BEST BOOTY SHAKE: BEYONCE

SHE ain't called "bootylicious" for nothing.

That derrier, whose very existence has helped to empower so many curvier women, could have registered at least an 8.5 on the Richter scale last Saturday night, when Beyonce played her first Singapore gig to a crowd of 9,000 at F1 Rocks.

Opening with Crazy In Love, she strutted out onstage with latex-clad dancers and shook it like she meant it.

Every bounce was accentuated by her first gold costume, its huge gold ribbon on her bum wagging like an exaggerated bunny tail with every hip thrust.

By the time she hit the song Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), the crowd was transfixed.

Oh, and her singing was stellar, too, on Irreplaceable and Halo.

- Jill Alphonso

BEST REUNION: NO DOUBT

FIVE years had passed since ska and reggae-rock band No Doubt regrouped in May. And was it ever worth it. They raced through tunes like Spiderwebs, Sunday Morning, Hey Baby and Don't Speak.

The vibe? Let's just say that their 80-minute set was one big, happy, Jamaica-inspired rainbow trip - every minute of it hella good.

Kudos, too, to singer Gwen Stefani for taking a real Singapore tour. She was spotted at People's Park Complex and Haji Lane last Thursday.

- Jill Alphonso

BEST DRAMATICS: LINDSAY LOHAN AND SAMANTHA RONSON

AFTER Lohan was heckled by audience members when she filmed television spots at F1 Rocks last Friday, she fled to Ronson's side at dance-party Fuel at the National Museum of Singapore. As Ronson DJed, Lilo delivered a bottle of Jack Daniels whisky to her before returning to her VIP table.

Rumour has it that Lohan's security flung ice-cubes at those who tried to snap photos.

- Victoria Barker

BEST MARATHON MAN: WILL.I.AM

THE Black Eyed Peas frontman played an hour-long set with Fergie, Taboo and apl.de.ap at F1 Rocks last Saturday.

Then, he hit Fuel for a DJ set which included some freaky dance moves by the console.

- Victoria Barker

BEST DIRTY OLD MEN: ZZ TOP

You won't get the meaning of "keepin' it real" until you see this 40-year-old band. Their sexy, dirty blues-infused sound, heard last Friday at F1 Rocks, is truly rocking.

- Jill Alphonso

BEST CROWD-CHARMERS: BACKSTREET BOYS

AMERICAN pop group Backstreet Boys kidded around at their gig at the F1 circuit last Saturday.

As singer Brian Littrell pointed out, their fans used to be 13 and would squeal in high-pitched tones. "Now you're 24 and you go 'I still love you' (low pitched)," he teased.

- Joy Fang

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