They are kings!
That’s how Asia’s songbird Regine Velasquez described P-Pop royalty SB19 who had a sold-out homecoming concert dubbed “Where You At (WYAT)” at the Araneta Coliseum on Dec. 18.
Velasquez was a surprise guest at the concert along with South Border front man Jay Durias. The concert was a culmination of the five-man group’s tour held in key cities around the globe – Los Angeles, New York, Dubai, San Francisco and Singapore.
“Alam nyo mahirap talagang ilabas ang musika natin sa Pilipinas papuntang ibang mundo kasi ganun talaga yun but I think people are ready for it and I am so happy that you guys are doing it,” Regine told SB19 fans collectively called A’Tin (Ours).
(You know it’s hard to penetrate the global scene but I think people are ready for it. That’s just the way it is.)
Regine and SB19 performed the group’s hit ballad “Hanggang sa Huli” much to the delight of fans.
“I also want to say to each one of you ‘Thank you’. Thank you for supporting our P-pop our very own P-Pop. Kasi I just have to say kayang kaya nila. Kayang kaya. More than kaya! So maraming salamat sa suporta,” added Regine who thanked SB19 fans for their support.
(“I just have to say then can do it. They really can. More than can. So, thanks for all the support.”)
SB19’s homecoming concert did not disappoint. From the bustling energy of the opening number “What?” they breezed into the weepie ballad “Tila Luha” and “Nyebe”. And then there was the poignant rendition of “MAPA” with Durias accompanying the group on piano.
As a tribute to fans, SB19 performed their most requested songs which included Chris Brown’s “Next to You”, and their hits “Ikako,” “SLMT” and “Ligaya”, among others.
The five-man group known by their stage names Josh, Pablo, Stell, Ken and Justin kicked off their concert tour at the Big Dome in September with the release of their single “WYAT”. After which they had performances in major cities abroad as well as in key cities around the country - New Clark City, Cebu and Davao.
On Nov. 4, SB19 made their first live guesting on a US TV show, on Fox 5’s morning show “Good Day New York” where they performed ‘WYAT’.
A few days prior to their homecoming concert they were featured guests at ROUND 2021, an online concert which featured artists from ASEAN Member States (AMS) and Korea and “Binurda” an outdoor Christmas lighting show at the Cultural Center of the Philippines where they performed amid pouring rain.
“It felt like a dream. Sino ba naman ang mag-aakala di ba? Dati nagsisimula kami. Walang may pakialam walang nanonood. Pero look at us now. Kinakanta na ng mga foreigners kahit na Tagalog na hindi naman nila naiintindihan,” said Justin in a video clip shown at ‘WYAT’ which featured snippets of SB19’s concert tours abroad.
(Who would have thought? When we were starting nobody cared, no one watched. Pero look at us now. Foreigners are singing along to our song in Tagalog which they don’t understand.”)
The group said they hope to elevate SB19 in the global scene. For 2023 they promised to offer new and more exciting music, and more collaboration. - (Andres Requintina)