The Corrs leaves Manila 'breathless' once again
The Corrs just can’t deny that loving feeling when a sold-out crowd of thousands started singing their songs—in sync and in tune—during their two-night concert in Manila. Lead singer Andrea simply kept saying "Thank you," "Maraming salamat," and "Mahal kita, Manila!" over and over again to express how she felt during their latest Manila stint at the Araneta Coliseum under Pulp Live World.
Before the concert started, a group of young violinists jammed to the group’s global hit Breathless outside the venue. The Corrs inspired many budding musicians to pick up that string instrument even back in the 90s, when it was realized that violins can be played to catchy pop and are not limited to the classical pieces of a symphony orchestra.
The Corrs, composed of talented siblings Andrea, Sharon, Caroline, and Jim, also let loose with lively Irish jigs in their repertoire, and fans were treated to music that brought mental imagery of rugged terrain, lush landscapes, and magical forests inhabited by fairy folk. For these numbers, lead vocalist Andrea played the tin whistle, percussionist Caroline played the bodhrán (a traditional drum in Ireland), Sharon was on the violin, and Jim Corr was on the keyboard, proudly sharing their culture and background to a mesmerized crowd.
The Irish pop band’s heartfelt hits kept coming in the post-Valentine’s concert that was filled to the rafters with fans who sang along with the songs of their youth. Fitting, of course, as the anthemic So Young brought back memories of running wild and free to Xennials and Millennials who are now in the throes of adulting and life’s responsibilities. Arms and voices were raised, recapturing that glorious, fleeting feeling of freedom.
The concert became a sing-along of sorts, with The Corrs tapping into the hopeless romantic side of Filipinos who used their songs as backdrops for their relationship statuses—from the new beginnings to breakups, and the happily-ever-afters.
Songs such as Don’t Say You Love Me, Radio, and What Can I Do were some of the most applauded, and the fans who have hugot-feels from a relationship gone wrong whooped it up when the strains of I Never Really Loved You Anyway started to play. Then, of course, the crowd stood up with hand over heart when Runaway and All the Love in the World played, possibly a theme song played at their respective weddings.
In her message to the audience, Andrea said, “Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat, to every one of you, thank you so much for the welcome you are giving us tonight and the love we feel every time we come to the Philippines. You’re the most beautiful place; we are so blessed. It is remarkable how we are treated here.”
She also talked about the power of love and music. “In the news, in this world, I am so aware of a promotion of hate in the world kind of saying this is the essence of who we are as people but every night I see this is contradictory to that, there is love in this room.”
The concert’s encore was Breathless, spreading the global message of positivity and love among a generation of listeners who could not get enough of the group that formed the CD soundtrack of their youth, of love, loss, and finding one’s way.
Part of the magic that The Corrs brings is their special way of connecting with their audience, with songs that have timeless and global appeal. For Manila’s titos and titas, it was truly a night of bringing back memories of the carefree 90s.
