Yes, as you can see from my post title… I’m really not exaggerating and I’m more than furious. I just have to blog this out cos I need to get it out of my system badly. Paramore’s concert was held last Sunday, 7th March, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The crowd was well, I must say about 90% teenagers. I felt a bit odd actually.. but anyways.. They are my fave band so I wanted to be near the stage. I queued up at about 10.30 am. The show is to start at 8pm by the way. Call me kiasu whatever (haha!) but for the first time and for them (I never do this..), I wanted to be at the front row or at least 2nd.
But alas, when I came the queue was already long and i’s already snaking.. Oh wells… Just my luck! I was still hopeful though. Hours passed and I saw many people jumped Q as many of them “chope” places for their many friends who came in later. So anyway, it was only at about 7+ pm when they opened the gate to let us in.. It should have been earlier I feel. Finally I was there inside facing the stage in the air conditioned indoor stadium, a few rows away. We were all standing around, waiting and I knew we had to wait a while for the place to be filled so I gave myself space between the person infront of me and myself so that I can breathe and so as to not breathe in that person’s hair or body. So while waiting, these people behind me started to inch their way infront of me. And I was thinking.. what are they trying to do? The show has not started yet, the place is barely filled. Why are you cramping up? Dont you wanna be comfortable while it last? It’s no use.. cos when the lights go off, you will definitely move. So anyway, that person didn’t manage to go infront of me. In fact I ended up infront of them.
When the lights go out, the crowd got excited and started to push each other. They were disappointed to find out that it was only the local opening band, Monochrome. The crowd started chanting for Paramore and booed them. I was a bit shocked actually cause I believe that we should be sporting and support local bands.. Just have some fun while you’re there you know. Boo-ing is a harsh thing to do. Especially when they were voted by our people to open the night (They had this competition and they won). I seriously don’t know how they managed to win cos they were really awful. The female singer was trying so hard to be Hayley, Paramore’s lead singer.. but she was so stiff, can barely dance and hs no rythm. (It was obvious but still, no reason to boo). I pity them actually.. So anyway, Paramore was next up and the moment the intro music started, the crowd started pushing again… I couldn’t even hold my camera up. I seriously tried but I really couldn’t lift my hands straight. You can watch the video below. The video sucks and may cause you a serious case of dizziness but it’s just to show you how bad it was.. Just bear in mind that I wasn’t moving at all and was trying very hard not to. The movements were created by the people around me. It’s 1:22min long btw..and you have to wait for it to load..
[bubblecast id=290931 thumbnail=475x375 player=640x480][bubblecast id=290931 thumbnail=475x375 player=640x480]
Shortly after I stopped recording, we were seriously swaying left and right with our legs rooted on the ground. It became so bad that the middle front row (where I was) fell down. By then, J and I lost each other. I was down on the floor for almost 4 songs.. Getting trampled over, having people jumped and fell on me with my legs and toes going the wrong direction.. and my legs were rooted on the ground cos they were weighing down on my feet. It was excruciating. Words cannot describe how I felt at that moment. To think that the people infront of me, were happily jumping and dancing.. couldn’t care less to help us up on our feet. I was so freaking pissed with these people who has no pit culture/etiquette and obviously no common sense at all!! I was barely breathing by then and at that point of time, I actually gave up on life. I was in a very bad state. I was grabbing all over trying so hard to get attention and help.. I remembered pinching hard on some butts and breasts of some girls.. (If you’re one of them, I’m really sorry..) I wouldn’t do that if I’m sober. Until now I seriously don’t know why I did that.. I laughed everytime I think about it. Desperate moments I must say. It could have been worst if I hadn’t breathe through somebody’s crotch (That was the only hole I could breathe from). I was praying so hard for the music to stop and my heart practically dropped when they kept on playing. If you can hear properly, about 1 min into the video, somebody behind me shouted cos I think they started to fall already.
When the girls finally got me up after they managed to get on their feet, I started to move back, trying to get away from the crowd. But I was in a daze and walked aimlessly in the middle of the crowd, swaying to their movements. Luckily by then, J saw me, grabbed me and dragged me out. We both collapsed at the back and then both him and the usher had to carry me out.. I lay there for a while, drank some water and rest for awhile to take some fresh air. Then J told me he was sorry he couldn’t protect me cos he drifted somewhere else and fell down also. He apparently fell on a motionless girl and people were stacking up on him. It was about the same time and was just as long. He couldn’t help the girl cos he was frantically trying to find me. I wonder what happened to the girl. I really hope she’s ok now.
While we were resting outside, J told the marshalls about the situation and asked them to do something. Like the Primesafe Security guy, they didn’t budge. Then he said, “There was a girl below me when I fell and she was still on the ground when I left that place, lying motionless. If she dies, it’s going to be on you people”. It was after that statement that they started calling the securities and got them to crash in through the crowd and got them in control. Actually before J got me, he had already told one of the Primesafe Security guys to ask the band to stop the music cos there were too many people on the ground getting trampled and the situation was out of control. Do you know what this particular guy replied? He looked at that direction and simply replied no and told J to ask them to freaking stand up. WTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I could bloody stand up, I would have done that earlier! But no, I simply refuse to get on my feet cos I just enjoy getting stepped on and love breathing through somebody’s crotch! Pfffft!! Is it so wrong and forbidden to stop a band/celebrity/star/artist from performing for the sake of saving lives or the least, to help save the fans from dangerous situations? They are human too and I’m sure they’ll understand and I’ve seen and been to a few who stopped playing halfway when they saw it happening. By the way, the security guys are from Primesafe (That guy was wearing the Primesafe jacket). I really hope these people buck up cos their service was very poor. I will not be surprised if somebody dies in some concert while under their “care”. I’m not saying all the security guys from that company is like that. But that particular guy (whom I managed to take a pic) needs to have some sense shoved into him. OMG.. Recalling and reliving these moments now is making the pain burn through my chest. Argh!!
Anyway, after some fresh air I managed to re-enter the stadium again.. By then, the crowd was already tamed and it was not as chaotic as before. Sadly, I only managed to catch their last 4 songs barefooted (lost my shoes and broke my glasses btw). Oh well, somebody had to sacrifice right? =\ I have been to many gigs and concerts, even overseas and this I have to say, is the worst experience ever. I am really, really disapointed and sad for not being able to enjoy myself fully and deeply angered by the management for not being able to handle the situation and with the people who has no pit culture and etiquette. Sigh! I really, really hope they’ll come again soon. Maybe this time I have to queue up the night before huh? If there’s a next time..
p/s: I got my torn shoes back at the end of the show and had bruises all over my sored body the day after..
pps: This post has been in my draft for more than 2 weeks… So, I’m cool now.. lol!
March 30th, 2010 by Cashmere | 16 Comments !!
