Manila's 2010 concert scene kicked off with American pop & R&B singer Ne-Yo on Saturday, January 9 at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds, in a show called The Gentleman is Back: Ne-Yo: Live in Manila.

More than a year after his first visit, the singer-songwriter and record producer performed his worldwide hits including "Because of You," "Mad," and "Closer." Together with his protégé, Jadyn Maria, Ne-Yo showed the audience why he's called the "Gentleman of the Year," with his dexterous choreography and skillful vocal acrobatics.

SPOT.ph caught up with songwriter of the chart topping songs, "Irreplaceable," "Bleeding Love," and "Take a Bow" in an interview where he shared with the press what it was like to collaborate with 'Diva' Mariah, falling on stage, and who he's rooting for in the forthcoming Grammys:

1. His fashion sense is 'comfortable'. While most celebs go for "form before function," Ne-Yo says he dresses for comfort. "I won't be pimped up in a suit just because it looks good, I make sure that all the suits I have I can move in them, because that's who I am, my fashion sense is comfortable."

2. He thinks clothes don't make a guy a gentleman. Ne-Yo says that a true gentleman is the kind of person that is personable and polite. "I think a lot of people think that you just need to put on as suit and you're a gentleman, but that's definitely not the case. Style is just one element of being a gentleman, you can't just put on a suit, a fedora, a tie and go, ' Oh I'm a gentleman now.' It starts in here, and you work it out to your clothes."

3. Working with 'Diva' Mariah Carey was a learning experience. Ne-Yo recently worked with Mariah Carey for her remix album of Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, specifically for her song, "Angels Cry." He has this to say about Mariah: "Working with Mariah was a learning experience. Her level of professionalism is almost double what mine is and the thing is, you won't expect it. Normally, when you see Mariah, you just see the glitz and the glamour, and she's a diva, she's fabulous… but when it's time to work she focuses and gets the job done."