Whatever she thinks, Kina Grannis is a gem
Kina Grannis performed at Kitec in Kowloon Bay a week ago. The American songwriter sang her usual covers and her original tracks to an adoring crowd.Clearly, Grannis has a different definition of "awkward" from the rest of us.
Endearing, candid and even "adorkable" would be better words to describe her onstage persona. Her so-called awkwardness comes out solely in the brief pauses between songs - when she tunes her guitar or gulps some water.
These pauses didn't hinder the show. Instead, they seemed to encourage interaction with her die-hard fans, or Kinerds who relished the chance to see their idol in the flesh - or as one fan shouted out, "breathing in the same air". They took the chance to declare their love for, and banter with, Grannis, who is no stranger to receiving (and returning) compliments.
Although she was jet-lagged ("I slept for four of the last 48 hours"), the show was flawless - her YouTube videos pale in comparison to her live performance.
The acoustic concert was as casual as Grannis had said it would be, with the fan interaction continuing throughout - at one point, Grannis even logged onto Facebook and Twitter at a fan's request; a lucky few even received personal shout-outs.
Grannis, who can be found on YouTube singing cover songs, teased the audience as she was about to start in on one.
"You're probably thinking of 10 covers that's not this one," she said, before singing the refrain of Oops ... I Did It Again. The Britney Spears cover could have been cringe-worthy, but it was executed perfectly, like the rest of her set. The rendition was soulful and nothing like the teeny pop original.
She played fan favourites including In Your Arms, Valentine and The One You Say Goodnight To. On Message From Your Heart, Grannis stepped away from the mic and sang unplugged, encouraging fans to join in at the chorus.
The 13-song set list was a treat for all those who have followed her YouTube career, but the concert did feel short. It ended at a parent-friendly time (9pm), which probably worked well with the majority of the tweens in the audience. It also left time for a meet and greet afterwards.
Hong Kong just can't get enough of YouTube stars such as Grannis and David Choi, who rumours said would be a guest star at the concert. Next time, let's hope such rumours actually come true.