More mature Aaron Carter makes fans giddy again

Aaron Carter

The last time he came to the Philippines in 2002, Aaron Carter was only 14 and still enjoying considerable mainstream success. But not long after, the bubblegum pop era ended.

From then on, the pop star was beset with personal problems, and thus was unable to come up with a new album.

Sixteen years later, Aaron returned to the Philippines, this time as a hardened 30-year-old in the process of reestablishing himself as a music artist.

At his recent show held at the New Frontier Theater, he brought with him—at last—some fresh, original material for his now grown-up fans.

His new album, “Love,” features well-produced and polished songs that wouldn’t sound out of place in today’s pop landscape. He performed “Sooner or Later” and “Fool’s Gold,” which have had streaming success, as well as “Bad 2 Good,” “Hard to Love” and “Dearly Departed.”

The best thing about these songs? They were all written and produced by him, said a visibly proud Aaron, who had Jayda Avanzado and Claudia Barretto as the night’s front acts.

While the crowd was thrilled to see and hear a more mature Aaron, the fans couldn’t help but turn into giddy kids again, when the American performer turned on the nostalgia by revisiting his perky pop tunes from the late 1990s and early 2000s, like “I’m All About You” and “I Want Candy.”

And for a moment, it was—as one of his hits goes—“Aaron’s Party” all over again. —ALLAN POLICARPIO