Poparazzi

Tags: addy rasidi, Cannes, Carrie Underwood, Chow Yun Fat, Coco Lee, CSI, Dragonball Evolution, Electrico, Fun Asia, Fun Taiwan, Ion Orchard, Janet Hsieh, Jeanette Aw, Jolin Tsai, Little Nyonya, Qi Yuwu, S.H.E., Singapore, The Who, Tom Cruise, William Peterson

HEY there fellow Poparazziacs, here’s a question for you: Where do you go if you want to see your favourite Asian singing stars in the flesh?

No, you don’t have to fly all the way to Hong Kong, China or Taiwan; you just need to head on down to Ion Orchard. Yup, Singapore’s newest shopping addition has been seeing loads of celebrities within their walls of late.

Last week, country superstar Carrie Underwood turned up for an hour-long concert, and tomorrow evening (Oct 23), singer-actor Wang Lee Hom (above) will be doing his concert outside the mall too, to mark the final day of the establishment’s grand opening celebrations called Constellation.

And on Nov 6, one of Taiwan’s hottest pop stars, S.H.E. (below) will make an appearance at the Osim store to launch the Osim uKimono, a “complete all-in-one slimming device that burns fat and tones muscle while massaging to enhance circulation” – or so I’m told.

Personally, I’m not sure why Selina, Hebe or Ella would need this device, when they’re trim enough as it is! But hey, I’m definitely going to be there doing my fanboy thing and get some snaps.

I guess it’s time to keep an eye on Ion.

***UPDATE***

Oh, and this just in: On Oct 27, Chinese star Zhang Ziyi (below) – or is it Ziyi Zhang now? – will be here again. This time, she’ll be here to officiate at the opening of the Omega flagship boutique, she being one of the ambassadors for Omega and all.

And yes, I know she’s technically not a singing star, but here’s something more pressing: Is Zhang Ziyi hotter than the Omega Constellation that was done for her? Only one way to find out.

(The female contingent in the office were, of course, hoping George Clooney would turn up, but hey, here’s a gratituous shot of him anyway…)

Tags: Abang of the Airwaves, Asian, Carrie Underwood, Christopher Toh, Constellation, George Clooney, Ion Orchard, Omega, Osim, S.H.E., uKimono, Wang Lee Hom, Zhang Ziyi

ADMITTEDLY, I’m not a huge fan of modern country music, but Carrie Underwood rocked out at Ion Orchard yesterday night, as I’m sure everyone who was in the vicinity will agree.

The Grammy winner also offered quite a few surprises: She sang a new song from her upcoming album Play On, a scorching ballad called Mama’s Son; and she also covered Guns ‘N’ Roses’ Paradise City, which was one of the best covers I have ever heard. If GNR were to get back together, they should get Carrie to front the band and tell Axl he can take a long rest.

It was a rockin’ concert and Carrie has got one of the best live singing voices we have ever heard. Spotted three Singapore Idol finalists who were there – they could certainly learn a thing or two from her. And the band was tighter than, er, a tight thing.

The only gripe was the fans were put to the left side of the stage, so that the VIPs could get centrestage view.

“Who put all the fans only to one side?”

However, this meant that every time she wanted to the fans, she’d have to turn to the left, giving  the VIPs a nice view of her bum. Not that anyone was complaining but, you know…

All too soon, it was over. The more enterprising fans, of course, staked out various exits at Ion Orchard and were rewarded when she finally appeared. Quick, quick, snap, snap, grin, grin, wink, wink, say no more!

Then it was into the waiting cars and voom! Carrie has left the building. But enough of me yakking: If you want to read more about the concert and the interview she did with me, grab Monday’s edition of the Today newspaper. Or read about it online on Monday at www.todayonline.com.

In the meantime, just check 0ut the following pictures of the gig. I’m just going to catch some zzzzs. I have to rest up for Mr Big tomorrow.

Carrie and me. Yes, I know I’m a lucky git

(pics: Christopher Toh)

Tags: Abang of the Airwaves, Carrie Underwood, Christopher Toh, concert review, Ion Orchard, Mr Big

Carrie Underwood with Utt (extreme left) and Soon Su Lin, the CEO of Orchard Turn Developments

SO CHECK this out:

At the press conference for the grand opening of Ion Orchard (which happens tonight!), we spoke with Carrie Underwood: Winner of countless awards including four Grammys, the person with the fasting-selling debut country album, for the multi-platinum Some Hearts, and winner of this year’s ACM Entertainer of the Year award, the first woman to win in eight years.  

The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inductee’s current smash single, Cowboy Casanova, taken from her upcoming album Play On, was also the fasting rising chart single when it was released last month.

So exactly is it like to be Carrie Underwood? We posed some questions to her.

What’s the strangest compliment you’ve been given?

People tell me I’m short. I don’t know, maybe it’s because television makes you look 10 pounds larger or whatever. But they keep saying, “You’re really little” and I’m like, “Wow, I must look really large on TV for you to keep going on about it”!

Does she really look larger on TV?

What’s the best advice ever received?

My mum has always told me, “Do what’s going to make you happy”. And keeping that in mind has done me well.

Are you more of a shopaholic now?

I have become more of a shopaholic, simply because I grew up in Oklahoma and we don’t have malls like this in Oklahoma. So being able to go to places and being around fashion, yes. I’m more of a shopaholic now. I don’t own a $30,000 pair of diamond-studded shoes or anything, but shoes, that’s where a majority of my shopping money goes to.

You were named Entertainer of the Year, the first to win it since 2001.

It felt really amazing. So many people worked so hard for it and for some reason it seems that it’s a difficult to have a woman even nominated so it was an honour to get that nomination but to win that – that felt amazing. I was on cloud nine for months. I still am – I like to go look at the award and say, oh, that actually happened.

What’s the one thing you must have with you when you travel?

Travelling when I don’t have to fly too far, my dog always travels with me. He didn’t make it on this trip because the plane ride would have been awful for him. He usually goes wherever I go. But other than that, I just bring the basics, lots of clothes and lots of shoes – I always over pack!

What’s your musical guilty pleasure?

I listen to everything. I like New Kids On The Block, stuff like that is fun to listen to. I actually worked out to them this morning. I like their newest album (The Block), I’ve seen them in concert like, twice, in the past year. I really like them!

They should be called Old Kids now…

I know. But they’re still hot!

What do you do if you’re unwell and can’t do a show?

So far the shows always go on; I’ve never had to cancel anything due to sickness. People can do more than they think they can do. Basically, when I’m on stage, I feel a hundred times better. But as soon as I get offstage, I feel exhausted. But you do what you’ve got to do. Nobody else out there knows you’re sick, so you do what you can. And you feel better for it.

What do you do on your free days?

I don’t do much of anything. When I have time, I like to visit my parents. But basically, it’s “life” things I have to catch up on – laundry, housecleaning, suitcases I have to unpack and repack. I’m horribly boring.

What’s your most memorable moment?

Winning American Idol. Winning that show was a landmark, a beginning, that’s definitely a moment I would never forget. Embarrassing? I don’t know, sometimes I say dumb things when I’m onstage. It’s not got me in trouble, but just saying silly things can be embarrassing habit. I can laugh at myself, so I don’t get embarrassed too easily.

The future’s so bright for Carrie Underwood

Have you met any Cowboy Casanovas?

I think women in general come across Cowboy Casanovas every single day. It doesn’t have to be someone in a cowboy hat and the boots, but it’s just this guy, you know, who’s hot and he knows he’s hot, and probably not the nicest guy in the world. I’ve definitely come across my share; I’m not going to name names or anything.

 Carrie performs at Ion Orchard at 8pm. Find out what advice Carrie has for our Singapore Idols at http://blogs.todayonline.com/idolchatter/2009/10/15/idol-advice-from-carrie-underwood/

Tags: Abang of the Airwaves, Carrie Underwood, Christopher Toh, Cowboy Casanova, Grammys, Ion Orchard, Play On, Some Hearts

AT LEAST, that’s what the organisers for the grand opening celebrations for Ion Orchard are promising.

And they’re kicking off with a concert by erstwhile American Idol winner and current country-pop star Carrie Underwood. (above)

Ever since winning that show in 2004, Carrie’s been going from strength to strength, with a No 1 album, Carnival Ride, to her name. Earlier this year, she was named the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year. No mean feat for a relative newbie. She’s the first woman to gain such as honour since 2001.

Carrie’s concert will start at 7.30pm next Friday (Oct 16), and it’s the first in a series of events celebrating the opening of Ion Orchard, which will culminate in a street party on Oct 23, featuring international music sensation Wang Lee Hom as well as  other international artistes.

Wang Lee Hom is expected to lead a slew of other acts for the street party

 Just who those “international artistes” are, they won’t say yet, but they did promise that it’s going to be a rockin’ party.

We’ll know more as the days go by, and we’ll definitely keep you in the know as well.

Until then, keep watching this space.

Tags: Abang of the Airwaves, American Idol, Carnival Ride, Carrie Underwood, Christopher Toh, country music, grand opening, Ion Orchard, Singapore, street party, Wang Lee Hom