“We don’t want to forget what the people did. I truly feel to be grateful to be here.”

Makoto Shinkai fans sparkled last Labor day, May 1, 2024, at Araneta Coliseum as premiere anime soundtrack band Radwimps played their greatest tracks up to date. A live symphony treat for their 2024 tour titled “The Way You Yawn, And The Outcry For Peace.”

No recordings were allowed but Manila Concert Scene  snagged some passes powered by PULP Live to write how glittering the experience was watching the band in the fle-hesh.

At first, blue light flashed at the dark and old dome. It then slowly dimmed, finding a light in darkness for the vocalist, and as the band members slowly walked onto the stage, electronic beats pumped deeply as they played their first track “Lights Go Out.”

“How you guys doing? ” frontman Yojiro Noda said.  As synthesized sound intensified in the dome and lazer lights began strobing the center stage, and reflecting through his shades and elephant shorts, and as the song NEVERENDER played.

Then when “DRAMAGRANDPIX” boomed the mic, an exhilarating twinkles of red lights were everywhere.

“Hello manila, this is incredible. You guys are amazing. Are you ready to have fun?,”  Noda hypes the crowd. Then, they chilled a bit for something alternative rock with “September-san.”


Continuous with the slow jam, “Nanoka.” Filipino otakus did wave their lights for the band back and forth.  As impressed by the crowds reaction, Noda emphasized that “this is beautiful.” Soon after, Radwimps’ guitarist exemplified an amplification with his guitar licks, as he clambered heavy pull-ups taking it to the center stage

The moment the first vowel of the song “Is There Still Anything That Love Can Do?” the crowd either went nuts or sang along. And yes, the locals might be good in English and Tagalog, but they surely screamed the correct lyrics to the Japanese song. And yes, loud and proud.

But after a brief scream, fangirling and boying, to the main Weathering With You soundtrack, a familiar glottal chant made the crowd scream louder. It signaled the song “SUZUME.” and of course an appearance from TOAKA transporting every one in deep sea blue lights. Filipinos did bartered it with stomps of happiness closely crushing the 60 decade old events place.

As the lights dimmed, a voice speaking in Filipino whispered. “Hello sa inyong lahat.” Spotlighting the voice, he introduced “Ako si Akira. Masaya ako makilala kayo. Matagal na namin kayong gustong makita. “

Bassist Yusuke Takaneda added “Magandang gabi first time namin pumunta sa Pilipinas. Masaya kami ihandinog ang concert na iyo sa inyo… Sana maging memorable ang concert na ito…”

Their frontman emphasized that “This is way more than what we expected. and it sold out that fast. Thank you so much, arigato!” Then he asked the crowd, “Is it okay for you to play more songs.”

The next song “G-koui” intensifies the dynamics of the concert with Japanese math rock riffs. “Oshakashama” took their audience into an acid trip with its animation.

As the drums start to roll for “Katawaredoki.” Then a battle of the string section happened. RADWIMPS’ bassist did the slaps as the guitarist gave dimes of licks. But of course, percussionists wouldn’t missed a beat for this opportunity to show the Philippines how they never miss a beat.

And then it turns into an ensemble as Noda pointed to the members. He also did instruct the audience to jump and clap to their music.

Piano came afterwards, and pretty much sure if anyone in the crowd doesn’t know this track’s title, it’d be disappointing. Since 99.9% of the time, this song would be the gateway of knowing RADWIMPS. Yes, it’s “SPARKLE.” The three glistening repetitive notes of the piano.  Luckily, looking from left to right, they knew it. The bleachers, the General Admission, the standing patron crown “reached it well.” Someone in the audience also screamed “Mitsuha,” thus creating a few smirks to some.

“How you guys doing? Are you all okay? Because we are having a great time,” interjected by Noda. He expounds an explanation why there are no cameras allowed and asks for a promise, “Will you capture it in your heart, and keep it till next time?”

Another alarm clock staple “Zenzenzense” rocked the Dome.  Then a light show of black and white did happen with  “Yuushinron.” Then as they signal the audience that a concert is about the end they asked the crowd to clap and transition to the reggae centric song ““Iin desu ka?”

“Is it okay to comback in the future?” Noda asks a sea of people flashing their hands and lights. As the crowd screams he assures, “Definitely will be back.”  And then and exchange  of hey and ho’s from artist and fans happened for the track “Kimi to Hitsuji to Ao.”

And waves started to disappear as the band walked off the stage.But hey, an encore is a culture. So they did come back after a few minutes.

But before that, people were yelling “Grand Escape” to be played. But, spoiler alert, sadly they never did play it.

Good thing is that they played “Nandemonaiya,” because surely if they did not, it will disappoint thousands of attendees.  

As Noda narrates, he went to visit the fort of Intramuros before the big show. And from there he had a slice of life of what catastrophe the Japanese army did to the Philippines. And he explained that it has a connection to the name of their world tour.

As the songwriter expounds, “We don’t want to forget what the people did. I truly feel grateful to be here. This means much to us. We want to keep that peace moving in with this music.”  

 This created sincere claps from the audience. Which transitions to their grandest Araneta Coliseum escape, “05410-n.”

Words by Aram Lascano

Photos from: Pulp Live World