Pure Passion...Right Here in Manila!

Pinoys got an ultimate Christmas treat when American Idol Season 5 grand champ Taylor Hicks decided to drop by and do a trio of shows at the Ayala Malls last December 18 to 20 at Greenbelt, Glorietta and Trinoma.
Geez, do I sound like a reporter! But anyways, it's the innate writer in me, but never mind. I wanted to put up my photos, but turns out all of them were blurry, so they will just be in my collection, who knows, if I get enough editing savvy, I'll have it up on my Photobucket site.
Anyways, I got to attend the TriNoma show last December 20, and Taylor made sure that he put out the last one with a bang, and just by watching, you can feel the energy he put in each song.

As early as Thursday last week (12/13), I had already made arrangements with my cousin to go with me to TriNoma since this will be my first time to go there. Thank goodness I had enough money saved up to cover for expenses, you know, fare and food and all that. Thursday morning came and I was racing to get out of the office to get some sleep and prepare to see Taylor in the evening!

My cousin (really bless him for going with me!) and I arrived at around five p.m. at the TriNoma and I decided to scout up the place to see how the show will take place. The activity area was already set up with band equipment and seats for the audience, I gather it was around 300 seats set up. Having no seating stub in hand after trying to call the TriNoma concierge for days, I tried my luck to ask if they had anything left, unfortunately, the lady said there were only 350 tickets given out and they were all out (what the hell was I thinking, there would be any left?!). That was a bit of a letdown and I had to think quickly, I tried to scan my phone if there's anyone who might be able to help. I suddenly remembered Belle Marquez who just recently signed up for TOSP and tried to look for her number. I got her number from some Yaminoy (where we were both members) and tried calling her. By some stroke of luck, she was also there, with her folks and some friends. I can't recall how I had the guts to ask for an extra ticket, but one of her companions had one and was kind enough to give me one.

With ticket in hand, my cousin and I decided I get my place in line in case the guards allow early entrance. And they did allow people in as early as 5:30 p.m. I dashed to get a best possible seat for my photos and I scored one in the second row nearest the stage.
The band started past seven already and after a few seconds, Taylor emerged from the dressing in a black striped long sleeved polo and jeans. Man, he is truly gorgeous in person, and I can't believe I am seeing him live, performing in Pinoy shores. This was shaping up to be a great evening.

He first performed The Runaround and from the booming drums, I was in a trance, bopping my head, moving to the beat and just singing along, I was so into his performance that I think he noticed and acknowledged and just pointed at me and flashed that sweet southern smile. He then proceeded with Heart and Soul and the performance made me a fan of the song. Next up was Used Me Up then he slowed down to The Right Place. Here was the rest of the set that he performed:

1. The Maze

2. Just to Feel That Way

3. Takin' It to the Streets

4. Do I Make You Proud

5. Heaven Knows

6. White Christmas

I wish they switched up DIMYP with HK, since this is the song that most people know from him. That way, since DIMYP was the only single released in the Philippines, it would have made stronger impact and people would have a better recall of him. Generally, the show was fantastic, and I am totally and utterly convinced why people go in droves to see him perform live. When he's singing, you can tell he's feeling each song and you just want to join him in. I had to restrain myself from standing up and blocking everybody's view just to join him dance and sing along as well.

Though the Ayala Mall shows were last minute, there was a reasonable number of people still who came to see him live, after all, he is the first AI winner to come and visit the Philippines. I just hope that with this visit, it would have provided him a chance to have his music heard and be circulated on radio stations like Elliott, Katharine and Daughtry.

Sidebar: A small group started to organize on the Trinoma show and has plans of expanding Taylor's fanbase, starting from the grassroots, here in the Philippines. A Yahoo! group has been set up though I will be trying to have our own sub-thread here at TOSP as well, since it's kind of hard to maintain a Yahoo! group. If there are Pinoy Soul Patrollers reading this one, please do not hesitate to PM here or email me at: shina_marih@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Bringing Spice Back

This is the latest blog I've written for theofficialsoulpatrol.com as one of their main contributors, I am republishing this here for those who can't access the site. As always, comments and reactions are very welcome.

Pop music saw its boom with acts from the late 90's such as the Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, Britney Spears and probably one of the most hyped up, talked about, the Spice Girls. No doubt they all gave birth to a new era in pop music. And though some have gone on their own ways, some has definitely gone back from their long hiatuses and recorded new music and are enjoying moderate to excellent success.

This brings me back to the newest comebacking pop group as of late.

The Spice Girls swept the world by storm in 1996 with their monster of a hit, Wannabe, with the girls asking what guys really, really want. (had to put it in there...) Theirs was an in-your-face attitude, screaming and emphasizing what girl power was all about. It was all about female empowerment, an equality of the sexes type of encouragement for all women, old and young. Ginger (Geri Halliwell), Scary (Melanie B.), Baby (Emma Bunton), Sporty (Melanie C.) and Posh (Victoria Adams-Beckham) became the voice and inspiration of all women around the world, as each girl embodies a different personality that everyone can relate to.


The Girls had a string of number ones in a span of about 3 to 4 years, and in this short amount of time, they became one of the biggest selling girl group of the 90's, moving in with the ranks of the Beatles, Elvis Presley and Madonna in terms of records sold. Indeed, in that short span of time, the girls have established themselves as one of the most influential groups in pop music.

But like in all groups, problems and issues are bound to arise. For the girls, it began when they fired their manager, Simon Fuller and the girls had to manage themselves. Of course, personalities clashed, ultimately leading to Geri Halliwell leaving the group eventually. The girls forged on, finishing a big world tour as a foursome, an album followed but the same spark that ignited the world in 1996 was slowly dying out.


Fast forward to late 2007. The girls announce that they will return to perform in a multi-continental world tour marked as "The Return of The Spice Girls". Fans, including yours truly, cannot hide surmounting excitement, as evidenced by lightning fast ticket sales, selling out in mere minutes, with fans scrambling for it like crazy. To further build up anticipation, the Girls release a new track, called Headlines (Friendship Never Ends).

I have never been so engrossed in a pop act like I have with the Spice Girls, as I feel they were the reflection of my teenage years. Cheeky, impulsive and inspired. The girls, cliche as it may sound, made me want to be a more assertive and confident person, and those two traits has brought me to where I am now. I'm very glad that they decided to reunite this time and show another generation of young girls what the 90's was about and what Girl Power is.

I just hope I can score tickets to see them here when the tour stops at Asia. Gosh, I'd pee my pants if that were to happen.

The Return of the Spice Girls

Tags: Music, Pop, Bubblegum Pop