Mon Laferte in Lima: a dramatic night full of tears and hubbub | CHRONICLE

Mon Laferte it is a star with a sparkle that refuses to go out. Free and captivating, her life is a melodrama set to music by her own voice. The girl who was born into poverty and achieved success by courageously pursuing her dreams, she is today a consecrated woman in the Latin American music industry. The tour that brought her to Lima to give a concert on Saturday night was also full of drama. Divided into three acts, the concert traveled through surprise, ecstasy and, unfortunately, also tedium.

It’s 8:00 pm and the Arena Peru is packed. From the front rows to the stands, artificial red roses adorn the heads of those present as a reference to the singer’s iconic accessory. There are only a few minutes left before the artist appears on stage, and a fan next to me shows concern about losing consciousness as soon as she sees her idol. “If I pass out, could you record the concert so I don’t miss it?”asks her partner quite seriously.

Norma Monserrat appears on stage, from the gloom, ready to transform into Mon Laferte for the next two hours. The lights come on and the intimate pop ballad “Even though you die for returning” kicks off the evening. It is the story of an internal struggle to get out of an abusive relationship, to which the public, in contrast to the energy of the theme, shouts and smiles.

“Thank you very much good night”, are her first words to the energetic audience that receives her. She immediately continues with “Tormento”, a theme with a similar topic to the previous one.

The lack of love culminates, and in its place rises “Eternal Love”, a song that she composed in our capital after a furtive romance with a Peruvian, and which has become one of the most celebrated of the singer. Attendees chant until the end and cheer with excitement.

Act I: Fear has trained us

“I have written songs in Lima and one of my best friends lives here. I have had some loves, some stories, many beautiful memories, and I am very happy to be back. Tonight we have sold out, thank you very much! I hope you have a great time”, comments Laferte after her first break, where she took off the long black jacket with which she began the show and reveals a pompous white dress.

In the distance, he sees the poster of a fanatic: “Mon, my mom wants to hug you, fulfill her dream”, she reads aloud, and happily asks that both mother and daughter come up to the stage, where in addition to exchanging signs of affection, the lucky ones take a photo with the artist. The show resumes with “Si Tú Me Quisieras”, a group song with Mexican instruments that makes the entire arena dance.

Tempers stabilize when performing “Algo Es Mejor”, “Química Mayor”, “Placer Hollywood” and other songs from her latest album “1940 Carmen”, which do not receive the same uproar from the public. It doesn’t help that Laferte has little interaction with the audience, throwing only a few winks or glances, but remaining static on stage.

Act II: My heart burns

A new costume change proposes a more captivating show. Dressed in a black suit that gives her a more powerful image, the Chilean artist sings “La Mujer”, a feminist anthem that claims the “passive” role of women in love relationships. Emotion overwhelms the first rows, whose occupants leave their numbered seats and form a semicircle impossible to disperse. Now they are closer to the stage.

It is the precise moment for Laferte to request the presence of his opening act, the Peruvian singer-songwriter La Lá (Giovanna Núñez), with whom he sings a duet of “Selva negra” and “Yo Te Qui”. Seeing them on stage has a certain magic, perhaps because both sing to female emotional liberation and have that complicity of “companions in struggle”, or perhaps it is just a mirage created by the dreamy harmonization of both.

After the warm farewell that the public offers our compatriot, the Chilean singer continues with “Se Me A Quemar El Corazón”, and ends the second act with her salsa theme, “Por Qué Me Fui A Enamorar De Ti”, which, although it encouraged her to dance, it did not have the same effect on the audience, more focused on recording the show than enjoying it.

Act III: Ecstasy

Up to this point, the show has passed without pain or glory. Despite the excitement of the most fanatics, a large part of the attendees kept calm humming the songs in a low voice. Just with the arrival of “El Diablo”, the stage really burns. A long red latex dress is Laferte’s new wardrobe change, with which she prepares to throw a party full of emotions.

The songs that helped her achieve her fame, “Pa’ donde se fue”, “Júrame” and “Amárrame” gave her a completely different vibe; the show woman hidden under all those clothes finally took over the stage. The public cried, sang and shouted their hearts out during the 20 minutes that this peak of euphoria lasted.

“Peru, my beloved Lima. It was a pleasure singing for you tonight. Many thanks. I love them, they take my heart”, he concluded with a big smile on his face. She turns around and her figure disappears from the scene. By way of closing the curtain, the big screen reads “End”. The credits roll and the public gives the last great ovation of the night to the star who, as seen in the show, is still light years away from hatching.