Coldplay worth the 17-year wait

MANILA, Philippines - After 17 years, Coldplay found its way to the Philippines, bringing the colorful festival known as A Head Full of Dreams Tour to Manila. Everyone had the same level of energy and vigor to jam with one of the most celebrated bands in the recent history.

“We’re just practicing all along,” frontman Chris Martin jokingly said during the British band’s MOA Arena concert Tuesday night, and followed it up with “We just wanted to give you the best songs, and we’re here now.”

Coldplay’s songs have become a karaoke staple; not a singing session passes without Yellow, Viva La Vida or Fix You being played. The band’s music has become an anything anthem: There will always be a song for the happy, sad, broken, lost, inspired and troubled.

Thirty seconds before the rock group performed, the big screen at the center stage showed fans from all over the world, greeting in their own languages. The video was accompanied by a digital roadmap of the countries the band visited so far. When it finally stopped in the Philippines, the 35,000-strong Filipino fans screamed their hearts out.

And then there were Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Will Champion and Jonny Buckland, appearing from the dark, hitting up the main stage that soon turned out a huge podium to spread the message of love.

Coldplay began the show with what it’s all about: A Head Full of Dreams. The crowd went wild, singing and dancing at the same time, while fireworks and confetti made the skies a colorful background of all things magical that happened that night. The Xylobands was illuminated to the beat of the song, and the pit transformed into a sea of blinking lights.

And then there was melancholy. There were tears, real tears down there in the audience, when the band started singing its all-time hit Yellow. It was Coldplay’s power to shift its listeners’ emotions, from whimsical to sad, and that’s the power fans have been longing to experience.

Produced by Globe and MMI Live, the concert was a mixture of #YOLO (people danced to the rhythm of Every Teardrop is a Waterfall, Paradise, Charlie Brown, Hymn for the Weekend, Viva La Vida, Adventure of a Lifetime and the band’s new song Something Just Like This) and #hugot (some cried during the heartfelt performances of The Scientist, Everglow, Fix You, In My Place). The two-hour show hit the highest #feels mark.

The night was also filled with tributes, as the band performed late David Bowie’s Heroes. Chris also asked the fans to “remember someone who needs love” such as the people in Syria, Colombia and Russia. And then there was Barack Obama (or at least his voice) singing Amazing Grace.

Meanwhile, Chris sang Ink, a song from the Ghost Stories album. It was the request of Ken Santiago, a Filipino Coldplay fan who wanted to attend the concert but was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. The crowd sent their prayers and well wishes to Ken, as they sang along with the Coldplay frontman.

The concert continued to hype up during the spectacular Adventure of a Lifetime. Complete with huge, colorful balls, the number sent the crowd dancing while passing around the bouncing balls to other fans.

Before the show ended, Chris created a song on the spot, which he dedicated to Filipino fans.

“Oh we’ve been touring A Head Full of Dreams / Now we’ve made it to the Philippines / I tell you that the crowd’s such a thriller / They’re all killer, no filler,” a part of his song said, and seeing the audience’s huge ball of energy, Chris promised to come back.

It was worth the 17 years of waiting, after all. It was an amazing night that a lot of people wished did not end. With Coldplay continuing to create beautiful music, we are expecting for a return soon. Coldplay lived up to its promise of bringing a spectacular night to Manila, and the fans were more than pleased. A head full of dreams has seen the colorful, amazing reality.