Sheep, Angels & the Mexican Guy at The Bar: Christmas according to Budak Pantai
It was a 'real' Christmas concert for Budak Pantai, as told by Michael of the group as last year's offering didn't quite count as it was a celebratory effort for the group's 1oth anniversary of staying together. Frankly, it's no mean feat for the group to stay for 11 years for many groups had come and gone. I truly admire Budak Pantai for this and also for their uncanny ability to cater to the Singaporean audience's sense of humor. Hey, they're after all one of the pioneers for Singapore's a cappella group.
In this festive season of gifts and Christmas decorations at Orchard Road, it seemed so appropriate that Budak Pantai has a Christmas concert this year in the week nearing Christmas. Yes, they released their compilation album titled "Assorted Nuts". The album features mostly tunes from their previous albums as well as some new ones of which one of them will be featured in a yet-to-be-screened movie.
The concert was in a desert-like setting with cactus and sheep props on the stage (which probably explained the "Mexican guy" in the concert title). Budak Pantai introed themselves and Danny, (Budak's vocal percussionist and guitarist) yielded some really loud cheers from his supporters, which he said that they are his colleagues. Michael, the group's spokesman called the guitar that Danny used as an "a cappella guitar" because the guitar is accompanied without any instruments.
With Budak Pantai around, you can expect lots of laughter. True enough, Budak Pantai got laughters and sometimes guffaws from the audience. The audience lapped all the jokes and sound effects produced by Gordon (Budak's "sound effect machine") and visuals (on powerpoint) up. Obviously the audience loved the cliched humor in Abuden and the dancey and humorous choreographed moves by the group in No Matter What. Those 2 songs were the group's well-known signature tunes for anyone who like their kind of music.
The concert had this powerpoint visual which provided a relaxing atmosphere which was pretty deceiving for any one who is new to Budak's music. There was this small caption reading "suitable for vegetarians" just below the concert title on the slide that greeted the audience upon entrance at the Esplanade concert hall. Funny.
However, Joseph (the lead in most of Budak's song) was suffering from laryngitis which led to spiritless singing despite trying his utmost best in those songs that he sang lead for. This vocal glitch was pretty obvious when he sang Abba. The group's resident comedians, Gordon and Michael covered that glitch well through their humorous bantering. Even Kah Keh (Budak's bass) and Danny who don't really talk much on stage joked subtly on stage as well.
Even when they do make mistakes whether be it deliberate or real, it never quite affect Budak Pantai in their rough and ready style of presenting their songs as the humor of it all appeals to the audience.
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5
It was a 'real' Christmas concert for Budak Pantai, as told by Michael of the group as last year's offering didn't quite count as it was a celebratory effort for the group's 1oth anniversary of staying together. Frankly, it's no mean feat for the group to stay for 11 years for many groups had come and gone. I truly admire Budak Pantai for this and also for their uncanny ability to cater to the Singaporean audience's sense of humor. Hey, they're after all one of the pioneers for Singapore's a cappella group.
In this festive season of gifts and Christmas decorations at Orchard Road, it seemed so appropriate that Budak Pantai has a Christmas concert this year in the week nearing Christmas. Yes, they released their compilation album titled "Assorted Nuts". The album features mostly tunes from their previous albums as well as some new ones of which one of them will be featured in a yet-to-be-screened movie.
The concert was in a desert-like setting with cactus and sheep props on the stage (which probably explained the "Mexican guy" in the concert title). Budak Pantai introed themselves and Danny, (Budak's vocal percussionist and guitarist) yielded some really loud cheers from his supporters, which he said that they are his colleagues. Michael, the group's spokesman called the guitar that Danny used as an "a cappella guitar" because the guitar is accompanied without any instruments.
With Budak Pantai around, you can expect lots of laughter. True enough, Budak Pantai got laughters and sometimes guffaws from the audience. The audience lapped all the jokes and sound effects produced by Gordon (Budak's "sound effect machine") and visuals (on powerpoint) up. Obviously the audience loved the cliched humor in Abuden and the dancey and humorous choreographed moves by the group in No Matter What. Those 2 songs were the group's well-known signature tunes for anyone who like their kind of music.
The concert had this powerpoint visual which provided a relaxing atmosphere which was pretty deceiving for any one who is new to Budak's music. There was this small caption reading "suitable for vegetarians" just below the concert title on the slide that greeted the audience upon entrance at the Esplanade concert hall. Funny.
However, Joseph (the lead in most of Budak's song) was suffering from laryngitis which led to spiritless singing despite trying his utmost best in those songs that he sang lead for. This vocal glitch was pretty obvious when he sang Abba. The group's resident comedians, Gordon and Michael covered that glitch well through their humorous bantering. Even Kah Keh (Budak's bass) and Danny who don't really talk much on stage joked subtly on stage as well.
Even when they do make mistakes whether be it deliberate or real, it never quite affect Budak Pantai in their rough and ready style of presenting their songs as the humor of it all appeals to the audience.
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5
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