GET AMPLIFIED: AMP meets Charli XCX

Have you heard of that song that goes like "I'm so fancy..." and "Boom Clap! The sound of my heart..."? Well, the artist is none other than rising English singer/songwriter Charli XCX! And in an unexpected turn of events, I went to her concert for free and I met her!!!

Last April 18,2015 I was in the condo of my aunt doing nothing at all and in an instant, Spinnr.ph posted on Instagram about a last minute ticket giveaway for Charli's show that night. I was so stoked that all I have to do is to recreate Charli's pose in her concert poster. So with a little help of the app Picsart, I posted my entry and in the afternoon, I received a DM that I'd won a pair of tickets! So I managed to beep up my high school friend Paula who is also in Manila and tagged her along to watch the concert that night.

So yeah, don't mind my hideous face. This is the winning piece! LOL

As we arrived at SM Aura, we gladly meet the staff of Spinnr and she gave me my winning pair of tickets. I was super duper excited to watch Charli live, but I was hungry as well! We filled up our cravings first, then we lined up around 7:30 pm and seemed to notice that around this time, people should be going into the venue which is at the Samsung Hall. Around 8 or 8:30, we were now in the hall and even waited for another hour for the show to start. It was also my first time to see a show at the Samsung Hall, it wasn't that big, it was good for artists who aren't really popular yet, but I'm so happy that it is fully air conditioned and the atmosphere of a show would really capture you in the moment.

Free tickets Baby!!! YASSS!!!

Fast food cravings!

Lining up with my friend Paula!!!

The stage looked so magical as we entered the hall! I mean, look at it!!!

As the show started, Charli walked on stage with a greeting "What's up Manila" and started singing her title track of her current album "Sucker" with a zebra printed crop top and pants and "Oh My God look at those" high heels. With her signature red lipstick and eyebrows which are on fleek, she always manage to have her own style. At that moment I freaked out and sang every word of her songs! Then she played "Breaking Up" with this huge ass balloon guitar to make things funky.

When Charli played "I Love It" (Yes, she wrote the smash hit song of Icona Pop) the whole crowd went nuts! Charli was screaming "Jump! Jump! Jump!" and everybody was jumping! Then she performed her new single "Famous" and her old hit "Superlove". As she sang her favorite song "Doing it" (as she told everybody) I was so happy because it is also my fave song from her album. Charli then managed to walk by my side and looked and pointed at me while performing and I was just starstrucked and smiling that time! She continued her show by singing her old and new songs like "You (Ha Ha Ha)", "So Over You", "Black Roses", "Allergic to Love (Snuffed by the Yakuza cover)", "Body of My Own", "Gold Coins" and the pop-clap song "London Queen".

Charli slaying those heels!

As she performed "Break the Rules" everyone was fist pumping and the crowd danced and sang along to Charli's current hit. She and her all girl band left the stage for a minute (I don't know, take a break or something?) before the encore. As they returned, Charli sang "Grins" passionately. And her final song is none other than the international hit "Boom Clap" (Thanks for The Fault In Our Stars movie soundtrack) everybody was boomin' and clapping as she sang every word to the song. She left the stage with many thank you's and the crowd cheered for her and I was so happy to have that awesome experience.

As the crowd was going out of the venue, me and my buddy Paula managed to stay for a while and say hi to some famous models and ambassadors and even the "Love Club". They were so down to earth and nice which I did not expect that from them.

Got to "pose" with the Love Club squad after the show (LOL)

Also glad to meet these amazing people during and after the show. With the super pretty and nice Jessica Yang (top left), SM Youth model and ambassador LA Aguinaldo (top right), Yassi Pressman's sister Issa Pressman (bottom left) and Manila Concert Scene's Kevin Pableo (bottom right).They were all so nice and friendly even it's my first time getting to know them.

As we were checking up on our phones, one head of VYBE PRODUCTIONS went to one of the models and asked if they want to meet Charli. My eyes went wide and said to Paula to also ask permission if we can meet Charli too (Paula has a very cute voice like a child, which you can hardly resist, Haha) and the man said yes in a very nice and kindly way! OH MY GOD! I was definitely screaming on the inside! We, along with the group of models and other lucky fans went to the backstage to wait for Charli as she was still changing. I was so shy that I was in the same room with these kind of people and was caught in a "I am just a simple boy living in Bacolod City and How the F' did I get here" kind of situation. Then another head of the production told us to go back to the hall where we will have a group photo with Charli. So we went back and after a minute, Charli went out! With the look on her face, I deeply know she was tired from the show because she gave out her full energy to the Manila crowd. As a professional, she managed to hide it with a big smile on her face and says hi to us with her British accent (AHHHHH!).

I was like "Hi Charli! Slay! London Queen!" in front of her with the bow down action and she just smiled in front of me (Oh Gosh!). "So let's have group photo, let's do it old school and some will squat down like cheerleaders" she said. I managed to get up close next to her as we squat down low and pose for the photo. It was so surreal, I also managed to bring along with me a piece of paper where I asked Charli to sign it for (Thanks to the girl of the Production for letting me borrow your Sharpie!). And also took a selfie with Charlie even though it was super dark, LOL. She then says her goodbyes to us as she was going to set an appearance for an after party at club Valkyrie. I was so darn happy even more when I humbly asked for a poster of Charli's show and then the production team gave me one! HA! Again, THANK YOU to VYBE PRODUCTIONS! Y'all made my dream come true and you guys are the best! More Power and #GoodVybes!

Group photo with CHARLI XCX!

Charli is the second international artist I met personally! Me and Paula was just so happy throughout the night, even as we got home. As I got home around 12 in the midnight, I couldn't even hardly sleep because it all felt like a dream! I Thank God for the amazing blessing he gave me so much and it was really one for the books!