Jeff Ng - The Cathay Soft Opening Live Performance - 29 Mar 2025
The Cathay reopens after a one-and-a-half-year long renovation; Jeff Ng performs his latest single for the first time since its release. This post covers the first day of the Soft Opening Live Performances.
After a one-and-a-half year renovation, The Cathay has finally reopened with a brand new look in March 2025, and to get things rolling, the mall has invited none other than the Cathay busker Jeff Ng for a series of soft-opening performances over the Hari Raya weekend.
For context, The Cathay dates back to 1939 as the Cathay Building which didn't look like the modern shopping mall it is today. It used to house Singapore's very first air-conditioned cinema seating 1,300 patrons at any one movie screening. For 60 years, it has bear witness to the history of Singapore's film industry, undergoing several major redevelopments over the past 80 years to what it is today. In 2003, while The Cathay was still undergoing its largest redevelopment (I mean it), the building was gazetted as a national monument, with its art deco façade conserved and still standing today.
In 2006, the new Cathay Building opened its doors, along with a new cineplex comprising eight screens, including the 590-seater The Grand Cathay, and there is even a hall that screens arthouse films. Sometime during the two decades, a busking spot was made available outside the mall.
The Cathay Gallery is located right above the podium; it was not open at the time I was there.
The cineplex was in operation for 16 years, until it shuttered in 2022 with changes to the cinema landscape (streaming services, pandemic, etc., just as Jeff's popularity was taking flight) and briefly taken over by The Projector. Then in 2023, the mall closed for a major revamp from the inside, though the busking location still remains open for busking sessions.
And after one-and-a-half years, the mall has finally reopened! And whoa, it looks very different from the last time - remember the fountain in the basement? It's gone. And instead of a cinema, a PSB Academy located at the fifth floor will be taking its place.
Kebuke, a Taiwanese bubble tea store, is one of the first things to greet shoppers when they enter via the main entrance. I got myself a drink as well.
But, there is now a 360° Multimedia Tower in the main atrium of the mall showcasing stunning animations. And there is plenty of seating space as well - after a day of dining, shopping, or classes, you can come on down to relax and watch the whale flying among the clouds, or gather for any events without having to stand for hours waiting.
The 360° Multimedia Tower is the main highlight of the newly-renovated Cathay Mall.
Also, some tenants (especially F&B) have started opening their doors as well - Fore Coffee, an Indonesian coffee house company, and Kebuke, a Taiwanese bubble tea store, are the first things to greet you when you enter the mall. There's also Gift.ed by Turtle, a gift shop, Saizeriya, an Italian-Japanese restaurant where you don't have to pay service charge, Starbucks (needs no introduction), and Tsui Wah, a Hong Kong cha chaan teng (or tea diner, as you may). And in the coming months, IUIGA, Miniso and WingStop will also set up shop, and there will even be a food court as well.
Some of the sights from the newly opened mall, including a mural at Level 3 and restaurants that have opened, including Tsui Wah and Saizeriya. There is also a sky garden at Level 4.
Speaking of Jeff Ng's soft opening live performance, Jeff has recently became a new father to a baby boy named Jayzen. And, just in time for the baby's birth into this world, he has released a new single, Dear Baby (亲爱的宝宝).
And this song reflects the life journey children would face in their formative years, like what the parents used to in the past - there will be good guys, there will be bad guys, and as parents they can be the strong pillars the child needs and provide them with the courage, wise and resilience they need to face the challenges they may encounter. Overall, this song is a heartwarming tune that is inspired by parenthood.
The two songs I've picked from this gig performance are:
- 将故事写成我们 [originally performed by JJ Lin (林俊杰)]
- With lyrics written by the legendary lyricist Vincent Fang (方文山), known for his longtime collaboration with the legendary singer Jay Chou, the song's has an Chinese style music vibe and its music video features Wu Jinyan (吴谨言), who is known for her role in the hit TV series Story of Yanxi Palace (延禧攻略). This song is made for some form of a Chinese comprehensive project by The Forbidden City Culture, which featured programmes such as exhibitions.
- 亲爱的宝宝 (his original)
- Listen to his new single on major music streaming platforms! (Spotify, KKBOX, Apple Music, etc.)
将故事写成我们 [originally performed by JJ Lin (林俊杰)]
亲爱的宝宝 (original)
