There was no Super Junior or Justin Bieber at the Big Dome on May 2, yet majority of the audience, many of whom are between 30 and 40 years old, received the Tears for Fears concert as if they were a bunch of tweeners.

The Tears For Fears concert, perhaps the most anticipated '80s-related event since the Michael Jackson open field show in 1996, simply made their fans forget about politics and recall their younger years to the tune of the group's biggest hits "Head Over Heels," "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and "Shout."
 
That is why when a celebrated politician's wife flashed an all-too familiar hand-sign when the cameras caught her, she was practically booed; as if the crowd was reminding her that Roland Orzabal, the band's songwriting genius, just stressed his disgust over "goddamn politics" while performing the Beatlesque track "Sowing the Seeds of Love."
 
Orzabal and Curt Smith, the bass playing and singing heartthrob, must have been aware of the election fever sweeping the country that they cooled down the temperature with music. From the "sort of intro" (according to Smith) version of "Mad World" to the last of two encore songs, Filipino fans expressed their admiration and respect for the legacy that is Tears For Fears.

"It's a thrill and honor to be here in Manila," said Orzabal who described both the crowd and its energy as "amazing." He noted that they've been all over the world and yet "it has taken so long to get to Manila."

The singer then broke into a wide smile when he realized he need not sing the first chorus run to "Shout" as fans took over from the get-go.
 
The concert was proved how '80s music has captured the Pinoy consciousness. The climax began when Orzabal surprisingly did his version of MJ's "Billie Jean," just before they brought the house down with a trio of big Tears For Fears songs: "Pale Shelter," Break It Down," and "Head Over Heels."
 
The group may have missed singing the wonderfully arranged "Mother's Talk" and "Change" but just hearing Orzabal's and Smith's live vocals and seeing them perform in flesh were such a treat that one need not ask for more.
 
"See you again hopefully soon," the group told the mesmerized fans, many of whom bought MCA Music's "TFF Greatest Hits" collection after the show.

The audience simply couldn't let go of the band who came and conquered Manila a week before the elections where, well, everybody wants to rule.