Westlife Live in Manila 2011

WARNING: 

              You are about to read an extremely long article. Better get your reading glasses ready.               

                 Do you have that one person who actually became part of your life without him knowing you? That person who made you, not literally, but that person who changed you, made the biggest impact in your life next to your family to become the person that you are now. He/She maybe the one who made you want to be different, better. You may think that I’m going too deep with this but actually all I’m talking about is Westlife’s Nicky Byrne. And yes, he is THAT person for me. He made me want to be better. Mushy, right? But that’s the truth. I won't explain how. This entry is long enough to be telling stories you wouldn't want to care.

Westlife Gravity Tour 2011

                I was 12 years old when I first heard of Swear it Again and instantly, I became a Westlife fan. And you can say I’m pretty fanatic kind of a fan. I am not denying that. I started buying posters and song books where I can find news and write-ups about them. Sometimes, even just a picture of them can encourage me to buy the item. And since then, I’ve been collecting every memorabilia that I can get – pictures, stickers, posters, CD’s, DVD’s and mp3’s, magazines, calendars, collectible issues of anything, clippings, I even made a scrapbook and I still have it, all of it.

                All high school years, I spent my free time reading articles about them, finding unpublished trivia, watching their music videos and documentaries, listening to their albums and unreleased tracks, and arranging my scrapbook. Come March 9, 2004, my 17^th birthday and my senior year in high school, Bryan McFadden announced his departure from the band. What a perfect timing Bryan. I was grieving. I thought it was the end of Westlife. I thought the next announcement would be the news of them being disbanded. Then after a year of waiting in vain, they released the Face to Face album, just the four of them – Shane, Mark, Nicky and Kian. And I was alive again. The Westlife magic continues, for me at least.

                 In 2006, they visited Manila again and I was a junior college student then. I couldn’t afford to buy the VIP nor the patron tickets so I just settled for the general admission section. That’s the cheapest and the farthest. I just want to be there, see them perform and hear them sing. That’s the best thing I can do. That would be enough for that time. The thought of them coming back didn’t cross my mind for I feel that their magic is slowly fading, in the Philippines at least. I feel they were disappearing. Sorry but that’s how I feel. Their recent songs were not that big anymore unlike the first ones. But I continued buying every album that they release. I’m still familiar with the songs, still know the words.

                When I heard the news about them coming back, I was fired up. It was June of this year, 13^th I reckon. I planned to buy my ticket as soon as it opens. Since my experience with The Script concert, I’ve learned my lesson. I had 8 days to persuade someone to come with me before the tickets go on sale. I thought of a former officemate who is also an avid fan of them, of Mark to be specific. She wanted the patron too but she might have a flight on the same date of the concert so she was opting to buy the lower box just in case her flight will push through. Meaning lesser value forgone, lesser amount lost. So we can’t arrive at a final decision. It was the 21^st already and the tickets are already on sale.

                Good thing, another officemate made me a deal. I will buy two patron tickets (one for me and one for the former officemate) and in case the former officemate backs out, she will come with me to watch the concert instead. So there, done deal. Going to SM ticketnet, I was planning to buy the first row in the middle section right after the VIP seats which are the first ten rows, as they always are, therefore the 11^th row. But the sales lady wasn’t properly informed, or maybe just plain stupid, sorry for the term, about which is which so she is so adamant that every seats in the middle are VIP. Another irritating fact is that no seat plan was available yet so I can't support my claim. So being a polite customer as supposed to be a polite sales lady that she is, I just bought the ticket nearest the stage and her so-called VIP seats to avoid any argument. 

                As September 29 is approaching fast, I was really excited to see them close, closer than before. The only thing I’ll have to worry about is how I can sneak out of the office before 6:30pm so I can be inside the venue on time. Being in the Management Reporting group in the Finance department is like a doctor on call. You can never be sure of the time of your availability for other things. That last week of the month is when we are supposed to meet with our site directors (SD) and present the financial report and since my SD is on a night shift, I was afraid that he will set a meeting that same night I am supposed to be singing along with my favorite boyband.

                Monday, the 26^th, I was doing okay. Things are normal and I am working normally. Tuesday, typhoon Pedring was hitting hard. I can hear the neighbor’s roof nearly wanting to collide with another neighbor’s roof. Our manager decided that we can work at home since we have our laptops with us.  And that night, I'm not sure if I was just excited or I don’t know, I can’t sleep. Wednesday, another normal day except that I have to present a financial report for the first time without any preparation. Phew! That was something else. Come Thursday, I was thinking “This is it! This is the day!” And my mailbox contains an e-mail from my SD saying that he will be on leave on Thursday and Friday and he will be back on Monday. BEST.NEWS.EVER.

                As the clock struck 6:30pm, I almost wanted to drag my officemate to leave the office. We decided to take the MRT since we both expect it to be faster. Well, it is but we failed to consider the vast volume of riders, especially that time of the day. I guess half of the people hustling and muscling their way to get inside the train are all en route to Araneta Coliseum. I can hear ‘em whining, fretting and worrying about arriving late. I can read Westlife on their lips. 

                We were already inside the train station by 6:45. The concert starts at 8-ish and I don’t want to miss a thing.  By 7pm, we’re still inside the station standing face to face with everybody amidst hundreds of sweaty and determined riders. By 7:15 we're still in Makati and I was losing hope. Another 15 minutes passed and I was closed to tears. But crying is my last option so I tried very hard to be strong. Finally at 7:35 we we’re able to squeeze in our bodies inside the chock-a-block train. That's not luck, that's us willing to kill and be killed just to get inside the train. I’ve never been more indomitable my entire life.

The crowd before the show starts.

                We reached the dome five minutes past eight and it is evident that the show has yet to start since the fans are still out roaming around, taking pictures and inspecting Westlife merchandise. Thank God! Well, it's better that we're already inside the venue. We just bought some iced tea and went inside. I was surprised to see how close we are to the stage. Satisfaction! After finding our seats and putting down my heavy bag. Did I mention that it weighs a ton? Yes it is heavy. There was no sign that the show is going to start so I took advantage of time to go to the comfort room. While I was inside the CR, the crowd started yelling but then again, they’re just like that. Screaming when something new happens. Maybe the lights just got dimmer. And then I heard someone singing. No, it can’t be them! I was right. It wasn’t them. I didn’t know that there was gonna be a front act. Well, obviously, there is – Young JV, Van Roxas and Piero Vergara. They all sang one or two songs each. 

                When we get in, I thought the stage is too small for the band, too small for one hyperactive Nicky Byrne. What more for four restless men. But after the front act, the white curtain was removed. Oh, I see, said I. The Westlife crew started re-arranging and finalizing the stage. Westlife's band started checking and tuning their instruments and the fans started shrieking. From my seat, we can see who’s coming in and who’s coming out. So I’m  pretty still and decent at that moment. But when I saw those four very familiar faces preparing to get up on the stage, I started jumping up and down and yelling Nicky’s name. I was trying to hold myself from screaming “I love you, Nicky” but I failed big time. I know he’s beautiful but I didn’t expect him to be THAT beautiful. Crazy! Let him marry me NOW. Haha!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Nicky's face up on the big screen.

                They opened the show with an upbeat hit from their Coast to Coast album, When You’re Looking Like That. I can’t sing along. I just kept on screaming and jumping and still contemplating what’s happening before my very eyes. Then Mark made the talk, he was supposed to make an introduction for World of Our Own but he kept missing from which album the song was from. It was funny. Shane was laughing at him but in the end decided to bail him out. They followed this with another old hit, What Makes a Man. I can see Shane beaming while pointing the microphone to the audience and everybody is singing along to the latter. And his voice, wow! I really want him to sing to my wedding if possible. He’s one of those singers who sound the same whether recorded or live. I feel so proud. Parent kind of proud haha!

Kian Egan

                After playing three songs, they took a short break to change clothes. From formal to rugged, from black slacks, white long-sleeve polo, maroon necktie and black overcoat, they went to slightly torn pants, casual shirts and casual jackets. Ow-em-gee! I’m seriously kilig right now while writing this entry. It’s been 17 days after the concert and I still feel the same. I’ve been delaying to write this to keep away from inclined judgments and to avoid this extremely long article but I can’t. I really can’t. So going back, they sang their version of Michael Buble’s Home. I know that these guys are twitter addicts but I did not expect them to be shooting videos while doing the show. Anyways, I have searched the net for the possible set list of this tour and I didn’t see My Love. It was Nicky’s turn to talk and he asked the crowd to sing the song, acapella version, and he will record the video. When the chorus singing ended, the intro of the song played all at once and everybody can’t help but scream their lungs out. It was probably their biggest hit here in the Philippines and it’s a good decision that they included it in the list. It was a No. 1 song for more than 12 months during 2000 or 2001.

Nicky Byrne

                When Nicky announced via twitter that they are going to have a concert here, he was excited to meet Manny Pacquiao as much as he wants to meet the fans. Well, maybe more than meeting the fans. Haha! I envy you Pacman. People who are following him on twitter, including me, witnessed how adamant he was upon meeting his boxing hero. He even contacted GMA News when ABC CBN is their official media partner. He even thought that the press conference was a ruse for him to meet the boxer. Crazy Nicky! And despite all his efforts, Pacquiao didn’t make it due to conflicts on training schedules. Thank God! I like Pacquiao but not the idea of him singing with my most-bestest-super-duper-favoritest Westlife. Did I mention that Westlife is my favorite? Okay, I love Westlife.

                Because Manny can’t make it, they just invited five as supposed to be four fans on stage. I.AM.SOOO.JEALOUS! I was yelling “over here!”, and occasionally “please pick me” to Nicky but too sad I didn’t bring a banner nor a poster with me. They chose one fan for each member based on the banner that they’re holding. Nicky chose a girl named Gina with a banner that says, NICKY, I WANT TWINS. LEND ME YOUR GENES. Okay that was catchy. Nicky said, “You can come up to the stage.” and when she did, HE PUT HIS ARM ON HER SHOULDERS. How about that?!!! Right at that moment, she is that person I envy the most, but for the most part of my life, it is Georgina Ahern.  That should be me! The second person is holding a banner that says, ‘Kian, is it hot in here? Or is it just you?’ I swear, just Nicky saying “You come to the stage.” can make my kilig-meter explode. The third person is for Mark with the banner ‘Mark, you’re the king of my heart.’ And then it was time for Shane’s fan. So Nicky goes…

NICKY:         Who do you want for Shane?

SHANE:         I got, I got one right there.

NICKY:         I thought you said, “Fire away”?

SHANE:         No, she’s in there, lad.

NICKY:         Where is she? That one that says Carlyn loves Nicky?

SHANE:         No, no, no, that girl there with the signs up.

NICKY:         You’re breaking her heart (pointing to another fan)

SHANE:         Come on.

                They’re so cute. If you are familiar with Shnicky nights/moments, that’s one of those moments.

               

Shane and Nicky

Kian and Mark

                While Nicky was interviewing his fan, another guy wanted to come up on stage. Hold on, Security, he’s coming up, says Kian. Nicky says, “he wants to kiss Mark. I’m not sure if we can arrange that but we can definitely get him onstage”. It’s his birthday that’s why he wanted to be onstage and that lucky guy gets them Westlife singing a birthday song. What a perfect gift. They asked the basic questions to the fans and Kian’s (fan) name, coincidentally, is Mandy and she is another lucky girl for Kian started singing their cover of Mandy to her. And the three guys followed. What a treat! When everybody is settled and subdued and tamed, they took their positions, the band and the fans, and they sang Beautiful Tonight then left the stage again. Sweet!

               

                Before they become visible again, I can hear the intro of Coldplay’s Viva la Vida playing and I was like, “Are they serious?” as if I haven’t seen the set list. But it looks like they were. They were wearing jeans and Mickey Mouse shirts under colorful jackets. Cute! Shane started singing the song and that’s when I decided their damn serious. Shane will do a Coldplay. When I first saw the set list I was afraid that Shane might get compared to THE Chris Martin but it looks like he did just fine. Good job! Kian was shooting a video every once in a while. All of them follow certain choreography and you can tell that Nicky is lovin’ it with all the make-faces. He’s the best dancer among the group and I can say that with all fairness and justice. Haha!

                Mark did Only Girl in the World ala diva. I can feel that he wants to grind ala Rihanna too but he’s tryna hold back. Good decision. I may have accepted him being gay but I’m not yet ready seeing him acting so gay. Give me some more time. They also sang a bit of The Time (Dirty Bit) by The Black Eyed Peas and they went Gaga with Bad Romance. And then they left again, running like they haven’t had enough. Vigorous men.

Mark Feehily

                It took a while before they become visible again. It was Kian who first got up the stage and sing. He was wearing jeans, white long sleeve polo folded to the elbow and black-in-front-white-in-the-back vest on top of it. And then Nicky showed up. That was the most beautiful Nicky Byrne I have ever seen. He was wearing jeans too and white long sleeve shirt folded to the elbow with matching suspenders. I don’t know what’s with white but I always find guys wearing white, attractive. What more when you’re more-than-crushing on a guy and you see him wearing white? You guessed it right. I am swooning and drooling. And same with every gays and girls inside the dome, each Westlife member fan base scream their heads off every time their favorite is up on the big screen. And I can say, again with all fairness and justice, that Team Nicky screams the loudest. Well… While Shane was singing, some gifts were handed out to him by some fans from the audience. Isn’t that sweet? Westlife fans are the sweetest. #PatOnTheBack

                Another cover song followed, You Raise Me Up, which according to the band is one of their favorites. I even saw a video of Rocco and Jay (Nicky’s sons) singing the song inside the car while Daddy and Mommy look so amused watching them. Awww, family moments! Tissue please! Haha! As if the fans are hard as a rock, they followed it with another tear-jerker song, I’m Already There, which is also a cover but I love every Westlife version of a song so there won’t be any problem plus I love the song. One of my favorites too. It’s about being far from your loved ones. And I guess the band is emotionally attached to the song since most of them are married, most of them have kids -- Nicky having two, Shane with three (Nicole, Patrick and Shane Jr.) and Kian soon-to-be-Daddy on January. Who wouldn’t be touched by the words of the song? They also played I Will Reach You from the new album Gravity and Flying Without Wings which is one of the songs that started everything for them.

Nicky, Kian and Mark

                Then End. Of course we know it’s not. We want Westlife! We want Westlife! We Want Westlife! The chant goes on and on until the band showed up for the encore dressed up half casual, half formal. Formal with bow ties in the upper half and slightly torn jeans in the lower half.  They first sang What About Now, a Daughtry cover and the carrier single from Where We Are. Maybe it wasn’t that big a hit here in the Philippines but that’s one of the band’s considered hits. The last song took me back to high school, reminded me of the sexiest bartenders on TV haha! It is my favorite Westlife video next to I Lay My Love on You. Nicky is the hottest in that video and it shows some acting talents of the boys. Uptown Girl, I've never heard of the song until they made a version of it. I'm not a fan of remakes but every Westlife version is perfect for me. That I can say, I'm a little biased of. I don't know if everybody knows that it's gonna be the last song for the night. But what I know is that everybody is sad because somehow, they know that the show must end. Then the band was showered with confetti. A flight back to reality. Every good thing has to end. I was hoping they’ll sing Swear it Again but they didn’t. That maybe is the single disappointment I have from watching the concert but all in all, I’m inlove, errr, I mean, I’m satisfied and contented.

Westlife

                After the show, I was waiting for tweets from the guys about the concert or the videos that they shoot. And as if Nicky knows I’m waiting, he tweeted this,

RT @nickybyrneoffic  One hell of show tonite .. Will upload video from stage later .. Amazing Goodnight Manila .. Wherever you are ..

                And this,

RT @nickybyrneoffic Ok so here's the mexican wave from tonites show in Manila ... Epic crowd http://twitvid.com/L2SO1    

                I was hoping to see myself in the video but I know that’s kind impossible since there are thousands of people in there. At one point during the show I thought Nicky was waving at me but I know that's kind of delusional of me. Forgive me. Here’s also some of the tweets from the other members:

RT @MarkusFeehily Tonights audience were loud,crazy,and mmmmm...thank you Manila! See u soon,love ya x

RT @MarkusFeehily Spanking you very very much x

               This is maybe because of the bra thrown on stage that Kian picked up and spin around then tossed back to the crowd. Used-to-be-good-teenagers gone wild-and-crazy-adults.

RT @ShaneFilan79  What a show tonight in manilla!! Crowd were the loudest I've heard in a long time ..!! Thanks guys See u soon

                That’s good to hear Shane ^_^ I’m proud to be part of that epic crowd. I hope you won’t leave us too long. See you soon. -C