This year’s MTV Worldstage got off to a bad start with Jennifer Hudson’s last minute pull out attracting mostly a very young audience at the Surf Beach at Sunway Lagoon in Kuala Lumpur. Comparing to the line up in previous year’s MTV Worldstage, this year’s performance didn’t have the big names such as Justin Bieber it had in previous years.
Last minute artiste pull outs seem to be the trend in Malaysia, with Leona Lewis pulling out from Starwood’s SPG Moments event that happened on the eve of MTV Worldstage 2014. Replacing Leona Lewis was Natasha Bedingfield who performed an equally engaging performance so that the show could go on.
Thai American hip hop group Thaitanium was roped in last minute to replace Jennifer Hudson and they opened the show with an upbeat 11-track medley including a debut of their new single with Snoop Dogg “Wake Up (Bangkok City)’.
K-Pop Boys Republic made a maiden performance of its remix of “Video Game” where fans were invited to post 15-second mobile phone clips on Instagram to #Worldstagemyfancam. A fan who won Boys Republic’s “Girlfriend” contest, was introduced during “Dress Up”. Their segment ended with “Party Rock”.
Local pop star Yuna’s set started off with “Falling” offering a much slowed down pace to the previous heart pumping dance and rap acts. She performed renditions including “Mountains”, “Lelaki”, “Dan Sebanarya”, “Lights and Camera” and “Terukir Di Bintang”. She also performed “Rescue” with her ukelele.
B.o.B’s performed a 16-track medley including “Don’t Let Me Fall”, “Ready ft Future”, “Headband ft. 2 Chainz”, “John Doe ft. Priscilla” and “So Good”. During his performance, he exchanged high fives with the audience, stole a phone from the audience and snapped a selfie.
MTV World Stage Malaysia garnered nearly 26,000 Instagram posts through an unlock social campaign with over 132 million potential social impressions garnered on Twitter in over 11 weeks. The live show was recorded and telecast on air on 20 August 2014.
Meanwhile at the cordoned off VIP area, I spent a rather eventful night with the folks from William Grant and Sons enjoying copious amounts of Reyka Vodka and Hendricks Gin. And the after party at Soju just next to Sunway Pyramid Hotel after the concert seemed more happening than the concert itself. The show may not be my thing, but from the looks of the audience, it looks like they had a good time.
Photo credit: MTV
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