Concert review: More than an Idol: 3 revelations about Yoga Lin from his hard-fought concert

Yoga Lin Idol World Tour In Singapore

Singapore Indoor Stadium, Aug 30

In the Mandopop world, Yoga Lin is a maverick. Since he won the first season of Taiwanese reality television singing competition One Million Star in 2007, the Taiwanese singer is known for his eccentricity and tendency to go his own way.

This individuality shone during his Singapore Indoor Stadium concert on Aug 30, as part of his Idol world tour that kicked off in 2018 in Taipei and has stopped in places such as Hong Kong, Sydney and Toronto.

Making the Singapore show happen was not easy. It had originally been slated to take place in April 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic led to its postponement to January 2021. The pandemic again put paid to that and the gig eventually had to be cancelled. It was only in April 2024 when plans for a third try were announced.

Clearly, Lin really wanted to see his Singapore fans. And the 7,500 people in attendance showed the feeling was mutual.

Several aspects of Friday’s show differentiated it from other concerts. For one thing, there were no light sticks or LED boards, as light-emitting devices were not allowed into the venue, so the audience could be fully immersed in the performance. Instead, concertgoers were issued a reflective flag which they could wave.

The main stage’s visuals were linked to the Jumbotron screens on each side, and included the heavy use of a translucent screen behind which Lin performed, where videos and animations could be projected on. Such design choices led the Idol tour to win an iF Design Award – one of the most prominent design prizes in the world – in 2021 for its stage design and visual presentation.

Here are three revelations about the 37-year-old garnered from his 200-minute performance:

1. He used to be “very sensitive” in his early years in show business

Having interviewed Lin thrice before – in 2008, 2019 and 2024 – I found the first two experiences to be rather awkward, as he often rambled, side-stepped questions and asked his own rhetorical questions. At his latest concert, Lin clarified that in his early years, he had “a very sensitive personality”.

He confessed to the crowd, saying: “I was constantly in fear. During that time, I think there were some misunderstandings about me, like I was always putting on a black face. But it was because during those times, there were many things going on internally, many things I did not understand and was fearful of.”

Indeed, Lin has livened up in recent years. He was open and approachable at his most recent interview with Singapore media in June 2024. And at this concert, he was charming and ever ready to sing fan-requested songs, from Romeo And Juliet Syndrome (2012) to Deaf In Love (2013).

2. He has faced his own dark moments

A central motif of Lin’s concert was moving out of the dark places in one’s life.

“Everyone faces moments of frustrations,” he said. “It may be when you feel like you are not progressing in life, or your efforts are unrecognised.”

As for himself, both he and a close family member have faced health problems in recent years. The star, who reportedly suffered from irritable bowel syndrome, shared that for about half a year, he was unable to consume food normally. “I was not able to eat vegetables, and felt unwell every day.”

To combat this, he posited that only love, and the sharing of joy and sadness, can help one overcome life’s difficulties. And through music, he hopes to share this love with his fans.

And while it might have been reasonable to assume Lin’s tour was themed around fans looking upon him as an idol, he clarified that the word’s letters represent the show’s four themes – I, Doubt, HerO and Life – which depict a journey from self-doubt to heroism.

3. He hopes to become a master in singing

After the release of his sixth album Love, Lord in March 2024, Lin felt a strong motivation to hone his craft. He said: “When it comes to talent, the more you use it, the more you have. Don’t use it, and you will lose it. I hope that in my life, I will have the chance to become a ‘peerless master’ in singing.”

To that end, he pushed himself vocally several times. On Take A Look At Me (2019), he took an intense, high-drama approach, allowing his voice to slide up the notes during the song’s bridge. On Let It Die (2016), he unleashed his inner rock star and let out several angst-filled screams during the electronica number’s chorus.

He also made a few bold musical choices. Punishment (2024) featured the clamour of a thunderstorm, while Let It Die incorporated the “lub-dub” sound of a pulsating heart. Such arrangements were far from simple, revealing that Lin is, as he suggested, not an idol, but a true artiste.