It may be her fourth time to perform in the country, but Katy Perry has still got it.
In support of her fifth studio album Witness, Perry performed in Manila on Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City as part of the tour’s Asian Leg. By the looks of it, it’s safe to say she did not disappoint one bit.
At the start of the show, an eye pops up to watch over the Pinoy KatyCats, thus fueling their excitement on what’s in store for them the next two hours. As the lights go dim, the eye suddenly transforms into a visual of a galaxy, taking the audience to a red planet far away. After endless hours of waiting, a hooded pop sensation in glittering red appears on stage, making fans roar at the top of their lungs. Finally, their idol is back on Philippine soil, almost three years after The Prismatic World Tour.
New dance floor hits such as the catchy Bon Appétit, Power which embodies self-love and confidence, and Swish Swish that fights off bullies by using basketball metaphors were in treat for audience members. But old favorites from her previous eras such as the summer anthem California Gurls and the seductive I Kissed A Girl that catapulted her to superstardom were also part of the setlist — but with an impeccable and delightful spin.
Yes, her show is a whirlwind adventure. From an intergalactic set-up with her current era, you’ll then be transported back in time, the 1980s to be exact. Even her outfits for the tour complete the experience — from a checkered black and white get-up with wide pants and an LED top, she would then change to head to toe blue as she battles for a friendly game of b-ball with her dancers.
Ever charming her fans, Perry did her best to speak Tagalog such as words of affection “Mahal Kita!” to saying “mainit” as “ma-i-mik” and “malamig” as “ma-la-mit,” the singer once again made audiences scream when she asked one fan to come up on stage. Luckily, a die-hard KatyCat named Josh Madrid was the lucky pick for the pop singer. In fact, he wore his graduation toga the night before he would finish college.
Though having a futuristic motif with deep bass and loudspeakers, she showed she was still the old Perry by bringing out her guitar and serenaded the arena with Wide Awake. Audience members in return waived their light sticks (or phones) to accompany the song, lighting up the dark little by little.
To end the show on a high note, she bounced back into the beat with the empowering Roar that made everyone a champion that night. But let’s not forget the encore — she comes back on stage through the palm of a hand and sings everybody’s favorite Firework.
Indeed, Perry showcased another mesmerizing performance throughout the tour. To the people who were a “witness,” what’s your favorite track that your idol performed? Tell us in the comments below.
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