Journey Gesta
May 26, Kia Theatre – The “Total Performer,” Darren Espanto, has proved once again that he is, without doubt, one of the most talented young artists in the country, showcasing his prime vocals and fantastic grooves in his birthday concert, “UNSTOPPABLE,” with Vivo as one of the primary presenters together with Talk N Txt, Jollibee and Metro Dental.
Seeing Darren perform live for the very first time, I knew exactly what to expect: that Darren would own the stage, just like what he had always done on television.
In fact, the performance he gave on Saturday was more than what I had expected. From his laudable acts, one would immediately conclude that the young star, indeed, had worked hard for the awe-inspiring concert. To be sure, one would easily say that his career’s success is primarily rooted in his hard work.
The challenging line-up and the complicated dance steps made proof how versatile Darren really is as a performer. Most especially, it also confirmed that Darren is absolutely set to go even farther in the next years of his career.
An Unstoppable Journey to “Unstoppable”
Since joining “The Voice Kids” in 2014, Darren has been non-stop, indeed.
Despite finishing as the second best in the competition, Darren has been rained with round-the-clock projects, successful concerts, and numerous TV show guestings.
This idea actually inspired the title of his concert “Unstoppable,” last Saturday (May 26, 2018) as he remains unstoppable in the music scene – local and overseas – gaining various awards and recognition.
The concert had been special for Darren, not only for his post-birthday celebration but also because he had waited a year for “Unstoppable” to come to life. As we all remember, the Total Performer wasn’t able to do a concert last year, owing to his demanding schedule.
Under the musical direction of Nikko Rivera and over-all direction of Paolo Valenciano, “Unstoppable” was indeed an exhibition of Darren’s various talents, apart from singing, with each performance constantly leveling up the other.
Stopping Still for “Unstoppable”
Watching Darren myself, I couldn’t help but question where he gets all the energy, as his performances would level up from time to time. I thought he performed his best to one particular song, but Darren actually managed to step-up and outperform himself after each song.
He made it a point to always intensify each act by showing something new – something we didn’t know he can actually do. One could only stop in awe as Darren flaunted his strong vocals and smooth dancing skills.
For his opening number, Darren performed an upbeat (a bit metal) version of “Come Together” by The Beatles. His sparkly, Michael Jackson-inspired outfit really brought the maturity in his presence – as though saying that he is not anymore the Darren we used to know because he had finally grown to become the superstar that he is now.
His fierceness was contagious; and, as part of the audience, you would possess the urge to sing and groove with him.
Together with RNB Princess Kyla, Darren also performed a heartrending cover of “Stay with Me” by Sam Smith and “Huling Sayaw” by Kamikazee. His friends Kyle Echarri and AC Bonifacio also joined him for a dance showdown.
One of my personal favorites in Darren’s performances was his tribute to the 90’s boy band, Backstreet Boys, singing their famous single “Everybody.” His performance was so natural, groovy and fun; Darren obviously enjoyed himself as he even danced with Jollibee’s mascot in the crowd. Darren also had a trip down memory lane, recounting and singing his renowned pieces during his time in “The Voice Kids.” Notably, Darren also surprised his crowd by playing the piano as he performed with Jayda Avanzado.
One of his most monumental performances was his Broadway medley with the Concert King, Martin Nievera, singing “This is the Moment” and “I Dreamed a Dream” (from Les Miserables) together.
After their performance, Martin gave an advice to the young artist to always love the people who love him, because that will always be the secret to his success. Before his last act, Darren also had a dance showdown with Gab Valenciano. Fans were mostly surprised by how improved Darren’s dancing skill was.
Among the many artists that came to support Darren include Gary Valenciano (who was also supposed to perform with Darren, but wasn’t able to because of a recent open heart surgery), Jessa Zaragoza and her husband Dingdong Avanzado (to also show equal support for their daughter Jayda), Morisette Amon, Jed Madela, Ylona Garcia and Enchong Dee.
Unforgettably Unstoppable
Overall, Darren’s “Unstoppable” concert was a monumental success for his career. After the concert, one would definitely bring home the boogie and would surely have a last song syndrome to Darren’s “Dying Inside.” At 17, he is already a powerhouse performer.
We can only hope for Darren’s more successful years.
