Vanessa Carlton in Manila (TriNoma Experience Part 3)

when Rich and i arrived outside Cinema 7, there were already two lines. but there were only around 30 people. near the entrance, there was a booth selling Heroes and Thieves album. i already have the albums of Vanessa which i got from iTunes. but i don't have a CD. they were also giving away stubs for autograph signing. i asked the lady if they still have stubs. luckily they did. so i didn't think twice in buying a CD as long as i would be able to meet Vanessa in person. the funny thing about it was that the number stub they gave me was "14." it was my number stub when i had my CD signed by Colbie Caillat. it must be my lucky number. :)

i went back to the line. Rich and i were really excited at the thought of meeting Vanessa. the line started getting longer. at around 6:30PM, the security guard stood beside me and Rich and said to the people around me that digicams should be surrendered at the entrance because they are not allowed inside. i guessed he saw me while i took a picture of my CD, number stub, and passes. hehe. as soon as he's gone, i immediately made sure that the digicam is kept well-hidden inside my bag. at around 6:45PM, they finally opened the gates.

since seating was on a first come, first served basis, i pulled Rich along with me as i jog. one of the guards said that we shouldn't run because it's still early and that the show would start at 7PM. duh?! i was not in a hurry because i'm scared i might missed it. i was after the good seats! Rich and i sat at the middle section of the movie theater. i just forgot which row number it was. our view from our place was good. my seat is directly right in front of Vanessa's chair. it was also good that seats were elevated. at least i wouldn't be bothered with the heads of people in front of me.

people started to pour inside the movie theater. guards were roaming around. the organizers were busy checking on some stuff. i felt my excitement getting stronger and stronger by the minute.

at around 7:30PM, Vanessa finally came on stage. my first reaction? she's tall! i didn't expect her to be tall. of course, she's beautiful. i immediately brought out my camera phone. my eyes were glued on the stage while i pressed the phone to record her first song. the first song she sang was Nolita Fairytale, one of my favorite songs from her latest album. in the middle of the song, i suddenly felt like crying. i couldn't believe that she was there, a few feet away from me, singing a song that i love. i suddenly remembered the video clips i saw when i was a child of girls crying when they saw Michael Jackson in person. i laughed at those girls and thought they were weird. and there i was, in the middle of the movie theater, feeling the same way the girls felt. i didn't cry though. i just continued to watch.

i recorded some parts of every song that she sang. the last song she sang was Home, another favorite song of mine. unfortunately, there was no more space in the phone's memory card so i was able to record only 12 seconds of the song! the song is 5 minutes and 38 seconds long. of course, the live version is longer. and i only got 12 seconds. right. i just sang along with her.

after her performance, most people started to leave except for those with meet and greet pass and number stubs for the autograph. Rich and i remained in our seats. after 10 minutes, Vanessa was back on stage with a different outfit. the people with the meet and greet were the first ones who were accommodated. they had their pictures taken with Vanessa. Rich and i went near the stage and took some pictures of her. the battery of the digicam i brought suddenly conked out. aarrgghh.. so i have to use the camera phone again and rely on the very small space in the phone memory.

the CD stub holders were then called to form a line. there were these two girls in front of me with a meet and greet pass who weren't able to have their pictures taken because they went to the rest room. poor girls.

the line moved really fast. before i knew it, Rich and i were in front of Vanessa. this was how our conversation went while she signed my CD:

VANESSA: Hi!
ME and RICH: Hi!
ME: He's my brother. He's a Nessaholic. (i am the real NESSAHOLIC. haha.)
VANESSA (to me): Really? (smiles)
VANESSA (to Rich): Hi! Nice to meet you! (smiles)

and then we left the stage. when i went down, i suddenly remembered that i forgot to say thank you to Vanessa. i guess my mind was clouded with happiness for a few seconds that i forgot about reality. anyway, we didn't leave yet. we went back near the stage to watch Vanessa sign more CD's. after signing the CD's, she stood up, waved to the people, and left.

when Rich and i left the movie theater, i felt like i was floating. i couldn't believe the events that happened. just the day before, i was very frustrated and sad because i thought i wouldn't be able to see her. but things turned around and i got more than what i expected. and i am really thankful for that.

anyway, here are my other observations and thoughts during Vanessa's show in TriNoma:

- there were only a few real fans there. the people seated in my row didn't know most of the songs. they only knew the popular ones like A Thousand Miles, Ordinary Day, and Pretty Baby. the people were not singing along. more proof? try searching YouTube. the only songs uploaded by people there aside from me were the popular ones.

- okay. i know i seem so arrogant. i just didn't like the way people reacted to Vanessa. the movie theater was quiet most of the time while she was singing. not that they should make noise. but some people did not even clap after Vanessa sang some songs. the least that they could do was clap even if they didn't know the song.

- of course, people have different reactions (i am now contradicting myself. haha.). maybe most people there are really fans. they just didn't want to show it. they wouldn't spend at least 1000php that week if they were not interested to watch Vanessa.

- i guess i still can't get over my Incubus experience at the Araneta Coliseum where all the people screamed, jumped, pumped their fist, and sang along all throughout the concert.

- right. it was a rock concert so that was normal. Vanessa plays the piano and sings mellow songs.

- enough of the crowd.

- Vanessa is a great performer. she plays the piano really well. i wish i could play like her. she is really talented.

- she said that it was her first time to perform in a movie theater. she joked that there should be popcorns and alcohol. lol.

- she said that she feels that she might have a little Filipino blood in her because she looks like every one else there.

- the drummer, violin and cello players who performed with her are Filipinos. lucky them.

well, this is it. an unforgettable experience.