OPM singers and songwriters TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan welcomed their beloved Bituins and KZers into their world during their four-day sold-out In Between concert from February 6 to 9.
Held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the couple opened their show’s last day with one of their duet songs, “Simula” as they guided their fans to how their two different worlds met “In Between.”
In the first act, TJ eased into the evening with “Mahika” and “Ikaw at Ako,” instantly drawing kilig from the crowd.
He took a moment to thank the audience, sharing that he and KZ had prayed for the fourth night to be just as special as the first three.
TJ looked back on his successful solo run at Araneta last year, recalling how he once thought three sold-out nights were already more than enough. But this time, he stood onstage with his wife.
He also dedicated his set to KZ, crediting her for believing in him long before he fully believed in himself. TJ said that it was KZ who pushed him forward to do his first solo concert.
“Siya (KZ) yung unang tumulong sa kin, unang nagtiwala sa akin to the point na siya na gumagawa ng setlist ko. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘I will guide you in every step of the way as much as I can.’ Kaya gentle reminder po sa mga taong nandito na napakaimportante po na piliin niyo ang tamang tao na makakasama mo sa buhay.”
He continued with “Darating Din,” performed his Bisaya song “Kung Siya Man” for the first time in the series, and sang “Sariling Mundo” and “Tulad Mo,” while he went down the stage to hand sunflowers to lucky fans.
When KZ took over, the mood turned fiery and electric with “Toyo” and a powerful rendition of “Upuan” by Gloc-9, earning a standing ovation.
Balancing intensity with humor, KZ playfully acknowledged the celebrities in the audience, including Vice Ganda, Camille Prats, Yeng Constantino, Kyla, P-pop group G22, Piolo Pascual, Inigo Pascual, Catriona Gray, BINI Colet and Gwen, VXON Patrick, Eric Santos, Martin Nievera, Isabel Oli, among others
The laughter gave way to a vulnerable side of KZ as she introduced a newly written song that TJ encouraged her to continue doing: “This song is about a very special person in my life, hindi niya pa ito alam pero I wrote this one for my sister. She recently moved to New Zealand, mag-isa lang siya para maghanap buhay to give my niece a better life.”
“I started writing this song for her kasi hindi niya masabi yung nararamdaman niya kasi siya ang sandigan ng lahat… This is for all those who are choosing to be strong every day. This is for those who fight silent battles," she added.
She followed it with her rendition of “Halik Sa Hangin” by Ebe Dancel and brought the arena to a frenzy with Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” the same song she performed during her stint on Singer 2018 in China.
In the third act, the couple then reflected on how rare it is to fill concert venues, and how much more meaningful it is to do it together: “To be able to do this together, it's even more. Grabe yung pasasalamat ng puso namin ni KZ. Hindi namin makakalimutan ang apat na araw na ito.”
KZ added, “Sobrang grateful kami na magkaroon ng chance na mapakinggan ninyo and mapanood ninyo. Sobrang grateful kami. This is the kind of story that you will happily share with your grandchildren.”
She also shared her thoughts on motherhood, saying she wants to become a mother out of genuine desire, not pressure, a sentiment which TJ openly supported.
They performed “Ikaw at Ako Pa Rin,” a song they worked on a decade ago, and covered “Your Universe” by Rico Blanco while crossing an elevated bridge in the middle of the crowd.
In the next act, the couple shared how the concert’s title, In Between, came alive in their storytelling about their two different genres and two different personalities where they found balance through respect and understanding.
The couple then swapped songs, with TJ singing “Mahal Ko o Ako” in his style, while KZ added an aching layer of desperation to “Dating Tayo.”
Before the final act, actor-director John Prats joined the couple onstage and revealed that KZ had been worried that audiences might already be tired of seeing them, but that the doubt dissolved as they received recognition as the first couple to achieve four straight sold-out nights at the venue.
“Last year, TJ was the first sold out na tatlong araw dito sa Araneta Coliseum and now, TJ and KZ first time din na magkaroon ng sold-out na straight 4 days dito rin sa Araneta Coliseum,” John said.
Receiving the award, they became emotional and looked back on their journey in the past years.
“If you ever ask me na did I ever dream na tutongtong ako sa entablado na ito na kakanta na may manonood sa Araneta Coliseum, I would say yes pero did I ever imagine for my dream to actually come true, never in a million years. Hindi ko po inakala tapos sobrang blessed na po to be able to do it with my person. This could be another person, this could be another artist, but God, You chose us and we are really just grateful,” KZ said.
“Sobrang saya ng puso ko, laging tinatanong what's your dream and everything led to this. Gusto namin ishare na if this happens to us, it can happen to you too. What's for you will always come its way to you so hold on to your light and tell to yourself may all your dreams do come true,” TJ added before performing their new song “Hiraya Manawari.”
They sealed the night with a mashup of TJ’s “Walong Bilyon” and KZ’s “Huwag Ka Nang Umiyak,” before ending with their hit duet, “Palagi.”
TJ and KZ's In Between concert was made possible by Cornerstone.