Like Coldplay, Filharmonic creates song for Manila

MANILA, Philippines — A song with many “baby” and “crazy” on the lyrics was dedicated by Filipino-American a capella group, The Filharmonic, to Manila during its concert with American girl band, Fifth Harmony, at the Mall of Asia Arena last night.

The song has an upbeat vibe like a K-pop (Korean pop) composition, which appealed to The Filharmonic’s crowd of mostly teenagers and college students.

The night before, British rock band Coldplay, which The Filharmonic watched, composed something simply called “Manila Song” as tribute to the city and the band’s Filipino fans.

Besides some original songs that The Filharmonic performed for the first time for Filipinos, the stars of Hollywood flick "Pitch Perfect 2" rendered their renowned covers of Maroon 5’s “One More Night” and Dawin’s “Dessert,” among others.

Their version of Jessie J’s “Flashlight,” complete with claps and snaps, made the audience open their flashlight app and wave their smartphones as if dancing like fireflies to the song’s rhythm.

Many begged for the group to go on, as if the watchers do not mind if Fifth Harmony would start much later. Some of those in the audience felt that the front act, this time, was just as good if not better, than the main act. Some even wished the concert was completely all about The Filharmonic.

With only a black backdrop behind them and simple costumes of mainly blue, The Filharmonic proved that even without musical instruments, their voices alone can lift Filipino talent into the global pedestal.

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