Thursday, May 7, 2015

Recap of KATY PERRY PRISMATIC IN MANILA: Colorful and Celebratory!

May 8, 2015




My daughter and I attended a concert at the new Philippine Arena last month with the Best of Best K-Pop concert. That time we decided to take the shuttle bus from Trinoma Mall, for P50 per ticket. This time for the Katy Perry concert, since I am bringing my whole family with me, we decided to try and drive ourselves to the venue, and compare the pros and cons first hand. 

We arrived a little past 6:30 pm. It was not really that hard to find a parking slot, although there was need to walk a distance. Parking fee is  It seems they are strict about unloading beside the Arena. Entering the Arena proper was not difficult at all this time. There was no long lines to be seen unlike before. People simply walked in as they arrived. So far so good.



By 8;15 pm, a couple of quirky ladies appeared on the stage. They were The Dolls, composed of international DJ Mia Moretti along with the charismatic violinist, Margot. During their initial spiel, Mia Moretti actually had a scary fall off the narrow ramp of the stage (VIDEO)! Luckily she recovered from her fall with a big smile on her face. Their set was very energetic and entertaining. They played their enchanting brand of electronic music for about 40 minutes.

After The Dolls, we had a very long wait. I was afraid Ms. Perry would arrive past 10 pm already as she did in her previous Manila concert at the MOA Arena grounds. My kids were already very sleepy. Fortunately, we did not wait that long. By about 9:45 pm, the lights dimmed down again and the screaming began. This is it! The Prismatic show is beginning!

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On the darkness of the stage, we begin to see some things that looked lit-up spears. Then the introductory strains of the rousing anthem "Roar" (VIDEO) was heard and Katy Perry came out in a stylized dark-colored outfit with glow-in-the-dark bright neon highlights on her hair, chest and skirt. This number was marked by Katy jumping a glowing neon jump rope to great effect. Using the same costume and dancers, Katy went on to sing two more big hits, namely "Part of Me" and "Wide Awake".

A video about stars and space played on the screens. Then the stage lights came back on to reveal an elaborate golden Egyptian-inspired set and costumes. We see Katy in a glittering gold short dress, with a skull cap on her head and a whip in her hand, sitting on the back of an elegant horse powered by two dancers underneath. That elaborate song number "Dark Horse" would be one of the most exciting of the night. Using the same shining costume, Katy went on to sing two more electronica-tinged songs, namely "E.T." and "Legendary Lovers"




After a short pause, the red lights bathed the stage. Still wearing her headgear but just her shiny leotards without the skirt this time, Katy shouted that the next song was for the ladies. It was her breakthrough hit song "I Kissed A Girl". Her backup dancers were notably wearing pads to exaggerate their breasts and bottoms. 

There was a cute video showing cats with the cool Snoop Dogg song "Gin and Juice" in the background shown on the screen. Then, dancers in furry cat costumes began to tap dance on the stage. Katy rose out from under the stage wearing her own glittering cat ears and catsuit with tail, standing on a huge golden ball. She sang a sultry version of "Hot N Cold." This was followed by "International Smile". Towards the end, her dancers donned silver sleeves and lattice-petticoat on Katy. She then surprisingly segued into a short cover of Madonna's "Vogue" to end the segment. 



After another short pause, slow music was heard coming from a sunflower-adorned piano on the ramp of the stage. The two backup singers came out wearing sunflower design skirts. Katy then came out looking ethereally gorgeous, wearing a platinum blond wig and a flower-power inspired outfit with sunflower-decked long skirt and and bosom. This was going to be the slow set where we get to hear the strong clear pipes of Katy unplugged. Her first song was the inspirational ballad "By The Grace of God."

Then, Katy wanted someone to teach her how to speak Tagalog. She spotted a guy in the VIP section who was wearing the same silver sleeve and petticoat (dubbed "fish costume") she had on in her last set! Obviously a big KP fan, the young man was overcome with excitement, jumping up and down, and hugging Katy. He introduced himself as Marty, 20 years old from Rizal. Katy was delightful in this funny segment, and seemed genuinely friendly and sincere. Her initial attempts to say "Salamat" became "Salami" to the delight of the audience. (VIDEO)




Going back to the music, she then sang "The One That Got Away" and "Thinking of You" as an acoustic medley. In her spiel, she said that last night May 7 is the anniversary of the kickoff of the Prismatic tour in the UK a year and 137 shows ago. Calling everyone to shine their gadgets in the darkness, she sang "Unconditionally" with the audience seen as a sea of bright lights. This was a beautiful and serene part of the concert, though personally I did not really like that last song too much because of the awkward pronunciation of the title in the song.

There was an interlude of high-energy dance music from the past. The two backup singers came out singing CC Peniston's "Finally" to the amusement of the audience, since that song was being used for a popular Ariel TV commercial lately. Katy came out wearing a sexy neon-colored cleavage and midriff-baring top and short skirt, with a green wig and neon-yellow knee-high socks. She sang "Walking On Air", followed by "This Is How We Do" into which she incorporated the chorus of "Last Friday Night". Her two big Number 1 hits followed one after the other, "Teenage Dream" and "California Gurls" (VIDEO), winding up the main show.




The lights were off but the audience simply knew this show was not year over. There was still one big song left unsung, and every one knew what the encore number would be -- "Firework"! For her final song of the night, Katy came out wearing a voluminous multi-colored ballroom skirt. Using so-called "Prismatic glasses" given outside for free before the show, the laser-lights during this number exploded into to fireworks like displays. This song provided a powerfully emotional end to a most memorably colorful concert.

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We reached our car by about 11:30 pm. Then the most unfortunate traffic nightmare began. For unknown reasons, we were caught within the Philippine Arena grounds for the NEXT TWO HOURS!  Most maddening of all, we were sent on a long detour going northward, supposedly going out to Bocaue, only to be made to make a U-turn back to the same spot where we were two hours ago! 

I also saw the shuttle buses still stuck in traffic and mostly empty. I wonder how late the shuttle bus riders got home? During the K-Pop concert, we rode the shuttle and were back in Trinoma before midnight. Things were definitely not that smooth tonight.

When we finally made our way to the exit going back to the NLEX, we found out that cars were being let out only in a SINGLE FILE. So that is why movement was practically a standstill. When we were already on the side of the NLEX going back to Manila past 2:30 am, there was still a long line of cars waiting to go out. This grossly mis-managed post-concert traffic issue should be addressed promptly and properly if this place will be a major events venue. 


28 comments:

  1. I couldn't play the videos, somehow. i like Katy Perry, she's a talented songwriter. but how did she sound live? I heard she wasn't a very good live singer....

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    1. I watched her concert here in the PH last May 7 and it was great. Her voice is so good. "She wasnt a very good live singer" is the most stupid comment I've ever seen.

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  2. I may be too old, but I like Katy Perry. I some of her songs in my workout playlist.

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  3. I like Katy Perry, but I didn't love her that much to come watch her at the Prismatic concert. Anyway, the show seemed great based on your post. Would have loved to watch her live, maybe next time. So sorry to hear about the post-concert traffic nightmare though. >.< Hopefully they get things sorted out on the next big concert at the Philippine Arena, so this wouldn't happen again.

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  4. I love Katy Perry and would love to go to one of her concert. I'm so jealous, seems like she did a great job of performing.

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  5. You have the ups and downs for this Katy Perry show but as what you described, every inch of the show, it etched into your soul.

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  6. I'm a number one fan of Katy Perry too and I'm definitely upset having not around on her concert. But I'm glad you enjoy the event. Thanks.

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  7. I heard that the concert was pretty epic from my friends! Ugh I wish I could've gone as well! :)

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  8. I belong to 60s and 70s music style. I seldom hear K Perry's songs. But lately our youngest daughter used to play KP's songs and I began to like her songs. It is good that your whole family is with you and personally see K Perry and listens to her best songs.

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  9. Not a fan of Katy Perry, maybe because I'm oldschool haha. Too bad about the traffic nightmare you had that night, that's one of the reasons I don't go to live concerts and just watch the DVD release, just the smallest chance of getting stuck in traffic for hours horrifies me.

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  10. Not a huge fan of Kate Perry, but I love some songs of hers too. Btw, never been to any concert before, can't really understand how the exact atmosphere like.

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  11. A review that I try to avoid at all cost will be Concert reviews... Sometimes, it is so difficult to write about that particular singer when you don't know much about her! But I guess it's still pretty cool to be attending concerts for free.

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    1. This concert, and all the concerts I wrote about, were NOT free for me. I paid for my ticket and for those of my wife and kids. I am sure a big time blogger like you gets invited a lot of events for free. Not me. I hope to be able to achieve your stature one day. :-)

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  12. The concert sounds great but certainly not the traffic on the way home - that is absolutely crazy, especially when you have children with you. I hope they get their system sorted for future events!

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    1. My kids were all sleeping in the car, while I was fuming in traffic. :-)

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  13. I have not heard Kate P much but occasionally few of the hit numbers but the way you wrote with so much of details and
    Fun I felt as if I heard all her songs.

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  14. I love Katy Perry,a big fan.You're so lucky to attend her concert.Nice videos..thanks for sharing them with us.

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  15. I envy you my friend. You're so lucky to see Katy Perry show, though you paid for all the tickets.. I guess, my niece watched the show too.

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  16. So envious of you catching Katy Perry's concert! (thou the traffic back sounds really bad) Fireworks seems like the perfect finale to the show.

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  17. oh my! ive always wanted to see katy perry in concert! i hope she comes back to the uk some time soon

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  18. wow that must have been one fantastic family outing! I am envious much already - traffic notwithstanding ;)

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  19. I would have watched this ( I love Katy Perry! ) but the venue's just way too far from my house and reading that you guys got home at 2:30 in the morning, oh dear. I love watching concerts but I hate getting stuck in traffic after the concert. The last concert I've watched was of Boyz II Men & I remember that the hardest part was walking from venue to the parking lot ( that was so far ) in heels.

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  20. Katy Perry is one of my idols, love her uniqueness and her "Firework". Always make an impact in her presence.

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  21. Lucky kids to have parents like you who loves katty perry. Ive seen a lot of concert pics and its amazing and im sure everyone had fun with singing and dancing while she sings

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  22. I love the rainbow colour poster... Katy Perry's song is always nice.. Never catch her live though.. It must be a wonderful experience!

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  23. You're very lucky to be able to watch Katy Perry! Wanted to go but then the only available tickets were the expensive one. Haha! So instead, I watched her through Vevo (her music videos in Youtube). Hehe.

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  24. I'm sure fans of that night was crazy about Katy Perry, I last saw her on the Super Bowl. She is just an amazing singer.

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  25. This time for the Katy Perry concert, since I am bringing my whole family with me, we decided to try and drive ourselves to the venue, and compare the pros and cons first hand.
    katy perry

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