MANILA, Philippines - After a whirlwind of a world tour that had her on the road for two years, the pop-rock princess who has been whooping up a storm on the music charts, Katy Perry, finally made landfall in Manila.
Originally set Oct. 3, the show’s producers were forced to reschedule it to a later date because of the typhoons. Pushing the show back to over a month later, all the fans who had then bought their tickets in advance groaned upon being informed of the long wait ahead.
On my part, the excitement just grew to a fever pitch as I was fortunate enough to have succeeded in persuading my mom to get me VIP tickets (very expensive for her Ilocana standards). The thought of standing within mere feet of one of the most popular solo pop performers in the world made me giddy with eagerness.
After watching the show that rocked everyone in the audience — including the boys — who were screaming at the top of their lungs, I can say that the long wait for Katy Perry was well worth every second of it.
“It’s good to be finally here,” Katy said after a few songs into her first set. She went to the stage on a sexy pink outfit that looked like ‘50s fashion, with a Marilyn Monroe-inspired hairstyle. I really loved how this outfit emphasized her long, gorgeous legs. They literally went on forever! I was also amazed by how flawless her skin was.
“We waited a long time for this,” Katy continued. “You guys have been through a lot of things. But damn it, we’re still standing!” This reference to the recent typhoons was answered by a loud applause and roars of cheers from the thousands in attendance at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. Just the day before the show, Katy turned over a check amounting to P1-M to the Philippine National Red Cross to aid in the relief operations for the still recovering victims of the floods. A warm heart inside someone so hot!
Among the songs that she performed, those that stood out were Hot ‘N Cold, where a lucky fan was pulled up on the stage and got the chance of a lifetime to give Katy a smack on the lips. Imagine that! And no, the fan was not a girl, contrary to Katy’s hit song. To everyone’s surprise, it was a boy… a really peculiar boy who was jumpy in a crazy-fan sort of way.
But the song that I really enjoyed to see her perform was my all-time favorite Thinking of You, which she played on her acoustic guitar, showing her skill on the instrument. Her rendition of the song with the guitar was beautifully haunting (it inspired me to continue with my guitar lessons!), and way better than the recorded version. By the time Katy was playing You’re So Gay, everyone was practically singing along to every word she sang.
The parents and the adults who were also there at the concert were also in for a treat. The self-confessed ‘80s lover played some hit songs from that era. Katy sang Don’t Stop Me Now, by Queen (“If it weren’t for this song, I wouldn’t be here,” she explained), which she followed up with her own version of I Don’t Want to Lose Your Love Tonight by The Police.
The pop star was joined by foreign band MAE, Jed Madela, Arnel Pineda and Neil Schon of Journey. I was really surprised when Jed went up on stage, expecting him to sing his familiar ballads which would surely have been out of place in a rock concert. But, being the world-class performer that he is, Jed pulled off a beautiful medley of songs by none other than legendary rock band Queen. His rendition of We Are the Champions was electrifying, to say the least.
Katy’s concert was not just about her musicality. It also showed how much of a total performer she was. She even used props and special effects during her performance. Pink and white confetti rained on the stage and on the audience as Katy rocked out to the tune of her hit single Waking Up in Vegas. This effect had the very same celebratory feel of the song’s music video.
Of course, the concert would not be complete without I Kissed A Girl, the song that really shot her to superstardom. Wearing her second outfit for the night, a pink leopard suit complete with a kitty tail, Katy brandished a humongous Cherry Chap Stick replica while rocking out her hit song. At this point, I was already screaming and jumping and going crazy with my friend and former Miriam Grade School classmate Gia and the whole crowd at the concert grounds.
By the end of the song, Katy indeed kissed not just one, not just two, but a lot of us Filipina girls with her truly warm heart and unforgettable performance.
(E-mail me at mika_gancayco@yahoo.com.)