twin towers @live 2013

i have been putting off writing this post, mostly because it still makes me SO EXCITED that when i start looking through the photos and videos to pick out what to put on here, i get stuck watching my videos and reliving the evening.

to add to the build up of the formula one races held in malaysia, petronas sponsors a free concert held at the base of the twin towers, spanning two nights. the concert itself is free and viewable by all, but you can purchase 150 ringgit of petronas merchandise and receive one ticket to the "fan zone" which immediately surrounds the stage, limit two tickets per person. as soon as i saw who would be performing on the second night, it wasn't even a question as to if it was worth it to pay for a ticket. it was definitely. definitely. DEFINITELY. worth it.



this is the second day, the day we went to. the first day had a few local artists and demi lovato.



we arrived around 8 pm (gates opened at 5) and soon were watching caprice and his dancing boys as they rapped and entertained the crowd. he was really great. we started a bit far out from the stage.



right in the middle of the concert was earth hour, so the event catered to that. they shut off the lights on the towers (which is truly a sight to see), and all the other lights on the surrounding buildings. the concert, however, went on. the hour started with a touristy video of malaysia, which went on a bit too long. then the stage was filled with drummers in local cultural dress, and they were fun to watch. then we experienced the beatboxing of shawn lee. he was ADORABLE. and i was so, so impressed by his beatboxing skills. it's really amazing to see that in person. following him was a show of dancers decked out in glow lights, illuminated by UV lighting. they danced to madonna and lady gaga. they were okay. and THEN, there was a drumline. more amazingness. i love a good drumline.



one nation emcees took the stage next, and they were interesting, to say the least. i'm not quite sure what they do other than run around and sing and dance other people's songs, but they entertained. no one else was dancing though. i danced.



finally, one of the two acts we were so excited for! mizz nina! she came out sparkling, of course. however, her performance was disappointing. for being a local artist who has international fame, i would expect more than two songs. especially given everyone who had come before her did at least three-fiveish? i don't know. maybe there were time limits. she left quickly.



as you may or may not notice, we kept creeping closer and closer to the stage. when the k-pop group 2ne1 came out, the crowd went crazy and we were able to get even closer. it seemed that the majority of the crowd was there for them. and the crowd was CRAZY.



we continued to sit and wait patiently for the main act, or did we?



quick answer: no.



i can officially check one item off the imaginary bucket list: elbow my way to the front row of a concert. but what concert is worth of such physical straining?



i'm dead. can't even resize these.






i mean, honestly, i am dead. every time i look at these photos i cannot believe it happened. as soon as i saw the backstreet boys were reuniting as a force of five at this concert, i about passed out in the office. ALL FIVE OF THEM. IN MY TEMPORARY CITY. i could not believe it. i saw the backstreet boys in 2001, just before the end of eighth grade. my darling dear friend (whose wedding was mentioned last september), another friend, and i made shirts, sprayed our hair black and blue, the works. and NOW, my thirteen-year-old self was reawakened and i just knew i had to be in the front row of that concert. and i made it so. my friends were right there behind me. and we had so much fun. we could hardly walk afterwards, and i spent most of the next day in bed, but it was so worth it. they were excellent. they sang everything. every. thing. they did the only version of "gangnam style" i will ever approve of. i came home and skyped my boyfriend and he asked if i was drunk. NO. just drunk on my love of 90s boy bands.

this was truly a perfect day. one of my very best, favorite days living here, by far. i'll go back to being a respectable 25-year-old now.

Categories: concert, kuala lumpur, malaysia