Concert review: Jam Hsiao’s gig was jam-packed with fan service elements

Jam Hsiao Wild/Mild World Tour In Singapore 2025

Singapore Indoor Stadium Oct 25

In the blink of an eye, 18 years have passed since Jam Hsiao first burst onto the music scene on the first season of Taiwanese singing competition One Million Star in 2007.

Although not a contestant but a “challenger” during the show, the Taiwanese impressed with the emotional intensity and operatic quality of his performances, so much so that he was signed to a record label soon after.

Now 38, the star’s concert marked a return to his reality-show roots. While marketed as supporting his 2023 EP Wild/Mild, it featured only three of six songs on it – Wild/Mild, Fusion/Diffusion and Hope/Nope.

Instead, the 165-minute show leaned heavily into covering songs with passion and power, the proven strategy which first won him fans.

The set list of 26 numbers included seven cover songs, from Faye Wong’s The Last Blossom to Eric Chou’s The Distance Of Love. There were also Gary Chaw’s Betrayal and One-Fang’s New Endless Love, two ballads he first covered on One Million Star.

The show included a strong focus on Hsiao’s self-titled 2008 debut album. Its second track, rock number Prince’s New Dress, opened the show, while rousing first track Collect closed it. In the middle were Loving, Blues and Love Of Calla.

Indeed, Hsiao’s 2025 show seemed heavier on nostalgia than his last full concert here in 2018, also at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Perhaps it was born of the star’s desire to give back to fans. As he said mid-show: “Thanks so much for being with me all this while. Thanks for leaving me some time in your lives. Every time I see you, I feel very happy.”

Regulars at Hsiao’s live performances will also know they are usually jam-packed with theatrics, and this latest gig was no exception. The showman knows how to grab and hold on to an audience’s attention, be it through flashy costumes or audience-interaction segments.

Sprinting across the stage to be closer to fans on another side? Check. High kicks, double spins and falling onto his knees during the signature number Princess? Check. Piercing high notes on Skin? Always. Hsiao is known for pulling out all the stops in his high-energy performances.

During hit numbers A-Fei’s Butterflies and Miss You Forever, he went down from the stage and shook hands with fans, including some seated in the stands.

His encore segment featured a variety show component which had giveaways. Fans could pick one of the 12 numbers on-screen and some won prizes such as a rabbit soft toy or T-shirt.

Of the star’s four outfits, the most striking was his orange hat paired with leopard-print collared shirt and pants during the retro-electronic number Wild/Mild. The ensemble screamed disco decadence and signalled that it was party time.

Another eye-catching get-up was his suit depicting a picturesque landscape, adorned with badges of forests and mountains during the ballad Hope/Nope. This garment was suggestive of Mother Earth’s beauty, and tied in with the song’s theme of nature.

In addition, the stage design did not disappoint. It clinched an iF Design Award – one of the most prominent design prizes in the world – in 2025, and for good reason. At various moments in the show, clever staging created 3D effects blending reality and illusion.

During Prince’s New Dress, a crown seemed to appear out of thin air, thanks to moving LED screens. And on rock number Blues, a giant robotic head with light-emitting eyes was achieved through projections and laser beams.

These elements created an immersive environment designed to give fans what they want – an exhilarating evening of entertainment and escape. The show might not have been the most creative or cohesive, but it was 100 per cent fan service. What a jam.