18 reasons to watch Mariah Carey concert

MANILA, Philippines - Mariah Carey fans need only one reason to see her in concert: To hear that still powerful voice that has captivated millions of people around the world for well over two decades.

But why stop there? To celebrate the diva’s upcoming The Elusive Chanteuse Show in Manila on Oct. 28, we’re going to list 18 reasons (in honor of her 18 No. 1 hits) that seeing her perform live at the MOA Arena is worth every peso.

We’ve enlisted the help of Mimi’s official fans group in the country, Mariah Carey Philippines, to name the top reasons that you should right now be holding a ticket to watch Mariah in concert:

1. Get to listen to that voice.

At the risk of starting this list with a cliché, this is, in fact, the main reason why her lambs (what she calls her fans) still flock to her shows. More than her high notes, there are many aspects of Mariah’s voice that is the envy of many. She is still the best at ad-libs and improvisations. She hits glorious low notes, too.

2. See Mariah mingle with her fans.

In between songs, Mariah would chat with the audience. Mariah loves reading fan signs, taking random requests, sometimes even asking some lucky fans to come up the stage with her.

3. Hear her sing newer hits.

The last time Mariah was here was 2003. Since then, Mariah has released several hit songs such as We Belong Together, Touch My Body and #Beautiful.

4. The concert is an event.

Critics battered Mariah for a supposed “vocal malfunction” during opening night in Tokyo. What they don’t realize is that Mariah’s fans would pay good money just to be in the same room with her. She’s a global superstar who rarely tours so this kind of occasion is a miss-this-cry-later kind of thing.

5. A chance to see “dembabies.”

In a show in Sydney last year, Mariah brought on stage her twin babies, Roc and Roe, whom she fondly calls “dembabies.” The kids, now four, are with Mariah during the month-long Asian tour leg.

6. For the nostalgia.

Many of the lambs who saw Mariah back in 2003 are now in their late 20s or early 30s. These are the people who grew up listening to her songs, from Honey to Heartbreaker. Mariah’s music is one of the best from the ’90s.

7. Hear Mariah speak Filipino words.

She didn’t speak any Filipino words when she first visited the country, but that doesn’t mean she won’t this time. In her past shows, Mariah would try to ask the audience to teach her local lingo.

8. See Mariah’s signature dance moves.

Okay, so Mariah’s not the best dancer in town. But she does have her signature moves. During her shows, she would often redo her moves in songs like Heartbreaker, It’s Like That or Shake It Off.

9. Watching is a show of support.

Just like buying an original copy of an artist’s album is a way of showing support, showing up at the concert has the same effect. Mariah has shown Manila and her Filipino fans lots of love — by coming back here and several mentions on Twitter. Watching her concert is a “thank you” for the wonderful music she has given us over the years.

10. See local celebrities.

Mariah has influenced many singers in the country. Local artists like Kyla and Eric Santos had expressed interest in watching her again. Some TV personalities have posted photos of their concert tickets on their social media accounts.

11. It’s a great story to tell.

Fifty years from now, Filipino fans would be able to tell their grandchildren that they heard the greatest voice of all time. Live.

12. Experience Mariah’s diva antics.

Who’s a diva? Mariah is. In between songs, an assistant may rush to her with a bottle of water. A make-up artist and a hair stylist would often retouch her after a song or two. Why bother going to the backstage when she can do the touch-up on stage?

13. To see the ensembles.

Mariah never goes on stage without a fabulous ensemble. To her, looking good is as important as sounding good. In The Elusive Chanteuse Show, she changes to at least four outfits.

14. Check out the stage design.

It’s always an opportunity for people who are in the production industry to learn from Mariah’s team in terms of how they execute stage design and visual effects.

15. Hear a new song performed.

Mariah promised to sing a new song during her shows. In several stops of her The Elusive Chanteuse Show, she performed Don’t explain — a Billie Holiday original. Mariah being Mariah, she changed two lines to insinuate that husband Nick Cannon cheated on her. The two are undergoing divorce.

16. Have a “Mariah moment” with thousands of her fans.

? Mariah often mentions her “lambily” (lamb family) because they are her extended family. For a hardcore fan, sharing many “Mariah moments” together is something to be treasured forever.

17. Buy tour merchandise.

When Mariah came to the Philippines in 2003 for her Chambracelet World Tour, tour merchandise was unfortunately not available. This is why her fans are looking forward to buying “Mariah-fied” items, which will finally be on sale this time around.

18. Be in the same room with a legend.

Mariah is one of the few living music icons who had shaped the landscape of the music industry. To be in the same room with one is a once-in-a-lifetime experience — or maybe twice-in-a-lifetime, for those who saw her show back in ’03.

Mariah: The Elusive Chanteuse Show live in Manila is presented by PLDT Home Fibr and Wilbros Live, in cooperation with PLDT Home Telpad, FOX, Star World and Sofitel Philippine Plaza. Tickets are available at smtickets.com or call 470-2222 or 374-9999.