Concert recap: What else happened at David Foster's concert

MANILA -- When the front act in a concert got more applauded than the main act, that meant something. That was what happened in the concert, “Hitman: David Foster and Friends,” Tuesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The main act apparent didn’t mind. When SB19’s Stell Ajero sauntered onstage and started singing Adele’s “All I Ask,” rendered in his admirable, stratospheric voice, the audience started shrieking and screaming.

“Magpapakilala muna po ako,” said Stell, as he introduced himself to the audience, before rendering his debut solo single, “Room,” followed by “Defying Gravity.”

“Stell is incredible,” remarked Foster, once the multi-awarded songwriter and producer emerged onstage to start his Manila concert, a part of his 2024 concert tour.

Manila couldn’t seem to have enough of Foster. He was just here last year, when he did a successful concert at Solaire Resort. This time, Foster performed in a bigger venue, Araneta Coliseum.

He opened the showwith the popular “Winter Games” theme then rendered “Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire,” with Kenny G playing the saxophone on video.

Foster then introduced two young Filipino talents – JB Decena, who sang belted out “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and Joaquin Garcia , who sang “Broken Vow.”

The group All-4-One, delighted the crowd with their hits, especially their biggest, “I Swear.” It has been a while since the popular group performed in Manila, the last one being in 2015.

All-4-One, which became known globally three decades ago, was so delighted to be back and performed anew for Filipino fans.

Foster’s better half and “American Idol” alumna, Katharine McPhee gave the audience Celine Dion’s “Power of Love.” 

Foster was quick to point out, “You are not getting Celine Dion tonight. You didn’t pay for a Celine Dion.”

Foster and McPhee met nearly two decades ago in “American Idol.” He was still married then and so was she. They toured the world together until they tied the knot in 2019. They now have a son who is turning three this year.

Her second time in Manila, McPhee also delighted the audience with her 2010 hit, “Terrified.”

“I know how it feels to be Taylor Swift,” she excitedly told the crowd, who sang along with her as the lyrics were flashed on the screen, karaoke-style.

She also belted out Whitney Houston’s hits – “I Will Always Love You” and “I Have Nothing,” which earned an Oscar nomination for Foster.

“I was nominated for an Oscar thrice, but I never got to bring home the trophy,” Foster lamented. “Take My Breath Away” from “Top Gun” (1986) competed and won against Foster’s “Glory of Love” from “Karate Kid 2.”

McPhee also went down onstage and reached out to the audience as she sang "Last Dance."

Stell returned onstage and impressed the audience even more when he sang Celine Dion’s “All By Myself,” with his impressive vocal calisthenics, that sent the audience screaming.

“You must not forget, it’s called the David Foster show,” the main act smilingly reminded his audience. But Stell undoubtedly brought the house down with Dion’s hit.

Brian McKnight joined Foster onstage and gave the audience the late Al Jarreau’s “Morning,” which Foster wrote for the late R&B icon. McKnight also rendered one of Foster’s early compositions, “After the Love Has Gone,” originally by Earth, Wind and Fire.

Naturally, McKnight also rendered his biggest hits – “One Last Cry” and “Back at One” – where he was allowed by Foster to take on the keyboards.

Foster and McPhee started a duet of “Unforgettable,” as they were later joined by McKnight.

The show ended with all the guest artists joining Foster onstage and they gave the audience “Got To Be Real,” a song Foster wrote with Toto’s David Paich back in 1978 for Cheryl Lynn.

Foster returned for his encore, a recent musical composition he wrote during the pandemic.