OVER 12000 fans flocked to the SM Mall of Asia Arena on July 11 to watch rap superstar Nicki Minaj in her only Southeast Asian pit stop of the Pink Friday Concert Tour.
Fans of the 29-year-old artist impressed each other arriving at the venue dressed up in all shades of pink and even imitating their idol’s infamous eccentric do. True enough, even Nicki herself confessed how she deeply appreciated the warm welcome she received from her Filipino fans.
“You’re going to be in my heart forever, this place reminds me so much of Trinidad. It’s absolutely beautiful. Earlier when I look at the Manila Bay it reminded me of Trinidad,” the singer said stirring the crowd to a hysterical frenzy.
To her command, the very much willing audience danced, jumped up and down their seats turning the concert venue into a big rave party, a mass shindig if you will, most especially when she performed “Starships” culled from her latest album, and the worldwide monster hit, “Super Bass.”
“Manila can you make some noise for yourself? You’ve been wonderful tonight,” she repeatedly told the audience and set the mood of the entire show by asking, “Did you guys come here to party?”
Earlier, at exactly 8 p.m., fans had lined up to find their seats in the Arena but the show started a few minutes after 9 p.m.
As soon as the lights beamed towards the stage and the curtains raised, the crowd welcomed Nicki Minaj, in a black robe, with eardrum splitting cheers. The venue almost felt like there was a quake when she opened the show singing “Roman’s Revenge.”
The concert was divided into three sets each featuring the rap singer in different fake blonde and blue locks. Every time she emerges from the backstage she impresses the crowd with her tongue-lashing rap skills.
Nicki’s every number was accompanied by her sensual dance moves and her signature doe-eyed glances. For some with keen ears, Nicki’s vocal talent was not that superb. Most of her performances were highly enhanced with digital effects. But that’s forgivable as she is more of a rapper to begin with.
The curvaceous rapper-songwriter charmed the audience with her chart-friendly hits “Pound the Alarm,” “Bottoms Up,” “Hold Yuh” and with her club-thumping records “Turn Me On” and “Where Them Girls At,” her song with David Guetta and Flo Rida.
She ended her 80-minute concert like the way she opened it—with a bang—while fans were dancing and playing with tons of confetti in the air. Her energy level did not drop at any point and was very grateful to the responsive crowd throughout the entire show.
Amid the absence of an encore, Nicki did not disappoint her Filipino fans. When everyone was shouting “We want more!” the rapper, who was already in her pink bathrobe, came out of the backstage and blew the crowd a few kisses and gestures of thank you.
The Trinidad-born artist quickly became global music phenomenon when she released Pink Friday in November 2010. The debut album became an instant hit peaking at no.1 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum after four weeks of its release. Her success extends for her distinction of being the first female solo artist to have seven singles on Billboard 100 at the same time.
Nicki has also successfully collaborated with huge music artists like Mariah Carey, Usher, Christina Aguilera, Rihanna and Kanye West, to name a few.
Images taken using my Samsung Galaxy Note. Featured image courtesy of blackberryempire.com
VERY WANG 