MANILA, Philippines - Greyson Chance is coming back to Southeast Asia for his much-awaited full concert tour this month that will include stops in Manila, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. After his first and successful album promo tour in Asia last November 2011, the multi-talented teen sensation fulfills his promise of coming back with a full concert for his well-loved fans. Greyson will be performing in Manila on April 22 in an intimate setting at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Only 4,000 seats will be available and on-sale to the public, despite the original size of the Big Dome, as the concert will be an up-close and personal show.
At just 14 years old, Greyson has accomplished more than many musicians can hope for in their careers — two successful North American tours, performing at the White House, national TV appearances on Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, CBS Early Show and, most recently, the release of his debut album Hold On ‘Til The Night from eleveneleven/Maverick/Streamline/Geffen.
Much of Greyson’s fame began with a fortuitous YouTube post of a performance by the stage-ready sixth grader for his fellow students of Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi, but the whirlwind of exposure and international opportunities that ensued for this Edmond, Oklahoma native have been such that can only be earned by his sheer talent: “Chance’s gripping falsetto and seasoned vocal style belie his age,” according to the US Weekly.
Now, with a critically-acclaimed debut album, which boasts a debut single Waiting Outside the Lines, that sold over 160,000 copies to date and was the No. 1 physical single in the US for four straight weeks; topping media lists for young talent to keep an eye on; and a recent stint acting on the hit primetime FOX Television show Raising Hope, which he hopes to parlay into exploring acting further, Greyson has become a household name.
The now infamous performance of Paparazzi in April 2010 went on to become YouTube’s No. 3 most popular video of 2010 and has received nearly 45 million views to date. Catching the eye of a producer at The Ellen DeGeneres Show, led to Greyson’s first guest appearance and a fateful return a week later, where DeGeneres announced that she had signed Greyson as the first artist on her newly formed label, eleveneleven. The rest — as they say — is history. Chance has now appeared on Ellen eight times, which includes debuts of his singles Waiting Outside the Lines and Unfriend You, then toured North America with fellow teens Miranda Cosgrove of iCarly, pop star Cody Simpson and Big Time Rush, and most recently, performed for the Campaign for Human Rights with President Obama in attendance last November 2011 and at Variety’s Power of Youth benefit. Greyson was honored in Pop Star Magazine’s 12 in 12 issue last January.
Of his live performance, The Washington Post says “catching Chance [perform] at this stage in his career is akin to watching a thoroughbred of impeccable breeding gallop as a yearling. He doesn’t have his legs under him yet, and stumbles are possible, but the raw materials are such that it’s hard to bet against him running with the big boys in a few years.”
The release of his debut was recorded in Los Angeles with famed producers such as The Matrix (who has worked with Christina Aguilera, Avril Lavigne, Jason Mraz, Britney Spears) and Billy Steinberg (who has produced for Enrique Iglesias, Katherine McPhee, Miranda Cosgrove). Unlike many teen artists, Greyson took on much of the writing: “Writing and recording this album has been such a fun and exciting journey!” said Greyson. “I’ve put so much hard work into it and I am so glad to have music out there for my fans. It’s about overcoming fears but always powering through, and I think it’s a message my fans really relate to.” Entertainment Weekly says, “Chance reveals a surprisingly mature voice.”
The album, which Rolling Stone magazine called a “potential blockbuster of a debut,” not only showcases Greyson’s talents as a songwriter, vocalist and piano player but also his wide range of influences. From the empowerment ballad Waiting Outside the Lines to the light-hearted up tempo Little London Girl, Hold On ‘Til The Night takes the listener on a journey of teenage love and heartbreak complete with undeniably catchy hooks and Greyson’s signature powerful vocals.
(Catch Greyson Chance up-close and personal in his first-ever live concert tour in Manila on April 22 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. For details, call TicketNet at 911-5555 or Wilbros Live at 374-9999. Follow Wilbros Live at facebook.com/wilbroslive and twitter.com/wilbroslive.)