Crowd Lu knows how to work a crowd

Taiwanese singer-songwriter Crowd Lu during his concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall on Feb 23, 2018. PHOTO: ESPLANADE
Remote video URL

SINGAPORE - Taiwanese singer-songwriter Crowd Lu can do no wrong.

Whether belting the wrong lyrics, or having his voice crack during a song, the 32-year-oldoftenemerges unscathed to cheers from the audience.

Perhaps what his fans see is his signature brand of carefree optimism, a delightful ability to see joy and humour in the embarrassing and even in suffering.

Everyone knows he can sing, and he did not disappoint at his 1h 45 minute-long performance last Friday (Feb 23), part of this year's Huayi - Chinese Festival of Arts, which nearly sold out the 1,600-seat Esplanade Concert Hall.

On the breezy song 100 Ways Of Living, he kept his falsetto as light as a breath of fresh air. On the ballad Yu Zai (Little Fish), his voice floated on the melodies with soulful earnestness.

And while many a singer, on singing a bad note, would try to slide past it undetected, Lu did not.

When his voice cracked while performing the song You Complete Me, he shrugged it off with a smile, adding after the song: "I'm so happy you got to hear that."

His lively, idiosyncratic banter made the show a journey of rollicking fun. If he ever gives up music, he might want to consider being a stand-up comedian.

Remote video URL

At one point during the performance, he joked that he was searching for his earpiece, but found it hanging from his ear.

"Well, at least it is better than looking for your glasses while you are wearing them," he quipped.

And when Lu used his guitar to reflect light onto audience members, supposedly bringing them good luck in the lunar new year, he chuckled: "I feel like the God of Fortune."

And speaking of special occasions, he took the chance to wish everyone a happy birthday, en masse.

Remote video URL

"Well, everyone is likely going to have a birthday in the next 12 months... so happy birthday!"

Indeed, his show was peppered with witty innocence and youthful cheer.

Perhaps it was this same optimism that has helped Lu ride through his life's painful moments. Reports say he was run over by a bus in his freshman year of university and spent months in hospital, where he learnt how to play the guitar.

He alluded to this during the show, saying: "When you encounter problems in life, maybe it is because you are just standing in the wrong position."

With his joyful exuberance, Lu certainly knows how to make a crowd smile.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.