MANILA, Philippines — The Script knew how to make an impactful entrance that would leave the fans starstruck.
Imagine the shock of the audience, including this writer, when frontman Danny O’Donoghue paraded around the venue with a group of people behind him holding LED light sticks, joined his bandmates on the B-stage and hit the night away with their first three songs, You Won’t Feel a Thing, Superheroes and Rain.
The awestruck crowd, especially those who were sitting at 117 and could see the band performing live just a few steps away from them, blurted out, “Oh my God!” coupled with screams that reverberated around the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Surreal.
The STAR was able to attend the first night of their two-day show dubbed “The Script Satellites World Tour” last week. The Manila leg was presented by Wilbros Live and Midas Promotions.
While going back to the main stage, Danny passed the mic to the crowd and let them sing the lyrics of Rain. The Irish pop-rock group kept the energy going with Both Ways and the slow tempo Six Degrees of Separation, with Danny strumming his guitar.
“The man who can’t be moved,” Danny sat on the corner of the stage and made a heart gesture toward the end of their act for 2008 hit The Man Who Can’t Be Moved from their eponymous debut album, with fans chanting along.
“What an amazing moment,” Danny told the crowd before crooning The Last Time. “Thank you so much for being part of this… We played here many, many times, seven, eight times. And this is the loudest, the biggest, the best we’ve ever played.”
In their 2022 Manila gig, they evoked a healing vibe among the attendees. This time, they held a more intimate fan interaction and memorable fan service, especially when Danny stunned the crowd outside The Big Dome on Day 2 with his surprise performance of The Man Who Can’t Be Moved and Breakeven.
Moreover, The Script dedicated the ditty If You Could See Me Now to their former guitarist, Mark Sheehan, who passed away in 2023.
In remembering him, Danny offered a heartfelt message to those who have been with them during those rocky times. “I wanted to say thank you so much for all of your prayers, all of your messages, everything you sent us over the years. We lost our guitarist Mark Sheehan. And for all of your prayers, I’m forever grateful.”
“We went through a really tough time. The only reason why we’re back up on stage again, doing what we do, doing what we love, singing all the pain to get it out is because of every single one of you, guys. So, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. I really appreciate it,” he added.
“We know he’s looking down right now, probably having a little whisky. So, I’m gonna dedicate this next song to him,” continued Danny and dropped in If You Could See Me Now and carried on with their new single, Inside Out.
The audience, who still haven’t recovered from the dreamlike moment they had witnessed, shrieked and gasped when the band members returned to the B-stage and enthused the spectators with Never Seen Anything Quite Like You, Before the Worst and Nothing.
Back on the main stage, The Script painted The Big Dome green when they played on drums, sang, and jumped to the tune of Paint the Town Green, a lively, vibrant Irish anthem they belted out to pay homage to their homeland.
“This is the biggest, the baddest, the best time we’ve ever been in Manila. Thank you. We will see you really soon. We are The Script all the way from Ireland. Thank you. God bless. We love you,” Danny said after performing For the First Time. But they left the crowd with the LSS-inducing lyrics of the song, “Oh these times are hard/ Yeah, they’re making us crazy.” The concertgoers clapped their hands, illuminated a sea of lights, and continued the verses of the song, singing, “Don’t give up on me, baby/ Oh, these times are hard/ Yeah, they’re making us crazy/ Don’t give up on me, baby.”
Just when we thought it was over, the musicians got back on stage to deliver Home Is Where the Hurt Is, Breakeven and Hall of Fame.
Danny mouthed the words, “Everybody take out their lights, turn on your phone, turn the light on, and represent you, your family, where you came from tonight. Because we are all under the one roof. When you look around, everbody, take a look around, you can’t tell what color anybody is, what sex anybody is, what religion anybody is.”
He reminded the crowd that “life is so short” and “making moments like tonight are the reason why we’re alive.”
“We’re here with our friends, we’re here with our family, we’re here with love in our hearts. I’m dedicating this song to anybody who’s gone through problems, who’s gone through trouble, or is going through it right now, or will go through it in the future. This song was written for you, this song is called Hall of Fame. Are you ready to make a moment, Manila? Let’s do it.”
A red stage lighting pierced through the stage, followed by pyrotechnic effect and raining confetti for the dramatic finale scene.
Danny called his bandmates one by one, they held hands, bowed to the audience and uttered his parting message, “From the bottom of my heart, what a journey these last 17 years from all of us. We love you and it won’t be that long until we come back next time. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for this incredible night. You, guys, are the biggest, the baddest, and the best. We love you, guys. We are The Script from Dublin, Ireland.”
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