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Stylistics in Manila: A Soulful Night of R&B

Gone are the days when music wasย full of poetic rhythms and pure lyrics of love and true feelings. Well, last August 14, 2016, ย this kind of good music wasย brought back to life by one of the most successful soul groups of the 70’s: The Stylistics back to back with ย the Main Ingredient at the Araneta Coliseum.

Soulful night of R & B as The stylistics takes Araneta stage

The Main ingredient singer Cuban Gooding Jr. opened the romantic night with ย his hit ย song “Girl Blue”, ย followed by every big record he ever had,ย includingย “Everybody plays the fool” and “I’m so proud” among others.

(RELATED:ย A Soulful Night to Remember)

Soulful night of R & B as The stylistics takes Araneta stage

The 72-year-old soul singerย isย still so dashing and dynamicย and he engagedย with the audience by sharing his family stories and injectingย his sense of humor. The Filipino audience really related to the message of his recent songย entitled “Begin with the Family”, ย which emphasized the importance of family in an individual’s growth.

Soulful night of R & B as The stylistics takes Araneta stage

His energy and stage presence didn’t waver one bit and he wrapped up his energetic performance with “Meant to be in Love” to give way to the Stylistics vocal group.

Soulful night of R & B as The stylistics takes Araneta stage

The leading Philadelphia soul group of the early 70’s enthralled his Filipino fans with a medley of hisย classical hits like ย โ€œCanโ€™t Help Falling In Loveโ€, “Break up to Make Up”, “Stop, Look, Listen”, and several other love songs.

Soulful night of R & B as The stylistics takes Araneta stage

Love was certainlyย the main ingredient in their songs and the audience, in their nostalgic mood, seemed to know these hit songs by heart as they sang with the soulful group. The string of classical andย romantic songs wentย on with more of their hit songs, such as “You are Everything”, “Because I Love You, Girl”, I’m Stone in Love withย You”,ย  โ€œBetcha By Golly, Wow,โ€ ” Star on a TV Show” and other hits.

Soulful night f R & B with the Stylistics

The Stylistics have been frequent visitors in Manila, having performed in the country 4 times since the time of Pres. Marcos. I was not ย born yet back thenย nor were my parents. However,ย the lyrics of their songs were still familiar to the ears.

Soulful night of R & B as The stylistics takes Araneta stage

The crowd was especially thrilled when theyย sang ” You Make Me Feel Brand New”. I personally know the lyrics of this love song as I used to listen to it on the radio and sing it in karaoke.

Soulful night of R & B as The stylistics takes Araneta stage

The sweet and smooth-sounding vocal group is composed of Airrion Love (1968-present), Herb Murrell (1968-present), Eban Brown (2000-present) and Jason Sharp (2011-present). Their angelic voices, hitting their historical hits, appeared to make everyone in the crowd nostalgicย about their goodย high school days. For me, theirย soulfulย music is like a cleansing therapy that washes away the dust of everyday chaotic life in the metro from my soul. What a soulful night it was!

Special thanks to Ms. Grace Foronda of Ovation Productions.