Foreign acts came and conquered live scene in 2012

2012 left many Filipino fan girls and boys with empty pockets but big, dazed smiles, and indelible memories. Month after month, big-name artists from foreign lands announced that they would be putting on a show for Filipino fans, so that there were few dull moments when it came to live music. Here are some of the biggest gigs of 2012. Pop princess Katy Perry led the concert parade in January, when she played her California Dreams world tour at the Mall of Asia concert grounds. There was something for everyone: the candyland-inspired sets and costumes kept her youngest audiences delighted, while her songs' singable and relatable lyrics drew the older crowd in (of course, the male audience also tuned in because of Perry's well-played coquetry). It was a show that was a perfect blend of sweet and sexy--though from Katy Perry, you just can't expect anything else. In May, another foreign heavyweight came, and not without controversy because of course, she is Lady GaGa. The avant-garde queen and mother monster whose arrival was protested by conservative Christian groups who simply wouldn't allow her to lead the youth to sin with her bikini-clad figure gyrating on stage, or her dark "demonic" songs. Of course, the show went on, and with an impressive set design and "a daring original vision," the crowd was mermerized and the protesters promptly forgotten. June's guest was a match-up that brought 80s and 90s girls on their knees as two iconic boy bands--New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys--came together to serenade a 10,000-strong audience. Aside from all the shirt-ripping action (courtesy of a still studly Donnie Wahlberg), it was the boy bands' swoon-worthy performances of their classic songs that really made the night, if only because they made the 20- and 30-somethings feel, at least for a moment, like the gushing tween girls they used to be. August's deluge almost put a damper on the Smashing Pumpkins' Manila gig, but even after being delayed twice, the show finally pushed through, with some audience members even wading through flood waters just to make it. Described as "sonic glory," the alternative rock band's show seemed almost transcendental, and was perhaps the perfect way to say "f--- you!" to the stormy weather., In September, the American Idol finalists dropped in for their tour in much the same way that the finalists from the previous year did. But what made this year extra-special is not Philip Phillip's boy-next-door easiness, not even Joshua Ledet's diva vocals. Mostly, it was Jessica Sanchez. It's not just that the young singer is a Fil-Am, but more that she's an incredibly talented Fil-Am whose vocal renditions impressed judges and audience alike., October brought with it concert after concert, beginning with the arrival of heartthrob boy band, the Jonas Brothers, whose sudden announcement of a concert left fans in a slight panic. When they finally played at the Mall of Asia Arena, the audience--made up mostly of rabid, screaming fan girls, sang along to the songs until they were breathless, prompting Nick Jonas to declare, to the crowd's utter euphoria, that it really is more fun in the Philippines. After the cleancut trio that was the Jo Bros, October also brought about the reunion of another threesome--the holy trinity of rakenrol: Mike Hanopol, Wally Gonzales, and Pepe Smith, collectively known as the Juan de la Cruz Band. The band played their 1975 album "Super Session" at the Hard Rock Cafe and played with the same devil-may-care, bluesy energy that they always have (with Pepe Smith still quipping about drugs) and thereby proving that rockstars never age. South Korean boy band Big Bang also came in October, and were welcomed by the madness of Manila's K-Pop contingency. The band proved that there was more to K-Pop than Psy and "Gangnam Style" when they played at the MOA Arena as the audience's endless screaming shook the venue the entire night. It was another good moment for OPM in October as the Tanduay Rhum Rockfest came to a close after playing all over the country for months. The coming together of the biggest Pinoy rock bands (Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Wolfgang, Rico Blanco, Urbandub and so much more!) and their legions of fans proved that OPM is, in fact, very much alive, no matter what anyone says. November saw Jennifer Lopez playing to a sold-out crowd, making one wonder at how supposedly poor Filipinos could afford to fill the P26,000 Patron seating areas. It was pure glamour the moment the Latina diva walked out on stage, though the self-proclaimed girl from the block didn't miss a beat in connecting with her audience. That earnestness, along with the pulsating choreography and exquisite costumes made the show almost worth the credit card debt one most likely incurred after getting the ticket. As the year came to an end, two music legends paid the country a visit, for one last blast of concert mania. In December, the eccentric Elton John played to a full house, singing all of his most popular songs, which included "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Tiny Dancer," "Candle in the Wind," and "Your Song." With soaring vocals, and a youthful energy, the Rocket Man seemed like he could play all night long into forever. A day after Elton John, it was Sting's turn to mesmerize his Pinoy fans, and when the 61 year old emerged on stage with a body and an energy way younger than his years, it was clear that he didn't have to do much to get the crowd to listen. The mostly middle-aged crowd met the musician's energy, making it a memorable night indeed, and a wonderful way to start the end of the year. — DVM/HS, GMA News