Manila, Philippines—The Coke Studio Philippines is one of the most popular and highly anticipated music platforms in the country. Coke Studio Philippines brings together Filipino music artists from various genres and generations to collaborate, create music together, and showcase the beauty and versatility of Filipino music.
The studio’s 8th season and the Ultimate Fandom Concert just raised the bar for music collaborations and the creation of Original Filipino Music.
The recent Coke Studio Philippines’ Ultimate Fandom Concert last September 5, 2024, showcased to both old and new patrons how true the Studio has remained to its form: creating beautiful OPM across various genres while simultaneously expanding the reach of these genres to new listeners. The concert experience was further enhanced by the inclusion of Korean Pop music.
The concert prelude was led by hosts Jeremy G and AC Bonifacio, who engaged different fandoms through games and discussions. They also shared music and dances to warm up the fans before the concert began.
The concert commenced with a performance by P-pop boy group Alamat, known for their music that incorporates elements of Filipino culture.
Alamat performed their well-loved songs “Maharani”, “Day and Night”, “Noli”, and “Dayang”, which were received with warmth and cheers from their Magiliws and other fandoms alike. Alamat also thanked everyone for coming despite the weather and thanked Coke Studio Philippines for having them for three seasons already.
The concert continued with the performance of Nik Makino, a Filipino hip-hop artist and rapper whose music blends elements of hip-hop, R&B, and rap. He performed his songs “Sipag Lang”, “You Are Beautiful”, “Moon”, “Sobrang Solid”, and “We Made It.”
Personally, I think Nik Makino’s set was well-crafted. It was evident that he enjoyed his time on stage while making it truly enjoyable for everyone in the Mall of Asia Arena. Nik also thanked his fans and listeners, emphasizing that he was performing in the MOA Arena and with Coke Studios because of their support.
Before ultimately ending their sets, Alamat and Nik performed live, for the first time, their collaboration for Coke Studios Philippines titled “Ngayong Gabi”. According to the artists, it is a song that can be dedicated to anyone the listeners want to offer it to.
The second part of the concert was opened by Illest Morena, a rising Filipino hip-hop and rap artist, with her most popular singles: “Munchies”, “Sabik”, and “Slow Burn.”
This was followed by a performance from Kyle Echarri, popularly known for his versatility as both an artist and a musician and as one of the top six finalists for The Voice Kids in 2015.
He performed his well-loved songs, such as his song “Pangako,” which was released in 2022. Illest and Kyle both thanked their fans before performing their collaboration stage: “Believe”.
The third part of the concert featured Zack Tabudlo, a popular singer and songwriter known for his work in the OPM scene. He combines elements of pop, rock, and R&B in his musical style. Zack, with his ukulele, performed his popular songs: “Nangangamba”, “Pano”, “Fallin”, and “Give me Your Forever.”
Watching Zack live showcased his talent and stage charisma, providing insight into why many love his music, including the relatability of his lyrics and the emotion he conveys during every performance.
And of course, last but not least, is the performance of the most-awaited K-pop girl group NewJeans! All the fans in the arena immediately shouted with joy as the girls entered the stage.
This is the first time that NewJeans has performed in a fandom concert in the Philippines, and their second time in the country, with the first time being during the Asia Artist Awards in 2023.
The very popular and well-loved girl group performed their songs “Attention,” “Hype Boy,” “Cookie,” “Ditto,” and “OMG.” NewJeans played and had fun with their fans during the concert, and fans are hoping for them to come back soon to the Philippines for a full concert.
The Coke Studio Philippines Ultimate Fandom Concert is undoubtedly a well-prepared concert that promotes Original Filipino Music from all genres, both in the popular and indie music scenes, and has remained true to its vision since the first season.
The Ultimate Fandom Concert is brought to us by Coke Studio PH and SM Mall of Asia.
Photos by Richard Esguerra and Article by Kenneth Hizon
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