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Only for today, the official color for music lovers all over the
city is maroon. The popular band Maroon 5 is in town and for one
night only, frontman Adam Levine (vocals, guitar) and his bandmates—James
Valentine (guitar, vocals), Jesse Carmichael (keyboards, vocals),
Mickey Madden (bass guitar) and Matt Flynn (drums, percussion)—
will turn the Araneta Coliseum into an all-maroon affair.
The band is just as psyched as their Filipino
fans are for this rare engagement. Maroon 5 continues to take on
their journey to fame and timelessness by way of hit songs like
“Makes Me Wonder” and “Won’t Go Home Without You,” both
included in their latest album It Won’t Be Soon Before Long.
Another hit titled “Wake Up Call” became an
overnight hit in the Philippines. The song’s music video was
presented as an imaginary movie trailer that shows Levine shooting a
rival that slept with her girlfriend.
The band’s genesis can be traced back to the
high school days of its three members Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael
and Mickey Madden during the mid 90s. The trio attended Brentwood
School before joining forces with another schoolmate, drummer Ryan
Dusick to form the band “Kara’s Flower.” The group adopted the
new name Maroon 5 when it took James Valentine as additional member
in 2001. Matt Flynn eventually replaced drummer Dusick in 2006 after
the injury he received from baseball forced him to the sideline.
The album Songs About Jane released in 2002 hit
gold, platinum and triple platinum sales in many countries,
cementing Maroon 5’s reputation as a hit maker in the
international music scene. The band toured extensively during the
years 2003 to 2005 when their live album coined Live – Friday the
13th was made. After a brief lull, the band came up with It Won’t
Be Soon Before Long, their second studio album five years after
Songs About Jane.
Maroon 5 bagged the Grammy Award for Best New
Artist in 2005 and the Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Duo or
Group With Vocal for the single “This Love” (Live – Friday the
13 th) in 2006.
-- Perry Gil S. Mallari
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