Very successful ang birthday concert cum first major solo
concert titled I'll Find Your Heart: Sam Concepcion Birthday Concert ng
STAGES at Star Magic talent na si Sam Concepcion. Ginanap ito last Saturday,
October 18, sa Music Museum. Birthday kasi ni Sam last October 17, kung kelan
naging 16 years old na siya.
Punung-puno ang Music Museum, patunay ng malaking suportang ibinigay ng mga kapamilya at kaibigan ni Sam, lalung-lalo na ng kanyang mga fans na kilala sa tawag na Samsters.
Talaga namang nag-enjoy ang mga nanonood ng concert. Naroon din ang PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) para mag-cover ng concert. Dahil kilala si Sam as a sing-and-dance artist, kaya most of his songs sa concert ay dance songs na na-enjoy naman ng audience. Nakisayaw kay Sam ang mga manonood lalo na sa kanyang Michael Jackson medley, Footloose at R&B songs na "With You" by Chris Brown at "Umbrella" by Rihanna, na pinaghalo ni Sam ang English at Tagalog versions nito. Siyempre hindi rin mawawala ang hit songs ni Sam tulad ng "Even If," ang carrier single ng kanyang self-titled debut album, at gayundin ang ni-record niyang "Kung Fu Fighting" na ginamit na theme song sa Philippine release ng international animated movie na Kung Fu Panda.
Present din ang mga kapatid ni Sam na sina Red at Kevin Concepcion, na parehong theater artists din tulad ng pinagmulan ni Sam. Pinalakpakan nang husto ang mala-Jonas Brothers na number nila.
Nagperform rin sa concert ang cast ng STAGES produced High School Musical On Stage na pinagbidahan ni Sam. Syempre nag-perform sila ng ilang songs galing sa nasabing musical gaya ng Breaking Free at We're All In This Together.
Ilan pa sa naging guests ni Sam sa concert na idinirek nina Audie Gemora at Criss Buenviaje, ay kinabibilangan nina Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 scholars na sina Iñaki Ting at Bea Muñoz. Naroon din ang present ka-loveteam ni Sam na si Cheska Ortega, along with World Championship of Performing Arts winner Cathy Loria, Sison Brothers, Fire Exit Band, Fairground Band, at 24 Beat Dancers.
Labis na nagpasalamat si Sam sa mga nanood at hindi nga raw niya akalain na mangyayari ito at magiging ganun ka-successful. Aniya, "Parang kailan lang naglalaro lang ako ng mga toys kong action figures, now ang playground ko is this stage."
THREE YEARS IN THE BIZ. After ng concert ay nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang PEP na ma-interview si Sam sa dressing room.
How does it feel na very successful ang kanyang birthday concert na first major solo concert din niya?
"It's one of the most wonderful things I did this year. Grabe, the turnout of the people. Some people that I never thought would come. Talagang, ‘You're here!' That really surprised me tonight. And I just had a great time. I was just doing it in front of everyone I know, very casual lang. But it was so great. I just wanted to do my thing there. It was my birthday but it's really more than that. I give my thanks to them for everything. It's been three years since I entered show business. It's been all great," masayang-masayang sabi ni Sam sa PEP. "It's ecstatic. I'm fulfilled. It's really great to achieve something that I have never done before. I'm so glad I was able to do the show well. I'm happy that they enjoyed it."
Ano ang favorite part niya sa concert?
"It's so hard to choose, because everyone kept on laughing at my silliest jokes, that were not even funny some times. But I truly appreciate all the laughters and screams. My favorite part? One of the best was the ending, when everyone all stood up. Also the Michael Jackson medley. It is when I don't think much of the technicals already, but I was just having fun and letting go.
"Oh I remember, one of the greatest parts was the one with my brothers, Kuya Red and Kuya Kevin. That was the Concepcion brothers moment there, performing a Jonas brothers song."
Ano ang feeling na kasama mong nag-perform sa stage ang mga kapatid mo?
"It feels great. My brothers are my idols when it comes to discipline. Kuya Kevin directed our HSM (High School Musical) number. And I want to direct like him. When it comes to theater, Kuya Red is the bomb. He's really the greatest. Of course, he's my brother."
Inamin ni Sam na during the day of the concert lang sila nagkaroon ng buong run through pero aniya natutuwa siya dahil the concert went great, everything fell into place and the audience enjoyed it. Pero sabi pa ni Sam may natutunan daw siya sa katatapos niyang concert.
"You know, I learned something tonight. This is what I want do, concert talaga. It's my first time to do this but you know after what I did kanina there's so much more I want to try. There's so much more I want to learn on stage. It's just so enjoyable, doing it with a band, with a script and everything. But I still have to learn many things. Sabi nga, marami pa akong bigas na kakainin.
"Nasabi ko na ito before, but I really dream of doing a big, big concert with thousands of people watching. That's my dream. Sana in due time, after the success of this concert, my goal is to fulfill that dream."
Sa iyong dream concert, sino naman ang gusto mong makasama o maging guest?
"I want to do a number with Billy Crawford, with Gary Valenciano, and if possible a number with Chris Brown."
THE NEXT GARY V. Si Sam daw ang sinasabing isa sa pwedeng sumunod sa yapak ni Gary Valenciano. At nanggaling din mismo kay Gary in one of his press conferences, na si Sam can be his successor along with Billy Crawford. Ano ang feeling niya na sinabi ni Gary V. iyon?
"Actually, you know I heard about it this morning lang. Coming from Mr. Pure Energy himself, it's very inspiring. That's what he really does best through his songs and dance and how he lives his life. He is able to inspire generations...his generation...the new generation, my generation, the youth. That's what I want to do. Also, I want to do this for really a long time, to inspire people through my music and dance. And someday when I'm like him, I will pass it on to the next generation. May bagong generation na darating. It's just a continuous cycle."
Bago magtapos ang interview ng PEP, pinasalamatan ni Sam ang lahat ng mga taong nanood sa kanyang concert lalung-lalo na ang kanyang very supportive fans.
"Thank you to all the Samsters. Thank you so much for watching. It's the greatest birthday gift I have received. I hope that this is not the last. We will do more next time. So, really, really thank you for having fun. Thank you for coming here to enjoy the show."
Napapanood si Sam sa ABS-CBN TV show na I Love Betty La Fea, kung saan gumaganap siya bilang batang kapatid ni Bea Alonzo.