26-11-2023 (SINGAPORE) The ongoing debate surrounding concert etiquette has once again been brought to the forefront, with the focus this time on the use of phones to record significant portions of live performances. Supporters argue that recording allows them to preserve memories, while critics claim that it obstructs the view of fellow concertgoers and prevents people from fully immersing themselves in the moment.
The question remains: When does phone usage cross the line into rudeness towards both the performers on stage and fellow attendees?
Adding his voice to the anti-recording camp is Brett Anderson, the frontman of the band Suede. During Suede’s joint concert with Manic Street Preachers in Singapore on Wednesday (Nov 22), Anderson was captured on video grabbing and swatting phones out of the hands of fans who were recording the band’s performance.
Instagram user @phaedra.cheung posted a series of videos showcasing the incident. In the footage, Anderson can be seen making his way down to the floor section of The Star Theatre to engage with fans. Later, behind a barricade, he can be observed arguing with a male fan, seemingly urging him to put his phone down.
Taking matters into his own hands, Anderson then leaps over the barricade and moves through the first row, confiscating phones from those recording and, in some instances, forcefully dropping the devices to the floor. He eventually returns to the stage to address the situation.
“It’s so much better if you could possibly put your phone down… Put your f****** phone down. If you wanna film, go to the back. Don’t take up space out here. These people wanna have fun. If you wanna stare at your fking phone, go to the fking back. Am I right?” Anderson passionately expresses to the audience.
View this post on Instagram
His impassioned speech is met with a wave of cheers from the crowd. “It just kills the gig,” Anderson adds.
Videos capturing the incident have also made their way to TikTok, garnering a mixed response. Some users agree with Anderson, supporting his view that recording “ruins the fun” of live concerts. However, there are others who counter his stance, telling Anderson to “just shut up and sing” as they believe he was “killing the vibe”.
As Singapore continues to be a hotspot for concerts in 2024, it seems unlikely that the issue of phone recording will fade away anytime soon. The debate surrounding concert etiquette and the use of technology is likely to persist as concertgoers and artists grapple with finding the right balance between capturing memories and fully immersing themselves in the live music experience.
