A few weeks have passed but the A1 fever has not died down yet, at least for the fans.
Held at the New Frontier Theater on Saturday, October 14, 2023, A1 treated Filipino fans to an electrifying show as part of their four-night A1: Twenty Five anniversary tour in the Philippines, presented by Concert Republic.
The beloved '90s British-Norwegian boy band, composed of Christian Ingebrigtsen, Mark Read, Ben Adams, and Paul Marazzi, made stops in Davao on October 12, Cebu on October 13, and Manila on October 14 and 15.
This four-day concert marked the 9th return of the quartet to the country after their successful 2019 music festival at the Mall of Asia Arena with O-Town.
Read: '90s boy band A1: "We're grateful people still want to hear the songs."
Although the event on the 14th started a bit late, with the band humorously blaming Manila traffic, the performances of A1 were nothing short of incredible.
Here are the highlights of the concert:
A1’S MUSIC: PAST AND PRESENT
Kicking off the show with “Same Old Brand New You,” A1 also performed “Be the First to Believe,” “Summertime of Our Lives,” and “Everytime,” in order.
They also served their fans with a live performance of their newest single, "Call Me When You Land," which was a delightful surprise for the Filipino audience.
Their setlist included classics, such as "Make It Good," "When I'm Missing You," "If You Were My Girl," and "One More Try."
Mark, visibly moved by the energy of the crowd, expressed his gratitude.
He uttered with astonishment, “Wow, thank you so much, Manila, for making this already such a memorable night.”
Bringing more to the stage, the members did not forget to perform their all-time hits like “Heaven By Your Side” and “Caught in the Middle” alongside the encore songs, “Walking in the Rain,” “Like A Rose,” and “Take On Me.”
Despite time constraints, the boy band made sure the event was an unforgettable experience, highlighting the timelessness of their music.
The concert was a mix of nostalgia, fulfillment, and joy, uniting diverse individuals in a harmonious night filled with laughter and kilig.
SONG COVERS
The concert is not only about the songs of A1.
They also performed hits from boy bands of different generations, showcasing their versatility and proving that their music transcends eras.
The crowd sang their hearts out as A1 rendered popular pieces like "Quit Playing Games" and "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys, then "Back For Good" by Take That.
Another fantastic cover was "This I Promise You" by NSYNC, which had fans screaming and singing the chorus together.
Of course, the members did not miss performing a well-known song to many, namely “Story Of My Life” by One Direction.
As Paul declared, “This [One Direction] is the best band in the world.”
BEST BOYS TO BEST CROWD REAL QUICK
Concerts often have lively audiences, yet the titos and titas of Manila took it to a whole new level.
The venue may have started in silence but everything changed the moment A1 took the stage.
Fans not only sang in harmony, jumped, and screamed, but were also seen running to the front of the stage, occasionally.
The energy was palpable and even surprised the band, especially Mark.
Overwhelmed, Mark confessed, “You know what, this has just been the best night.
Cebu were incredible, we have to say, Cebu were amazing but, I think, you guys are even more amazing.”
A surprised Ben quickly cut him off, “We might get into trouble now,” to which Mark responded, “No, no, no, no, no.”
He explained, “Cebu were amazing, believe me, they were incredible.
"But, Manila, you are just so special to us. You have a special place in our hearts.”
As the lyrics of the song of A1 go, “Another night, another day, what can I say?”
No doubt, the concert of A1 in Manila was a blast that will be hard to forget.
READ MORE:
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