9 Random Times International Pop Stars Appeared on Filipino Variety Shows
Dua Lipa on ASAP? Katy Perry on It's Showtime? Miley Cyrus on Eat Bulaga!?
Filipino variety shows are home to some of the funniest people on local television. From petty rivalries to quirky programs, they come up with the wildest stuff.
The international crossovers can be just as hilarious, too. Global pop stars have graced the Philippine airwaves for years now. It seems to be a proud tradition at this point. They can be pretty random, to say the least, from the Backstreet Boys to Sabrina Carpenter (with Shanti Dope!) Filipinos are, of course, always welcoming toward their favorite pop stars. Here are a few instances where they were really random.
1| Miley Cyrus on Eat Bulaga!
She came in like a... okay, enough with the "Wrecking Ball" references. Our ages are showing. Remember where or who you were in 2011? Neither does Miley. It's been a while and so has this video. Here we have a young Miley Cyrus with DaBarkads. Yes, that's "Party in the USA" in the background. She was in Manila at the time for a concert and she just happened to stop by, we guess. Cool moment as the crowd acknowledges her presence. The screams from the Lyceum students in front say everything.
2| Katy Perry on It's Showtime!
Oh my god. It's funny how often we forget Katy Perry's peak. There was a time when the "Teenage Dream" singer was battling it out with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift atop the global charts. It may have been a short run, but it was nevertheless quite the time for pop music. Here, during her first Manila concert in November of 2009, we can see her performing one of her biggest hits during that period, "Hot N Cold." The fan cams are interesting, aren't they?
3| Backstreet Boys on ASAP
During the pre-internet days, global acts had to go on obscure shows to attract even the smallest fanbases. In the '90s, on the cusp of the prime of their stardom, the Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, and Kevin Richardson went to the Philippines. ASAP in 1996 had them sing "Get Down (You're The One For Me)" in front of a decent crowd. This was the year they launched their first studio album, Backstreet Boys. Just creative.
4| Charlie Puth on Eat Bulaga!
In 2015, Charlie Puth was due for a concert in the Philippines, which would then be held at Eastwood (back when Eastwood was still a thing, we guess). The Grammy-nominated singer found himself playing the piano with the DaBarkds, singing his lyrics on "See You Again." Sidebar: Wiz Khalifa would go on to perform at the Paradise International Music Festival together with Kanye West at the ASEANA concert grounds in 2015. Just different times, man.
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5| Sabrina Carpenter on ASAP
What made this live performance of "Almost Love" on ASAP even more interesting is the fact that the singer performed with our very own rap star Shanti Dope. We used to be a proper country. By the looks of things, the crowd seemed to vibe with the peculiar rendition. Look at Sabrina now, performing around the world, touring with Taylor Swift, and dating Barry Keoghan. Good for her.
6| Dua Lipa on ASAP
Dua Lipa sa ASAP ???????????? ngayon ang mahal na niya ???? balik ka kween pic.twitter.com/sYmLe0ZDb7 https://t.co/9S4mdNh8ve
— Kara Tiñoko (@karatinyoko) March 29, 2024
For some reason, this video was pretty elusive (maybe it has something to do with Dua Lipa's reps). This was pre-pre the Dua Lipa we know now. She's become quite the pop icon these days. But before all that, she was a young performer trying to break through. Here's a young Dua Lipa singing "Blow Your Mind." While the internet kept clowning her dancing skills before, she's definitely come a long way. Look at her now.
7| 4minute on Wowowee
K-Pop has become a world-recognized enterprise these days. But before 2NE1 and BTS became, well, two of South Korea's most important exports, there were acts like 4Minute holding down the fort. Jihyun, Gayoon, Jiyoon, Hyuna, and Sohyun put on a decent show for this one. It was a sign of things to come, looking back at it all. How could we have known the Korean cultural stranglehold that was about to come?
8| Coldplay on ASAP
This one was pretty recent. You know, there's just something about Coldplay that just appeals to a Filipino audience. "The Scientist" and "Yellow," in particular, have a special place in Filipino sawi culture because we are a nation of yearners (?), we suppose. But more than that, we reckon it's just because we love singing anthems. Coldplay ended up performing "Higher Power," their new single at the time, on ASAP. The fans were, of course, beside themselves. Christ, Chris Martin should buy a vacation house here for all that he's done.
9| Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Scherzinger, lest we forget, is a Filipino, or at least 1/3rd of her is (she's of Filipino, Hawaiian, and Ukranian descent, apparently). Anyway, the Pussycat Dolls star grew up in America and happens to be a big, big fan of Regine Velasquez, among other fun facts you should know. Yes, she showed her Filipino heritage some love by performing on Eat Bulaga! in 2009. But did any of you see her version of "Pangako" though? If not, then you should seriously look it up.
