After nearly two years since her sold-out Nicole World Tour, pop and R&B singer-songwriter NIKI made an astounding return to Manila with another sold-out stint with NIKI: Buzz World Tour. Initially slated for just two nights, February 11 and 12, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, a third installment scheduled on March 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum was added due to popular demand.
“Please ensure that all emotional baggage is never left unattended,” quipped NIKI as safety reminders of the Buzz Air’s Manila redeye visuals took to the screen, hinting at the emotionally charged night about to take flight. As she welcomed the enthusiastic Manila crowd, the singer-songwriter explained that the tour was called “Buzz Around the World” because she wrote the songs from all over the globe, hoping to share that journey with her Moonchildren.
Each night came with a themed dress code inspired by lyrics from the world of Buzz. Among them were Going Under inspired by ethereal ocean sirens, Mystic Force featuring a chromatic and cyberpunk crowd, and Bumblebee on a Blossom that had attendees dawning enchanting garden fairy looks. Every fan was united through synchronized outfits, giving each concert night a certain intimacy despite the sea of thousands in attendance.
When the amps turn on
For the first two nights of the Manila stop, Jakarta-based indie band Reality Club opened with a six-song set of originals: Is It the Answer?, I Wish I Was Your Joke, Alexandra, A Sorrowful Reunion, Am I Bothering You?, and Anything You Want. The crowd’s anticipation was at an all-time high; and once the travel-themed visuals were played, Manila roared as it witnessed NIKI set the stage with the album’s titular track, Buzz.
With the upbeat energy set, NIKI rendered a performance of Keeping Tabs from her previous album, Nicole. Immediately after, petty energy took center stage as fans passionately screamed along to the lyrics of Colossal Loss. After some onboarding reminders, pettiness continued with Focus. However, unlike the song’s plot, Manila surely had its priorities in check by knowing each verse by heart. Ending the intro portion was a back-to-back performance of fan-favorites, from urs, Autumn, to lowkey.
We weren’t done
As the tour takes a stop over at the Buzz Hotel in Buzz City, NIKI took the opportunity to introduce her band. She then strips it down with an acoustic set, sending concertgoers through a turbulence of emotions, sobbing along to Did You Like Her in the Morning? This went on until Take Care, the ultimate anthem for a mutual yet still heartbreaking parting of ways, followed by an acoustic taxi with La La Lost You.
Once she departed Buzz City, NIKI had the crowd belting through every performance, riding the rollercoaster of sensations of the chilly Blue Moon to the mellowed Strong Girl. Manila was left whiplashed with fluctuating highs and lows as they journeyed through the set.
Fan-favorite Tsunami gets the venue back to roaring out the lyrics. However, once the hit Nicole single Oceans & Engines played, Manila Moonchildren showcased not only their love for NIKI, but also their musical capabilities by singing the last few lines in perfect harmony.
Soon after, NIKI takes the opportunity to surprise her Filipino fans with a song cover—a staple done at every stop of the tour. The excitement of the crowd blazed through the arena and coliseum. For night one, the crowd was wrapped around NIKI’s finger as she covered Linger by The Cranberries. As for night two, Katy Perry’s The One That Got Away had Manila wishing for a time machine to relive the moment. Of course, night three had its own special moment; through a cover of Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls, Manila felt closest to heaven.
Going under
The night nears its end but the crowd continues to melodiously sing-along to a piano medley of The Apartment We Won’t Share and Paths. The tear-jerking duo of songs even prompted a humorous but broken-hearted scream from a fan yelling “Tama na!” (That’s enough!), which echoed throughout the stadium. NIKI then brought her band back on stage to perform Magnets, her soothing vocals drawing the crowd in like a mystic force. Continuing with the sentimental song roster, NIKI performed a guitar-strummed mash-up of Heirloom Pain and Before, before wrapping up the set with Nothing Can. With the final note, confetti blasted across the arena and NIKI exited the stage after strumming an instrumental break with her guitarists.
However, Manila was not quite ready to say goodbye.
The jumbotrons showed that the Buzz Air departure flights were ready for takeoff, but the crowd surged again—the singer returned to the stage for one of her most popular hits, High School in Jakarta, as fans jumped along to the singer’s dynamic moves while fervidly singing along to the coming-of-age anthem.
NIKI gets ready for takeoff once more with an acoustic mash-up of hits from Nicole. Manila made even more noise in the closer segment as they sang along to every line of famed tunes Backburner and Take A Chance With Me. “Manila, I hope you don’t settle for the backburner,” she sang on the third night before officially taking her final bow for the Asia leg of the Buzz World Tour.
A bumblebee on a blossom
The electrifying three-night concert left each fan buzzing with emotion. Similar to how the album’s titular track captures the verge of transformative metamorphosis, the lives of fans were surely changed with each sentimental serenade. Despite the harrowing struggle to obtain tickets and the voyage through a flurry of emotions, Manila remained in high spirits.
As NIKI buzzes away to the next stop of her tour, the beautiful memories created will surely be cherished by her Moonchildren. While fans eagerly await what’s next for the multi-talented singer, NIKI penned a final message on Instagram to thank her Filipino fans: “Thank you Manila for three sold out nights. I had the time of my life. Mahal kita, see you next time.”
(I love you.)
