MTV Asia has staged the outdoor MTV World Stage Malaysia concert since 2009. This year was no different, with a multi-genre line-up of homegrown and international artists at Sunway Lagoon, a theme park in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, on Aug 16.
American hip hop act B.o.B headlined this year's MTV World Stage Malaysia concert.
In the audience, girls wearing colourful hijabs stood shoulder-to-shoulder with girls in skimpy shorts and skirts. It was culture clash in all the right ways, a good premonition when you considered the acts slated to perform — Thai-American hip hop group Thaitanium, the pretty K-pop faces of Boys Republic, Malaysian diva Yuna and the night's most-anticipated hip hop American homeboy, B.o.B.
We made our way to the concert area in Surf Beach, a man-made beach at the centre of the Sunway's empire where we had a good view of the waterpark and the hotels behind it.
Before the concert began, the crowd observed a moment of silence at the request of MTV VJs Alan Wong and Hanli Hoefer. It was a solemn minute in remembrance of the lives lost in the MH17 and MH370 plane disasters. But after the brief solemn moment, the crowd was willing to let their pain go for the night. The Sun had set, and it was time for the night of rhythms and beats to begin.
Thaitanium, a long-standing hip hop icon in Thailand, was first to perform. Its upbeat songs were sung in both Thai and English, though the meanings of the lyrics didn't really matter so long as the beat was right, and the crowd was moving their bodies and waving their hands in no time.
"We have a new single that we haven't performed anywhere," said Prinya "Way" Intachai, a member of Thaitanium, "It's our single with Snoop Dogg called Wake Up (Bangkok City)."
Thaitanium's performance was met with a good response, though what they received was small compared to the audience's reactions to other artists.
Perhaps they were not very well known to the majority of the crowd. Still, the group's overflowing energy managed to get people going, setting the night up to a good start.
Next up was South Korean imports Boys Republic, a relatively new five-member K-pop band signed to Universal Music. They took the stage in a light dancing spree, though didn't succeed in getting the crowd to move. The boys made heart shapes using their arms and hands. Their overloaded cuteness didn't seem to impress the main crowd, but still managed to draw shrill screams from their fangirls.
"Malaysia is the first overseas showcase we have had. It holds a special meaning for us here," said Choi Sunwoo during an interview prior to the concert.
To an extent, the energy level dropped from when Thaitanium was performing. From bobbing heads along to the music, some audience members were left hanging in limbo. A few of us in the VIP section used it as an excuse to get more drinks or to make a trip to the toilet. We didn't feel like we missed much.
A hearty cheer rose when Yuna, the Malaysian diva, replaced the boy band on stage. With the gentle yet powerful force of her music, the singer-songwriter disappointed no one. Her classy, non-revealing appearance was also a welcome contrast to today's pop singers, who tend to show off bits of their bodies to cover what they lack in vocal talent.
"It's always a lot of fun coming back to Malaysia, performing for your home country," she said. "These are the people, the fans who were there for me since day one."
Yuna carried herself well as the only female artist performing on the testosterone-filled stage. With her charisma and enigmatic performance, we all felt better about the fact that Jennifer Hudson, the Academy Award-winner best-known for the 2006 American musical drama Dreamgirls, had backed out of the concert due to schedule conflicts.
When the night's final act, B.o.B, emerged, we knew MTV truly saved the best for last. From the noise level, it was apparent that he was the man the crowd was waiting for. Appearing in a white outfit with a red electric guitar, B.o.B opened his act with Don't Let Me Fall, a single from his debut album.
He then followed with the collaborative hits such as Nothin' On You (ft. Bruno Mars) and Airplanes (ft. Hayley Williams of Paramore). Though the songs featured vocals from internationally famous artists, B.o.B didn't need anyone to help him rock the stage. He was all the crowd needed that night.
"I'm feeling good, man. This time I've got my shorts," joked the singer, referring to his second trip to tropical Malaysia. "It's good to be back; I didn't think I'd be back so soon. If they love me here, then I love to be here."
As a finale, fans got the beat they deserved with his blowout performance. From grabbing an audience member's phone for an impromptu selfie to crowd-surfing atop a group of waiting fans, B.o.B did it all while rapping. It was not difficult to see how he became the Malaysian crowd's favourite man that night.
Malaysian diva Yuna.
Thai hip hop group Thaitanium.
