[Review] Kimberley陈芳语 ft. Jocelyn 9.4.0 Concert for 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲! 之 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗛𝗶 嗨 音乐趴 @ Capitol Theatre

While the name Kimberley Chen Fany-yu (陈芳语) may not immediately ring a bell for most people in Singapore, you have probably heard of a few of her songs, especially her popular hit single in 2009, 愛你AINI:

Singing in both English and Mandarin, the versatile Australian singer, actress and model has since evolved from her teen pop debut to become a respected professional. A true musical chameleon, Kimberley has dabbled in various genres from hip-hip to R&B. Well known for being a multi-talented musician who also champions uniqueness and individuality, she is not afraid of expressing her views. Her popularity sky-rocketed after participating in the 2017 Chinese talent show, “Produce 101”, where she became one of the most popular contestants, racking up over 4 billion views online.

Kimberley was last in the news globally back in 2021 for her song and music video collaboration with controversial Malaysian artist, Namewee for their viral hit, Fragile 玻璃心, which is banned in China for its satirical lyrics on politics:

As I stepped into the Capitol Theatre on the night of October 14, 2023, I could feel the anticipation in the air. This was the third concert in the “This is Live! 之 Chill Hi 嗨 音乐趴” series, and the excitement was palpable. The earlier two concerts by Mandopop s tars 孙盛希 (Shi Shi Sun) and 曾沛慈 (Pets Tseng) of “One Million Star”, were staged the nights before on 12 and 13 October respectively. This was the grand finale to wrap up the three-day event.

The stage was set and the audience was ready for an unforgettable night of music, and I was about to witness the incredible talents of Kimberley 陈芳语 and Jocelyn 9.4.0, a rising artist from the same label as Kimberley.

Jocelyn 9.4.0 kicked off the concert with a quick introduction of herself and a few solo performances. She has a good vocal range and she was greeted with a good response from the audience.

As the lights dimmed and the stage came to life, Kimberley, the concert’s main star, appeared on stage, and the crowd erupted into cheers. She had an aura of confidence that filled the entire theatre.

Kimberley started off with one of her hip-hop tracks, and the energy in the room was electric. Her vocal skills were on full display, and she commanded the stage with her charismatic presence.

The live band behind her added a layer of depth to the music, making it even more engaging. (A side note, the keyboardist in the band, Bryan, happened to be a secondary school classmate of mine and I managed to grab a photo with him and my son, Asher, after the concert.)

One of the standout moments of the night was when Kimberley switched gears and performed an emotional R&B ballad. Her soulful voice filled the theatre, and you could feel the raw emotion in every note.

For the finale, Jocelyn 9.4.0 joined her on stage for a duet, and their voices harmonised beautifully, creating a magical musical moment. The energy in the theatre reached its peak as they performed their final songs during the encore. The audience sang along and waved in unison, creating a sense of unity and connection that can only be experienced in a live concert setting.

The “This is Live! 之 Chill Hi 嗨 音乐趴” series delivered another exceptional night of music, and both Kimberley 陈芳语 and Jocelyn 9.4.0 greatly impressed the audience, including both Asher and I.

Music sooths the soul and this kind of live musical experience is irreplacement. This series of concerts was presented in Singapore by CK Star Entertainment and we look forward to more concerts coming up from them.