Renee’s lasting love

MANILA, Philippines - Singer/actress Renee Olstead was in Manila for a brief visit recently. She performed at a mall show and a dinner concert produced by Radio High 105.9 FM titled, “A Love That Will Last: Renee Olstead Live in Manila.”

After arriving at the NAIA with her fiancé Tommy King (also her keyboardist), the singer went straight to a press conference where she happily answered questions from the media. Renee also worked with the PAWS animal shelter in Diliman, Quezon City. She is a vegan and works actively with PETA for the humane treatment of animals.

The following night, she treated her fans to a mall show at the atrium of SM Aura at The Fort. Shoppers lingered appreciatively as she sang her breakthrough 2005 hit single A Love That Will Last, as well as her new iTunes released single She’s Got Your Name. After the show, she signed autographs and posed for pictures.

Then, it was on to the concert for the blonde, bubbly Renee.  Guests braved Friday-payday traffic and started arriving at Fairmont Makati as early as 6:30 p.m. They were immediately treated to a delightful opening performance by the girl trio Baihana composed of Mel Torre, Anna Achacoso and Krina Cayabyab.  Renee opened the show with Nina Simone’s My Baby Just Cares For Me before segueing to other songbook standards such as A Sunday Kind of Love, Is You Is or Is You Ain’t (My Baby), Well, Alright, OK, You Win and Stormy Weather. She also sang duets (with an audience member for Breaking Up Is Hard To Do and with singer Savannah Lumen for At Last) and performed, to the audience’s delight, the iconic ‘80s OPM song, Tell Me. And finally, when the crowd shouted for an encore, the singer obliged with a gorgeous rendition of the Gershwin classic, Someone to Watch Over Me.

(“A Love That Will Last” was produced by Hi-Definition Radio Inc., the team behind Manila’s Radio High 105.9 FM, with VISA and PLDT Fibr as presenters.)