One of the great advantages of the new emerging technologies is how these do not anymore limit artists to one or two mediums. An actor now goes from the movies to TV to video which then might be in VHS, DVD or Blu-Ray. Likewise, a singer goes from the concert hall to the recording studio to CDs and also to videos like DVDs. And in some extraordinary cases, watching these can be truly rewarding experiences.
A case in point is 24/SG, Sarah Geronimo’s two-night Araneta Coliseum concert series to celebrate her 24th birthday. The show was one of last year’s live entertainment highlights. It was a winning spectacle of sight and sound that won the Awit Award for Best Major Concert by a Female Artist. Sarah accomplished what no other pop star of these times has ever done as a singer and as a dancer. And then as I recently found out, the show works just as great on the DVD, which is now available in music and video stores.
I think I should say even better. Because aside from now being able to see everything in close-up. You now get a better look at the dance steps by the G-Force dancers and at the details of Sarah’s dazzling Furne One wardrobe. This was impossible at the Big Dome. That is unless you watched the entire show on the large screen monitor. You now also get to hear all those songs with minimum disturbance from the noisy crowd. And because it was really crowded during those two nights, July 7 and 21, the noise then, actually more of screams, was really deafening.
24/SG was Sarah’s biggest triumph as a concert artist. She not only filled up the Araneta on both shows, she also proved how much she has developed as a performer. Gone was the gawky 14-year-old who won a singing contest nine years ago. She sang and danced at her best. Dancing is one area where Sarah really excels and it is what puts her on a level different from other female stars. She has the most important quality required of a dancer. Fearlessness. And she used it to execute the difficult, frenetic dance moves that delighted the crowd.
I suppose there will be complaints because the DVD release does not have the entire concert. That would have required two or three discs that would then have to be sold at a steep prize. Best to make it accessible for all of Sarah’s fans, rather than prize itself out of the market or give the pirates the business. Anyway, the best and most memorable parts of the show are all here. Do you think it includes that much-talked about moment when Sarah tripped while singing on stage? You can now find out how she fell and got up without missing a single beat.
24/SG includes the duets with her guests, You Changed My Life In A Moment with The CompanY, Iris with rock star Bamboo and I Will Be Here with her father Delfin Geronimo. I liked watching her do her signature hits again. These are the songs that made a star, To Love You More, How Could You Say You Love Me and the life-changing Forever’s Not Enough. And it was fascinating to hear her take on the Filipino classics, Freddie Aguilar’s Anak, Florante’s Sana and Canseco’s Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan in a lovely duet with Basil Valdez.
2013 marks Sarah’s 10th year in show business. She is planning to do another concert at the Big Dome and knowing how hard she works I have a feeling it will be even better than 24/SG, which we can now enjoy on video while waiting for the next one.
Incidentally, Sarah’s last studio album continues to sell very well. Titled Pure, it is a collection of classic Filipino songs redone the Sarah way. Included are Anak, a live track from the concert recording, plus Florante’s Handog; Umagang Kay Ganda, Panalangin, Doon Lang, Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin, Tao, Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran, Malayo Pa Ang Umaga, Sana, Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan and Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika. Sarah is at present working on her next studio CD, which she promises will be full of surprises.