Ado Leaves A Fiery First Impression At Her ‘Hibana’ Manila Concert – Review

It’s not often that I get to watch a concert and know within the first first few songs that it’s going to be an unforgettable show. In the case of Ado’s inaugural performance in the Philippines, I definitely knew it halfway through the first song. 

Since making her major debut in 2020, the anonymous Japanese singer’s impact has been undeniable. From her first single taking the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 to having numerous sold-out shows across Japan and all over the world, Ado’s influence has been evidently profound, her music knowing no limits nor borders.

As someone who has casually tuned in to a few of her songs over the years, I was somewhat aware of the far-reaching effect her artistry had in the Philippines. Moreover, it’s not everyday that you get to see Japanese artists taking on the Mall of Asia Arena for a solo show, and the excitement online that followed Ado announcing her intentions of doing so was further evidence.

It was through personally witnessing it, however, that I began to truly understand the kind of power she held, starting when I arrived at the venue a few hours ahead of the show. 

Upon entering the vicinity of the Arena, I was greeted by an almost-endless throng of fans, with many readily dressed for the occasion, clad in all-black outfits and various forms of gothic lolita fashion. 

A whole lot of them formed multiple long lines for merch, each person looking to get a piece or two. Later on, others took turns taking souvenir pictures on the official photowalls inside the venue, showing off their costumes or posing with friends and family. From casually observing them as I passed by, it was interesting to see how diverse the kind of crowd that Ado pulled in that day — a further proof of her mass appeal, with all of them clearly united by the excitement of finally seeing their favorite singer perform live.

Their dedication would only be further proven as everyone entered the concert hall, where a strict no-photo-or-video-taking rule was being enforced for the show proper — a staple and respected rule of Ado’s shows due to her anonymity. While knowing that this was a common practice among most Japanese artists and not just Ado, it was honestly still amazing to personally see it be absolutely honored by the concert-goers in person. It was an impressive, unified sign of absolute respect for the artist about to perform — an early indication of the incredible show that was soon to follow.

True enough, as the lights finally dimmed and the blue glow of lightsticks covered the entire Arena, this would immediately be proven true. 

As Ado’s silhouette finally took form inside her cube enclosure, the wildest of screams and cheers enveloped the entire venue. From the get-go, you could feel Ado’s intention of leaving a lasting impression on the Manila crowd, as she kicked the evening off with “Usseewa” — her debut single and her biggest song ever. While most artists would often reserve their most popular track for last, here she was boldly opening the 21-song set with hers. A gutsy move, I thought to myself, amazed at the sheer display of her confidence in her artistry. The heavy-hitting track was the perfect choice to begin the night — one that definitely set the tone for the rest of the concert and raised my expectations through the roof.

As she followed this up with “Lucky Bruto” and “Gira Gira,” I couldn’t help but think of how fitting it was that she was opening the show with these three songs. With all of them coming from her first album Kyougen, it was the perfect opportunity to bring everyone in attendance back in time to Ado’s impactful debut, as if to say, “It’s only going to get better from here.” Undoubtedly, it was literally the best introduction to her and her music for the evening and properly warmed everyone up for the rest of the show.

As Ado moved through the next few songs, it was interesting to see how perfectly crafted the concert’s setlist was. Beyond being a perfect overview of her discography so far, the curation of songs served to showcase just how powerful Ado is as a performer, whether it was intentional or not. Here, Ado’s range was undeniable as she deftly danced to each tune while demonstrating utmost control of her voice. 

From the signature intensity of her husky tone on songs like “RuLe” and “Gyakkou,” to her flawless rapping on tracks like “Show” and “Fleeting Lullaby,” it was astonishing to experience the famed singer’s vocal expertise live. Even in the darkness that shrouded her identity, there was a certain raw quality to Ado’s voice that perfectly captured whatever emotion each song was conveying, satisfyingly mirrored by every graceful dance move she did. Consistently, it became further evidence to just how much of a compelling artist she is and can be, especially in person.

In talking about consistency, I have to take this time to highlight certain aspects of the concert that elevated the woman of the hour herself.

First and foremost would have to be the on-screen visuals and overall lighting throughout the entire show. Whoever the designer and the director that were in charge of these knew their job well and certainly outdid themselves. The intense barrage of colorful lasers. The spotlights perfectly matching each beat or mood of a song. The tasteful pyrotechnics. Or even the fact that Ado’s cube enclosure, lined with LED panels, was absolutely in sync with the giant screens around her. Every single one of these visual aspects (and more) aided in both emphasizing Ado’s presence while simultaneously helping everyone fully dive into her mystical world.

Of course, when it comes to emphasizing Ado’s presence, it would be amiss to not give a proper shoutout to her band. Composed of guitarist Takafumi “CO-K” Koukei, keyboardist Hajime Okada, bassist Takuma Kaneko, and Ryunosuke Morita on drums, these talented individuals were the perfect musicians to back Ado. Beyond flawlessly performing each song on the setlist, they also consistently knew how to engage the crowd with their own showmanship and stage presence, getting everyone to clap, jump, headbang, dance and shout along.

Speaking of the crowd — in my opinion, even the fans present were an integral part of the concert. Beyond already showing how much they respected Ado’s anonymity, there was a certain fun and quirky energy that this audience of Filipino fans brought to the show. Whether it was loudly singing along and going wild for each song, word for word, or diligently changing the color of their lightsticks to match the visuals on-screen, they sure knew how to have a good time and the energy was just infectious. Not to mention, the vigorous cheering they consistently did for Ado or the playful chanting of “Ado-bo! Ado-bo! Ado-bo!” (a reference to the popular Filipino dish, adobo). 

And as impressive as all of these were to witness, they never took the figurative spotlight away from Ado. They all served to elevate her performance in a synergistic way that left me in awe of the live show that I was fully immersing myself in. Indeed, all of these were testament to the fact of just how much of an audiovisual spectacle seeing her live can be.

However, what made it all the more unforgettable was not a specific song or performance. Rather, it was when Ado did her first spiel of the evening, towards the end of the show. Despite still being hidden in the shadows, it was as if she unmasked herself for everyone to see who she truly is, baring her heart out in gratitude. 

Here, we got to see a different, more vulnerable side of Ado — one that made me understand exactly why everyone present chose to be there that night. Beyond Ado’s artistic excellence, the reason why she has resonated with so many is because she is what countless people are at their very core: someone who dares to dream despite everything. 

“At the very beginning, I was completely alone. I used to sing alone in my closet. I was just a lonely girl with a gloomy personality, dreaming in my dark room,” she recalls, reflecting on her origins as an utaite or a cover singer on the internet. “There were people who criticized my voice or the way I sang. There were days when I thought of giving up on my dream. I was alone the whole time. But look at this in front of me! There are people all over the world who say they love my music. I still can’t believe it!”

“Maybe there’s someone out there who feels the same loneliness I once felt. Maybe some of them are here or out there in the world,” she continues. “To those people, I want to say that it’s okay to be alone. It’s okay to dream. Loneliness isn’t something to be ashamed of. That’s the message I want to share, beyond language, beyond borders.”

Ultimately, Ado’s first-ever concert in Manila was a testament to the realization of this very dream of hers. In seeing the thousands in attendance that night, it’s clear that she has profoundly touched the lives of many of them, in more ways than one. Combining this with her caliber as a top-tier artist and performer, I confidently say that what everyone witnessed was more than just another concert. It was an otherworldly emotional experience.

Check out the set list for the Manila stop of Ado’s ‘Hibana’ world tour below:

1. Usseewa
2. Lucky Bruto
3. Gira Gira
4. Show
5. Kura Kura
6. Readymade
7. Mirror
8. Charles
9. Elf
10. Value
11. Stay Gold
12. Rule
13. Fleeting Lullaby
14. Aishite Aishite Aishite
15. Backlight
16. Hibana
17. Episode X
18. Odo

ENCORE:

19. Rockstar
20. Chandelier (Sia cover)
21. New Genesis