Month: June 2023

IVE royally owned the Philippine concert stage during their first fan concert at the Araneta Coliseum on June 17.

The Prom Queens Yujin, Wonyoung, Liz, Gaeul, Rei, and Leeseo set Manila in a daze when they performed their killer stages and spent time with their fans DIVEs in IVE THE FIRST FAN CONCERT The Prom Queens. Presented by DNM Entertainment, the show became a core memory for the ladies of IVE and DIVEs.

As one of the hottest K-pop girl groups at present, IVE have been steadily making waves in the scene since their debut in December 2021. They have released hits that have inspired dance trends on social media. Their song “LOVE DIVE” won Song of the Year in prominent award shows in Korea including Melon Music Awards, MAMA Awards, and Golden Disc Awards.

During their press conference the day before, IVE stated that they were nervous and excited about performing here, hoping that Filipino DIVEs can cheer for them during their concert.

As if on cue, Filipino DIVEs were more than thrilled to welcome IVE. Before the concert, they organized a fan hub at the Activity Center of the newly built Gateway 2 Quantum Annex where a built-in overhead screen projected their idol’s music videos and life-sized photo standees were displayed for photo ops. Local fanbases also gave out freebies to their fellow fans. Of course, this was only the tip of the iceberg.

“After LIKE” was IVE’s welcoming hymn and immediately, roaring cheers and applause were heard all throughout the Big Dome. DIVEs were so into it, their energy and cheers were so intense, it only got stronger as the evening progressed. This was followed by “Take It”, “My Satisfaction” and “ROYAL”.

Indeed, as their fan concert title goes, the stage set-up was fit for The Prom Queens. There were LED screens so big, they filled the whole background of the stage. A posh school building, reminiscent of high-society dramas was projected before the show started. An extended T-stage was also a nice touch, giving the crowd a closer look at their performances.

IVE’s fan concert in Manila was also filled with moments of firsts. For one, Manila was IVE’s first stop for their Asia Tour. For another, it was the first time for them to showcase stages that they had not performed in their previous concerts. Filipino DIVEs were the first to see the live stages for “Kitsch” and “I AM”.

In between performances, there were games between the members. The girls grouped themselves into three pairs. Gaeul and Yujin called themselves Team Manila, Liz, and Rei were Team Couple, and Wonyoung and Leeseo chose to be Team Halo-Halo. They participated in multiple-choice questions and silhouette dance challenges. Each team did their best to answer the questions, flexing their suave dance moves to different popular K-pop songs.

The fan concert also showcased IVE’s unit stages. Wonyoung and Rei performed a fierce cover of Meghan Trainor’s “Me Too”. Yujin and Liz sang an enthralling duet of Jessie J’s “Flashlight”. Gaeul and Leeseo blazed with their cover performance of Blackpink’s “Kill This Love”.

DIVEs also prepared a special surprise video, showing the girls’ journey as a group thus far. The ladies of IVE were very grateful to the crowd for their warm reception and vowed to return soon. “Today’s performance was so hot! I don’t know if it’s because of the weather or because of DIVEs,” Yujin exclaimed. Wonyoung added that the surprise became memorable for them.

“Ever since we were in Korea, I waited for this day to come to PH. The atmosphere was off the roof so we all had a great time. Thank you very much for giving us your warm greetings in the video, our hearts were also warmed by this! We’ll make sure that we’ll come here more often.”

Rei was brought to tears when it was her turn to speak. “It has been so long since I performed in front of DIVEs so I was very nervous. I was really happy to see DIVEs in Manila who gave us so much positive energy and love.” The other girls comforted her as she spoke, “I’m very happy to get to start this Asia Tour with all six members together. Thank you so much for waiting for IVE! I hope until the end, we get to create precious memories together.”

IVE THE FIRST FAN CONCERT <The Prom Queens> in Manila was presented by DNM Entertainment and In2une Entertainment. Special thanks to DNM Entertainment!

Words by Sandra Mae Laureano; Photos by Sandra Mae Laureano and Richard Esguerra

“When I lived in [the] Philippines, my dream was to be a singer. I’m a singer now.”

This was Woodz’s statement during the press conference for his 2023 WOODZ WORLD TOUR ‘OO-LI’ IN MANILA. Born as Cho Seungyoun, the K-Pop star spent a year of middle school in the country back in 2011. After more than a decade, Seungyoun has returned, setting the New Frontier Theater ablaze with captivating all-around talent, magnetic stage presence, and production excellence.

“Busted” hit everyone in the face with the ferocity of a Superman punch. With such an intense opening, one could only brace oneself for what else was to come. He continued on the rock streak with “Hijack”, and then “Love Me Harder”.

The night’s setlist initially included 21 songs, but he honored requests for “Pool”, “Accident”, and “Deep Deep Sleep”, as well as second takes for “Drowning” and Parokya ni Edgar’s “Your Song”. “Hope to Be Like You” ended up replacing “Better and Better” on the setlist due to popular demand. Even during soundcheck, he was only supposed to sing three songs but ended up singing five more on the condition that there be no recordings.

The artist and the fans played along well. Woodz listened to Moodz. He even dedicated time to read placards and grant requests, such as birthday greetings and singing snippets of his songs. Fans felt particularly giddy when he borrowed a guitar and played the first line of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud”.

Woodz himself had one request – to tear up the place. When he felt the audience could go harder, he would redo the song and make sure everyone was on their feet. He did it twice for “Trigger” and “Bump Bump”. Moodz didn’t take themselves too seriously, laughing it off when they couldn’t reach high notes or when they would miss their cue to stop singing, but rocking out whenever Woodz would ask for it was serious business.

Woodz is recognized as an all-rounder – he sings, dances, raps, and composes. He switches genres with ease, showing off his versatility with OO-LI’s diverse setlist that covers hip-hop, rock, R&B, pop, and dance. Beyond all these, he also possesses a great talent for making people around him feel comfortable. His easygoing chemistry with his band and his dancers made the performances a joy to watch.

He stood onstage with a mission to create great memories with Moodz. In the press conference, he shared that when people reflect on their experience, he wants them to “think of it as a healthy, happy, exciting memory, and [to] feel closer between artist and fans.” Without a doubt, it was mission accomplished. The venue sizzled with post-concert euphoria, and social media was filled with the kindest words towards Woodz, his team, the fandom organizers, and fellow fans.

There’s no telling when Woodz will make his way back to the country again, but he left a reminder for everyone to note until then – “Kalusugan, Kasiyahan, [at] Mahalin Mo ang Sarili Mo.”

The 2023 WOODZ WORLD TOUR ‘OO-LI’ IN MANILA was presented by PULP Live World and Happee Hour. Special thanks to PULP Live World and Happee Hour for the invitation.

Words by Marijo Endriga

Spring arrived in Manila on June 10 as PARK BOM held her first fan concert titled You and I at the New Frontier Theater.

A member of the ever-iconic K-pop girl group 2NE1, PARK BOM is known for her powerful vocals, killer fashion sense, and innate elegance. Her fanbase BOMSHELLs and 2NE1 fans BLACKJACKs showed up, clad in their best BOM-inspired outfits, matched with their fervent desire to see their idol.

2NE1’s “FIRE” blasted through the speakers, heralding PARK BOM’s entrance to the stage. She was welcomed with the loudest cheers and screams. This was followed by her soulful rendition of “Spring” to which the crowd heartily sang along to.

“You and I” was the title of her first solo single which was released in 2009 when she was a member of 2NE1. In 2023, the title just hits home as the fan concert centered around PARK BOM and her BOMSHELLs who have been with her from the start. The two-hour event also was an opportunity for fans to get to know BOM more and interact with her. During a short interview, she revealed bits of trivia about herself. When asked what song she listens to most these days, she answered “Die for You” by The Weeknd. She also stated that her biggest musical inspirations are Mariah Carey and Sandara Park.

Fierce dance battles were also held with the selected members of the crowd as participants. Like the queen that she is, PARK BOM sat on a gold-accented white Victorian chair as she watched them flex their best dance moves to the music of “FIRE”, “I Am the Best” and “I Don’t Care”, all 2NE1 hits. The winners got to have a photo with her onstage plus a printed Polaroid selfie as a take-home gift. In the middle of performances, she also went down the stage to interact with her fans.

When it was time for her to take a photo with the crowd, a surprise video made by her fans was projected on the screen. It showed clips from her time as a 2NE1 member up to the present as well as messages from fans. BOM couldn’t hold back her tears as she watched. She thanked everyone who came to her fan concert and said “Mahal ko kayo”.

PARK BOM You & I 1st Fan Concert is presented by Nuewave Events and Productions. Special thanks to Neuwave Events and Productions.

Words by Sandra Mae Laureano; Photos by Sandra Mae Laureano and Richard Esguerra

Gliding to an engrossing run of classic fan favorites, Per Sorensen of Fra Lippo Lippi gifted fans with an unforgettable music experience.

Following front acts DECADES, a local band, and Steve Hovington from B-Movie, 10 stunning song numbers made Fra Lippo Lippi faithfuls reminisce about the good old times.

Per Sorensen also shares how one of the band’s iconic songs was brought to life in an unlikely situation. He concludes his two-night show organized by DMC Philippines on June 17 at Santa Rosa Sports Complex.

Sparing no effort, the hitmaker Norwegian pop act proved effortless prowess as one of the forerunners of New Wave music. Opening the stage, the Fra Lippo Lippi lead vocalist and keyboardist set the mood with “Come Summer”, “Distance Between Us” and “Shouldn’t Have To Be Like That”. His soothing voice envelops the venue with ample energy

Raising the music groove, he sang “Angel” and made the crowd sing it together with him.

Settling in front of his keyboard, Per Sorensen chronicles the interesting back story of a well-loved track released in 2022. He relays how he was working on a solo album in 2001. Mentioning how there are events we can remember precisely what we are doing at that moment, he shared that the 9/11 event is one for him.

“It was horrible as it was. I remember where I was when the two planes crashed. I had my youngest son sitting on my lap trying to write a song. My son was all over the place. Usually, there are 4 lines in verses, not 5 or 6, as I did in this track. After I finished it, I faxed it right away.”

The song made during the 9/11 is actually the poignantly beautiful “Later”. Best sang like a confession, Sorensen delighted the audience in attendance with his crisp tune. After that, he raises the ante with an energy-filled performance of “Some People”.

Showing off his belting skills, he conveyed how he like “Beauty and Madness” and crooned to it while the crowd admiringly savor the sweet melody.

Switching to a piercing number of “Light and Shade” – Sorensen enunciated each line of the uplifting track that speaks about motivation and grit to live life to the fullest. Capping off the night, Fra Lippo Lippi’s Sorensen poured out emotions and matched the energy of raving concertgoers in “Stitches and Burns”.

Still high on music, Sorensen seals an epic music night with an encore stage of “Everytime I See You” which literally turned the venue upside down.

Indeed, a celebration of timeless tracks, Fra Lippo Lippi gifted a mesmerizing music night to adoring Filipino fans who made the event more colorful through their active engagement.

POS and Blackjacks glammed up as MINZY, one of the most prominent figures of the second generation of K-Pop, and hailed the “Dance Queen of K-Pop” headlined her first solo tour, GLEE, at the New Frontier Theater last June 4, 2023.

Minzy showed off her charisma and talent and the Filipino fans did not disappoint in returning the energy as this concert is possibly one of the most glamorous ensembles of concert dress-up we’ve seen! Glittered, painted in gold, wigged and glammed, POS and Blackjacks were memorable as Minzy for the party they’ve all been waiting for.

Here’s what the Glee weekend rolled out for Minzy’s thunderous concert.

Lovely Minzy

Ahead of the concert, Minzy held a short press conference with the media and a couple of lucky fans who won the raffle to get up close and personal with the star.

Minzy had a subdued aura but shone brightly as she delighted the fans and media with her short and humble answers to the questions. She endearingly recalled her most memorable experience in the Philippines where she had a dance battle with Jollibee! She also mentioned that the Philippines feels like her second home at this point with the number of times she has visited. In coming back to the Philippines, she mentioned she is delighted to meet the Pinoy fans again after the pandemic and wants to strengthen her relationship with them, and with this, she gave a piece of advice to not have any regrets and just to have fun.

The star took a picture with the fans towards the end of the session, telling the fans that she was excited to meet them again the next day.

Fantabulous Night with the Dancing Queen

The concert was jam-packed with her known singles, covers, and 2NE1-coded hits that made all the fans jump and rave as a party should go.

She opened the set with a part of 2NE1’s song “CRUSH” and remixed it with her own “NINANO”, followed by “Fantabulous”. It wouldn’t be a Minzy show if there wasn’t a dance break so she went on and shook the stage with famous TikTok hits like “Savage” and other remixes of “All Of You Say” and On & On.

The 2NE1 tracks she sang that are known to pretty much every K-Pop fan are “‘I AM THE BEST”, “HAPPY” and “I Don’t Care (reggae version)”, which gave so much nostalgia for the 2nd generation of KPOP. You can see that these songs are already considered classics and will always be played and sung by everyone.

Minzy also covered “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran and showcased her deep, alto voice that we dare not underestimate. We know that Minzy is known for dancing but she’s always been noted as a great singer. She told the fans she sang this song because she thinks that all the POS and Blackjacks are perfect! This intimate moment of the night proved just that and everyone was not surprisingly mesmerized. She also covered a ballad version of “Me Gustas Tu”, originally in a duet with Taeil of Block B and originally sung by GFriend.

She also sang some of her songs like, “Teamo”, “Flashlight” which featured Jay Park in the record, “ING”, “Superwoman”, and “Beautiful Lie” mostly plucked from her debut solo album, MINZY WORK 01 UNO.

A remarkable performance was her song “LOVELY” where she sang the Tagalog version, a song the Filipino fans treasure. How many times does your Korean idol ever sing a Tagalog version of a song? It only goes to show that the Filo POS and Blackjacks are extra special to the heart of the artist.

As special as Minzy treats her Filipino fans, she also reciprocated with a video fan project that made the star emotional while watching. It showed a glimpse of Minzy’s journey throughout her career as a part 2NE1, her debut days, and as a soloist. Overwhelmed, Minzy told the crowd that the Philippines is truly her second home and told them “You guys are my family. I love you. Mahal ko kayo!”. With this, she sang the acoustic version of “Come Back Home” by 2NE1, a significant song for the group as it was the last title track for their last official full album.

She returned to the stage for an encore with “I AM THE BEST” and “GO AWAY”, both smashing hits from 2NE1, and closed the night by telling everyone that she is, “THRILLED to perform this show on stage in Manila! I’m happy that you Pinoy fans are having a gun with so much passion!”

The concert may only be just for one night, but it will be remembered by all Filipino POS and Blackjacks who have followed Minzy’s journey as a member of 2NE1 and now as a solo artist. Always welcome on our shores, the Filipino fans again did not fall short in showing their never-ending love and passion for their favorite artist, this time for our favorite dancing queen Minzy. It is undeniable that one of the most loyal fanbases right now is the POS and Blackjacks as they never failed to pump and lose control when they hear the 2NE1 beat and scream, “naega jeil jal naga!” until their lungs burst.

MINZY 1st Asia Tour GLEE in Manila is presented by Neuwave Events & Production. Special thanks to Neuwave Events & Production.

Words and photos by Arielle Elep

OVERPASS 2023 brought together three of K-Pop’s best solo artists for an evening of music, endearing interactions, and priceless memories.

OVERPASS: K-Pop Music Concert delivers on its promise to bring together R&B, soul, and hip-hop artists on a single concert stage for a global music gathering that celebrates Asian excellence in music. In this year’s offering, spearheaded by CS Concerts and OctoArts Entertainment, OVERPASS 2023 highlighted K-Pop music with a concert heralded by top K-Pop acts of their generations — EXO’s Baekhyun, B.I, and Jeon Somi.

Before the three main acts took on the stage, P-Pop acts G22 and VXON paraded Filipino talent with their pre-show performances. The girl group, composed of AJ, Alfea, Bianca, and Jaz performed an empowering and jaw-dropping stage of their debut single, “BANG”. Meanwhile, C13, Sam, Patrick, Vince, and Franz took over The Big Dome to showcase performances of their songs “The Beast” and “Breaking Bad”.

With the P-Pop acts upping the energy at the venue, the crowd was more than ready to welcome their favorite K-Pop acts to the Philippine concert stage. Denise Laurel, the evening’s host, cued the start of the concert, welcoming everyone to OVERPASS 2023 and earning loud cheers filled with excitement and nervous anticipation.

South Korean rapper, and singer-songwriter, B.I, performed his popular song “BTBT” to formally kick off the K-Pop music extravaganza. Following his solo concert in March, the rapper made his second trip to the nation this year, and he performed no less than phenomenal and fiery renditions of 18 of his songs. B.I certainly won the audience with an almost hour-long set that included performances of his hits, “BTBT”, “One and Only”, “Waterfall”, “TTM”, “Illusion”, “Got It Like That”, “Illa Illa”, “Middle with You”, and “Endless Summer”.

Manila had the good fortune to see live renditions of songs from his most recent album, To Die For, which was released on June 1 of this year. Among the songs performed during the concert were “Michelangelo,” “Flame,” “Lover,” “Dare to Love,” “Die for You,” “The Island of Misfits Toys,” “Wave,” and “Beautiful Life” from the album To Die For. The rapper also took to the Philippine concert stage to embark on Tiktok’s “Dare to Love” challenge. He said that he was always astonished by audiences and that Filipinos are unquestionably talented dancers.

B.I finished his act with the fan favorite “Cosmos.”

Jeon Somi took to The Big Dome stage after B.I, opening her set with “XOXO” and “What You Waiting For” off her debut studio album, XOXO. OVERPASS 2023 was the singer’s first live appearance in the Philippines since her debut. She did, however, mention that the event on June 11 was not her first trip to the nation. She even claims that the Philippines may have been the first place she ever went because her mother visited the Pearl of the Orient Seas while she was pregnant.

In addition to her flawless stage presence and captivating performances, Jeon Somi impressed everyone with her endearing attempt to learn Filipino language. She even brought a cheat sheet. With her adorable “hay naku,” “Mabuhay,” “salamat po,” and “charot,” she made everyone smile. She also admitted to loving mangoes and candy, Potchi.

She then performed “Anymore,” “Birthday,” and “Dumb Dumb” to finish her set.

As the lights started to dim, amidst much anticipation, the final artist of the evening’s show would begin, and the audience cheered louder and louder. EXO’s Baekhyun returned to the Philippine concert stage after four years, meeting EXO-L at The Big Dome. When the artist opened his act with “UN Village,” the crowd’s emotions were at an all-time high. He then greeted everyone with a big smile as a sea of Eribong hailed his return. With his pinky finger raised, Baekhyun also guaranteed that OVERPASS 2023 will not be the last time the Philippine EXO-L sees him on the local stage, assuring everyone that he will return.

The EXO member proceeded on his performance after “UN Village” with “Betcha,” “Candy,” and “Love Again.” Baekhyun also performed “Bambi” in the Philippines for the first time. The end of his performance was sealed by an affirmation of his commitment to return — with a pinky finger up.

EXO’s Baekhyun, B.I, and Jeon Somi were all present on one concert platform at OVERPASS 2023, resulting in a performance that celebrated music and produced treasured memories. It witnessed the reunion of Baekhyun and EXO-L as well as B.I and IDs. It was there that Jeon Somi first met her Philippine Sommungchis. Additionally, it witnessed the combined efforts of three fandoms, who greeted each performer with fervent applause and unrelenting enthusiasm.