Janine OngAs the lights dimmed and the band started to play, Michael Bolton, the man of the night worked up the zest of the 1000-strong crowd by opening with the song , ”Soul Provider”.
“Thank you for coming to see us tonight, thank you Singapore!” the singer said when the audience erupted with cheers and a warm applause after the opening song.
Dressed in a velvet blazer and a simple pair of jeans, the charismatic 57-year-old continued with classics such as “To Love Somebody”, “Dock of the Bay and Said I Love You But I Lied”.
He then proceeded to belt out new hits such as “Hope It’s Too Late” from his latest One World One Love album that got the younger fans tapping on their feet as the backup vocalists danced along with the music as well.
“You havin’ fun with my band?” Michael teased the crowd as he changed into a black blazer before continuing with covers of “For Once In My Life” and “Fly Me To The Moon”.
He then covered another Frank Sinatra’s song “New York, New York”. The song is from the album, Bolton Swings Sinatra, which has sold 300,000 copies worldwide.
Michael carried on with “Nessun dorma”, showcasing his 4 octave vocal range with the unique rendition.
The former hard rock singer also dedicated the song to the renowned Italian operatic tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, who received a standing ovation in the 2006 Winter Olympics after performing the song.
Michael Lington, who was the guest saxophonist for the band, took over the stage as he performed “You and I” from his latest album Heat while the other Michael took time off backstage.
Like all other successful concerts; this one come with a surprise.
After the contemporary jazz saxophonist from Copenhagen ended his delightful performance, the spotlight shoned in the middle of the aisle among the audience.
Fans were caught by surprise, as Michael appeared from amongst the crowd in a black polo t-shirt singing “When a Man Loves a Woman”.
Many stood up to catch a glimpse of their beloved singer; some of them even gave a huge shout-out to the charming star, “Love you, Michael!”
As he made his way onto the stage, fans regained their composure and rushed in front of the stage, hoping to receive a handshake from him.
By now, the audience were so drawn to Michael’s magnetic performance they were swaying along with the music and humming along with him, having no qualms about leaving their seats to blend into the joyful vibe.
Fans whipped out their hand phones, cameras and whatever they had on their hands to record this momentous part of the concert despite the ‘No Photography/Videography’ rule.
Michael continued to dazzle the crowd with hits like “How Can We Be Lovers” and “Time, Love and Tenderness”. He even pointed the microphone to his adoring fans and urged them to sing along, “Time for you guys to take over!”
The crowd was absolutely fascinated with his captivating performance as the concert ended on a high note with Michael performing his first major hit “How Am I Supposed To Love Without You”.
Michael Bolton will be continuing with his One World One Love Tour in Jakarta and various cities in Australia next.
Photos courtesy of Suntec Singapore