I had no expectations when I went to Lauv’s concert here in Manila.
As usual, I went to write about the show and hopefully have a good time. While his hits I Like Me Better and Getting Over You were among the top tier songs on my playlist, and were the few songs I looked forward to hearing live; I had little knowledge of this American singer, songwriter, and record producer.
Photo by Patrick Lasanas from Ovation Productions
During “Paris in the Rain”, though – the second song of the night – I was basically converted. I was a real fan! By that point, I looked forward to the rest of the night unfolding.
The rest of this article is an enumeration of the 5 things Lauv did during his show that had me listening to his album “I met you when I was 18” for days after the actual concert.
Photo By Manuel Chua from Ovation Productions
6 Reasons Why Lauv’s Asia Tour in Manila Turned Me into an Uber Fan
6. He said Manila “feels like a second home!”
The Philippines isn’t foreign territory to Lauv. In fact, he was set to open for Ed Sheeran’s cancelled Divide Tour in Manila. Fortunately, he still pushed through with his two-day mall shows on the eve of Sheeran’s supposed concert. Lauv’s second visit to Manila was all thanks to Wanderland Music Fest in 2018 where he performed alongside other big names, like Kodaline and Daniel Caesar.
Photo by Kris Rocha from Ovation Productions
His most recent visit was his biggest headline show so far – and he didn’t fail to repeatedly tell us how grateful he is to experience this milestone in a place he considers his second home.
5. He’s full of surprises.
Unexpectedly, after performing Chasing Fire whilst showing off his dance steps, Lauv moved to the back of the Smart Araneta Coliseum and surprised those seated in the middle area of the venue. There, he performed Story Never Ends. This gesture allowed several fans to see him up close and personal. He was literally less than an arm’s length away from them.
Photo by Patrick Lasanas from Ovation Productions
4. He performed Sad Forever LIVE for the first time!
Lauv debuted his new song as something born out of feeling shitty and sad, which many fans were instantly able to relate to. Later on, I discovered that the song was actually his move “to end the stigma around mental health” (as revealed in a tweet). Because of this, his performance was made even more meaningful.
SAD FOREVER. i wrote this song at a really shit time in my life. it’s coming out the 31st. all proceeds are going to organizatins working to end the stigma around mental health. hope you enjoy.. 💙 pic.twitter.com/rgPBth3MAa
— lauv (@lauvsongs) May 22, 2019
3. He made us part of the Sad Forever Music Video – and sang it a SECOND TIME.
Before I could even recover from his intimate performance, Lauv invited the attendees to make history with him by filming a part of his upcoming Sad Forever music video right then and there! Equipped with a drone floating above his head and around two cameramen, Lauv repeated his performance and the people who were able to pick up the tune and lyrics sang along. (Listen to the preview of the song here.)
Photo By Manuel Chua from Ovation Productions
2. He performed The Sims live.
Although he already played his new song The Sims in concert in Singapore a few days beforehand, we were still ecstatic to be able to hear this new song live. The Sims will be part of his upcoming album.
1. He couldn’t stop gushing about his Filipino fans.
Lauv kept showing his gratitude throughout the night as well, citing that his Filipino fans are his top listeners on a music-streaming platform. Furthermore, there were several occasions when he exclaimed “I LOVE YOU!” and “MAHAL KO KAYO!” He even sported a barong Tagalog toward the end of the show.
Photo by Kris Rocha from Ovation Productions
Lauv closed his Manila concert with two encore performances: Never Not and his first hit song, I Like Me Better. As for me, I drove home smiling at the pleasure of discovering an artist who not only puts on a great show, but also has a humble soul.
