G.E.M. jams with Daniel Ricciardo
Hong Kong singer and F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo wow fans as they show off their skills with the drums
G.E.M. stands for Get Everybody Moving, and she showed off her groove in a new way - on the drums.
The 25-year-old Hong Kong singer, whose real name is Gloria Tang, wowed fans at Ion Orchard's outdoor event space ION², on Wednesday evening, performing a drum piece with Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, who is in town for the Singapore Grand Prix (GP).
The pair thumped out a rousing chorus on the drums, which lit up with colourful LED lights, and were accompanied by local percussion group The Urban Drum Crew.
G.E.M. and Ricciardo's performance was part of Swiss watch Tag Heuer's free Don't Crack Under Pressure showcase, which was attended by 700 fans.
Both G.E.M. and Ricciardo are ambassadors for the brand, which sponsors the F1 Red Bull Racing Team that Ricciardo belongs to.
The duo also unveiled Tag Heuer's new limited edition F1 Red Bull Racing Team watch at the event.
G.E.M., known for her impressive vocal range and piano skills, told emcee Rosalyn Lee that she and Ricciardo had practised drumming for "just two minutes" before the event.
"It was fun meeting Daniel at rehearsal. He's a really cool and kind guy," G.E.M. told The New Paper after the showcase.
"He's actually not aggressive at all, so I can't believe he's an F1 driver," she joked.
The Singapore GP will be G.E.M.'s second experience watching the F1 races. She attended the Monaco GP in May.
"It was interesting as it was the first time I got to watch the race. I found it really amazing how (the mechanics) can change the wheels of a car in seconds," she said.
Asked if she would like to drive an F1 car, she said: "Not now. But it's something I would like to learn."
G.E.M.'s set was only three songs long, but it made an impression on her fans, who had turned up in full force to show their support.
Rain earlier in the afternoon had threatened to dampen the mood of the open-air event, but the skies were clear when G.E.M. took the stage at about 7.20pm.
PERFECT
"It's too bad her set was so short, but her performance was perfect," G.E.M. Club Malaysia leader Ong Lai, 23, told TNP.
"She looked very cute and it was nice seeing her play the drums, too."
The restaurant service employee, who had travelled here from her home in Penang to catch the showcase, said 60 members from both G.E.M's Singaporean and Malaysian fan clubs had attended to the show.
Among them was Singaporean brokerage analyst Daphne Toh, who has attended four of G.E.M.'s local events, including her last autograph session here in July to promote her Heartbeat album.
The 25-year-old said: "G.E.M. was amazing tonight. We were really excited that she sang her new single The Brightest Star In The Night Sky, as we've only seen her perform it on TV so far."
The love between G.E.M. and her fans is mutual, as the singer joked on stage that she has been to Singapore "about seven or eight thousand times", but keeps coming back because the local fans are so special to her.
"They came out to support me today and were so hyped up, even though this was not my concert," G.E.M. said.
"I'm very grateful to them and will definitely be back in Singapore when I tour next year."
It's too bad her set was so short, but her performance was perfect.
- G.E.M. Club Malaysia leader Ong Lai
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now