In her first PH concert, Olivia Rodrigo fit right in
Was it the pancit, the lumpia or the beautifully messy boodle fight spread? The casual stroll and bicycle ride around Intramuros? Or perhaps it was the bowl of halo-halo she “secured” first thing upon arriving in Manila that won her over.
If she were in any other non-US city, Olivia Rodrigo would have introduced the song “So American”—midway through the set—with a spiel about finding it “hard to fit it” despite trying her best to experience the local culture. Because, “at the end of the day,” she typically says, she can’t help but “feel so American.”
But last Oct. 5, at the much-anticipated Philippine stop of her “Guts” world tour, Rodrigo finally went off script.
“I had the best time exploring the city. I love it here so much. I got to meet some of you guys and you were so kind … Usually at this point in the show, this is where I announce the song ‘So American.’ But tonight with you guys, I’m kinda feeling so Filipino!” the pop star declared, sending 55,000-strong fans who trooped to the Philippine Arena into a frenzy.
Rodrigo was born to a second generation Filipino-American father and an Irish-American mother. While she has, on a number of occasions, recognized her Filipino roots, and identified as one, she has yet to fully immerse herself in the culture. And understandably so since she has spent all 21 years of her life in America.It was her first time to set foot in the Philippines. Her Tagalog is limited to a handful of words or phrases. But not at any point did the proud and adoring audience make Rodrigo feel she was any less of a Filipino. In fact, the fans welcomed her like a beloved cousin from abroad whom they used to see only in photos or videos.
Warm welcome
The love and warmth that enveloped the venue was so great that Rodrigo found herself on the verge of tears every so often. Seated at the piano, Rodrigo cast longing glances at the crowd—their voices united in a haunting sing-along, their phone lights twinkling like stars at night—as she brought the elegant but searing ballad “Drivers License” to a close.
“You guys are going to make me cry up here! Oh my God!” she said.
And again, in the country-inflected guitar ballad, “Enough for You,” her favorite cut from her debut album, “Sour.” Suspended midair and perched on a purple crescent moon, Rodrigo—getting a clear view of the mammoth crowd from all angles and realizing the magnitude of the occasion—stopped singing for a second and put her hand over her mouth in disbelief.
She lifted her head and bit her lip, as if trying to stop the tears that had already welled up in her eyes. But Rodrigo, her voice, now quivering ever so slightly, willed herself through the gentle heartbreak tune.
“I can’t believe this. Thank you so much for being here. I’m trying not to be emotional, but this really means so much to me. Tonight is so, so very special for so many reasons. And one of them, like I have said, is that it’s my first time here in the Philippines. I have always wanted to go my whole life. And I can’t thank you guys enough for welcoming me. This is such a dream come true,” she said.
Biggest show yet
“It’s extra special because I think this is the biggest show I have done in my whole entire life. I’m seeing more people than I ever have!” she said.
Rodrigo went from playing theaters during her first headlining tour for “Sour” to filling up arenas in this ongoing one in support of her rambunctious, pop-rock sophomore record, “Guts,” which compelled her, among other things, to reckon with fame and its trappings.
While many of the night’s most indelibly touching moments were also the quietest, there was no shortage of a rollicking good time. This was an Olivia Rodrigo show after all. For almost two hours, she brought the house down with pulsating pop-punk anthems about growing pains and quirks, frenetic rebukes and cathartic expressions of unbridled rage and angst.
Rodrigo opened the concert (presented by Live Nation Philippines) with “Bad Idea Right?”—an energetic number rendered in a petulant speak-singing manner that brought to mind Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavigne and Blink-182.
In between songs, she was sweet and, daresay, normal. She waved at fans, made finger hearts and ensured that everyone was having a good time. She complimented their outfits. She urged them to give their best friends and parents a big hug.
Dynamic shifts
But amid the blaring sounds, she was an indefatigable presence—charging about the stage, taunting the camera, spinning, kneeling and banging her head, sending her wavy tresses every which way.
Many of her numbers reveled in dynamic shifts in moods and tempo, putting emphasis on storytelling that fittingly illustrated her inner turmoils and emotional push-and-pulls.
In “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl,” for instance, she went from fun and rowdy to a fleeting moment of whimsy. And then, she flopped down on the floor, agonizing over embarrassing past experiences at a party.
“Vampire,” one of the tracks that best showcased Rodrigo’s maturity, started out like contemplative ballad, later on simmering into potent rock midtempo. Before long the initial questions turned into full-blown realizations. And in the final chorus, with a glint of twisted glee in her eyes, she veered away from the melody, kicked her foot and screamed, “Fame … f*cker!
Other notable performances were “Pretty Isn’t Pretty,” “Lacy,” “Making the Bed,” “Favorite Crime,” “Brutal” and “All-American Bitch,” which had Rodrigo urging the fans to scream at the top of their lungs while thinking about the one thing that pisses them off the most. It was bedlam.
With the benefit of hindsight and a clearer set of eyes, Rodrigo can now look at her 18-year-old self who wrote “Teenage Dream” and allay her fears that life’s best parts were already over.
“I was terrified of growing up more than anything in the world. But now, I’m 21. I don’t feel that way anymore,” she said.
“In fact, I’m so excited to grow up and I feel like I’m happier with every year that comes by. If I were to give my younger self a piece of advice, I would tell her not to worry so much. She has no idea of all the magical things waiting around the corner,” she said.
Rapid rise
Rodrigo didn’t need to wait long. After a stint as a Disney television child performer (“Bizaardvark,” 2016-2019), she achieved global prominence in 2021 thanks to the sheer strength of “Sour” and its singles “Deja Vu,” “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U.” She became the youngest artist to debut at No 1. on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She shattered streaming records, won three Grammy Awards … the list goes on.
Her rise to stardom was rapid as it was intense. And she made sure to put her newfound fame and influence to good use. All the proceeds from her Philippine show, through her Fund 4 Good initiative, will go to Jhpiego Philippines—an organization that provides healthcare to women and girls. “I have seen them and I’m so grateful,” she said.
The concert produced two defining images: Rodrigo wearing a “Miss So Filipina” sash that she got from a fan, and wearing a white “Pinoy Pride” shirt during her encore of “Good 4 U.”
It would probably have been tempting to play up her Filipino heritage in the Philippines for fan service. But while she seemed very eager to connect, she didn’t force the issue, and instead, simply allowed herself to feel the love the Filipinos fans were giving her.
And by the looks of it, she probably left the show feeling more in tune with a side of her that’s yet to be fully tapped.
“Proud Pinoy ako,” she said with a cheeky look on her face, hoping she didn’t mess up the phrase. “My Tagalog isn’t so good, but I’m working on it. I’m doing lessons and stuff. I’m getting there!”
