Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24) — American pop-rock band OneRepublic expressed admiration for its Filipino fans’ musical talent in their concert return at the Araneta Coliseum on Thursday.
“What country loves music the most? I always say the Philippines,” band frontman Ryan Tedder told the audience after performing the first couple of songs.
“You guys feel music unlike any country on Earth,” he also said. “You can sing better than everybody. So tonight is just going to be a sing-a-long.”
OneRepublic — the six-member team composed of Tedder, Eddie Fisher, Zach Filkins, Drew Brown, Brent Kutzle and Brian Willet — drove their Filipino fans wild as they opened their Manila concert with hit songs “Secrets” and “Good Life.”
'Tell me what you want to hear' 🎸@OneRepublic opens with hit song "Secrets" as fans go wild in the Big Dome. #OneRepublicInManila | @fywragasa @WilbrosLive pic.twitter.com/W6R72QxJsa
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) February 23, 2023
The audience was also treated with the band’s other top pieces including “Stop and Stare,” “Love Runs Out,” “Counting Stars” and their most recent chart topper “I Ain’t Worried.”
Mid-show, Tedder further hyped up the crowd, announcing that the band planned to perform other hit songs recorded by other artists which were co-written by the frontman.
The lead singer called the surprise a “concert within a concert,” saying the audience deserved to enjoy other songs after being holed up in their houses for the past years due to the COVID-19 virus.
The band performed Beyoncé’s “Halo,” Adele’s “Rumor Has It,” Lil Nas X’s “That’s What I Want” and Jonas Brothers’ “Sucker For You.”
OneRepublic also successfully turned the Big Dome crowd into a massive choir, giving the audience a tune to sing along to while the band performed 2007 hit single “Apologize.”
Before capping off their concert with “If I Lose Myself,” the band said they wish to return to the country soon – hopefully with more days to perform.
“It’d be a dream to perform here two to three nights in a row, even better,” Tedder said. “But until then, we’ll keep putting out the music and you keep listening.”
“We’ll keep the relationship going,” he added. “We’re in a long term dating process right now with you guys.”
The Philippines is the band’s second stop after performing for their Hong Kong fans in its Asia tour – performing next in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan.
The concert was opened by Canadian sensation and social media star Jessia, who performed some of her hit pieces including “Nobody Hates You,” “Next Time,” and unreleased single “Without You.”
OneRepublic first held its concert in the Philippines in 2013, then headlined the MTV Music Evolution Manila in 2016. Concert presenter Wilbros Live announced the band’s Asia Tour last Sept. 21.
