SINGAPORE: In the track were million-dollar cars. Off it were million-dollar stars. That sums up this year’s SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.
From smoking-hot Beyonce and party girl Lindsay Lohan to the groovy Black Eyed Peas and billionaire Richard Branson, a bunch of international names are in town to rev up the image of Singapore as a party circuit.
Golden Diva: US superstar Beyonce performing at the F1 Rocks Singapore festival at Fort Canning Park yesterday. There have even been tweets about ultra-socialite Paris Hilton being spotted around town. Party organiser Greg Gumo said celebrity designer Marc Jacobs was at the National Museum’s Fuel Festival party on Friday.
There are many more international celebrities in town this year compared to the last.
Last year, the few global headliners included actress Michelle Yeoh, Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, popular Taiwanese television host Dee Hsu and up-and-coming Korean singer Ryu Si Won.
The happy shiny people have been spoilt for choice with at least five Formula One parties.
Those with deep pockets forked out between S$500 (RM1,225) and S$31,203 (RM76,447) to whoop it up at events like those held at the Amber Lounge in Millenia Tower and the inaugural Official F1 Lounge at Stereolab in the Pan Pacific Singapore.
Who would fork out such huge amounts to go to a party, you may ask. Well, with a guest list that included Beyonce, Branson, Lohan and singer-songwriter Samantha Ronson, those who wanted to see and be seen, that’s who.
The Podium Lounge at Ritz-Carlton Millenia’s poolside was a cheaper option, but you would need to be invited to attend the Johnnie Walker Black Lounge at One on the Bund in Clifford Pier.
There were two main concerts held here in recent days – the four-night Fuel Festival at the Suntec Convention Centre and the National Museum of Singapore featured names like will.i.am, Darren Emer-son and Ronson, while the three-day F1 Rocks gig at Fort Canning had luminaries like Jacky Cheung, No Doubt and Beyonce.
Some of the concerts and parties may have started earlier in the week, but things only really boomed last night.
Indeed, although Lohan was seen doing some TV spots at F1 Rocks and then sipping Perrier with Ronson at Fuel on Friday night, there wasn’t much star power anywhere else.
Other sightings at Fuel that night were will.i.am and No Doubt’s bassist Tony Kanal.
Things were much hotter last night, though.
“The amount of talent in Singapore is unprecedented. They’ve upped the ante, which makes complete sense because it’s a night race after all. It’s definitely very exciting and we’re looking forward to it,” said Michel Lu, owner of Stereolab.
Agreeing, Sonia Irvine, founder of Amber Lounge, said: “It seems as if last year, people wanted to look and see what happens, but this year, the whole city is very lively. It has become very exciting and we are expecting a lot of celebrities tonight.”
Such star power certainly dazzled Cheryl Khong, 29, a public relations consultant who was at the Official F1 Lounge on Friday.
“This year, there is more variety spread out over more nights and it feels more exciting as there are bigger stars around.”
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