M2M in Manila: 5 moments from the Day 1 concert that got everybody in their feels

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Spoiler warning: This article contains details on M2M’s performances that you might want to remain a surprise if you're watching Day 2 on Friday.

Everybody was happily surprised in 2024, when M2M teased their comeback. The duo broke up in 2002 to pursue solo careers after all — a short two years since the duo released their debut album “Shades of Purple," which holds their now-classic hits.

Though so much time has passed, M2M’s music has remained in everybody’s minds — and hearts — and all these came out naturally at their concert on Thursday night, the first night of The Better Endings Tour in Manila.

Here are five moments from the show that got everybody kilig, nostalgic, giggling, and overall in their feelings.

1. It’s like we’re back in the 2000s

It was nostalgia galore on Day 1. Aside from M2M’s music, fans made sure to physically show off their love for them, wearing outfits to fit the '90s vibe.

Several concertgoers wore “Shades of Purple,” and carried banners too. It was a true trip down memory lane, with the only difference being the presence of smartphones and purple lightsticks.

M2M is all set to play to this giant crowd tonight!@gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/InCYItGJa1

— Nika Roque (@rqNIKA) May 1, 2025

2. A giant karaoke session

It's safe to say that the M2M concert was one giant karaoke session.

For the song “Everything You Do,” Marion Ravn split the audience in half to sing parts of the chorus.

For the opening lines of the encore, “Don’t Mess With My Love,” Marion said, “I don’t even remember the lyrics now” which wasn't so much of a problem. Filipinos did not fail to sing it to her, and it led to everybody singing together.

But the most memorable karaoke moment of the night was when Marion and Marit Larsen sang “Pretty Boy.”

They might have been the only people onstage with their acoustic guitars, but the energy coursed like mad, as the crowd went wild the second it started.

Then towards the bridge, Filipino fans even sang the ad-libs and backing vocals of the track.   

Marion and Marit were visibly overwhelmed, and stopped playing their guitars to look at the crowd.

“Stop it, you’re gonna make us cry,” Marion said.

M2M let the audience sing one of the final choruses—complete with the second voice, of course — which got the ladies smiling and giggling.

“You are the most incredible choir in town,” Marit said. “The karaoke was really helpful.”

She added that everybody’s voices were “perfect.”

— Nika Roque (@rqNIKA) May 1, 2025

3. M2M is all grown up

Marion and Marit are far from the teenagers who wrote their famed love songs. The duo has been re-recording their greatest hits and in turn, also rediscovering each other and their friendship.

The duo opened up about their rekindled friendship, 23 years since M2M broke up as a band.

It all started in 2024 when they met each other at a coffee shop by pure coincidence.

Marit said, “I was running late, as I always am, unfortunately. And Marion had a flat tire on her car. And there we were in line at the coffee shop, just the two of us. Nobody else in the room.”

“It felt like destiny was playing us a trick,” Marit said. “And we’re having that truth being reinforced every night.”

Marion said they decided to meet for coffee days later, and they talked for five hours “about everything.”

Marion added, “Then we decided, let’s go on tour. Let’s do what we always have done.”

Their songs have also taken on a whole new meaning. Like “Pretty Boy,” written about their teenage crush.

Marion said, “But now, I have a son. He’s one and a half years old. And now, I feel like this song is about him.”

She added, “So I wanna dedicate this song to my son, and to all you mothers out there.”

And speaking of all grown up, one memorable merch item would be the blue and pink onesies for fans who are now parents, titos, and titas.

— Nika Roque (@rqNIKA) May 1, 2025

4. Solo songs take the stage

M2M made sure to share their solo songs with the Manila audience. Some were performed together, while others were done individually with the band backing them up.

Marion performed “The Minute,” “Here I Am,” and “Driving.” She also performed what is considered a classic karaoke song, her rendition of Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”

“While you were singing M2M in your bedroom, I was singing Celine Dion in my bedroom,” she said. “I think you know it as well. This is actually a really good karaoke song.”

Meanwhile, Marit’s solo work “I Don’t Wanna Talk About It,” “Under the Surface,” and “If a Song Could Get Me You,” were also performed.

Marion called “Under the Surface” as “one of the best pop songs ever written.” She also told Marit to add it to the setlist as she wanted to hear it every night.

5. So much love

Filipinos’ love for M2M started way before the concert. According to Marion, the Philippines was among the first shows announced, “and it sold out in 20 minutes. That’s crazy.”

Marit added, “Thank you for making us feel so welcome, this is crazy.”

And during the concert, M2M showed their love back beyond saying “mahal kita,” “salamat,” and “kumusta ka.”

M2M thanked fans for continuing to love their music even though they haven’t been active.

“Our concert would be anything worth—this idea would not make any sense if you had not kept these songs alive while we were gone,” Marit said. “I don’t know if you understand what this means to us.”

She also said during the show, “Is this really happening right now?”

Marion also surprised everybody by appearing in the audience area and getting closer to fans as they performed “What You Do About Me.”

Marion of M2M surprises everyone by singing in the audience. @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/Ydn5AbZEU9

— Nika Roque (@rqNIKA) May 1, 2025

During quiet moments, fans would yell out “I love you” to M2M, and during their performances, M2M would look at each other as they continued to sing.

Right before the final stretch of songs, M2M talked about a core memory they had in the Philippines from 2000, and said that it happened at SM Megamall.

“We wanna talk about one thing, though,” Marion said. “There’s one thing that we really, really remember from Manila and that is Megamall.”

She added, “We had an autograph signing. We were just gonna write some autographs, you know. And 10,000 people showed up. It was crazy. So we’re very happy that all of you came today as well.”

— Nika Roque (@rqNIKA) May 1, 2025

The penultimate song was “Don’t Mess with My Love,” which Marion said was originally not part of the setlist, but was added due to fans’ comments.

M2M ended the show with their debut single, “Don’t Say You Love Me,” which again, became a karaoke session with everyone standing from their seats.

The second and final concert will take place on Friday night. Are you ready yet? — LA, GMA Integrated News