After Tears For Fears’ hugely successful concert in Manila last May 2010, it was inevitable that they would come back for more—and I knew I wanted to be there again.
As soon as they sold tickets online, I was there with my credit card. I bought 5 patron tickets and printed them out at home. Yes, we are high-tech now. No need to deal with SM ticket sellers equipped with MS-DOS.
On August 10, our group left Pasig at 6:30 PM and arrived at Araneta at 7:15 with lots of time to eat. I was starving.
All the restaurants were full. I had forgotten to make a reservation of Café Bola where we normally hang out before concerts.
We ended up at the food court of Gateway Mall. Then at 8 PM we made our way slowly and carefully to the Smart Araneta Coliseum as it started raining cats and dogs.
Per Sorensen was already singing when we arrived.
I have never been a fan of Fra Lippo Lippi but I really enjoyed their set that night. Per Sorensen sounds amazing live and exactly like the ’80s.
Jeroen and I were delighted to see his son on keyboards—simply adorable. I love that this young man can appreciate his father’s music and hopefully share it with younger generations.
Fra Lippo Lippi back in the day. You can see where the son gets the hair 
They were warmly received, followed by another front act we didn’t know about. It gave us time to go to the loo, before Tears For Fears finally came onstage at 9:45 PM.
This was the full-house crowd on the first night, as captured by photographer Magic Liwanag.
And this is what greeted Tears For Fears back in Manila. WILD!
So sorry I had to stop the video because it’s hard to enjoy what’s live in front of you when you’re minding a tiny camera. Here’s another point of view from the second night, and it is just as insane!
Curt Smith looked well-preserved and lololicious
While Roland Orzabal and I need to see Dr. Belo for ulthera
That does not change the fact that I adore him.
And I love that he had this big ass fan right in front of him, for that windblown effect
Watch this
The second time around was not as phenomenal as their concert last May 10.
Just the same, Tears For Fears, minamahal ka namin.
But if you do come back, please don’t start at 9:45 because we are all getting old.
After 30 minutes I started to feel low batt and sat through half of the songs. I felt like a grandma. I could just close my eyes, feel the shivers and go back the ’80s.
Like I said, I’m so grateful to God for having me live through the ’80s. They were the best times, and no one can take that away from us.
Thank you Ovation Productions for bringing them here. And thank you Magic Liwanag for sharing the pics.
Salamat Manila – you are the best!!
— Curt Smith (@curtsmith) August 10, 2012
Thank you so much Manila – as they say in the UK, you’re the dogs bollocks
— Curt Smith (@curtsmith) August 11, 2012
CVS Reply:
August 15th, 2012 at 2:16 PM
kasi naman!
[Reply]