M2M Better Endings Tour in Manila: They Did Everything Everything Everything!

- May 1, 2025, Thursday, Labor Day.

- Never did I expect that I would see M2M live in my life. To most millennials, the group M2M needs no introduction: M2M is a duo of two childhood friends named Marit and Marion who produced amazing hits from the late 1990s until they disbanded in 2022. Their most popular single is their first song, "Don't Say You Love Me," which was the theme song of the first Pokemon Movie (yes, the one where they introduced Mewtwo). 

- Many millennials in Asia, where M2M had a big following ever since, went crazy over the news that M2M was going to reunite for a tour called "The Better Endings Tour". I think that the concert was their musical love letter to their fans who supported them through the years even after their sudden disbandment at the peak of their careers. 

I haven't seen Araneta in a LONG LONG time.

Their first album is called "Shades of Purple", hence, the color.

Thank you for making Aranet very very cold because it was scorching hot outside the coliseum.

About to start!

- Since 2002, Marit and Marion separated ways and did not speak to each other for two decades until a chance encounter at a cafe in Oslo. That's how they reconnected and thought of doing a tour. The tour was scheduled to be held in single or multiple cities across the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong. Singapore, and their home country of Norway. For Manila, tickets sold out fast (within 15-20 minutes?) until they announced a second concert day, and one-day performances in Davao and Cebu respectively. I nearly wasn't able to get a good seat or even buy a ticket at all because my internet decided to crash on the day they sold tickets. Thankfully, I was still able to get a decent seat.

HELLO FRIENDS. (We didn't plan this, I went alone.)

IN THE FLESH!

They started with "The Day You Went Away", which was how fans felt when they suddenly disbanded.

I love the colors!!

- Fast forward to May 1, which was roughly 6 months after buying my ticket, I was rushing to find my seat at Araneta Coliseum, and seeing many friends from my generation giddy and with a new sense of youth. (I suppose most of us are currently "slaves" of capitalism, hence, work is life.) 

They sang some of their original songs too, from when they made solo music post-M2M.

There was the occasional story time, to better contextualize how they came up with the idea of having this tour.

- The roughly 90-minute concert featured all their songs from their two albums. They didn't mind us singing along, and because we're Filipinos, there were instances when we'd provide the backup or second vocals to Marit and Marion. 

Marion appearing from the audience after a costume change. This was when they sang "What You Do About Me".

They really encouraged all of us to sing along. I think they were also happy with the Filipinos' karaoke training!

Some songs we really missed and were glad to sing along to: "Mirror Mirror", "Everything You Do", "Everything", and "Pretty Boy" (though this last one isn't really my jam, but I know it's a fan favorite.)

How do they still look this young!

- M2M supposedly ended the concert with another banger, "Everything". But of course, a concert isn't a concert without an encore, and ended the night with "Don't Say You Love Me" (as if we would allow them to end the concert without the one that started it all!!)

I think this was "Don't Say You Love Me".

It's over. :( :( :( :(

Fantastic concert: direct to the point and delivered what everyone wanted!

Thank you for the gift of music!! <3 <3 <3 <3

- As someone who isn't a frequent concert-goer, a difference in routine does wonders at times. Watching M2M reminded me of simpler times in my life, when I wanted to become a Pokemon trainer (or a Power Ranger!!) and just created imaginary worlds with my neighbor-playmates. The best thing about the M2M concert, apart from the songs, was that Marit and Marion didn't look like they aged a bit! And I guess, that made me feel better about myself. Thank you M2M for giving me an amazing night!