On Sept 15, American rapper Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) opened his first show in China in 16 years by shouting "I love you Haikou", in more than the usual greeting to fans gathered in the southern port city.
It could well be a show of heartfelt appreciation to the government of Haikou, the provincial capital of Hainan, which had gone out of its way to make the show possible.
The show, which raked in 51 million yuan (S$9.3 million) in ticket sales for Ye and 370 million yuan in tourism revenue for Haikou, was such a resounding success that the organisers decided to add another show on Sept 28 at the same venue.
The 24-time Grammy award winner is one of the biggest American celebrities to perform in China in recent years, as China and the US lock horns over various global issues.
The success of Ye's show is a bright spark in the gloomy Chinese economy, at a time when consumers are cutting back on discretionary spending.
It was a textbook case of how all sides can profit when foreign celebrities and the Chinese government put aside politics to do business, with Chinese consumers better off for it.
The 40,000 fans roared in appreciation when Ye stood in the middle of a moonlit stage, which had been turned into a field of golden grass, while a vulture-shaped drone circled above. More cheers followed when the four children he had with former wife Kim Kardashian joined him onstage.
The 47-year-old rapper and fashion icon did not even have to sing throughout the entire concert. The show was billed as a "listening experience," - an event in which the audience paid 680 yuan to 2,000 yuan per ticket to listen, and sometimes sing along, to pre-recorded music in the presence of the artiste. Ye would interact with his fans and sing some parts of the songs.
Nevertheless, tickets sold out within minutes. The brisk sales can be explained partly by the rarity of gigs by international superstars of Ye's calibre in China.
Esta historia es de la edición September 23, 2024 de The Straits Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 23, 2024 de The Straits Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
BLACK DAY FOR BRITISH PUBS
At her London pub, landlady Kate Davidson has taken to issuing Guinness ration cards, but the beer still ran out amid a British shortage of Ireland's national drink.
Her Last Gifts
It was exhausting, he sighed. But Carol insisted; her name being what it was and his, she said with a big grin, being Chris. Remember, this is the blessed spirit of the season, to give as we have been given.
When You Think About Me
She empties the last drawer and, between stray baubles, there's the cookie tin, the one hunted down from some narrow shop in Liverpool because it didn't ship here.
Gift Of The Magi
Let's say you never intended to use Magi. Let's say you know about all the scandals: the accusations of stolen data, the EU lawsuits, the CEO's abhorrent behaviour. Let's say you don't even believe the outlandish social media claims that the app is magical, like actual magic. You know it's not possible it reads your mind, plumbs your soul, knows your heart's desires. You're not so gullible.
Ho Ren Yung: Steering global brand evolution of Banyan Group
Ms Ho Ren Yung, deputy chief executive of Banyan Group, oversaw the company's brand relaunch in a bumper year of 19 openings in 2024. These included Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto in Japan and Angsana Tengchong in China.
Jury-rigged Hotpot
The Japan Home folding table was just big enough to accommodate two.
Tales of love, peace and hope
The Sunday Times invites five authors to pen short stories around the theme of A Christmas Gift
Japan: Taking centre stage in Singapore and beyond
Scroll through your social media feed this holiday season, and practically everyone you know is in Japan or making plans to vacation there.
UOB: Most influential patron in Singapore art scene
UOB's \"day job\" is handling loans, deposits and a wealth of diverse portfolios. But the bank cemented its role as the most influential patron in the Singapore art scene in 2024, investing good chunks of cash in both arts and arts education.
Fong Chi Chung: Putien restaurants make dining out more affordable
In a year where diners made themselves scarce - preferring to spend their strong Singapore dollars overseas, and leading restaurant owners and chefs to despair over empty dining rooms - this power lister made a power move that others in the industry are watching closely.
