..(once more) an amazing performance..

Although it’s his 3rd show in his 3rd night in Philippines, he really didn’t show any fatigue at all. He’s truly an artist who entertain his audiences with all his heart, very genuine.

On Market! Market!, 23rd Sept, the show was started a little bit early, at 6pm. We (Eliza, Chris & I) got there around 5pm. We were a bit relax this time as the seat was numbered, so we think there’s no point of us waiting in the line couple of hours before the show start. The activity center in Market! Market is a little bit bigger than Glorietta, as there were more stubs given to public. When we got there, few people already inside the area, but lotsa them were outside standing near the fence.

Unfortunately, me & Eliza sat separately with Chris. Yet thankfully he sat only 2 rows behind Yam, Belle & Meg who got in the 1st row. We were pleased knowing that we sat near the stage, so we could get the best shot of him. I was hoping that there’d be some check sound as he did on Glorietta, but apparently, there’s none. Later on, Angelo came and sat together in between me & Eliza.

The show started on time. He was wearing grey vest, the same cowboy hat (I guess..), black shirt, jeans and Converse sneaker. Like Glorietta’s show, he opened the show with “Find a way”. Before he continued to his next song “Train Wreck”, he greeted and waved at people who couldn’t get the stubs and spreaded in all floors just to see his show. I wonder why he didn’t introduce his band member with other song, as like yesterday, in the middle of this song, he introduced Russell, Aaron and Joonie to the audiences.

His third song for the nite was “Moving on” and people also helped him clapping their hands. At this point, I really wanted to stand up and danced but I was afraid that I got boo from the audiences behind me. Well, boo was fine, but got something thrown at me ? Hmmm, not good lah J J J

With no long introduction in each song, there he was singing “Free”, “I’m the man”, “In love with you forever”, “One word” and “Wait for you”. He kinda made people got crazy when he threw his black towel to the audiences while singing “Wait for you”. I wonder who the lucky girl got it, as if I was her, I might not wash it for couple of days until I show it to my friends. Yes, it was full of sweat, but the heck, it’s used by Elliott, huahahahaaa..

His last song for tonite is “A song for you”. It’s pretty funny as after “Wait for you”, they all went back stage and the crowds didn’t even scream his name to show up again. Perhaps only the Yaminoys who shout his name so loud and then there was silence for few minutes, just waiting for him to go back on stage. Finally, he showed up again and sang “A song for you”.

He really hypnotized me with this song. His voice is soooooo soothing and I don’t know, I’m just so speechless, couldn’t even think what’s the ultimate word to express my feeling..

The show was really ended and it’s shorter than in Glorietta. Perhaps, his tonite’s show only took 40 minutes or so. Yet the line for meet & greet and the CD signing was longer than in Glorietta. Me, Eliza, Chris & Meg got the M & G for photo session. My mind couldn’t focus at all, really excited waiting for the moment to hug him J Meg went first, followed by Chris & Eliza then I was the last person. When I walked towards him, I kept saying that I should behave, but when he’s so near, I just couldn’t behave anymore. I hugged him and even asked him if I could kiss him on the cheek (plus saying that it’s a request from my friend since I didn’t want him to think that’s it’s purely comes from me, huahahahahaaaaa…). When I was off the stage, I still could feel that my leg was shaking and couldn’t walk straight.

So pleased that I found Chris, Yam, Eliza, Bell & Meg there, then when Yam showed us the pix she took, we were jumping upside down. Really, we couldn’t believe that we finally got the pix with Elliott Yamin. DEAR LORD, WE TOOK A PIX WITH ELLIOTT !!!

We still hung around in the activity center and witnessed Patrick accomplished his mission. Woohooooo, way to go, pal. Hope it really brings you a good luck !!. Later on, we moved near the stage, so in case Elliott walked out, he would notice us right away. While waiting, we asked Monet to come out as Christian need to give souvenirs to the band member through her. She mentioned that all of them are already left. Yet we thought that they’re still on the backstage, waiting for the crowds to be gone soon.

While we were hanging around, Angelo came to me and asked me the tarp. All of the sudden, I couldn’t focus anymore and really felt guilty. I was the last person who had them before the show and I put it next to my chair so I could concentrate watching Elliott’s performance. And when the show was over, I completely forgot about the tarp. I’m very very very very sorry for losing it. I felt guilty as all of the idea & the hard work you’ve given to made the tarp looks beautiful is gone in one nite because of the irresponsible me L L

There were people we didn’t know took our pix when we were holding the tarp and had a group picture (this time no Elliott). It’s a good sign as now people are aware that Elliott has many die-hard fan in Philippines. And speaking of die-hard fans, I still laugh everytime I remember those 3 teenage girls, perhaps age 12 – 13 y/o, who were hysterically screaming when they noticed Angelo was wearing the I heart EY and knowing he’s the member of Yaminoys (they were the one who bought you donuts, huh ? J). Since they only had 1 CD, so one of them should have a CD too, otherwise the guard wouldn’t allow 2 people on the stage for 1 CD. Yam was being so nice by giving her the CD to them and when they were on stage, they was crying and almost lost their breath, especially the girl in the green shirt with the long hair. She just completely lost her mind.

We left the venue around 8pm as there’s no sign whatsoever that Elliott & the band were still there. Suddenly, I missed you guys already cause I’m not sure when I can meet you again, a bunch of nice-warm hearted-people which I had been together with for 2 days. I felt so welcome here and felt like an old time friends. Honestly, I didn’t wanna move at all, but I’ve made appointment with my ex-boss and his wife to have dinner with them at 8:30, so I really need to go.

Sigh, looks like the nite should be ended, but I said to myself, if there’s a chance, I surely will go back to Manila to see you guys..

..(once more) an amazing performance..

..a vocal master class..

Back 1,5 year ago, Simon told Elliott Yamin when he sang “A song for you” on AI stage that he’s a vocal master class. What he said to him is completely true.

He prove to his audience in Glorietta mall on 22nd Sept, that he’s one of the great singer who absolutely will have a brighter music future. I’m so grateful that I had a chance to see him live. I was extremely amazed, touched, goosebumped everytime he opened his mouth and started to sing.

His show started at 7 pm, but the line was already started 3 hours before, as Elliott did some check sounds and sang couple of songs for the show. However, this also showed that people are so crazy for him. At 6 pm, the gate was open, and people were running to get the best seat. We didn’t get the nearest seat to the stage, but at least we were sitting on the aisle and in front of us were not a big guy so our view were okay, no blocking whatsoever.

When the announcer said the show would be started in few minutes and the band member were walking on the stage, people suddenly couldn’t sit still. I guess I know the reason why, they though Aaron (the percussionist) was Elliott. Well they do look alike, because of the beard and the cap, although he’s taller than Elliott J Not quite long, Elliott showed up, walked and sat on the stool.

In front of 300 audiences who got the stub and perhaps more than 300 people leaning on the rail in every Glorietta’s floor and sat outside the fence of activity centre, he made people screaming his name, saying “I love you” to him many many times, including me J J J

Wearing black & white shirt, black pants and grey cowboy hat, he opened the show with “Find a way” which he dedicated to the troops in Iraq. The next song he sang is “Train wreck”, and on the middle of the song, he introduced his band member, Russell (beside Elliott, people were screaming his name too), Aaron and Jooney. Without wasting any time and the moment, he continued to sing an up beat song, the one that I really love “Moving on”. People were helping him by clapping their hands, although I was thinking that it could be better if people were standing up and dancing along with him. I’m the man is his next song and as you all could guess, all of the women were screaming like a mad man whenever he touched the reffrain “I’m the man who holds my ground, I'm the man who sticks around, I'm the man to hold you tight, Cause I'm the man in love with you ooh”.. I bet all the women wishing that it’s not just a song, but he really said it to them personally J J

He really made a good introduction of his next song and amazingly, people knew what he’s gonna sing, just because he said “it’s gonna be my next single’. Yes, it’s “One word” and everytime he said one word, people are putting their pointing finger in the air, doing exactly the same as he did.

The next song was not on his CD, titled “In love with you forever”. It’s an upbeat song and like in Moving On, people were helping him by clapping their hands and when he said “I’m in love with you forever til I die, I am yours, you are mine”, as you might predict, women are screaming like crazy.

“Take my breath away” is his next song. After he ended the song, apparently he really lose his breath as he went behind the stage without saying any words and followed by the band’s member with their face looking at each other, not knowing what was happening. Thankfully, after couple of minutes, he went back on stage and sang his first single which was a big hit in Manila and he was hoping that there’ll be more hit single coming from his CD (AMEEEEENNN…)

Yes, people… It’s “Wait for you”, sung beautifully by him. People sang along with him throughout the song and almost the end of the song, he gave the microphone to the crowd and he just listen to our singing, but it only for few lines J Next song was “A song for you”. It’s his charmed song, as he sang it from his 1st to 4th audition and brought it on stage with Ricky Minor band and made Paula Abdul cried J When he sang it, I automatically got goosebumps. It was Perfect with the capital and bold “P”.

It’s the last song from him as him and the other member went back stage. But nobody from the audience would let him end the show just like that, so we all clapping our hands so hard and screaming his names out loud until he went on stage again.

He finally came out, although he only wore his under shirt and sang one more song to the crowds. Unfortunately, I didn’t remember his song L And yes, this is his last song for the shows regardless people still screaming for more.

After the show, people were lining up for the meet-and-greet where divided in two sessions, CD signing and photo shooting. I bought his CD the morning when I lined up for the stub so I’m so excited that he would sign it. And also, I’m wearing the T-shirt that I made in Jakarta and I really wish that he would sign it.

And my time eventually came. I was on the stage, got my CD on hand and when I came to him, I was like “my goodness, it’s real, it’s damn real..”. After he signed my CD, I asked him whether he wanted to sign my T-shirt and he did sign it. He was sooooo nice, very humble, genuine. Puuurrrrfectooo !!!

Everybody was off da stage, but still hanging around it. Got to talk to Monet and at first, she said that Elliott couldn’t make it to have a pix with the group. The group gave her the Yaminoys t-shirt which she wore it right away and we took a pix with her. When she went inside, we still didn’t move a thing, hoping that Elliott changed his mind. Monet came out and told us that Elliott would take a pix with us and “aaaaaaarrrggghhh…”, we were jumping upside down. But then she said, we should not draw any attention from other people, otherwise he wouldn’t do so. So we acted cool, but since we already screamed earlier and people notice it, few of them were coming towards us.

Elliott finally showed up with the Yaminoy’s t-shirt and we went so crazy, couldn’t behave anymore. We took couple of group picture with him holding the tarp and although it’s only for few minutes, he already made us putting a smiley face for the rest of the nite. And hopefully, he would put the pix on his myspace J J

..a vocal master class..

..kantor yg sepi..

That's why gue bisa menulis di blog gue lagi, secara kantor gue sepi ajah and gue udah nyaris mau mati gaya karena bingung mau kerja apa lagi. Ada enaknya siy, secara waktu gue itu terisi dg padat di hari senin sampe rabu jadi pas kamis - jumat itu tinggal santai2xnya ajah.

Gue sekarang lagi browsing youtube, liat2x elliott waktu tour konser AI th 2006. Dimana sebelum itu, gue browsing ttg Manila. Bingung niy, mesti browsing apa lagi, heheheheeeeee...

Btw, sekarang udah masuk puasa. Tepatnya, sekarang adl puasa hari 1. Cuma, berhubung ay is masih period, jadi gue masih belum puasa. Sebel and sedih juga siy, secara semalem orang2x udah mulai taraweh tapi gue masih yg belum bisa gitu, hiks..

Gue juga khawatir gak bisa ikut Shalat Ied, secara kan gak ikutan puasa hari pertama. Naga2xnya gue bakalan minum primolut seminggu sebelum shalat ied, biar gue bisa ikutan shalat. Biarin lah curang dikit, abis kan shalat Idul Fitri itu setaun cuma sekali, masak udah sekali trus gue gak bisa ngelaksanainnya ? Waaaaaaah, gak banget deh..

Anyway, sekarang baru jam 2 siang. Ntar gue mau ketemuan chika jam 4an, tapi sepertinya gue mau ngabur aja jam 4 kurang, hihihihihiiiii... Soale gue dah bosen gini di kantor.

- back to work dulu kali ya (or back to browse ??) -

..kantor yg sepi..

..ELLIOTT YAMIN..

YESSSSS !!! I'm going to see Elliott Yamin next week and I'm so excited, so can not wait.. He's gonna perform in Philippines for 5 times, whereby 4 times in Manila and 1 in Cebu. Thankfully that I could catch 2 of his show.

I'm gonna go on 21st and leaving on 24th. He will be performing in Glorietta Mall on 22nd and Market! Market! on 23rd. I'll bring my complete gear, pocket digicam, my DSLR, viewcam, ipod, his CD, song lyrics and one of the crazy idea just crossed my mind yesterday, I'll bring a T-shirt with this picture attached and have him signed it (if I get a chance to meet & greet with him though).

Anyway, the preparation I've made so far is by joining the mailing list of Elliott's fans club in Philippines where all members are Pinoy and I'm the only Indonesian exist on that list, hahahahahaaaa...

I can imagine the excitement I'll have when I watch his show LIVE in concert. Although it'll take 1 hour long, but I'll see him for 2 nights in a row, so eventhough it's still not enough but at least I could see my Idol.. From all of the AI I've been watching, he's the only finalist whom to me has the soulful voice and could move you, touch your heart. I fell in love with him the moment he sand Moody's Mood for love on AI stage. Even Randy Jackson gave him standing applause after he sang that song. It's just so rare seeing a great-soulful voice on the AI stage. He should've won the crown, but should he won it, he wouldn't throw a concert in Manila. He would be very busy touring in US and God knows when he's gonna have a show outside US, riiiiiiiiite ?

Original plan, I'm going to see the concert with Arlien & her family. Yet unfortunately, her daughter is sick and has to be bed rested for 2-3 months, so there's no way for her to go to Manila. Basically I have triple excitement. First one is of course, going to see Elliott's performance, second is meeting all the Yaminoy members which I just communicate by email and last one is touring in Manila.

With all the stuffs I've heard about Manila and the language which I couldn't even understand somehow makes me a little bit freak out. But hey, if I could go travel Western Europe by myself, I should've been alright going to Manila alone, rite ? Besides, my friend Beck whom I met in friendster and also the one who introduced me to Yaminoys mailing list would accompany me on the first day. So I think it'll be alrite.

Aaaaaaaaaargh, I really can't wait to see my Elliott.

..ELLIOTT YAMIN..