen and tween Selenators (and, for some, their mums) flocked to Impact Arena, ready to sing and scream their hearts out. A few actually draped Christmas lights over themselves. Now, that’s the spirit! Nothing says you’re excited like turning yourself into a walking glow stick.
Opening the act was Jai Waetford, 17, who came third on the X Factor Australia (Season 5) in 2013. While the singer is relatively unknown to most of the Thai public, he was no stranger to concert goers. The moment the teen appeared onstage, the hall was deafened with screams. Everyone was gushing over how cute he was. His slightly oversized T-shirt, as well as his overall appearance and music style, quite reminded me of Justin Bieber. I promise this comparison wasn’t made just because we were at Gomez’s concert. No, no.
Waetford’s swoon-worthy moment came when he broke out his Cole Clark guitar to play an acoustic version of his original tune Don’t Let Me Go. Some people may criticise that puberty has altered his voice for the worse, but he was still fine. That sweet, boyish sound he was famous for when he first appeared on X Factor was still there, even though it has grown somewhat harder over the past few years.
During his 30 minutes on stage, he asked the crowd to wave their smartphone’s light around. An overdone move, really, but it didn’t fail to impress the hall. We always go gaga over things that shine.
Then, we had a 40-minute break as the stage was reset for Gomez’s show. Time for Facebook posts, while attending celebrities and TV stars were mobbed by people wanting selfies. And friends killed time by exchanging the latest gossip about two Thai female stars and their Instagram feud, which broke out that day. Juicy drama is always good for spicing up our Friday nights.
Suddenly, all selfies and gossips ceased. Phones were raised to film the night’s crowning jewel as she made her entrance in a black ensemble and red shades. After the screams died down, our bodies melted and slithered to the beat of Gomez’s hits like Same Old Love, Come And Get It, Good For You and Hands To Myself. She also sang an acoustic version of Who Says which was released in 2011.
But it wasn’t all about fast tracks. Our beat slowed down when Gomez did a cover of the gospel tune Transfiguration by Hillsong Worship.
“In every show that I do, I like to do a cover because — every day — music has inspired me. And this song, in particular, has got me through some of my toughest times. It’s one of my favourite worship songs,” Gomez told the crowd. The song was most likely done as a tribute to her late friend Christina Grimmie, who was fatally shot and passed away in June.
Another cover Gomez performed was the 1983 Eurythmics track Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This). Then, she ended the concert with Kill Em With Kindness and I Want You To Know. There was no encore.
She pretty much hopped around the stage, waved goodbye and left. Her parting message to the crowd was “I promise you I’ll be back”. And we sure hope so, as we weren’t quite satiated due to the concert lasting just an hour and fifteen minutes. One moment, everyone was dancing. Then, the lights came on like a pub that closed too early. That was it?
Despite its relatively short runtime, Revival Tour was still a fun show to attend. And the crowd loved the muay Thai shorts Gomez wore during one part of the concerts. After the show, many headed back to the city to continue their party. Others headed to 7-Eleven for a late night meal. It’s suffice to say the concert was an energy drainer.
Opening act Jai Waetford. BEC Tero
Selena Gomez performing. Photos courtesy of the artist BEC Tero
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.