My husband and I left the house at 6:30 PM in search of dinner before going to the Pet Shop Boys concert at SMART Araneta.
Spontaneously we decided on Kimpura, and while waiting for my food, I felt my age kicking in.
I was sleepy.
“I wish the Pet Shop Boys would perform in our bedroom,” my husband said.
Jeroen, who wakes up at 6 AM everyday, was feeling his age too.
But the Pet Shop Boys are already in the 50s, so maybe they were sleepy too?
Thankfully dinner was lovely. I feasted on steak, oysters and mixed fried rice. Then off we were to the concert.
Not too many people coming in when we arrived at 8-ish, so that felt kind of odd and sad.
But on our way in, I saw people from the ’80s and ’90s. Old friends who make me feel young again.
The concert crew in their neon orange jumpsuits looked so chic! I loved it already!
The venue started to fill up, but not to capacity. My cousin got us tickets to the 4th row so we were right in front of this huge screen.
I can’t even describe to you how awesome the graphics were! My Samsung S4 camera phone was the only tool I had, so it didn’t turn on fast enough for me to capture the entrance of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe in their black dunce caps!!
Neil Tennant’s 2nd outfit is banned in many places in Metro Manila—illegal na po ang plastic straw!!
But never mind, said my Insta-friend Kat. The straws are bound to be recycled during their world tour.
Mich Dulce, Jujiin Samonte, and my sister Ana would’ve loved all the headdresses and the dancing.
I especially freaked out when Chris Lowe came out in a mirror-ball hat which illuminated the coliseum when the spot light hit it. Collective sighs from the young people behind me.
My Samsung S4 is really awesome by the way
And Neil Tennant sounds exactly like he did in the ’90s
One thing I find really unnecessary is when this security guard stops people from going to the front to dance or take pictures—even when the concert was about to end.
Seriously from an artist’s point of view, I don’t think the Pet Shop Boys would’ve minded at all! if more people came nearer to dance and just let go. But this annoying security guard was “just doing his job” of killing our joy!
And what is a Pet Shop Boys concert without the ’80s anthem, West End Girls?
My only letdown is that they didn’t play my favorite Pet Shop song, Love Comes Quickly
Nevertheless it was a night to remember—a feast for both ears and eyes. So worth it!!
Having been a fan and a Filipino living in New Jersey, I’m quite happy to know that the legendary PSB visited Manila. Sad to know that they did not find huge crowds there. Manila radio probably has not played their songs on mainstream radio since the Eighties. Lots of Milli Vanilli, Vanilla Ice, MC hammer, and silly singles back then ( remember Supersonic..) Here in the States, they still chart on clubs and West End Girls still get played on radio. but in Europe all their singles have charted both on radio and clubs since their debut. I hope Manila… Read more »
During The Carly Rae show too, bawal tumayo bawal sumayaw sa patron!! Baduy ng guards!!! UGH!!
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hi, i like your post re the pet shop boys concert. hinde ko man nakita ang concert but i created a megamix out of their 12 songs, check it out @ http://www.house-mixes.com/profile/dj-botat/play/bbr-tpsb-mega
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Cecille! Galeeeng how you put this altogether. Iba rin ang gimmick nila no? Like those headgears haha coolness ang mirror ball headress!
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It was an awesome concert! I loved the production values! I was a little disappointed they didn’t sing “The Sodom and Gommorah Show” but am glad they played a lot of the old songs. I hope more 80s acts come over.
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Those damn security people! Had the same problem at the Sting concert, when they kept asking people (including ex-Araneta owner Bianca Araneta lol) who were dancing in the middle aisle to sit down. I tweeted Smart Araneta my annoyance but they just said it was artist’s management’s request not to have people dancing in the middle. Ridiculous! At a Sting concert?! Araneta should really stop being KJs and just let us enjoy.
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thanks for sharing this! would’ve loved to see them but i wasn’t able to purchase tickets. i luv pet shop boys! they bring so many good memories from my teenage days!
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Great photos!
And the bouncers / security guards hassle everybody. They’re like robots.
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Haha! Special mention ako! 🙂
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CVS Reply:
August 7th, 2013 at 8:30 PM
haha yes
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haha yes
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You have the best photos!!!!!
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CVS Reply:
August 7th, 2013 at 4:55 PM
did you go?
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did you go?
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I was
waiting for them to play ‘Love Comes Quickly’ too but
thank god they played ‘West End Girls’. Last
night’s concert was a visual treat, I was bitin though. Kulang ang one hour!
hahaha
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