Dingdong shows he can still perform live
THE colorful play of dazzling lights at the start of Dingdong Avanzado’s concert, The Original Prince of Pop immediately amazed his audience, who knew they were in for a special presentation that night.
It was not a ordinary Friday night at The Theater at Solaire. Dingdong was marking his 37th year in the music business. He also recently celebrated his 56th birthday last July 7.
So somewhere within the latter part of the concert, three ladies brought in a huge cake to greet Dingdong.
When Dingdong sauntered onstage and crooned Bon Jovi’s You Give Love a Bad Name, his opening number, the audience knew they were in for a special evening to see Dingdong celebrate more than three decades in the industry and perform live again.
It took Dingdong more than a decade to perform live again for his Filipino fans and when he mounted the stage, there was no denying he was excited to present and exhibit what he missed all these years.
He readily shifted to his signature hits from his vast library of tunes – Ikaw Lamang and Tatlong Beinte Singko – that were undoubtedly familiar with the audience.
Dingdong rendered buwis-buhay tunes – Chicago’s You’re the Inspiration, Peter Cetera’s Glory of Love, Kenny Loggins’ Forever – and he impressively managed to carry them out.
When he later sang a few more of his familiar hits, Dingdong was thrilled that some of the audience – Makapiling Ka Sana, Hindi Mo Na Ba Minamahal, Paniwalaan Mo and To Love Again – remembered his songs and could even sing the lines with him.
“There were so many special memories attached to my music,” said Dingdong. “My songs were able to cross generations.”
Tawag ng Tanghalan Duets champions Marielle Montellano and JM de la Cerna gave powerful, new versions to Dingdong’s early hit ballad Paalam Na sang with The Juan’s version of Hindi Tayo Pwede.
Dingdong rocked the stage with young artists Khimo and LA Santos, as they rendered Michael Jackson hits – PYT (Pretty Young Thing), Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, Thriller, Beat It.
The young artists rendered Dingdong’s familiar hits – Khimo sang Walang Kapalit, while LA did Basta’t Kasama Kita.
Undoubtedly, Dingdong, who is one of the hurados in Tawag ng Tanghalan, exerted great efforts to mount a concert that will please the crowd. He sang sentimental and romantic tunes, did choreographed movements, performed with his guests and did more to delight his audience.
Dingdong’s daughter and only child, Jayda Avanzado, played the keyboards to carry out her new single, Right Lover, Wrong Time. The young lady impressed the audience with her soaring vocals.
She also did a duet with her dad in Wish I Could.
The loudest screams of the night came when SB19’s singer-composer Pablo, emerged onstage as one of the much-awaited and much-applauded guests of Dingdong.
One of the “brilliant minds” of his generation, Pablo started his stint with his newest solo single, EDSA, that was released only last month. Midway, into the song, Dingdong joined him onstage.
They sang Mapa together, one of the hits of SB19. Pablo acknowledged his parents – Ted and Grace – who were in the audience that night.
The son disclosed his parents fell in love with Dingdong’s early hit, Basta’s Kasama Kita, so Pablo and Dingdong regaled the audience with the popular tune.
As Dingdong thanked designer Lloyd Arceo for his colorful and eclectic outfits that night, he rendered Freddie Aguilar’s Estudyante Blues, the theme of Mike Relon Makiling’s youth-oriented comedy film of the same title where he also starred in 1989.
Dingdong shared the stage with Jessa Zaragoza, his wife of 23 years and they sang Jessa’s hits – Bakit Pa (1997), Paano Kaya (1999) and Di Ba’t Ikaw (1997).
The biggest surprise of the night was the appearance of Ogie Alcasid, who was not in the lineup of guests. It turned out, Ogie did a corporate show at Solaire Ballroom that night and he dropped by The Theater. Yet, he readily obliged to perform without any qualms.
With Randy Santiago, Ogie and Dingdong sang OPM hits – Dito sa Puso Ko, Babaero, Raining in Manila and ‘Di Bale Na Lang.
Director Jay Klio Bermudez painstakingly conceptualized Dingdong’s The Original Price of Pinoy Pop concert, with Elmer Blancaflor as musical director.
Dingdong went to the keyboards to further display yet another one of his talents when he sang the This Song for You.
He ended the concert with Maghihintay sa ‘Yo, but returned for an encore, a mash up of Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko and Go Up, with Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up and Together Forever.
It really took a lot of convincing for Dingdong to return to the live concert stage, although he has performed abroad a number of times.
But he definitely proved he is one artist who can still manage to delight the audience and perform live again.
