The sky may be a different kind of blue on a Monday night as rain continued to fall in all parts of Manila, but no thunderstorm could dampen the spirit of fans of jazz-pop sensation Laufey to see the Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter take over the Philippine stage once again.
On September 2, 2024, Grammy Award singer Laufey graced the stage at the Mall of Asia Arena to give an enchanting performance to her fans during the Manila leg of her “Bewitched: The Goddess Tour.”
Despite the gloomy weather, the arena was filled to the brim with Laufey fans—all dressed up in their stylish outfit—beaming with enthusiasm as they patiently waited for the singer to waltz on the stage. And when that time came, everyone was even more alight with excitement, showing that they were more than ready to sing with Laufey under the thunderstorm skies.
Kicking off the night, Laufey mesmerized the crowd with her serene vocal as she sang “While You Were Sleeping.” The fifth track from her “Bewitched” album was the perfect opener for her show, setting a lovely mood as she brought out her guitar and continued to serenade them with “Valentine.”
It then eventually shifted into a more somber atmosphere as she performed “Second Best,” a bittersweet track that tackles being someone’s “second best” (an option, a backburner, if you will).
Before proceeding to her next performance, Laufey gazed at the crowd in astonishment. This may be her third show in the Philippines this year but the Icelandic-Chinese singer was still amazed at how her fans showed up in her first arena show, despite braving the thunderstorm.
“The Philippines has shown me so much love and warmth since the very beginning. It feels very fitting and it’s such an honor,” Laufey said as she smiled at the crowd. “You always welcome me like I’m one of your own, and the love [that we feel for each other] is mutual.”
The “Goddess” singer then sang some of her fan-favorite tracks, including “Dreamer” and “Falling Behind.” More than just a singer, Laufey is also a talented cello soloist and she proved to be just that as she performed “Beautiful Stranger” and “I Wish You Love.”
Taking to the Steinway & Sons grand piano on stage, Laufey continued to serenade the crowd with “Promise,” “Like the Movies,” “Let You Break My Heart,” and “California and Me.” But what stood out the most during her piano performance, perhaps, it was her rendition of “Goddess” that made everyone emotional. With Laufey singing her heart out to the song, her fans felt every emotion and lyric on the track.
She then went back to her guitar to perform “Fragile” and “Bewitched.”
The atmosphere shifted into a lighter aura as she cheekily sang “Bored”—a song, according to Laufey, that resonates with everyone who had been in a relationship with someone who only talks about themselves—before proceeding to “Lovesick.”
For her final track, Laufey ended the set with “From the Start” alongside her twin sister Junia, who wowed the crowd with her violin performance.
Fans were in for a real and sweet treat as Laufey performed two songs for her encore, the first being “Letter To My 13 Year Old Self,” which tugged at everyone’s heartstrings.
Laufey capped off the night with her version of “Winter Wonderland,” a sweet surprise for her Filipino fans with “-ber Months” already starting.
The show might only be an hour and a half long and the weather may not be the best at the time, but both Laufey and her fans created a magical night that they would truly remember. And now, both of them are looking forward to making new memories, yet again, in the future as Laufey promised to return soon for another enchanting moment with her Filipino fans.
The event was made possible by Live Nation Philippines.