Larger-than-life rap artist Macklemore and his producer-DJ cohort Ryan Lewis took Manila by storm on the 16th of March, 2014. The show, which was laden with pyrotechnics, confetti cannons and lots of good music, contained a suitable mix of songs from both the pre and the post-“Thrift Shop” days. After three opening acts, fans had to sit still for almost another hour before Macklemore’s team took to the stage. The wait, however, did not stop us from shooting to our feet when the main man himself made an appearance in all his red jacketed glory.
The emotional “Ten Thousand Hours” made for a perfect opening. It got the audience to sing along, for starters, which later led Macklemore to say what makes all Filipino concertgoers proud of: that we are the best singing audience there is. I also took some time out to pay attention to the beautiful video and photo compilation that accompanied each song; the artistry behind these is truly part and parcel of the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis experience.
“Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us” were definitely the main party anthems of the night. These numbers had everyone singing (yelling, really), dancing and jumping along with Macklemore, who was a true force of energy on that stage. “Thrift Shop” is one of the primary reasons for Macklemore’s mainstream success in the industry, which was why it was no surprise that nearly everyone in the crowd knew the lyrics. Another big emotional moment manifested with “Same Love”. As an LGBT supporter myself, this is the Macklemore song that is closest to my heart – it tells a story of acceptance, compassion and the idea of a universal love. Macklemore gave a little speech before the song; he was adamant about it being the most important message that was to be relayed to the audience that night. I can only hope that people who had the opportunity to listen to it live are able to apply this kindness to the people in their lives.
Macklemore also surprised us with some interesting costume changes. He was channeling a matador-esque character for his performance of “White Walls” and a glittery, sequin-caped crusader for “And We Danced”. We ended the night with “Irish Celebration”, which had the audience swimming in confetti. Before taking his final bow, Macklemore unleashed one more surprise on us by doing an encore of “Can’t Hold Us”, getting his audience to dance once again.
Among the many new artists of today, Macklemore stands out due to his vision and his conceptualisation of his musical arrangements. Never in my life have I seen a rapper perform with string and brass instruments. I appreciated the addition of these elements because they add a unique dynamic to the overall ambiance of the show. His honesty also helps him connect to his audience on a personal level; he is open about his failures, which is inspiring because one can easily see how conquering them has led him to scale greater heights and merit the success he enjoys today.
