What went on in Bituin’s concert of ‘feels’
Bituin Escalante’s pre-Valentine musical concert “#SoMuchFeels: Kung May Love Story Ka, Eto Ang Love Concert Mo” was a funny, entertaining concert. It felt removed from the usual with producer Brand Republic Philippines and musical director Joey Quirino approaching it like a theatrical piece.
Yes, it actually has a story line, with the concert taking on as theme love in the time of social media.
Act one has the 39-year-old Philippine diva acting as vocalist of a band playing in some nondescript bar, covering British rock band Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” with actor JC Santos as guitarist.
Enter veteran singer-actress Cris Villonco as JC’s girlfriend, singing a jazzy rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Dreamlover.”
Adding to the tension is Yanah Laurel, mostly known for her performance in “American Idiot,” singing “JC The Latte Boy,” which tells how she has fallen for JC when they met at a cafeteria. The lyrics went, “JC the latte boy, bring me java, bring me joy. Oh JC the latte boy, I love him, I love him, I love him...”
JC had a comeback with “Yanah The Stalker Chick,” which made audiences laugh. His lyrics went: “Yanah “Kasi kami the stalker chick, your a psycho and you are sick. Oh, Yanah the stalker chick, you scare me, you scare me, you scare me...”
Making as if she’s cupid, Bituin then sang Apo Hiking Society’s “Ewan” and “Panalangin” back to back.
Then JC covered Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.”
Act two had the seemingly distraught Cris, who portrayed Lavinia Arguelles in 2015 “Bituing Walang Ningning, The Musical,” singing her rendition of Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.”
With Cris’ character finally realizing she might be losing JC, Bituin appears on stage singing Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You.”
Adding seeming comic relief is Kim Molina, 2014 Gawad Buhay Best Actress in a Musical awardee, who sang Aegis’ Sa Ulan” after Bituin accidentally spilled water on her.
Exiting the stage, Kim made audiences roar with laughter screaming “Walang forever.” Apparently, her character was also in love with JC’s. In the scene where JC was trying to make amends with Cris’ character, Bituin sang The Chainsmokers’ “Don’t Let Me Down.”
JC and Cris tried to approximate the lyrics of the song, sitting on their respective chairs whenever Bituin mention the words “down.” Oh, what a “quitty” move.
The senti mood continues with JC singing Coldplay’s “Fix You.”
Adding to the feels is Bituin singing Regine Velasquez’s “You Made Me Stronger.”
Bituin, Kim and Yanah sizzled as they took on the stage thereafter, singing Gloria Gaynor’s classic “I Will Survive.” It didn’t end there, with JC and Cris continuing with Pink’s “Just Give Me A Reason.”
Bituin then rendered an all-too painful version of Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed,” before JC, Cris, Kim and Yanah joined her for the finale, “Season Of Love” from “Rent.”
As if to make sure the crowd didn’t forget she’s the star of the show, Bituin performed an encore by her lonesome, the 2002 Himig Handog Music Love Song Festival “Kung Ako Na Lang Sana.”