The multitalented artist delivered a spectacular show. PHOTO BY JASPER LUCENA
The multitalented artist delivered a spectacular show. PHOTO BY JASPER LUCENA

“Is this the sound of 30,000 Filipinos?” asked a dazzling and pumped up Katy Perry at the jam-packed Philippine Arena on Thursday night for the Manila leg of her highly successful Prismatic World Tour.

As the crowd let off a deafening roar, she gratefully replied, “It sounds really good.”

The 30-year-old American singer-songwriter who has shown lots of love for the Philippines in her young yet victorious career (the immortalized proof of which has the Taal Volcano prominently featured in the music video of her mega hit “Roar”) was given as much love back by her Filipino fans who braved hours of traffic to watch her perform in the flesh at the mammoth Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. This of course is on top of the big money they shelled out for tickets, which ranged from a peak of P15,900 in the VIP section to a substantial P900 for bleacher seats.

Thankfully for the fans, the multi-talented artist delivered a spectacular show that was worth every minute spent the standstill along North Expressway, and every centavo of their hard-earned money.

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From the myriad of lights to incredibly elaborate props (read: a life-sized golden horse that carried—and danced with—Perry to center stage as she sang “Dark Horse”); to the horde of first-rate back-up dancers (they did everything from rave to tap dance), chorus and musicians; and of course the femme fatale of an artist, who had six costume changes (which also included a change of wigs and fluorescent microphones at every switch), dance moves that lifted her high above the stage, and a voice that stayed full and solid all through the show, it is no wonder The Prism World Tour is the critical success that it is today.

Milestones

Perry triumphantly yet emotionally told the crowd that the Philippine Arena concert marks the tour’s 138th performance and its first anniversary.

“Do you know what day it is today? It is the anniversary of this tour! One year ago today, May 7, 2014, we started this show at the United Kingdom. One-hundred thirty-eight shows later, we are here in Manila,” the artist proudly—and rightfully—said.

“We never canceled a show. Some of us have been sick, lonely, homesick, tired, but we know how important it is to show up because we said we would,” she continued.

It was the perfect spiel to her beautiful ballad “Unconditionally,” as she went on to return the love of the Filipino audience of Prism, whom she acknowledged to be the tour’s “biggest” yet.

Fireworks

The entire concert, which started off with “Roar” as her opening salvo shortly before 10 p.m. went on for just under two hours, with six suites in between, and ending with the explosive encore “Firework.” The energy throughout the show—whether from Perry and her production or the audience—was on high gear.

The suites—“Prismatic,” “Egyptian,” “Cat-Oure,” “Acoustic,” “Throwback,” “Hyper Neon”—covered Perry’s best known hits including “I Kissed A Girl (And I Liked It),” “California Girls” and “Teenage Dream,” and were excitedly received by the Filipino audience who are known to love singing along to their idols’ songs.

As of press time, The Manila Times received a call from the local promoters of the show who relayed the production’s reaction to the newspaper’s banner headline on May 7, which read, “Can Katy Perry pack 55,000 capacity arena?” While the headline was a straightforward and legitimate title, and was in fact followed on by a very positive article about Perry, some members of the Prismatic tour were apparently “concerned” over the question and made it a point to say they hoped someone from The Manila Times would be there to watch the show.

And yes, the concert drew a very impressive crowd and delivered a first-rate production that deserves the critical acclaim it has received worldwide—because in the first place, the headline was not out to question Perry’s fame and talent. So then again, The Manila Times has to pose another question, which also has to borrow from Perry’s self-proclaimed love for furry felines, “Why the catty reax?”

Feedback

In a word, Katy Perry’s Prismatic World Tour is fantastic and the artist’s “Katy Cats”—her term of endearment for her fans—in the Philippines were happy to proclaim it, as the hashtag #PrismaticWorldTourPH trended on Thursday night.

Among those picked up by The Manila Times are from:

Ruffa Gutierrez (@iloveruffag): “All roads lead to the Philippine Arena tonight to watch @katyperry LIVE in Manila!! Woohoooo! #KatyPerryPH2015”

Joyce Pring (@joycepring): Hands down the best concert production Ive ever experienced!!!!! OMG KATY U ARE QUEEN!!! #prismaticworldtourph

Tracy Ayson (@tracyayson): #PrismaticWorldTourPH last night 😍 I am inlove with you @katyperry You’re amazing beyond belief.

Anna Cozeth (@AnnaCozeth): Great night, great show! This concert was better than d first one.#PrismaticWorldTourPH

@bigbadbawang: Thank God @katyperry’s Manila concert was worth the 4hrs going to Philippine Arena& 4hrs going home. Phils Arena needs to fix traffic scheme

The Manila Times also spotted local celebrities trooping to watch the show, among them Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo, Carla Abellana, Tom Rodriguez, Isabel Oli, John Prats and stylist Liz Uy.