It's only her, but the night belongs to S.H.E
By Tan Kee Yun
April 05, 2011
keeyunt@sph.com.sg
AS the age old saying goes, the best is always saved for last.
That was very much the case at the Singapore Entertainment Awards 2011 celebration concert on Saturday night.
Right from the get-go, when the bevy of overseas and local celebrities made their grand entrance on the red carpet, it was clear who the 8,000-strong crowd at the Singapore Indoor Stadium were cheering the most.
The loudest shrieks were reserved for Ella Chen, one-third of Taiwanese pop girl trio S.H.E.
Chen, 29, was the sole representative of the group on hand to receive its multitude of accolades.
Fellow group member Selina Jen has been sidelined after getting a severe burn injury last year and Hebe Tien was doing a solo gig in Kenting, Taiwan.
S.H.E emerged the biggest winner of the night, bagging six major awards in all and a further three related laurels.
And while fans had to wait patiently till 10.30pm to hear Chen sing, the wait was worth it as she sprang a surprise of her own.
'Hebe and Selina couldn't make it here today, but both of them have something for you,' she said with a grin, before audio clips pre-recorded by Tien and Jen were played.
For many in the audience, it was the first time they were hearing Jen, 29, directly addressing her Singapore fans after her horrific explosion accident during filming in China in October.
She has mostly stayed out of the limelight to recuperate from third-degree burns, except for a brief public appearance at a press conference in January.
'Your relentless support has given me immense strength and courage to go on,' Jen told her Singapore fans.
'I really hope to see all of you in Singapore soon... I miss pandan cake, bak kut teh and char kway teow!'
It was an emotional moment for the 20-odd S.H.E fan club members who had joined Chen on stage. Some wept when they heard Jen's voice.
Chen, always the life of the party, kept the mood lively by cracking jokes.
When quizzed by the hosts if she had turned her back to the audience to compose herself, she replied swiftly: 'No, I just want to show off my bare back.'
At one point, she also playfully used her trophies as exercise weights.
In an interview with the local media after the show, Chen said it was in her nature to be optimistic.
'No matter how tough one's ordeals in life are, they shall one day pass,' she said.
Lonely at times
She admitted it 'gets lonely without her gal pals around'.
'But though the three of us are not able to unite now, you can be sure our hearts are always linked together.'
The line-up of performing artistes at the annual local pop extravaganza, into its third year and jointly organised by Singapore Press Holdings' Chinese media, was impressive.
Korean superstar Se7en, decked out in shades, had his female groupies screaming in delight with his dance moves and a perfectly executed handstand.
Taiwanese singer Alien Huang - looking more and more like his mentor Show Luo - was suave as he belted out pop-rock tunes, while homegrown singer Derrick Hoh spontaneously pulled a fan up on stage and serenaded her midway through his song Love Story.
Said local songbird Kit Chan, encouraging young local musicians to continue taking their original compositions places: 'It's the music we make that defines us as Singaporeans.'
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