Maroon 5, whether we’re aware of it or not, has always been a staple of the Philippine soundscape.

Their numerous international hits have filled radio waves and our personal speakers even since their breakout 2002 album, Songs About Jane. Many can recall uploading their songs onto their iPods and watching their music videos on cable television in the early 2000s, and yet, their reign didn’t end there. The Los Angeles native seven-piece has been dominating the pop genre, hitting it with innovation after innovation.

This is why their long-anticipated fourth concert in the Philippines was an experience made all the more unforgettable. Live Nation, partnered with the Tourism Promotions Board and Philippine Department of Tourism, brought Maroon 5 back to the shores of Manila last January 29 at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City. With a sold-out arena full of concert-goers ranging from casual listeners to diehard fans, Maroon 5 delivered a night of dancing, singing, and lots and lots of nostalgia.

Warming up the stage and the ears of the audience, the alt-rock Texan band Culture Wars kicked off the night with their crowd rousers, charging up the atmosphere with their electric performance. Following the openers was DJ Mailbox, who prepped the audience with a set of early 2000s pop favorites to modern-day viral hits — even sneaking the current Philippine chart-topper Dionela‘s “Marilag” into his mix.

It wasn’t before long that the main character of the night came onstage, and temperatures surely rose when Maroon 5 led their set off with “Animals.” As the band’s frontman and main vocalist Adam Levine howled into the mic — not only once, but twice (or possibly more) — the audience got a taste for the energy that was to come. Washing over the crowd with a tidal wave of some of their greatest hits, including “One More Night” and “This Love,” the atmosphere was set — it would be a sing-along concert filled with nostalgia.

Photographed by Mayks Go

A quick breeze over the filled arena would soon inform you that people came to the concert with their full families, from excited children to their even more excited parents. Being that Maroon 5’s music is essentially a universal language, the good times translated throughout generations seen at the concert. Without missing a beat, Levine urged everyone in the arena to their feet before declaring, “We know that here in the Philippines you guys are the best singers! No one sings louder.”

Photographed by Mayks Go

As the band played “Stereo Hearts,” Adam’s statement was quickly confirmed as everyone sang along to the oohs of the song, and brought up the tempo with “Harder” and “Lucky Strike.” When the audience members needed to catch their breath from all the dancing, the band shifted to a leisurely pace with the karaoke staple, “Sunday Morning.” Singing all the lyrics to their loved ones in the crowd, members of the audience were able to capture a sweet and intimate memory with all concert-goers alike.

Maroon 5: photographed by Mayks Go/Billboard Philippines

Through “Payphone,” the vibe shifted once more into a karaoke hall, as everyone cried out along to the chorus. Popping out one of their more recent hits, their 2018 collaboration with SZA, “What Lovers Do,” got everyone grooving before hitting everyone with another wave of nostalgia with their 2007 hit, “Makes Me Wonder.”

maroon 5 live in manila concert january 2025

Maroon 5: photographed by Mayks Go/Billboard Philippines

Shifting gears, the band turned the arena into a disco hall with their own rendition of Prince’s iconic “I Wanna Be Your Lover.” Following this performance, Levine brought over the attention to his keyboardist for the night — Maroon 5’s very own critically-acclaimed songwriter P.J. Morton. Busting out his work from his jazz album, New Orleans, for a groovy funk set, Morton whisked the night away on a collaborative jazz journey with “Heavy.”

Maroon 5: photographed by Mayks Go/Billboard Philippines

After taking the rhythm down a notch with “Maps,” Adam Levine spoke about how their songwriting creates especially unique experiences. With “Memories,” a heartfelt ode to lost loved ones, he mentioned how the song was special to the band, knowing that the lyrics told a different story in each listeners’ perspectives, and changed meaning with every listen. Thus, concert-goers lit up their phones’ flashlights, meshing the glow of their phones with the pink lighting of the stage — making a sight that was truly magical.

Heading towards the end of their set, they brought out their 2018 feel-good anthem “Don’t Wanna Know,” pumping up the crowd with energy. As soon as the riff for “Love Somebody” came on, the audience roared, eager to belt the notes out to their friends and loved ones. Lastly, the show hit its clear peak with the iconic 2015 hit “Moves Like Jagger,” infectiously causing the crowd to dance to the tune regardless of whether they were sitting or standing.

maroon 5 live in manila concert january 2025

Maroon 5: photographed by Mayks Go/Billboard Philippines

Of course, a Maroon 5 concert would not be truly complete without an encore. Rushing back on stage to perform “She Will Be Loved,” even needing to repeat the first verse as the audience beat him to singing it, the show was slowly reaching its crescendo. With “Girls Like You” and “Sugar,” the show ended on a note just as high as it started, blasting out confetti that reached all corners of the arena.

On their fourth-ever visit to the Philippines, Maroon 5 did not skimp on their production for this sing-along concert. Bringing out hit after hit, there was no moment of dead air as everyone could confidently sing the lyrics to each song — and with Adam Levine egging on the crowd to sing along, who could resist?