Backtrack // The fangirl
One would not need a full house in birthday parties just to validate one’s existence, value, and lovability.
Even with friendships, as is always the case in other concerns, it is the quality, not the quantity, that matters.
Such is also true for American pop singer Demi Lovato, who visited the country for the second time last April for a concert world tour series. The SM Mall of Asia Arena might not have been jampacked with Lovatics — as her fans are fondly called — but the audience were clearly impassioned to the songstress that they knew and screamed all the words to her songs.
The hell they care if security personnel would stop them from moving around and from standing on their seats. Demi’s thrilled fans jumped, if they wanted to; danced, if they felt like doing so; and raised their hands and banged their heads, if they had to. I knew because I was there, and I was one of them.
Yes, I am a Lovatic.
^ Photo by Mong Pintolo, GIST.ph
The experience
Believe me, if pop culture were a subject in college — and, fortunately for me, it only became so when I had already graduated — I would have failed miserably. My only saving grace in the hypothetical class would have been Demi Lovato, if she would ever even be mentioned.
The “DEMI Live in Manila” concert was the first pop event I ever attended and covered. I expected it to be magical and euphoric, one that beats all else.
Somehow, however, it disappointed me.
There is little to no doubt that Demi can truly sing. She is one of the very few popular names in the music industry who need not depend on autotunes during recordings and who sound even better during a live performance.
She would belt high notes easily and comfortably, albeit with much intensity and passion.
^ Photo by Mong Pintolo, GIST.ph
What makes Demi’s performances more noteworthy was the simplicity of the numbers: it was just her with her high-heeled boots and leather jacket, her band, and some back-up vocals — no grand and colorful outfits, no pyrotechniques or special guests, a front act — for the full two-hour show, leaving her vocal cords practically with no rest except for a few brief moments of chitchat with the crowd.
Not even once had I heard her voice fall on a flat or a sharp.
As well, the 22-year-old star could not help but show how much heart she has for her music and her fans, particularly the kids.
At some point during the concert, too, while she rendered the inspiring ballad Warrior, a video of her 10-day visit to Kenya, where she volunteered for a charity organization in celebration of her birthday, was shown.
So, why was I disappointed?
I may have expected much more than what was served. Or, perhaps, I waited for something different.
The concert was in light of the promotion of Demi’s self-titled album, released in 2013, which was also the same studio album she had promoted when she first went to the country for the Manila leg of her Neon Lights concert tour series.
No new songs had been released since then, except for her pop version of Let It Go from the hit Disney film Frozen and some collaborations with new artists. (But she is currently working on her fifth album!)
Demi also did not call on stage some cute child from the audience — which she typically does in most of her performances — although she did acknowledge the presence of at least two kids among the crowd.
I also knew she would be singing a mashup of Don’t Forget and Catch Me, her hit singles from her debut and sophomore albums, respectively, and she did.
I regret watching YouTube videos of her concerts. I may have been too familiar.
And I somehow regret agreeing to cover the concert for GIST, the Philippine STAR’s lifestyle and events website, which also meant tweeting live updates, because I was too preoccupied with taking good shots and thinking of apt captions with less than 140 characters to go with them — i.e. What song is this again? — that I may have forgotten to fully enjoy the scene myself.
Still, the experience was memorable and if Demi ever comes back, I would definitely try to be there for her. And I know I won’t be the only one.
As the last night of April ended and a new month began creeping in, I was burning up like neon lights, trying to shush my heart because it was freaking out.
Thank you, Demi. •
Even with friendships, as is always the case in other concerns, it is the quality, not the quantity, that matters.
Such is also true for American pop singer Demi Lovato, who visited the country for the second time last April for a concert world tour series. The SM Mall of Asia Arena might not have been jampacked with Lovatics — as her fans are fondly called — but the audience were clearly impassioned to the songstress that they knew and screamed all the words to her songs.
The hell they care if security personnel would stop them from moving around and from standing on their seats. Demi’s thrilled fans jumped, if they wanted to; danced, if they felt like doing so; and raised their hands and banged their heads, if they had to. I knew because I was there, and I was one of them.
Yes, I am a Lovatic.
^ Photo by Mong Pintolo, GIST.ph
The experience
Believe me, if pop culture were a subject in college — and, fortunately for me, it only became so when I had already graduated — I would have failed miserably. My only saving grace in the hypothetical class would have been Demi Lovato, if she would ever even be mentioned.
The “DEMI Live in Manila” concert was the first pop event I ever attended and covered. I expected it to be magical and euphoric, one that beats all else.
Somehow, however, it disappointed me.
There is little to no doubt that Demi can truly sing. She is one of the very few popular names in the music industry who need not depend on autotunes during recordings and who sound even better during a live performance.
She would belt high notes easily and comfortably, albeit with much intensity and passion.
^ Photo by Mong Pintolo, GIST.ph
What makes Demi’s performances more noteworthy was the simplicity of the numbers: it was just her with her high-heeled boots and leather jacket, her band, and some back-up vocals — no grand and colorful outfits, no pyrotechniques or special guests, a front act — for the full two-hour show, leaving her vocal cords practically with no rest except for a few brief moments of chitchat with the crowd.
Not even once had I heard her voice fall on a flat or a sharp.
As well, the 22-year-old star could not help but show how much heart she has for her music and her fans, particularly the kids.
.@ddlovato to Filipino crowd: I may not always be with you in your country, but my music is. #DemiLovatoLiveInManila #DemiWorldTourMNL— GIST (@GistPH) April 30, 2015At some point during the concert, too, while she rendered the inspiring ballad Warrior, a video of her 10-day visit to Kenya, where she volunteered for a charity organization in celebration of her birthday, was shown.
Demi wows the crowd with "Warrior" #DemiLovatoLiveInManila #DemiWorldTourMNL pic.twitter.com/8p1DopnpYF— GIST (@GistPH) April 30, 2015
So, why was I disappointed?
I may have expected much more than what was served. Or, perhaps, I waited for something different.
The concert was in light of the promotion of Demi’s self-titled album, released in 2013, which was also the same studio album she had promoted when she first went to the country for the Manila leg of her Neon Lights concert tour series.
No new songs had been released since then, except for her pop version of Let It Go from the hit Disney film Frozen and some collaborations with new artists. (But she is currently working on her fifth album!)
Demi also did not call on stage some cute child from the audience — which she typically does in most of her performances — although she did acknowledge the presence of at least two kids among the crowd.
I also knew she would be singing a mashup of Don’t Forget and Catch Me, her hit singles from her debut and sophomore albums, respectively, and she did.
Demi picks up her guitar and sings her hits "Don't Forget" and "Catch Me" #DemiWorldTourMNL #DemiLovatoLiveInManila pic.twitter.com/0HZiZC3vxw— GIST (@GistPH) April 30, 2015I regret watching YouTube videos of her concerts. I may have been too familiar.
And I somehow regret agreeing to cover the concert for GIST, the Philippine STAR’s lifestyle and events website, which also meant tweeting live updates, because I was too preoccupied with taking good shots and thinking of apt captions with less than 140 characters to go with them — i.e. What song is this again? — that I may have forgotten to fully enjoy the scene myself.
Yes, yes! We fit together like two pieces of a broken heart, @ddlovato! #DemiLovatoLiveInManila #DemiWorldTourMNL pic.twitter.com/G7MHqicu0Z— GIST (@GistPH) April 30, 2015Still, the experience was memorable and if Demi ever comes back, I would definitely try to be there for her. And I know I won’t be the only one.
As the last night of April ended and a new month began creeping in, I was burning up like neon lights, trying to shush my heart because it was freaking out.
Thank you, Demi. •