‘NOBODY SINGS BETTER THAN THE PHILIPPINES:’ OneRepublic returns to Manila, expresses fan admiration

Renzo Fuentes

February 24, 2023

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  Photo: OneRepublic

  On February 23, Thursday – American pop-rock band OneRepublic visited Manila for a 1-night show at the Araneta Coliseum. In addition, the collectives’ concert comeback featured praise for the musical talents of its Filipino fans. The crowd did a lot of singing, and Ryan Tedder (the vocalist) would even go in between the crowd in some songs!

  WHAT WENT DOWN AT THE SHOW:

  

  Jessia, a rising social media star from Canada, opened the show with songs like “Next Time” and “Nobody Hates You,” to name a few. Furthermore, she sang the unreleased song “Without You!”

  

  OneRepublic took the stage at 9 PM; the crowd went berserk as they sang “Secrets,” “Good Life,” and other hit songs from the band, including “Stop and Stare,” “Love Runs Out,” “Counting Stars,” and their most recent number one single, “I Ain’t Worried” from Top Gun: Maverick (2022).

  

  A few songs after, lead Ryan Tedder talked to the Filipino crowd and hyped them up by “bringing a concert within a concert.” There, he talked about writing songs for Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Lil Nas X, Adele, Kygo, Jonas Brothers – and more. With that, he performed co-written songs and choruses of Halo, Rumor Has It, That’s What I Want, and Sucker For You. He even sang a bit of “Anti-Hero!”

  

  During their performance of the band’s 2007 smash hit “Apologize,” OneRepublic also succeeded in making a choir out of The Big Dome by providing the audience with a tune they could sing along to. For a night, thousands became their very own tenors, bass, altos, and sopranos!

  

  The band expressed their desire to return to the country soon before wrapping up their performance, ideally with more days to perform – “We’ll keep the relationship going, we’re in a long-term dating process right now with you guys.” The band, then, closed the set with “If I Lose Myself” (with elements of the Alesso remix).

  

  Photo: OneRepublic

  We can’t wait to see you again, OneRepublic! That was a show! 😍

  Relive the night by listening to OneRepublic’s greatest hits and setlist playlist HERE:

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