Croonfest at Araneta

sigh sigh sigh... even if kasinglaki lang ng limang piso si michael buble sa paningin ko kagabi, i couldn't help sighing from way up my Php800-seat. pano ba naman, inumpisahan nya ang concert with "i'm feeling good"... a sashaying, hip-swaying song that's soooo sooo sooooo... er, sensual (was about to say hormonal but there might be kids reading this: "mommy, ano yung hormonal?". ooops, too late.) haaaayyy, sunud-sunod na sigh-inducing moments na pagkatapos nun. a rundown of the songs he did (as far as i can remember):

• Feeling Good (highest-registered screams in the araneta coliseum last night)
• Sway
• Save The Last Dance
• For Once In My Life
• You Don't Know Me (2nd highest)
• That's All (3nd highest)
• Fever (tied for highest)
• The More I See You
• Try A Little Tenderness
• I've Got You Under My Skin
• Home (before which the camera zoomed in on pianist Alan Chang's mug--at that moment, i said to dona: okay, sulit na ang bayad ko ;-p)
• You and I
• Moondance
• Come Fly With Me

the guy does not only have a great come-hither-to-my-abode voice. he's a stand-up comic, too. first off he apologized to the men who had no choice but to be there last night. he knows he's called "the bitch guy" (his words, not mine). and it's true. but then he demurs and says manila... you dont love me! oh sure, you say you love me, "i love you michael! i love you michael buble!"... sure sure you say that now... but i know two weeks from now you will say something else... "i love you, christian bautista!" hmmmm... the guy did his research--marunong. (although i'm not partial to christian bautista... i break for dennis trillo).

for laughs he also sang a Maroon 5 song. I honestly have no idea what it's called but it goes: this love has taken its toll on me, something-something... minus the tuxedo, plus the fancy rap and funky dance moves, he could pass for a slightly overaged boy band guy. he also did a Michael Jackson number, i forgot if it was beat it or bille jean, minus the glove, but with hefty servings of the gloved one's standard breathing, sliding and dancing. no, i don't think he could ever pass for michael jackson. and he himself knows that: "you all know that was just an excuse to grab my crotch" (again, his words, not mine). boy was i glad i didn't bring my sister along.

for his encore (of course pinoys would ask for an encore, in this doldrum economy, who wouldn't? sulitin ang bayad, i say) he did:

• How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love
• Song For You

last night's "croonfest" with dona and pia was a blast! i told dona while michael buble was singing "say it's me that you'll adore now and forever more, that's all" (haaaaayyyy) that there's a cut from one of his cd's which he might sing and it goes "suhhhhhhmday.... when i'm feeling low..." (The Way You Look Tonight) and she goes: "ohmigawd! (sabay kampay ng kamay) masestress ako..." thank goodness he didn't sing that song anymore. mada-diabetes na kami nun sa kasweetan.

there should be a limit to the levels of "kilig" a single woman should be forced to bear (if "bear" is indeed the right word for it). buble's crooning is definitely way way way off this chart. more than sigh-inducing, ika nga ni dona, nakaka-stress na. ;-p