M2M'S REUNION BRINGS 'BETTER ENDING' FOR THE DUO AND THEIR PINOY FANS

LONG BEFORE THE ADVENT of music streaming apps, at a time when listening to music meant putting on a CD or a cassette tape, there was M2M, the dynamic duo who dominated the airwaves in the late '90s and early 2000s.

- By CHARMIE JOY PAGULONG

For many Filipino millennials, M2M's tunes have become the anthems of their lives way back in their elementary or high school days. So when the Norwegian pop duo mounted the Manila show of their "The Better Endings Tour 2025," which was presented by Wilbros Live, it was a trip down memory lane for the titos and titas who have come of age, many of whom even tagged their kids along with them.

The STAR was able to witness the magic of M2M on the first night of their two-night gig at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The pop duo also held gigs in Davao and Cebu.

A sea of purple illuminated the Big Dome as Marit Larsen and Marion Raven opened their act with The Day You Went Away, accompanied by a live band. They then followed it up with another track, Everything You Do, from their debut album "Shades of Purple." For some, purple has become their favorite color as an ode to the Norwegian hitmakers.

A wave of nostalgia engulfed the venue as Filipinos turned the concert into a massive karaoke session the moment Marion requested half of the audience to sing the "everything you do" lyrics while instructing the other half to chime in on the "everything you say" part.

The two also had their moment to share their solo singles, The Minute by Marion and I Don't Wanna Talk About It by Marit.

"Mahal kita, Manila!" Marion told the mammoth crowd, most of them, avid fans who call themselves, Lillas.

The magical night would not have happened if not for an unlikely circumstance as the childhood friends from Norway confessed that they hadn't talked for over 20 years.

"We're so happy that one year ago we met each other in the coffee shop," Marion recalled.

"It felt like destiny was playing us a trick," Marit added.