Older and wiser: Selena Gomez celebrated her 24th birthday in Jakarta on Friday, a day before her concert on Saturday.

At the first stop of her Revival Tour in Southeast Asia, US singer Selena Gomez cemented her popularity in Indonesia while throwing out emotional messages about her personal life.

Celebrating her 24th birthday on July 22 on the second day of her stay in Jakarta, a day before the concert on Saturday, Selena stood still for a while when her fans sang “Happy Birthday” between songs.

She thanked the fans, the Selenators, for their support and told them that the love was mutual.

“I got really frustrated. I get stupid sometimes. I said things I don’t need, or that came out wrong just because I cared so badly.

“But the thing is in the end of the day no war in anger was ever won. I do know that deep down in my heart that I have to believe that we can love each other and always be kind no matter what it takes in us. I believe that we can do that, no matter what,” she said before belting out “Kill ‘Em with Kindness” as an encore.

Selena recently posted some Twitter messages defending her best friend Taylor Swift, who was in a feud with power couple Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.

A post-show message she wrote on Instagram before taking her flight home on Saturday showed her reflection on her life, saying that it was time for her to think of overhauling it personally and creatively.

“Tonight I felt extremely unauthentic, unconnected to both myself and my music. I’ve never really felt like materials, wardrobe or a video could define me.

“I act on a moment and fear something that hasn’t happened. I’m stagnant, I stay still and don’t just sit with myself first and ask ‘Is this where I am, whole-heartedly?’”

But she added quickly in the comment column: “Not being negative about anything I’ve done. I’m grateful for every single moment I get here — Indonesia you were LOUD and clearly inspiring. I love you so much.”

Girl power: Selena Gomez delivers an energetic performance on stage on Saturday.

Although it was still unclear what’s behind the messages, she was right about the fans who had lined up for several hours at the Indonesian Convention Exhibition (ICE) compound in BSD, Tangerang, Banten, before the gates opened at 6 p.m.

As soon as they got into the concert hall, they screamed and sang along to a recorded Selena song playing and got upset over a video announcement about an emergency exit prior to the start of the concert.

The intro of “This is What You Came For” opened the event and Selena appeared with dancers belting out a part of the title track of her latest album.

“Revival” was followed by “Same Old Love”, “Come & Get It” and “Sober” before the first intermission when an artistic video was screened to the interlude of “The Heart Wants What It Wants”.

Besides the track list from Revival, the tour for which started in North America in May, Selena also belted out her old hits.

In the second part of the concert Selena performed “Good for You”, “Survivors”, “Slow Down” and the remix version of “Love You Like a Love Song”.

Selena roamed around the stage energetically, greeted the fans from time to time although, unlike other visiting artists, she did not try to communicate in Indonesian.

Instead, she recounted personal notes about her songs, such as “Who Says”, which she said had always reminded her to be a better person every day although in different places she didn’t always feel like she fit in.

Before “Hands to Myself” started with the sound of finger snapping, she said that she learned how to snap when she was 13.

Selena, who first appeared in Barney & Friends as one of the singing kids, reached stardom in Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place.

While during the entire time her fans sang along with her, the only time they went quiet was when Selena performed one of the new songs to be included on her next album.

The fans went wild again when two giant inflated rose stalks emerged on stage for “Me and My Girls”. It followed by other energetic numbers: “Me & the Rhythm” and “Body Heat”.

She also covered the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” and Zedd’s “Want You to Know” and the touching number “Transfiguration” from the Hillsong Worship, for which she played the piano.

Presented by Live Nation and Java Festival Production, the stage was perfect for its choreography, light shows and sound mixing.

The wardrobe was stunning, although there were reports that they had been modified to be less revealing.

Although most of the vocals were auto-tuned, Selena gave out a heartfelt performance that made her a lovable entertainer.

— Photos by JP/Don

Popular

RI, Australia strengthen partnership on taxing crypto assets

Analysis: Indonesia denies normalization with Israel to enter OECD

Citroen to produce electric cars in Indonesia