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Billy Crawford wows Pinoy audience at the Big Dome

Billy Crawford sends the entire Araneta Coliseum dancing and singing at his first major concert here in the Philippines, It's Time! The concert was held last night October 6 before a huge crowd.

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Billy Crawford wows Pinoy audience at the Big Dome

Bong Godinez

Monday, October 8, 2007
12:07 AM

Rating

Billy Crawford couldn't have been more correct when he compared the Filipino audience to a dormant volcano just waiting to explode.

"They're very passive. Pero kung talagang hilig nila they'll support you. Hanggang patayan na sila and 'yon ang hindi mo makikita anywhere else," said Billy to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last September 20, during the presscon thrown by GMA-7 days before the concert.

WARMING UP. Working his way to warm up the crowd, the Filipino international singer-performer finally got the "party" vibe he wanted midway in his concert last October 6 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

"We are supposed to be having a party here," said Billy while catching his breath in the early goings of the show. While Billy along with his backup band and dancers were all pumped up, the crowd appeared to be more starstruck and would rather watch than groove their bodies to the high energy beats.

The crowd loosened up when Billy and guest Kris Lawrence did a Ne-Yo number, "So Sick," instantly generating a reaction from the audience situated at the right wing of the coliseum.

Smelling the momentum, Billy upped the ante and launched into a medley of Earth, Wind and Fire classics. By the moment Billy shifted gears to "September", everyone in the audience were up on their feet, dancing and singing along.

"So, that's what it takes..." an elated Billy told the crowd, who were now cheering and screaming their lungs out for more.

Taking the cue and making sure not to slow down, the band hit on the familiar notes of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean." The Big Dome erupted into total pandemonium as Billy, clad in a slick white suit with matching hat to boot, successfully mirrored Michael Jackson's astonishing dance moves while stage fireworks rained down on the young performer.

By the time the exhilarating number was through, Billy looked up and started throwing kisses—obviously thanking God for finally achieving the kind of crowd reaction he longed for.

TURNING EMOTIONAL. There was no letting up since then, as Billy went through all his numbers with the crowd up on their feet dancing and clapping their hands in unison.

Billy capped the evening by performing his international hit song, "Bright Lights," which was met with loud cheers from everyone in the audience.

Returning for an encore, Billy turned emotional as he thanked all the people who took time out to see him perform.

Despite performing and gaining adulation in other parts of the globe, Billy has always been vocal in saying that performing in front of his countrymen had always been his dream.

Aside from thanking his father—who became emotional since it was the first time in a very long time that he got to see his son perform on stage—the young performer also thanked his That's Entertainment mentor, German Moreno, whom he considers as his second dad.

Billy closed the curtains with a slow number titled, "Bye," while relishing the applause and admiration of the audience.

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