After years of waiting, Singapore's Lovatics were finally able to enjoy a special evening with their idol

Text and photos: Tammi Tan
Photos: Amos Wong
Video: Fiona Lin & Tay Yixuan

It was nearly 9pm (a whole hour after the concert’s scheduled time), and despite the growing restlessness among the crowd, the overall energy and anticipation for pop icon Demi Lovato was nowhere near wearing thin. All it took was for one of the many spotlights to dim ever so slightly, and an ear-rupturing cheer would rise from the Lovatics.

Finally, their chants of “DE-MI! DE-MI! DE-MI!” were rewarded when the singer, decked in black from head to toe, emerged on stage. She started off with fiery favourites like ‘La La Land’ and ‘Get Back’, before mellowing down for the groovy ‘My Love is Like a Star’ and the almost pleading ‘Don’t Forget’, showing off her gentler, more vulnerable side. The proud Texan also shared her love of country music by treating fans to a beautiful rendition of Miranda Lambert’s ‘The House That Built Me’, which she called her favourite track from the genre.

After acoustic guitar pieces ‘Fix a Heart’ and ‘Catch Me’, a piano was wheeled out to the centre of the stage. “I’d like to ask you guys for a favour,” Demi said with a grin. “I’d like you to take out your cell phones, or anything that lights up, and hold it up.”

The audience was now was now peppered with phone screen or flash lights, and Demi delved into ‘Lightweight’, another quietly powerful rendition made even better with the soul and emotion put into its execution. Demi wasted no time in flaunting that amazing vocal range of hers and sending fans into a frenzy with her skilled, controlled hitting of high notes.

Demi may always be on stage but she’s well aware that fainting or vomiting audience members are no rarity at gigs. “Stay safe, everyone, and drink lots of water,” she said as she reached for a bottle herself. “If you feel faint then just sound it out.” Then, as if to pull anyone back from the brink of passing out, she splashed water all over the first few rows and tossed the bottle to a random spot, where fans immediately clamoured to claim ownership of the now-‘sacred’ item.

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