My Bucket-list Concert Reviews

 

Bucket-list Concert Wishes

A few years ago, I listed several concert wishes on my Bucket list. Goals manifested, thank God. Prayers answered. In the past three years, I watched Andre Rieu, Jin of BTS at his solo concert, and BTS on their comeback tour.

André Rieu is a Dutch violinist and conductor who founded the Johann Strauss Orchestra in 1987. “Rieu's concerts are more than just musical performances - they are experiences full of emotion, joy, and community. He brings people of all ages and cultures together to enjoy the sheer beauty of music. With his positive personality and humorous manner, he has managed to modernize the classical music scene and imbue it with a fresh, vivacious vibe.”, as written on his website. So very true.

BTS is actually the biggest musical group in the world right now. They are a global phenomenon. They are so successful that they represent roughly 0.3% of their country's total Gross Domestic Product.

The BTS supergroup released their new album on March 20, 2026, to huge critical and popular acclaim. They broke major streaming records in the US with their latest album and the biggest group debut of 2026 on Billboard. The group held free concerts in South Korea before embarking on a global sold-out tour across North America, South America, Australia, and Asia, including the Philippines; their last concert will be in Manila in March 2027.

Grammy What?

Seven men from South Korea whose music transcended the label of Asian pop and have recently opted out of the Grammys because they prefer their music to be "heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language". They are topping international charts, have collaborated with other global singers, have broken streaming records, and are massively famous across all social media. Surely they deserve to compete in the Main categories, not be contained or limited to just an Asian category?

 

BTS Arirang concert, August 2, 2026

MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

Let me begin my superlatives: the most amazing, most invigorating, and, due to the adrenaline, most exhausting.  The sold-out Aug. 2 BTS concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was the loudest concert I ever attended; the whole stadium was shaking, and the floors beneath me were vibrating as the ARMY jumped and sang along through the set list. The 80,000-strong crowd stood the whole time, except for the short breaks. 

Thank you to Debbie and her daughter Camille for convincing me to shell out money so I wouldn't be watching from the very rear. At least, we wore our BTS jerseys with our biases' names on the back, with matching clear bags. 

RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook returned as a group after their military duties in South Korea. This comeback, after 4 years, is unprecedented in how the world welcomed them with a smash album and sold-out concerts. The New York Times declared, “BTS is possibly the biggest act in the world since Michael Jackson."

The two-and-a-half-hour show went by very fast; BTS's frenetic dances and the dancers were matched by the crowd as we jumped and swayed, our matchsticks turning the whole stadium purple.  The stage was spectacular, inspired by Korean architecture, with an open layout providing 360-degree visibility, and an amazing fireworks display at the end. The massive screens zoomed in on the smooth, poreless faces of the BTS members to the audience's delight, especially when my Jin winked at the camera.

The setlist included most of the songs in their latest album “Arirang”, but there were also classic songs that even the newest fans would know, like “Dynamite”, Butter, and the explosive “Mic Drop”. BTS also gets to try out two surprise songs each show that their DJ would choose for them; perhaps a way to tease the fans and remind them that BTS has a massive discography of songs since they debuted in 2013.

I felt inadequate when I couldn't sing the lyrics verbatim. My friends sat two rows in front of me. The ladies on both sides of me knew the lyrics to almost every song, even the Korean lyrics to Mic Drop, Fire, and the folk song Arirang (shivers when the whole audience turned Korean for a moment). At least, I knew the fan chant and could do a few choreographies on Dynamite, Idol, and Swim. I didn't take any selfies, but I took so many videos that were unfortunately marred by my off-key singing and vigorous jumping. 

I loved the massive smash-up of “Fire” and “FYA,” and the siren voice in “Like Animal.” “Body to Body” morphed into the traditional folk anthem "Arirang". Billboard asked, "How many artists could pull off having a room of thousands serenade them with a traditional folk song in the crowd’s non-native language? “Into the Sun” was a perfect ending for a perfect show.

Jin is still my ultimate bias, but those 6 other men are my bias-wreckers. Ugh, one concert is not enough. I am now going through PCD (post-concert depression).

Yeah, they do not need a Grammy. They've transcended it. It felt good to sing "Aliens" and "Not Today." “All the underdogs in the world/ A day may come when we lose/ But it is not today/ Today, we fight.”

 

JIN of BTS, July 30, 2025

Prudential Center, New Jersey

When someone asked me what the first thing I would do when I retire would be, I answered without hesitation that I would attend Jin's upcoming solo concert in New Jersey. This Jin concert is my retirement gift to myself. 

Fresh from his discharge from the military after 18 months of service, Jin threw himself into keeping the BTS name alive while the other members were still fulfilling their commitment. Jin held a hugathon with his fans, carried the Olympic torch in the Paris Olympics, co-starred in a Netflix variety show (Kian's Bizarre B&B), launched his solo variety web series, participated in fashion events, and released two albums.

Jin’s solo world tour, the RUNSEOKJIN_EP. TOUR, was quite unique, nothing like any other concert I’ve seen where the stars would just perform their songs. The concert showcased his top-tier vocal talent, but also his delightful sense of humor and personality, not afraid to be both silly and sexy at the same time. The show was widely acclaimed by critics, and as 20,000 fans cheered loudly and energetically at the Prudential, it was quite obvious that this show was not traditional, but infused with that charming personality. Simply Jin.

Rolling Stone UK gave him a five-star review for the London show and hailed him as “a one-of-a-kind entertainer who brilliantly blended high-energy pop-rock vocals, live band instrumentation, and interactive variety-show comedy with his fans.”

Jin was simply excellent; he didn't phone in his performance, but gave it his all, with bulging neck veins and deltoids, too. Mr. WorldWide Handsome winked, smirked sexily, and blew us his trademark kiss. 

Jin skillfully engaged the fans with audience challenges like Sing Along ARMY, Connect ARMY, then donned an Alien costume to sing the surprising hit with the viral dance challenge, “Super Tuna”, then proceeded to tease/bully the fans with their version of the high-pitched song “Moon”.

The songs were culled from his back-to-back mini-albums “Happy” and "Echo” with additional songs from BTS like “Dynamite”, “Butter”, “Mikrokosmos”, and the emotional “Spring Day” which the fans continued to sing the chorus long after Jin stopped singing. 

For someone so conservative, he teased his fans by showing his shoulders, then finally shed his coat and gifted us his Dorito-like physique. His voice was steady, even with all the running on the stage; I would have huffed and puffed. My sister swooned at his majestic image; I screamed much louder, wielding my BTS Army lightstick in tempo. The audience was energetic and sang mostly off-key (oh, that was me). 

Jin carried his solo concert with aplomb, with no choreography, except for Super Tuna. He brought the concept of his TV series RunSeokJin with his hilarious games and fan interactions.

My favorite tracks: Epiphany (this song got me into BTS), I Will Come to You (Jin on the piano, flawless voice), Nothing Without Your Love (because he took his jacket off), Rope It (who'd think he'd go Country?), and Astronaut, which he sang lying down (just because). What the heck, I loved all his songs.

“I Will Come to You” is a poignant ballad sung by Jin with gentle and yearning emotion. He wrote it while he was on military duty. He came back and fulfilled his promise to the BTS Army after his military discharge.

ANDRE RIEU, Sept. 18, 2023,

UBS Arena, New York

"Volare!" Oops, I didn't even realize I was singing loudly until my other seatmate gave me the side-eye. Andre Rieu and his 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra in concert!!! Bucket list item checked. 

Never mind that instead of an open-air concert under the glittering Austrian skies with the majestic Schonbrunn Palace in the background, the venue is the UBS Arena in Elmont, NY, and my "sky" is the NY Islanders banners in the rafters. But as soon as the music started last night, I just imagined that I was in a more magical place. The vivid, spectacular backing screen and the elaborate costumes of historical romances created an ambiance you don't see at grungy metal rock concerts. The music was still the same joyous celebration: classical music mixed with pop hits, waltzes, movie soundtracks, and rousing, foot-stomping gospel.

Andre is a consummate showman, and even at 73, he cut a dashing figure as he played the violin, conducted the orchestra, and hammed it up with the audience. My favorite parts were many. I loved the 102-year-old veteran who played the saxophone; I was teary-eyed as Andre introduced the young soldiers (now veterans) who liberated Holland. The enthusiastic crowd sang along to "I Will Follow Him"; if you heard my voice in the recording, I apologize. 

The three sopranos sang a beautiful rendition of "The Rose", the tender, melancholic rendition of the Amanda McBroom composition, made famous by Bette Midler in her 1979 film. The clarinetist/bagpiper Manoe provided comic relief; the camaraderie between her and Andre was a joy to watch. 

As Andre himself predicted, the aisles filled out with dancing couples who waltzed as the iconic masterpiece "Blue Danube" played. How romantic. 

The Modern King of Waltz delivered a grand, spectacular, and fantabulous production. Even my Gen Z niece Charlene loved the show.  

I have done my share of concerts over the years, mostly Filipino singers like Lea Salonga, Marcelito Pomoy, and the REO Brothers. 

There are more items on my Bucket list: Pink, Bruno Mars, Andrea Bocelli, Morisette Amon, and SB-19. 

Singers Who Made Me Cry

Sometimes, you get the feels.  Maybe it was because of the singer, or maybe the song just touched your heart. The lyrics evoked sad but sometimes happy and inspiring memories. Suddenly, tears run down your face, and you surreptitiously wipe them lest an annoying person (any one of your family members) catch you in a vulnerable moment.

I must admit that I still cry when I watch the videos, no matter how often I've seen them.

 

IAM TONGI, "MONSTERS"

“He looks like Iz” was my first thought when I saw Iam Tongi appear on the latest American Idol auditions. Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwoʻole was a Hawaiian/Polynesian music legend who sang the iconic version of “Somewhere over the Rainbow.”

Iam is his own person, an 18-year-old making his own path and history. He moved out of Oahu and settled in Seattle because, as he said, their family was “priced out of paradise.”

Iam dedicated his song to his father (who used to harmonize with him), who passed just months before his AI appearance. James Blunt wrote “Monster” for his dying dad. What a tearjerker of a performance.

 

JIN FROM BTS- “THE ASTRONAUT”

Kim Seok Jin from BTS made me cry twice. The first time I ever watched BTS on the internet was when he sang the anthemic “Epiphany” to a full stadium that has suddenly gone quiet when he started playing on the piano. And then, when he sang, “I’m the one I should love,” I became emotional. The audience loved his impassioned performance, and I fell into the rabbit hole, hook, line, and sinker.

Jin tugged at my heartstrings again with the song “The Astronaut.” He collaborated on a farewell song with Coldplay to the BTS fanbase Army before he had to start his military duty in South Korea. The video was a love song to his fans, his reassurance that he would come back again. Jin’s live appearance at the Coldplay concert in Argentina was even more touching because it was his last performance before he had to don his soldier uniform. A last hurrah on the performance stage until his discharge from the military in 2025.

“When I am with you, there is no one else.” The brotherly love between Jin and Chris Martin was awesome, so beautiful in its sincerity. Chris was hyung (older brother in Korean) to Jin, who was visibly moved by the warm and enthusiastic response from the audience. It was supposed to be a Coldplay concert, but the fans welcomed him with open arms.

 

 

 

CAROL BANAWA, “IINGATAN KA”

The song was originally a theme song from a Filipino tv romance drama sung by Carol Banawa. Carol’s soothing voice is a serenade for mothers for their unconditional love for their children. Now, it's their offspring who have to take care of them.

Carol is based in Canada, an OR registered nurse.

Iingatan ka, aalagaan ka

Sa puso ko ikaw ang pag-asa

Sa 'ting mundo'y may gagabay sa iyo

Ang alay ko'y itong pagmamahal ko

May nagmamahal, aakay sa iyo

Aking inay, ikaw ang nagbigay ng buhay ko

Buhay na kay ganda

Pangarap ko na makamtan ko na

 

 

ERIC CLAPTON, "TEARS IN HEAVEN"

Eric Clapton wrote this song to mourn his 4-year-old son Conor who fell to his death from a high-rise apartment in Manhattan. A parent's worst nightmare. The tragedy is incomprehensible, the pain unimaginable, the loss heartbreaking.

SUNG-BONG CHOI, "NELLA FANTASIA"

There is no way that anyone would watch this without tearing up. A rags-to-riches story of a boy who survived a terrible childhood to fulfill his dream of being on a musical stage.
Sung-bong Choi was orphaned at 3, ran away from the orphanage at 5 years old, and lived on the street.

Until he came on stage on Korean Got Talent and surprised everyone with a powerful rendition of “Nella Fantasia.” His audition clip went viral, and he was on his way to living life happily ever after.

Note: I did not want to shatter everyone’s image of Sung-bong Choi, but he went viral again in 2021 when he faked a cancer diagnosis to collect donations from his fans. He attempted suicide and was later diagnosed with recurrent depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

HAPPINESS IS… BTS, Lavender, Ube, Children Dancing, Rainbows

Last week, I was stuck behind a school bus when I saw some kids playing in their front yard blowing soap bubbles. The joy on the kids’ faces was contagious. Four kids (three girls and a boy), about six years old, were running around to chase the soap bubbles being blown by an adult. The children laughed as they reached out into the air and tried to pop the bubbles. Their excited screams were music to my ears. Their innocence and simple joys lifted my heart. 

 Indeed, random moments of happiness occur when least expected.

  BTS 

 Happiness is…watching a BTS video. I am just a recent fangirl to BTS. Just a month ago, a video appeared on my Facebook feed. Epiphany was sung by BTS member Jin or Kim Seok-Jin. “I’m the one I should love”. That line could not have come at a better time.  The song was poignant and emotional and emphasized a fundamental truth: Love yourself. I have always maintained a strong façade amid all the problems in life, always putting others first. But as the song says, self-love has to come first. It has to. 

  Epiphany- Jin

Over the years, I have heard of BTS but never watched their videos until I watched Epiphany, and suddenly, I was hooked. Down the rabbit hole, I tumbled down. BTS is a 7-member supergroup from South Korea; they are a worldwide phenomenon. The group broke all kinds of music records, conquered the cultural divide, sold out arenas and stadiums. Tickets in Citifield sold out in 10 minutes. 

 Their lyrics are introspective and do not shy away from talks about maintaining mental health and promoting peace, empowerment, and self-love. Their music transcended languages and cultures and its Army of fans include all ages, races, and genders. BTS is beyond K-pop; it is its own genre. It was BTS that made me overcome my aversion to rap music, lol. 

 BTS is shattering glass ceilings and is forcing the Western world to understand their Asian neighbors. Non-Koreans are singing the Korean lyrics. Hopefully, this will pave the way for more global appreciation of all kinds of music, maybe even Pinoy music. Hopefully, this will open goodwill among all races. With their songs, they are a beacon against prejudice and for inclusivity and diversity.  It is my fervent prayer that we can shine the spotlight on anti-racism and anti-Asian hate. 

 'Butter' Official MV

LAVENDER 

 Happiness is... celebrating nature's beauty amid fields of lavender blooms, with the clear, blue sky up above, and the aromatic breeze calming heart and soul. The fragrance fills the air and cleanses my spirit. No wonder, these multi-purpose perennial lavender plants are widely used for aromatherapy. Doing my Ujjayi breathing.

Day trip to Lavender by the Bay in Calverton, New York.

 

UBE ICE CREAM 

 Happiness is… indulging in Ube Ice Cream in pandesal. Ube or purple yam is typically found in the Philippines. It can be prepared as ice cream, cake, bread (pandesal), flan, pudding, and mostly as topping on the delicious halo-halo. 

Ube is the new Matcha, a new obsession in food culture due to its vibrant color that is especially eye-catching on Instagram and other forms of social media. Filipino chefs here in the US are experimenting with ube in waffles, pancakes, and sugar pies. One consolation, Ube is known to have extra-high levels of antioxidants.

CHILDREN/TEENS DANCING

 Happiness is... watching kids and teenagers having fun. Innocence overload. 

Masaka kids Africana- Dancing to “Jerusalema”

In 2019, the South African song called Jerusalema became a summer anthem and a global hit and inspired online dance challenges all over the world. The upbeat disco-house track was composed by DJ Kgaogelo Moagi and sung by singer Nomcebo. It didn’t matter that the lyrics were in a little-known Zulu dialect. When the music moves you, you dance.

Ranz and Niana Featuring Natalia- Dancing to BTS – “Dynamite”

Ranz Kyle and Niana Guerrero are siblings in a blended family from the Philippines who rose to fame on YouTube with their dance videos and prank vlogs. But my heart melted when their youngest sister Natalia joined their dance. That little girl can dance way, way better than me. What a sweetheart!

UNICEF photo

RAINBOWS 

 Happiness is… seeing rainbows after the rain.

I wrote this in 2013- 

Driving home from Brooklyn on the Belt Parkway, I was thankful that I witnessed the magical display of Mother Nature. The bright colors of the rainbow triumphed in stark contrast against the backdrop of gray, angry clouds; its full arc high up in the dark sky. 

 The setting sun's fierce rays behind me turned the drizzling rain into silver on my windshield and transformed the waters of the Narrows Strait shimmering like gold. There was a calmness in the air as if everyone was held spellbound by this beautiful thing in the sky. 

 And as I was coasting along the Belt, right where the "Fuhgeddaboudit" sign clued me that I was leaving Brooklyn for Queens, the majestic rainbow loomed right in the middle of the road, beyond the horizon. The colors were so distinct and the rainbow so amazingly near that it took my breath away. The cars slowed down and I could almost hear the collective "ahhs". 

 I vaguely remember the scientific explanation about the rain as the prism that creates the spectrum of colors. How the lights are refracted when the sunlight hits the raindrop at an angle. ROYGBIV. In grade school, I hardly paid attention to the science behind this phenomenon. 

 As a child, I was more interested in the story of the pot of gold over the rainbow "where troubles melt like lemon drops and happy little bluebirds fly". It was our magical "bahaghari" from those innocent times when skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true, just over the rainbow. 

 And if you just look closely, there's a second rainbow! With blue on the outside and red moved to the inside. Double reflections, double pots of gold. 

 A Special Performance of "Rainbow Connection" from Kermit the Frog | The Muppets

Michael Pangilinan performs "Rainbow" (South Border) LIVE on Wish 107.5 Bus