Araneta Coliseum was once the venue for the biggest and most prestigious events in the Philippines since its opening in 1960. With its more than 50 years of hosting sporting events, beauty pageants, art performances and concerts, the Big Dome can be considered as having an important role in Philippine history. Back in the day, it is also a record breaker–being Asia’s largest covered coliseum.
With its more than 5 decades of giving us blockbuster shows, here’s a quick list of the most unforgettable concerts and performances that Araneta Coliseum held for the Filipino people.
Neil Sedaka All-Star Show (1960)
The first international singer to grace the Araneta Coliseum was Neil Sedaka and his All-Star show in 1960. Back then, the Dome was the biggest covered coliseum in the world. As such, it was the number one choice for the biggest shows in the country.
At the time, Neil Sedaka was one of the biggest names in the music industry. He popularized the songs “Calendar Girl”, “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” and “Breaking up is Hard to Do”, all of which still remains a regular in AM radio stations. His concert was joined by other American acts like the Shepherd Sisters, the Hilltopers Band and Les Spencers.
The Jackson 5: Love Jive Tour (1976)
The popular soul-funk group that brought us classic songs like “I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” and “I want You Back” had an amazing week-long concert at the Araneta Coliseum and the Folk Arts Theater back in 1976. Iconic for their funky sounds and Afro look, the Jackson 5 is composed of the Jackson brothers including Michael Jackson who joined the group at a tender age of 7 years old.
Their Manila concert lasted for 6 consecutive days–a concert-length now a rarity for an international sensation. The Jackson 5 even visited the then-popular noontime show Student Canteen. It wasn’t until 1996 that Filipinos would see Michael Jackson again in his historic two-night concert in 1996.
Sting Back to Bass Tour in Manila (December 9, 2012)
One of the most decorated musicians of our time, Sting remained an important figure in the music industry for more than three decades now. And for once, he had a controversial concert in Manila. Before this, Sting had a much-talked concert back in the 1980s when he broke up with his band, The Police, while onstage at Shea Stadium. Three decades later, his 2012 concert was again shrouded with intrigues after he pulled his Manila tour out of the SM MOA Arena venue.
An environmental activist, Sting did this to protest against the developer of SM who allegedly tore down hundreds of trees to build its SM Baguio shopping mall. He instead chose to continue his Back to Bass Tour in the Araneta Coliseum. This concert also topped the list of the most expensive concerts in the Philippines back then.
David Foster and Friends (2015)
A 16-time Grammy award-winning composer and songwriter, David Foster was the genius behind many of the greatest songs we cherish to this day. He’s also the same person who produced some of the greatest acts in music industry including Toni Braxton, Alice Cooper, Seal, Celine Dion, Madonna and Christina Aguilera. And in 2015 he graced the Araneta Coliseum for an unforgettable concert with Ruben Studdard, Boyz II Men, Natalie Cole and Charice Pempengco.
One unforgettable performance was that of Natalie Cole singing a duet with the late Jazz legend and her father Nat King Cole. And who wouldn’t sing with “I’ll make love to you” by Boyz II Men. Charice, on the other hand, blasted the Dome with her vocal prowess in the song “Through the Fire.”
Bonus: The Beatles (1966)
An Araneta concert that never was, to be exact. The most popular boy band in music history was supposed to perform for the Filipino crowd in 1966 at the Araneta Coliseum. However, their performance had to be moved to Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. According to reports, this last leg of the band’s international concert was to be the “the last-ever live performances the Fab Four would ever give outside of North America.”
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