Concert review: Regine ‘flies high’ in her L.A. show

LOS ANGELES – In my book, criteria for the best concert includes star performance, the ability to fill up the concert venue with best production values (which includes best dance choreography), concept and design, execution, total impact and direction. Regine’s Flying High sold-out concert at the University Amphitheater shook up the venue like the tremor that hit Los Angeles (4.2 on the Richter scale), a few hours before it started.

I was on my way to the Artists Entrance (Universal Amphitheater’s backstage) when one of the technical lights-men asked me if I’m going to the concert. I nodded. He mentioned he became an instant fan of Regine when he watched the afternoon rehearsal. He was blown away by Regine’s vocal prowess and couldn’t wait to see the actual concert that night. I told him it should be worth it.

The show started off with a 12-minute video of Philippines’ top celebrities congratulating Regine. There were "thank you" messages for lawyer Michael Gurfinkel, producer of the show, and the man who played an important part in bringing back Regine to perform in her first solo US tour.

Fans could not help themselves swooning and shrieking every time the faces of their favorite movie stars was flashed on two giant screens mounted on both sides of the stage. Among the stars who appeared on screen were Gina Alajar, Sharon Cuneta, Side A Band, Janno Gibbs, Robin Padilla, Aga Muhlach, Christopher de Leon, Kuh Ledesma and Jaya.

Regine initially revved up and opened her act with a Jennifer Lopez medley, backed up with a dynamic dance number from Zodiac Dancers (choreographed and directed by Boyet Silverio, a pioneer from Maribeth Bichara’s VIP Dancers), segued by Janet Jackson’s All For You.

A short spiel of greetings gave Regine time to breathe and treated her excited fans to a song popularized by the group The CompanY, Sana Nga (my favorite!) followed by the romantic song Tuwing Umuulan.

Regine’s special guest, sister Cacai Velasquez joined her onstage with the song Pagdating Ng Panahon, the blockbuster hit by Aiza Seguerra. After the duet, Cacai took a spot to show her own unique style of singing, much to approval of the audience.

Asia’s Songbird Regine went back to give the danceable Dancing Queen. In a short time, Regine was "flying high" in the air beyond the amazed audience, while singing On The Wings Of Love, Fallin and Butterfly (the "flying act," incidentally, was what Madonna was also doing, right at that moment during her Staples Center concert last Sunday o laban ka?).

David Pomeranz brought the house down when he did a medley of his romantic hits, nostalgic songs that have never been forgotten, loved and embraced through the years, by his loyal fans. He left the stage after a duet with Regine called Pasko Na Sinta Ko.

The audience got wild, trying to get a closer glimpse of Regine, when she got off the stage and walked through the crowd while singing to the tune of the melodic Hey.

Throughout the show, Regine’s comedic flair and cute spiels (a similar act from most of the characters she portrays in her past blockbuster movies; in real life, I believe she’s also as this kikay and kalog) often surfaced. To cue in her next segment, she sang two revivals and an original theme song from her past movies, namely Pangako? Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw and the everlasting Ikaw (also popularized by Sharon Cuneta), with the crowd’s approbation.

Emotional and teary-eyed, Regine recalled her plight last year, and gratefully dedicated her next song, That’s The Way It Is, to lawyer Michael Gurfinkel who, in her own words, "has been a friend and a savior." An amused Gurfinkel and wife Millie were surprised when a recollection of videos featuring Regine’s emotional US arrival as well as the lawyer’s many immigration clients were shown onscreen. Unknown to the producers, this segment was inserted to show the effect of Regine’s triumph, a creative concept designed by the director, Jet Montelibano.

Regine went back to the crowd after the "staged" finale song In Your Arms. She kidded the audience, "That’s what concerts usually are. It’s expected of you to say ‘More, more, more!’" And of course, that was the cue for seven already rehearsed songs.

Regine sang a few verses of requested songs from her fans (including Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, Narito Ako, Sana’y Maulit Muli, You Are My Song, and Reason Enough) in a more relaxed and inducible comedy manner. She intentionally criticized someone for requesting a wrong title, saying "It’s not Walk On! The correct title is You’ll Never Walk Alone!, while looking up the roof and batting her eyes upward.

The connection was there and Regine was spontaneous. Her comedic way, not far from her real-self (and not over-acting either) makes her more natural onstage, keeping her feel-good stage presence, which her fans find endearing.

Regine belted out I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing to cue for the closing songs, an energetic rendition of a ’70s dance medley (while colorful confetti and balloons fell on the stage) which included I Will Survive and Last Dance before exiting the center stage with the Zodiac Dancers.

I have ranked Martin Nievera’s concert (from his show last February at the grand Olympic Auditorium) as, so far, the best this year. But I can surely say, this time, Regine’s three-hour Flying High concert should carry the title!

Regine has proven herself the newly-crowned "Box-Office Queen of Philippine Movies" and I’m sure everybody who watched the concert will agree that she deserves to be called the new US Concert Queen.

Congratulations, and mabuhay ka, Regine!

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