BY NIKKI PORTER

If there’s one thing anyone who’s listened to Shawn Mendes’ music can agree on—fan or other—it’s that there’s always this rawness in every beat and every word of his songs that can tug at your heartstrings. This doesn’t even include the sensuality his music can also evoke, as well as the cathartic feeling of having him express the feelings and words that you might have struggled expressing yourself. 

And Lord have mercy, he’s only 21 years old.

It’s no wonder fans of all ages flocked to MOA Arena on a Thursday night regardless of how far they had to travel just to see Shawn Mendes live (I totally get it, I was one of them). And just like everyone else, I was also looking forward to jump, wave, and sing my heart out with Shawn.

As soon as they dimmed the lights at the arena, the audience erupted of woots, squeals, shrieks, and aaahhhs, and just when the noise reached a decrescendo, the first notes to “Lost In Japan” made the crowd lose it all over again. It was probably one part disbelief and another part excitement, seeing chiseled baby boy Shawn Mendes finally crooning to them right before their eyes.

His concert setup included a B stage that was much closer to the fans seated (or standing?) at the back of the arena, and it included a grand piano and a suspended giant rose, which one could almost imagine was like a gift for everyone who took the time to see him that night. Ugh, what a sweetheart.

One of the highlights of his concert—aside from when he decided to take off his button down shirt and perform with just his classic white tank for the rest of his performance—was how the production included bracelets for all of the concert attendees to wear during the show. The bracelets would light up into different hues and blink in sync to Shawn’s songs. It was a special kind of audience participation that made each person feel like they were part of the concert, and not just spectators.

Shawn sang more of his hits including “There’s Nothin’ Holding Me Back”, “Nervous”, “Mutual”, “Stitches”, “Treat You Better”, “If I Can’t Have You”, “Where Were You In The Morning,” “Why”, “Mercy”, “Youth”, and even “Senorita” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, sans his now GF Camilla Cabello. He ended his show with his powerful track “In My Blood”, and as soon as he said his last words “Thank You, Manila!” before walking off-stage, the lights came back on in the arena, shocking the audience, as if they had just woken up from an awesome fever dream they didn’t want to end.

And even if it did have to end, there’s a definite general consensus from his fans that Shawn Mendes needs to come back to Manila—and soon.

After all, he owes us an encore!