January 28, 2006
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What the hell was I doing awake on Chinese New Year Eve, with only three hours of sleep under my belt? It was half my brain yelling at the other half. It sure was an almighty struggle to haul my ass off my bed and go for work. Thankfully I survived the four hours of torture.
Looking back twelve hours later, I guess it was worth it, barely. Dream Theatre celebrated twenty years of rock music at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and I was there with a friend. I owed him one, as the Christmas event I pulled some friends to was not one of my better ideas. Hence, I readily agreed to attend the concert despite never having heard a single Dream Theatre song. I figured that they could not be too bad, since I liked their genre of music.
Let just say things did not get off to a good start, Dream Theatre getting their act together an hour after the stipulated time. They certainly wasted no time in working up the crowd though, kicking off with fast-paced singles. What was the point of assigned seating when everyone, except for those seated in the most expensive area, ended up in the same area when the concert-goers surged forward when it began? It was also a pity there were supposed echnical difficulties? probably the sound system having a base that was too strong that blurred the singing.
We had a date with Jet Li on the big screen at midnight and the fifteen minute break at ten-fifteen was not exactly news we wanted to hear and we had to quickly inform the others to try for a later timeslot. The songs after the break were not as good but they thankfully saved the best for the last with their two encore songs.
I think it was midnight when the crowd started filtering out of the stadium. I felt that it was poor planning, as the kids (those in their early teens) had to get a parent or guardian to fetch them. I wonder if there were any stranded kids.
We made it just in time for the movie at 1am. The opening scene already hinted that something untoward would happen to Huo Yuanjia towards the end of the bout. The storyline was mediocre, only saving grace being the fighting scenes. Well, it would have been a big-time dud if it did not have well choreographed fight scenes. To compound things further, the cock-up by the snack counter only made the movie worse. Two starving souls ended up eating the wrong hot dogs.
I will probably miss the countdown tonight in favour of some slumber. Happy Chinese New Year everyone!
