There’s already been a lot of news and articles about THE PARTY. But, let me just join in and share a little teeny bit of insight about THE concert. Now that I’m a little saner and calmer, and a little more rested, let’s have a recap of the awesome! awesome! awesome! and highly successful 2NE1 Concert, The Party held at the Big Dome! 🙂
First off… I agree to the nth power (…to infinity and beyond!) that The Party is one of the most successful concerts of 2011! 2NE1 truly rocked the Big Dome! It was definitely a SUCCESS! No doubt about it.
The Big Dome: Araneta Coliseum
Before I go into my babbling, for the sake of the uninitiated, let’s talk first about how epic the Big Dome is for a performer. Araneta Coliseum is the biggest concert venue in the Philippines and only a few big stars are able to hold their own in Araneta. I think every Filipino performer has dreamed at least once of performing in Araneta. It is THE venue to perform at. Holding a concert in Araneta is short of saying… yes, you’ve finally made it!
Front Acts
They were all great! This is one of the few concerts I’ve been to where the front acts also seem like the main acts of the night. Yep! All 5 of them! Maybe some more than the others. But they were all truly great. Each of the performers were well applauded. And seeing and watching them makes one truly feel proud to be Pinoy. Pinoys represent!
The front acts included (cited by order of appearance): the Techy Romantics (an electronica trio), Christian Bautista (Asia’s Romantic Balladeer), Giselle Sanchez (Host and Comedienne), The Bloomfields (Filipino rock n’ roll band), Callalily (Pinoy rock band) and the Philippine All Stars (world-class Philippine hip hop dance group).
Christian Bautista (who was definitely NOT booed that night and rocked the crowd) dedicated his song, ‘The way you look at me’ to Dara that night. Earlier during the press conference, Dara said that she loves ‘Papa’ Christian’s songs (don’t you just love how she called Christian ‘Papa’? so pinoy!) and when asked which her favorite was, she mentioned ‘The way you look at me’ and gamely obliged when asked to sing a portion of the song. I love how game she was! =)
Giselle Sanchez, who also hosted during The Party, parodied Dara and it was totally hilarious! T’was pure win!
Fanboys!
You know we love ’em fanboys. And we got a handful of 2NE1 fanboys that night, both in the concert itself and in twitter (hahaha!) Bom’s fanboy (called on stage by Ms. Giselle Sanchez from the audience) rocked the Big Dome with his declaration that he’s been loving Bom for two years now and will continue to do so. Atta fanboy!
But among all of them, I think you’ll all agree that Kean Cipriano of Callalily tops the list! A rockstar’s profession of love! Wearing a ‘We Love Dara’ shirt from DGH and then changing into an ‘I ❤ Dara’ shirt… plus declaring “If you hear me Dara, Saranghae!” EPIC! How cool and sweet is that! And don’t you agree that it’ll be kinda really difficult for the next fanboy (or any of the other fanboys before him for that matter) to follow that act? 😀
2NE1!
And on to the main event! 2NE1!!! The cheers and screams were DEAFENING. The energy inside Araneta was so palpable. The crowd were on their feet, screaming and chanting for 2NE1! When the familiar intro beat filled Araneta, happy chaos erupted. The feeling of seeing the top of 2NE1’s heads as they emerge from the lift from below the stage, was INDESCRIBABLE. It felt so surreal! 2NE1 was in the Philippines! Dara’s in the Philippines! She’s back!
For the whole duration of 2NE1 performances, the crowd was cheering, screaming and singing along to their songs. Like how Ms. Korina Sanchez of ABS-CBN TV Patrol described the crowd in the exclusive interview with Dara, we, fans were all screaming as if we’ve gone bonkers. And that was no exaggeration! (Haha!)
All of the 2NE1 girls were sooooo, sooooo, soooooo good live! They owned Araneta! The confidence, the swag, the energy… they truly are the best! All of the girls were so great and they all looked so beautiful.
Minzy is really pretty and was so playful with the crowd. She did a lot of fan service that night.
Bom is beautiful, really sexy and playful, too!
CL is truly the Baddest Female, very energetic and full of swag.
And of course, our dear Dara… beautiful, quirky and fun!
They performed a total of 8 songs – Fire, Go Away, Please Don’t Go, Lonely, Dara’s In our Out, Can’t Nobody, Clap Your Hands, and I Don’t Care.
Perhaps one of the highlights of the night, aside from ALL of the 2NE1 performances, was Dara’s solo performance of In or Out. The concert being in Araneta Coliseum, which was where the Finals Night for the Star Circle Quest was held 7 years ago (June 6, 2004), it was so overwhelming and touching to see and watch Dara perform in the same stage, 7 years after. It was like a culmination and an affirmation. She’s come full circle. As shared by our head admins and also by our dear friends from WeLoveDara, even one of the YG Managers cried while looking at the crowd during Dara’s performance. She was overwhelmed and so touched with the love of the Filipinos for Dara and with the thought that all this time, the Filipinos have never forgotten her. Dara was confident, sure of herself but at the same time, still very much humble. The crowd screamed for her and sang along with her. She also addressed the crowd a few times during the performance. My heart swelled with pride for Dara. You go, girl! 🙂
I just have to mention this… before the concert, I was hoping that Dara wouldn’t be sporting the small palm-tree hair that she also had in Thailand. Anything but the small palm tree hair. Those were my initial thoughts. But then, when she appeared on stage, she was wearing the exact same hairstyle! I was floored. All of my initial thoughts gone. Contrary to what I thought I would be feeling, it didn’t even matter. She looks so beautiful. Her mega-watt smile blew me away. I would never, ever question any of her hairstyles or outfits again… ever. Dara looks good in anything and everything. Plus her fun and quirky hairstyles and outfits are her trademark and it’s pure love ❤
When the concert ended, it took minutes before everyone started leaving the venue. It was as if everyone was still on a trance and couldn’t quite believe that it’s already finished, half hoping 2NE1 would come back out and perform another song even after the encore. It was short and sweet, as Manila Bulletin described it, but totally worth it.
Congratulations, 2NE1! Congratulations, Pulp and everyone behind 2NE1’s The Party! Congratulations, Dara! It was a blast. And here’s hoping to a full-blown 2NE1 concert in the Philippines sometime in the future.
Photo and Video Credits: WeLoveDara + SlaveTranslator@WeLoveDara + emilb + VipeeTube + welovesandara + LeonaLorraineM
oh-dara.com 
Comments on: "Feature: 2NE1 ‘The Party’: A Recap" (27)
WE LOVE FANBOYS. *wink*
I’m actually worried about Dara’s hair… she said it’s quite painful eh?
I WAS IN TEARS WHEN SHE PERFORMED IN OR OUT ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE SHOUTED “MAHAL KO KAYO!” GAAAAAH.
Kean, you’re the greatest Pinoy Dara fanboy ever.
And I love the review! Ohdara staffs are just jjang 😉
super duper thank you for this… im a Parker, and in Davao… 😦 missed a lot of chances, hopfully when they get back i will be seeing sandy again… for me she will always be krung, sandara, sandy, sapi… hehehe..but still, how i wish i was there…. 🙂
i feel so happy because i was able to watch them live!!
Kayo pala yung mga nasa VVIP?hehe
I’m super happy for Sandara. Sana talaga malayo pa ang marating niya.
SANDARA PARK @ YOUR SONG IN PHILIPPINES
Cn s0me0ne upl0ad the vid 0n youtube where ms. gizelle having a parody of 0ur dear sandy…plz..pls..
here ya go – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KE5TStL_9I =) it’s also included in the article above. thanks. 🙂
Dara dara you’ve been mesmerizing me since SCQ days… you still amazes me everytime you sing, you talk, you smile, you pose, and every little thing you’ve done… Even if I wasn’t there to see you live (The Party Concert), I felt like I was there with you, enjoying every minute, every second of your performance… I so love you Dara… Keep it up… 2NE1 is indeed the best K-Pop female group ever… luvyah gurls…
thanks for this nice review… two thumbs up…
on point!
this is the best written recap 🙂
the front acts were all awesome! i didn’t think i’d enjoy that much. i was really surprised at myself LOL
kean is indeed the best fanboy! win!
giselle sanchez was really funny too.
2NE1 is ever EPIC! Just 4 people on stage… got the whole Big Dome go crazy 😀
And AWWW at the YG manager ❤
I'll be waiting for their return. And again, wouldn't miss it 🙂
Wait!one of the yg managers cried?whch 1?jjanggo manager?!hehehe..dearest papa yg..or any1 in yg reading ths,.pls let 2ne1 have a full pledged c0ncert here..the party c0ncert admissions s proof en0ugh..pls.pls.pls
I think you had a hard time remembering cause I myself am not sure if it was really a boy. PEACE! @DARAISMYHAPPYPILL very nice recap girl (as if di tayo magkasama the whole time kekeke).
was referring this comment to @lancesevilla
hahaha thanks :* ^^
yes, a very nice recap. i couldn’t go to manila so i didn’t experience the madness that you’ve had. and it’s good to see araneta not just full but also roaring for 2ne1 and the local acts. i was actually a bit anxious before the concert bec. some were saying that the party was not advertised much. good thing, many pinoys are already into kpop and still love the (now mature) krung krung. of course, i don’t care and fire were very popular here back in 2009 so pinoys can relate to 2ne1.
i’m sure (wow, so confident of me, LOL…) they’ll be back for a full concert. dara did say in her me2day to expect meeting them again in their concert, right? when that happens, i think 2ne1 will be yg’s 1st venture in the phil. (are pinoys ready for bigbang?) hopefully, we can see sandara sans the palm tree and other weird-(hair)do’s since their repertoire will be longer/greater. but i can see why daraismyhappypill (dimhp) won’t ever question her hairstyle again 😀 her beauty–inner & outer–and that smile of hers really outshine (well, honestly, not always but most of the time) whatever weirdness they do to her hair. and hopefully, her voice will be much stronger by then.
and thanks a lot, ohdara, all dara fans, and phil-jacks for sharing all those articles, news, photos and videos. at least, the unfortunate ones like me LOL were able to share somehow in the madness and excitement.
and dara, if you’re reading this, the translation was correct, right? we should EXPECT your comeback concert here, hmmm?
who is Bom fanboy??
he’s the Bom fan called on stage (podium) by Ms Giselle Sanchez in between performances. Dara’s, CL’s and Minzy’s fans who stepped on stage were all girls =)
thanks.. I remember na…
i am so glad that i was part of this mind blowing night~~! one of the best nights i ever had!!!! thank God! ^^
VERY WELL SAID..
Thank you for the awesome recap! I was able to relive the incredible feeling of watching the concert by reading this. Indeed, it was a fun & crazy night! Awesome front acts and it was overwhelming to watch 2NE1 perform live. I almost cried when they were about to go on stage. Haha! Seriously, it was a night to remember. I really hope 2NE1 holds a full concert in the near future. I surely won’t miss it!
I had a clear look at the side back stage when Dara was singing in or out…Bom, CL and Minzy where watching and was peeping towards the coliseum. I know that it is difficult for performers to see the whole coliseum to be full during performances because of the lighting. I also saw their jjang manager and they were all smiles during her performance and was so proud, Bom was bopping her head and minzy was there as well. 🙂
Indeed, Minzy gave a lot of fan service that night..me and two girls beside me who has Minzy banner had a moment with her when she stood in front of us and waved..Such a lovely and sweet lady. I am now a Minja! 🙂 She’s so great on stage vocally and stage presence, so underrated among the four girls.
As a whole the group are very strong live and they just totally own the stage, I guess they are still in the process of improving their MC’ng skills.
i still cant get over from the concert, it is so different when you watched them in youtube. I’m so happy i got to attend it, sing along with them..
If by chance Giselle is near to where I’m seating, I’ll surely run when she ask for a Dara fan. I’ll tell her that I Love Dara too and sing In or Out. Aigoo. There’s still some chance to confess my love.
Wish I can turn back time… and relive that night.
wow! great! good job nice recap! i agree with Klaris,’twas better written than the others. so nice article, i so l♥ve 2ne1 esp. dear Sandy. 2ne1 showed a great performance & so with our Filipino Performers. And also the writter of this article, you’ve done a great job, thank you so much for this. I also thanks everyone who’ve watch “The Party” concert, they really made it that successful! GO,GO 2NE1! GO,GO PINOYS!
i cried when i read this article… what you wrote is really true.. no exaggerations… pure facts…
to be honest, until now i could not believe that i was there watching the awesomeness of 2ne1 especially dara. i almost cried when she sang in or out… it was 7 years ago since the scq finals was held on the same stage… it is so heartwarming for dara and her scq friends to celebrate their 7th anniversary at the same place that brought them to where they are now… but i am sure that they are most happy and proud of dara…. back then, dara was this fragile looking girl who is still quite shy but now, look at her! she is popping, locking, singing and enjoying the stage as if it is hers… so proud of her… i wish they will return again and wow us fans for the many times…
2ne1’s concert was totally super awesome!!!
thanks for this recap seriously i cried while reading this i dunno why (T.T)
glad to be part of that crowd
2ne1 please comeback 🙂
thank you for this article!!!!
its is a feel good read….
it shared the same exact smae sentiments as the people in araneta that day
truly a memorable one!!!
im so proud of dara for finally making her dream come true…
the 2ne1 girls are also awesome and fun!!!
i sure wish to see them again soon…
the rumblings in araneta that night will be forever missed
but will never be forgotten for sure!
till the next time they will comeback…it will surely become an uproar once again!!!
2ne1 nolja!!!! hwating sandy!!!! mahal namin kau!!!! sa uulitin!!!!
your review was better written than what was in the manila bulletin. wtg!