ONE OK ROCK’s performance in Singapore was hands down, a masterpiece.
On their final stop of the LUXURY DISEASE ASIA TOUR 2023 at Singapore Indoor Stadium, we witnessed the electrifying and powerful essence of band members Taka Moriuchi (vocals), Toru Yamashita (guitar), Ryota Kohama (bass), and Tomoya Kanki (drums) in full glory. Despite powering through the past 13 shows off the Asia leg of the tour, it was clear that the four-piece Japanese rock outfit were charged up for a grand finale.
View this post on Instagram
Taking us across an 18-track setlist, it was pretty impressive that just within two hours we were transported to a new world on a regular Monday night (and we needed that). With all the illuminating laser beams flashing across the stadium and cheers pulsating through the roof, it’s safe to say that up till now, we’re still on a post-concert high after soaking in the hypnotic visual extravaganza.
Set on a vast stage with an expansive runway, I found myself in awe as the quartet returned to the Lion City to deliver a bigger and stellar show, accommodating a packed stadium – a testament to the growth of their fan base since their last visit in 2018. And after spectating the high-octane showmanship by ONE OK ROCK, it’s hard to imagine why fans wouldn’t yearn for another chance to see them grace the stage again. Once the stadium lights dimmed, we knew we were in for an unforgettable sonic adventure.
Here’s what went down.
LOOK AT THE CROWD GO
It’s been five years since the last time the quartet came to town – long enough for new and longtime fans to unleash the pent-up adrenaline and sing along to the entire setlist. After making an appearance on stage, ONE OK ROCK started strong with ‘Wonder’, which prompted the arena to echo the words “wonder”, “one breath”, “one love”, and “deep end”. Even for those who weren’t familiar with the lyrics, the keywords we needed would flash on the wide LED screen, leaving us no excuse to join in the fun.
The band then warmed up the floor with ‘Save Yourself’ and ‘Taking Off’ before they brought a stunning sonic surprise in ‘Let Me Let You Go’. As fans harmonised with Taka from the intro to the chorus, he said “Break it down,” mid-song and we were instantly treated to an instrumental feast. The moment the beams of flashing lights dawned on Tomoya, he unleashed a torrent of energy as he dribbled his sticks against the drums and produced thunderous beats. Up next, Ryota cooled down the tempo with snazzy low-end vibrations as his fingers danced on the strings of his bass guitar, before transitioning to Toru’s fierce delivery of wailing riffs on his electric guitar. As the intensity peaked, the lights flickered in sync with Toru’s raw energy when he vigorously grazed the strings, creating a dynamic spectacle.
@wenlihew 32 seconds in 🇸🇬!!!!!! #OORSG #OORSG2023 #OORinSG #luxurydiseasetour #oneokrockconcert #oneokrock #singapore #fyp #oor ♬ original sound - Wen Li
Not only were we able to immerse ourselves in the signature sound trips of each of the band members, but we also soaked in the beauty of an almost 10,000-strong crowd belting out a harmonious tune. Just like in ‘Clock Strikes,’ as Taka held a note for over 30 seconds, fans from every corner of the area backed him up with a glorious and ethereal cry.
With a newfound adrenaline rush, we carried the energy throughout ‘I was King’ and ‘Renegades’, obeying Taka’s instructions to “Make it louder, Singapore!”.
@pogoshift Incredible crowd singing back, Renegade - One Ok Rock performing at the Singapore Indoor Stadium @ONE OK ROCK #oneokrock #oor #concert #concert2023 #SIS #singaporeindoorstadium #indoorstadium #singapore #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #viral #viralvideo #viraltiktok #tiktok ♬ original sound - Pogoshift
ALL EYES ON THEM
Taking a breather from the seven back-to-back songs, band members Ryota, Toru, and Tomoya spent a brief moment to dedicate a few words.
Ryota: “Are you guys having fun? I’m having a lot of fun too, thank you. I’ve been waiting a long time for this day. I’m happy to see you guys. Are you happy to see us? Thank you for coming today. So, I have a question for you guys: How many people heard the new album? How many people like the new album? How many people LOVE the new album? Thank you, let’s have fun tonight!”
Toru: “It’s been a long time, Singapore! So, how are you guys doing? I’m so happy to be back. Thank you for coming out tonight. So, this is a very special moment tonight because this show is going to be the last show of this tour. I’m so excited and really sad, but we’ll hope to see you soon. We’ll come back. So let’s have fun tonight, love you guys!”
And finally, with a sprinkle of sing-lish (an informal colloquial form of English commonly used in Singapore), Tomoya exclaimed his message that made us feel close to home.
Tomoya: “What’s up SINGAPOREEEEE! Very happy to be here lah. Thank you so much! I love chilli crab sia! I love [the] Merlion. And I love you guys so much, thank you! READY OR NOT? Okay, let’s go.”
And with two heart-thumping thuds on the drums, we were back to another instrumental masterpiece by the trio. There was so much to take in here – from the way the laser beams synchronised with each drum hit to Toru shredding his solo at the tip of the stage – such that our minds were completely blown.
LIGHTS, (FAN)CAMERA, AND A WHOLE LOT OF ACTION
With three LED screens planted on the left, right, and middle of the stage, trust us when we say that it was enough to transport us into a new realm. The vibrant display of what seemed like a neon city filled with a kaleidoscope of colours against soaring skyscrapers meant that we entered an otherworldly dreamscape that was built by ONE OK ROCK.
As the lights alternated between deep azure and raspberry pink (hats off to the lighting crew), we knew that ‘Neon’ was next. During the set, what stood out the most was the way the fan camera screens on each side of the stage were overlaid with the visual effects on the main screen, which was not only a splendid showpiece but it was an immersive experience.
The playfulness of the lights remained a constant factor throughout ‘Vandalise’ too, which kept us on our toes. But when ‘Make It Out Alive’ came around, the visual effects – a black screen powdered with beige dust falling from the ceiling – were very much fitting to the theme. The latest single comes hand-in-hand with the release of gaming giants Niantic and Capcom's new real-world hunting RPG game Monster Hunter Now. Again, I found myself lost in thought about how these brilliant details were intricately sewn together in this show.
At around the three-minute mark in the song, Taka screamed “Let’s break it down” which called for everyone to headbang and yell “Set this world on fire!”.
A NEW WORLD TONIGHT
Of course, with all the enthralling tracks that were served, a stripped-down set was much needed for a recharge. While Ryota and Tomoya made their exit, Toru whipped out his acoustic guitar and remained on stage with Taka.
“The last time I was in Singapore was [during] Ed Sheeran’s tour when we opened [for him] for 30 minutes. But tonight, [we’re here] for our Luxury Diseases tour, and there are a lot of ONE OK ROCK fans over here, it’s actually really really great. Like, I mean, thank you so much. Tonight is going to be our last show so I’m kinda really sad. But we did 95 shows on this tour, so it’s great. I’m really happy to be with you guys for our final show for Luxury Disease,” Taka shared before bowing to the crowd on the left, right, and centre of the stage to show his gratitude.
He continued: “If it’s possible, I really want to share this moment with you guys. So please, if you know the words, the song, just sing it. But if you don’t know the words to the song, then actually, the lyrics are going to be over there so you can see that,” garnering laughter from the crowd.
And with that, time was at a standstill as they delivered ‘Your Tears are Mine’. Dazzled with a sea of flashlights, Taka sang an enchanting rendition of the track complemented by Toru’s mellow and intimate melodies as they sat on stage. But, a touch of lightheartedness filled the air when, after holding an extensive note during the verse “I’m right by you / We’ll make it through / I’ll stay with you till the dark fades,” Taka, with a theatrical sigh, stood up, eliciting laughter from the arena.
After a moment of silence, Taka mouthed the lyrics to the song and orchestrated us to carry the next chorus, which we did (flawlessly, if I may add): "Your tears are mine / It's a new world tonight / Say my name and I will fly / Over to you / Gunning for time / I promise you that I'll be by your side / Through the fight / Everything's gonna be fine / Just please hold on tight". It was truly a moment that made us feel like we were in a new world.
BACK TO THE ROOTS
Soon after the breezy set, the quartet returned to their roots and performed a few older tracks that are significant in the ONE OK ROCK discography. Kickstarting with ‘The Beginning’, the track is taken off their JINSEI KAKETE BOKU WA album from 2013 which has amassed over 100 million streams on Spotify. A great start to a remarkable conclusion of the show, Taka hopped off the stage, ran to the back of the standing pen, and climbed over one of the camera decks.
Next up was ‘We Are’, the track that even got those seated on their feet and following the song’s cue to chant along. Thereafter, Taka took the chance to deliver a short speech about despite their music being written in Japanese which may be difficult to be understood by some listeners, he believes the message will be conveyed. And with that, the band brought out two tracks from Eye of the Storm (2019), namely ‘Stand Out Fit In’ and ‘Wasted Nights’. With vocal support from the other band members, the moment felt particularly sentimental as it brought out the essence of ONE OK ROCK in all its grandeur.
@wenlihew I am who i am no matter what, never changing no matter what 🫶🏻✨ #capcut #OORSG #OORSG2023 #OORinSG #luxurydiseasetour #oneokrockconcert #oneokrock #singapore #fyp #oor ♬ original sound - Wen Li
Before wrapping up their set, the quartet left the stage for a brief moment before taking us on another emotional rollercoaster with ‘Wherever you are’ and ‘Kanzen kankaku Dreamer’.
A SENTIMENTAL GOODBYE
Before bidding their goodbyes, Taka, Toru, Ryota, and Tomoya made their rounds to-and-fro the stage for a solid five minutes to express their gratitude to the fans. They generously gave out coveted mementos such as guitar picks, drumsticks, and Toru’s ONE OK ROCK tanktop into the crowd, and warmly accepted fan-made banners. As a touching nod to the band’s visit to the Lion City, one banner adorned Singaporean landmarks including the iconic Merlion, with the band’s name prominently displayed at the centre – a poignant message that wherever they are, Singaporean fans will always be by their side.
Check out the setlist for ONE OK ROCK Luxury Disease Asia Tour 2023 in Singapore here:
- Wonder
- Save Yourself
- Taking Off
- Let Me Let You Go
- Clock Strikes
- I was King
- Renegades
- Instrumental Play
- Neon
- Vandalize
- Make It Out Alive
- Your Tears are Mine
- The Beginning
- We are
- Stand Out Fit In
- Wasted Nights
- Wherever you are (Encore)
- Kanzen kankaku Dreamer (Encore)
Like what you read? Show our writer some love!
10