Philippine Concerts

Category: Concert Reviews

  • SEVENTEEN And Carats Team Up For A Concert Worth Remembering In “Ode To You” In Manila

    SEVENTEEN And Carats Team Up For A Concert Worth Remembering In “Ode To You” In Manila

    Words and photos by Danica Lacson

    Even before the lights went off to signal the start of SEVENTEEN WORLD TOUR “ODE TO YOU” IN MANILA, the energy was already high — energy that never waned, instead, continued to soar, in the almost three-hour-long concert that marked SEVENTEEN’s fourth visit in the country and third solo concert.

    There was no hint of tiredness from Carats who waited more than a year to welcome their favorite boys back to the Philippine concert stage and who kept their fingers crossed and hands in prayer for days with the hope that the concert pushes through in the midst of the 2019-nCov outbreak.

    Your energy tonight was really amazing that I also felt happy. I hope tonight will be a good memory and will give you energy. Let’s see each other soon.

    The8

    Precautionary measures were in place on February 8 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena with PULP Live World urging every attendee to wear face mask and undergo security check where body temperature and travel history were checked. PULP Live World’s Happee Sy-Go was also in close coordination with the staff and crew of the boy group, making sure everything is good on their end and that no member of the entourage has been to China in the recent weeks.

    And all these efforts surely paid off as a fun, aju nice show unfolded that evening, lighting up the arena with rose quartz and serenity and writing a beautiful ode that will be remembered for a lifetime.

    With fans singing along, cheers booming, and lightsticks lighted and up, SEVENTEEN once again dominated the Philippine concert stage where they kicked off the highly-awaited show with charismatic stages of the remix versions of “Getting Closer”, “Rock”, and “Clap”. The members, sans leader S.Coups who is on hiatus due to health reason, reciprocated the passion of their Carats with a zestful greeting of “Hello, kami ang SEVENTEEN” and self-introductions.

    The boys then wasted no time as they went on to mesmerize their fans with performances of their hits “Thanks” and “Don’t Wanna Cry”. But it was too early to get speechless as they have more treats up their sleeves that evening including unit stages of the hip-hop team, performance team, and vocal team.

    The members of SEVENTEEN once again reminded us of their immense talents and capabilities as they confidently showcased what they got as units. Hip-hop team sizzled with “Trauma” and “Chilli”, while the performance team brought out the beauty in “Lilili Yabbay” before heating up the arena with “Shhh”. Silence filled the venue as everyone marvels at the vocal team’s soothing and emotional stages of “Hug” and “Don’t Listen In Secret”. But the boy group did not end there as they gave us all the feels with a performance of “Space” by Wonwoo, Vernon, Mingyu, DK, and S.Coups whose voice resonated during the performance — an emotional treat that made Carats go “aww”.

    After making our hearts burst with emotions in “Space”, SEVENTEEN went on to warm our hearts with a sweet serenade of “Smile Flower”, a song they dedicated to their Carats who then returned the love by singing the song back to their favorite boys.

    Nostalgia then hit hard in SVT Museum, a segment that brought us back in time with a relay of performances of SEVENTEEN’s greatest hits such as the boy group’s debut song “Adore U”, the song that gave the boys their first music show win “Pretty U”, the track that won them a Best Dance Performance by a Male Group “Oh My”, and a full group version of BSS’s debut song “Just Do It”. The boy group also performed “Good To Me”, the Korean version of their Japanese single “Happy Ending”, and one of their latest track “Fear”.

    Aside from treating Carats with their utmost energy and hard work through their performances, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino also shared heartwarming words to their fans during their final ment. The members expressed their appreciation to Carats who came to the concert and gave their best energy tonight.

    “We had so much fun today. I know it has been a long time since the last time we came. You probably missed us a lot. We are happy to be back and see your faces. We really appreciate all the love. We hope to be back. Mahal ko kayo,” said Joshua. Hoshi also relayed his thanks to the fans for welcoming SEVENTEEN with such big love, leaving with a promise to have more fun in their next visit. He then left a sweet message saying, “Even though we are far from each other, our hearts are still together.”

    Mingyu echoed Hoshi’s promise and wished for the fans to stay healthy, not get sick, and be happy. DK relayed his gratitude in Filipino with “Manila, salamat po.” He added, “Seeing you guys enjoy the concert made us happy too. Please remember tonight’s concert.” Dino, who earlier called Manila Carats as “real Carats”, said they will repay the love of their fans with better performances.

    Seungkwan also shared that Manila has always been part of their journey, having visited the country since their first Asia tour in 2016 which was followed by Diamond Edge and Ideal Cut in 2017 and 2018, respectively. “Every time we are here, we are always touched by you. Tonight was the most touching moment of all,” Seungkwan said.

    SEVENTEEN WORLD TOUR “ODE TO YOU” IN MANILA closed with encore stages of “9-Teen”, “HIT”, and the never-ending and always fun “Aju Nice”.

    SEVENTEEN WORLD TOUR “ODE TOU YOU” IN MANILA was presented by Pledis Entertainment, Live Nation, and PULP Live World. Special thanks to PULP Live World for the invitation to the event.

  • Eric Nam Charms Manila In “Before We Begin” Concert

    Eric Nam Charms Manila In “Before We Begin” Concert

    Words and photos by Danica Lacson

    South Korean singer-songwriter Eric Nam delivered an unforgettable TED Talk, we mean, concert, at the New Frontier Theater last January 10, captivating Nam Nation from all over the Philippines with his live performances, wit, humor, and personality.

    EN Management, CJ E&M, and Onion Production brought ERIC NAM ASIA TOUR 2020 “BEFORE WE BEGIN” to the Philippine shore which marked Nam’s first solo concert in the country and the second stop of the Asia leg of his tour which kicked off in Taipei. And Nam Nation’s long-wait really paid off as the singer-songwriter treated the crowd with 100 percent of his energy, not withholding in giving the fans a one-for-the-books evening with all the surprises and treats he prepared.

    Nam opened the show with a string of lively performances of his hit songs “Come Through”, “Runaway”, “Miss You”, and “Good For You”. It was a big party, with everyone singing along and moving to the beat of every track. Still, the night was also a witness to the versatility of the singer-songwriter as he smoothly moves from one genre to another, dazzling Nam Nation with songs such as “Cave Me In”, “Lose You”, “Potion”, “This Is Not A Love Song”, “Honestly”, “Idea Of You”, and “Hold Me”.

    But it is not only his musicality that deserves the applause that evening as he also did not hold back in showing his dancing skills and his expertise in doing body rolls with his performances of “Don’t Call Me” and “You’re Sexy, I’m Sexy”. Completing the jam-packed setlist of the night are tracks from his latest album, Before We Begin, such as “Before We Begin”, “Love Die Young”, “Congratulations”, “How’m I Doing”, and “Wonder”, and his 2016 collaboration with Loco titled “Can’t Help Myself”.

    It was a show like no other — filled with music and interactions that were made extra special by Nam Nation who reciprocated the energy of Nam with their love and support as exhibited by the fan projects they prepared for the singer-songwriter. The crowd put up banners, lighted up the venue with the colors of the Philippine flag, and waved yellow handkerchiefs up in the air. There were gifts too, filled with thoughts and warm regards for Nam.

    And the sweetest treat? Nam Nation serenaded the singer-songwriter with “Pag-Ibig Na Kaya?”, the Filipino version of Nam and Cheeze’s duet “Perhaps Love” which was originally performed by HoWL for the Korean drama Princess Hours. Nam joined in, sweetly singing the song back to his fans.

    “Thank you so much for coming. Thank you so much for all your gifts. I will not forget this. Manila, you are crazy,” he said, which he also echoed on his social media posts where he wrote, “Thank you, Manila, Nam Nation. You guys were FREAKING AMAZING. See you again soon!”

    The hours may have been quick, but Eric Nam made sure everyone gets home with bountiful of unforgettable memories to look back to from his TED Talk a.k.a. concert. It was an evening of escape where everyone was simply on his or her feet, singing loud, dancing confidently, and having fun.

    ERIC NAM ASIA TOUR 2020 “BEFORE WE BEGIN” was presented by EN Management, CJ E&M, and Onion Production. Special thanks to Onion Production for the invites to the concert.

  • Tiffany Young Dazzles Manila In “Open Hearts Eve” Concert

    Tiffany Young Dazzles Manila In “Open Hearts Eve” Concert

    “Tonight is about feeling free, however the hell you want, singing as loud as you want! If you feel like moving, don’t be afraid to stand up and dance!” Tiffany Young said as she began Open Hearts Eve to a jampacked crowd at the New Frontier Theater on January 25.

    As a member of Girls’ Generation/SNSD, one of the biggest girl groups in South Korea, Tiffany is no stranger to our country. Her last performance with the group was at the Best of Best concert at the Philippine Arena on 2015. Having left SM Entertainment on 2017, she signed under Transparent Arts, an American entertainment agency, and pursued a solo career thereafter.

    The concert attracted multitudes of loyal SONEs (Girls’ Generation fans) and Young Ones (her fanbase’s name) who passionately cheered and sang along with her for almost two hours. The bright pink hues of the Girls’ Generation lightsticks (fondly called as Molar Bongs) filled the theater all throughout the evening. Fans also prepared special projects for Tiffany, including the synchronized lights during “Yellow Light”, plus the welcome and farewell banners.

    Tiffany was a captivating presence onstage as she performed a mixture of her original songs, cover songs and some nostalgic Girls’ Generation classics. The show progressed like a theatrical play with Tiffany Young as the main character. There were magnificent lights and elegantly choreographed sequences, all backed by a live band. This amplified the concert experience, making it more entertaining than usual.

    She made a fiery beginning with “Run for Your Life”, “Over My Skin” and “Heartbreak Hotel”. She then paid tribute to the divas she admired as she performed endearing covers of Destiny’s Child’s “Independent Women”, Lee Hyori’s “Invincible” and Uhm Jonghwa’s “Invitation”. More notably, Tiffany also paid homage to our very own Lea Salonga in her short but sweet rendition of “Reflection” and “A Whole New World”.

    Young Ones prepared a surprise video tribute for her which showed snippets of her recent interviews and some heartfelt commentaries from fans who expressed their gratitude to their idol. Tiffany, moved to tears by the gesture, was overflowing with gratitude as she took in the crowd’s cheers and jeers.

    She was also a beacon of positivity as she encouraged her fans to be open and to support one another. “That’s what ‘Open Hearts Eve’ is about — the fact that we can open up and embrace both light and dark, and hold one another, and be there for one another, not judge, and just love each other just the way we are,” she said.

    “The most amazing thing I have found with you is our voices. So no matter what it is you’re feeling, what it is you’re going through, don’t forget that this is the most powerful, most wonderful thing we have together. If we come together, there’s nothing we can’t go through. Thanks to you, I’ve had an amazing few years to step out and go after the things I want no matter the outcome. And guess what? The outcome is pretty amazing ‘cause I’m here with you tonight.”

    Tiffany has a flamboyant yet mellowly warm manner of speaking that highlights her caring personality. At one point, the crowd chanted “mumshie” (Filipino slang word for mother) which she accepted lightheartedly, saying “Mommy Long Legs! I live for that!”

    Another highlight of the concert was the finale. As Tiffany sang a stripped down version of Girls’ Generation’s “Into the New World”, the fans seated in the front row brought out big head cardboard cut-outs of the GG members’ faces, much to her surprise and delight. “I feel like they’re here”, she said. Eventually, she went down the stage to take the photos, saying she’ll be giving them to the girls. Later on, she posted a photo with the cut-outs with the hashtag #GG4EVA.

    by Sandra Mae Laureano

    Setlist

    1. Run for Your Life

    2. Over My Skin

    3. Heartbreak Hotel

    4. TALK

    5. Wrecking Ball (Miley Cyrus cover)

    6. Yellow Light

    7. Indepent Women (Destiny’s Child cover)

    8. Teach You

    9. I Just Wanna Dance/Don’t Stop the Music (Rihanna cover)

    10. Invincible (Lee Hyori)

    11. Invitation (Uhm Jung Hwa cover)

    12. Run Devil Run (Girls’ Generation)

    13.Runaway/City of Stars” (La La Land OST)

    14. The Flower

    15. Lips on Lips

    16. In My Blood (Shawn Mendes cover)/Born Again

    Encore:

    17. Magnetic Moon

    18. Run for Your Life (Reprise)

    19. Remember Me (Coco OST)

    20. A Whole New World (Aladdin OST) and Reflection (Mulan OST)

    21. Speechless (Aladdin OST)

    22. Into the New World (Girls’ Generation)

    TIFFANY YOUNG <OPEN HEARTS EVE> PART TWO in Manila is presented by CDM Entertainment. Special thanks to CDM Entertainment for the invitation to the press conference and event.

  • Silverstein 20th Anniversary Concert in Manila

    Silverstein 20th Anniversary Concert in Manila

    Silverstein Live in Manila

    Canadian post-hardcore band Silverstein had an epic performance last January 12, 2020 at the SM Skydome in SM North EDSA for their 20th Anniversary Tour.

    Silverstein Live in Manila
    Shane Told, lead vocalist of Silverstein
    (more…)

  • 10 Brilliant Moments We Will Never Forget From WINNER “CROSS” Tour In Manila

    10 Brilliant Moments We Will Never Forget From WINNER “CROSS” Tour In Manila

    Words by Danica Lacson ; Photos from YG Entertainment

    The year 2020 may have started roughly with all the local and global issues that plagued — and continue to plague — us, but in those hours at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last January 25, we forgot, albeit temporarily, all the worries as we cross paths with South Korean boy group WINNER in an unforgettable show — packed with outstanding performances and applause-worthy surprises.

    Marking their second solo concert in the Philippines, Jinu, Hoony, Mino, and Yoon brought WINNER [CROSS] TOUR to their Philippine Inner Circles who have been yearning to see them back on the local concert stage after a remarkable debut in 2018 with their Everywhere Tour. More than a year after, the boy group returned with bountiful surprises up their sleeves to create more brilliant moments in their third intersection with their Filipino fans.

    Look back with us on that memorable evening with WINNER at the SM Mall of Asia Arena as we list down ten brilliant moments we will always remember and keep with us while we wait for their return.

    #1 Those VCRs — the cool, the cute, and the “why-are-you-making-us-cry”

    WINNER kicked off the Manila leg of their Cross Tour with a VCR that showed off the charismatic and cool sides of the boys. It was reminiscent of an action film trailer with Jinu, Hoony, Mino, and Yoon taking the roles of the members of the mafia as they strut their way to the streets in black suits. But the second VCR presented us the cute and adorable WINNER who are full of child-like charms with their humor as they tease each other and try to act their part in the skit.

    And lastly, the final VCR which showed us Kim Jin Woo, Lee Seung Hoon, and Kang Seung Yoon as they look back in the beginning and how far they have come and as they relay their gratitude to Inner Circles and their hope to be together in this journey.

    #2 When they tried their best to communicate with fans in English and Filipino

    Hats off to the boys for the effort they put in communicating to their fans using English and Filipino. We appreciate how they opted to personally deliver their ments without a translator, giving Inner Circles the opportunity to hear the words from them.

    WINNER really went out off their way especially in terms of the Filipino words they said, diverting from the usual “Mahal kita” and “Salamat” and going for big words such as “Na-miss ko kayong lahat” and “Wag niyo kaming kalimutan” and even slang words “Charot” and “Solid“.

    #3 Every solid performances — from the party-all-night songs to the let-me-stay-at-the-corner-and-cry feels — we got that night

    WINNER definitely solidified their reign in the hearts of Inner Circles and leveled up the respect people have for them with their amazing stages of their greatest hits. Fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena witnessed the performances of 32 songs, including the solo stages and encore performances.

    The boy group started Cross Tour in Manila with “Everyday” and “Love Me Love Me” and went on to bring the energy up with “Island” and “Really Really”. After their introduction and ment, the audience got treated to hype-filled stages of “Mola”, “Dress Up”, and “Special Night”.

    Taking a break from the highly enegetic songs, WINNER shifted the atmosphere in the arena and filled the venue with emotions as they deliver soothing and beautiful performances of “Different”, “Have A Good Day”, “Raining”, “OMG”, and “Empty”. As if the feels they gave are not enough, the boys went on to take the stage one after the other, starting with Hoony with “Flamenco” and “Serenade”, followed by Jinu with “Call Anytime” and Yoon with “Instinctively” and “Wind”. Mino ended the solo stages with “I’m Him”, “Trigger”, and “Fiancé”. They then came together to perform “Movie Star”.

    But the Cross Tour will not be complete without the debut live performances of the boy group’s newest songs from their latest and third extended play Cross. Aside from “OMG”, “Dress Up”, and Hoony and Yoon’s solo songs, the boy group performed their lead single “Soso” and “Don’t Be Shy”. They also performed for the first time in the Philippines their single “Millions”.

    WINNER then wowed with “Ah Yeah”, “Immature”, and “Lala”, before closing their set list with encore stages of “Hello”, “Zoo”, “Really Really”, “Lala”, and “Everyday (Remix version)”.

    #4 Celebrating the Lunar New Year together

    WINNER’s concert fell on this year’s Lunar New Year celebration or Seollal in Korean which is considered as one of the most important traditional holidays in South Korea. Seollal marks the start of the Korean calendar.

    The boys celebrated the special holiday with Philippine Inner Circle where they even wore hanbok or the traditional Korean clothing. They then gave everyone a big bow as they greet the audience “Happy New Year”. The members also relayed their well-wishes for this year, wishing everyone safety and good health.

    #5 Those interactions between WINNER and Inner Circles

    In case you did not know, prior to the concert, WINNER had a fan signing event where lucky Inner Circles were able to meet and greet Jinu, Hoony, Mino, and Yoon up close. Aside from the fan signing event, the concert itself was full of moments where the boys really went out their way to interact with fans.

    The members utilized their stage well, going around and trying to come closer to their fans as possible. Hoony eevn went his way to approach the audience area — and props to Inner Circles, they really lived up to their nickname as a behaved fandom as the respected the singer’s space despite the close proximity and not crossing the line.

    We also appreciate the effort of the boys to interact with fans at the seated sections of the arena, trying their best to scan the whole venue and say hi to everyone. And speaking of fan service, brace yourself, ’cause WINNER members are full of surprises (*ehem* Hoony *ehem).

    #6 When Hoony and Mino dropped an impromptu song number

    While delivering his ment, Hoony decided to create a song using “Wag niyo kaming kalimutan” as lyrics! Mino and the band decided to join him, creating a fun song number that we will never forget.

    #7 Yup, WINNER accepted the #TalaChallenge

    You probably know by now that WINNER took on the viral #TalaChallenge where the boys danced “Tala” by Sarah Geronimo. The KING LEE SEUNG HOON, the master dancer and the man full of ideas, dedicated time and effort to learn the dance steps of the song which became phenomenal in the country last year. He impressed everyone with his amazing cover — as Yoon said “SOLID”!

    And it was truly a solid evening because Jinu, Mino, and Yoon gamely joined Hoony in performing “Tala”. After learning the steps from Hoony, the whole group made the arena squeal in excitement as they took on the #TalaChallenge together. The boys seemed to be fond of the dance as we caught them stealthily doing the moves for the rest of the concert.

     

    But the true mastermind of the #TalaChallenge — and another surprise in Cross Tour in Manila is…

    #8 Sandara Park in the houuuuuse!

    The ever-supportive sunbae Sandara Park joined Philippine Inner Circles in supporting WINNER’s concert. She was proudly watching her hoobae-deul and taking videos of their performance like a proud fan. Along with the 2NE1 member, BIGBANG’s TOP’s sister and nephew were also present in the concert.

    And as we previously mentioned, yup, Sandara Park is the mastermind behind the “Tala” dance moment! In a tweet, Dara said she sent Hoony a video of the dance. Expressing her pride for her junior, she said she is impressed that the WINNER member got the moves immediately. “Ang galing-galing m Teacher Seung Hoon,” she wrote.

    #9 When Inner Circles worked together for the success of their fan projects

    Last year, Philippine Inner Circles left a lasting impression as they light up the arena while singing “Movie Star” and waiting for their favorite boys to come out. This year, the fandom came together once again for a number of fan events to make Cross Tour a lasting memory for WINNER.

    Fans prepared fan banners for the boys including a birthday banner for Yoon. They also sang “Hello” while waiting for the encore. And SM Mall of Asia Arena was filled with loud cheers and was painted nebula blue that night.

    #10 When WINNER promised to come back

    During their final ment, the members expressed their appreciation for the fans’ love and their gratitude to be back in the Philippines for a concert, as well as, promising to never forget the memories and to boldly and happily face the new year with Inner Circles.

    We will hold on to the boys’ promises to come back to the Philippines and meet their beloved Inner Circles again. As they wait, we are 100 percent sure that fans will never forget the boys and continue to journey with them.

     

    Wag niyo kaming kalimutan, said Hoony. And with all the brilliant moments created last Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, no one will forget. Everyone will remember the memories and hold on to them until the next meeting, right, Inner Circles?

    WINNER [CROSS] TOUR IN MANILA is presented by YG Entertainment, Live Nation, and PULP Live World. Special thanks to PULP Live World for the invitation to the event.

  • Kim Myung Soo Gifts Fans With Unforgettable “Sana All” Moments In His Manila Fan Meeting

    Kim Myung Soo Gifts Fans With Unforgettable “Sana All” Moments In His Manila Fan Meeting

    Words by Danica Lacson

    Photos by Ruth Leen and Amor Amores

    The years of waiting of fans for the return of South Korean singer-actor Kim Myung Soo in the Philippines finally came to an end last January 12 at the New Frontier Theater with a sweet treat of beautiful performances, cute interactions, and unforgettable moments from the Angel’s Last Mission: Love star.

    CDM Entertainment granted the wish of eLements and Inspirits, bringing the singer-actor, also known by his stage name, L, in the Philippines through his solo fan meeting tour 2020 KIM MYUNG SOO “COME WITH ME” FAN MEETING IN MANILA. The event marked the first solo show of the Infinite member in the country and his first visit after a long time.

    A Meeting With The Press: What’s Next For Kim Myung Soo?

    As it has been a while since his last visit in the Philippines, Kim Myung Soo admitted feeling nervous to stand in from of his fans especially since, in comparison to his previous visits where he had six brothers to lean on to, this time, he came alone. Still, the dashing singer-actor, who remains youthful and full of energy, cannot hide his excitement to return on stage and greet eLements and Inspirits again.

    Before his highly-awaited fan meeting event, the Angel’s Last Mission: Love star greeted the members of the media for a press conference in the morning of January 12 at Novotel. He was animated in the whole duration of the press conference, giving his best smiles and answering the questions with zest.

    He said he wants to explore Manila by foot, earning surprise reactions from the press who are well-aware of the struggles with heat and bad traffic in the Metro. But, the singer-actor was optimistic in his desire to go around the city — He will do it at night when the temperature is lower and the wind is better. He also showed his interest in trying out Filipino food.

    But the plan to explore Manila may have to wait as Kim Myung Soo is currently working on a tight schedule with an upcoming drama in the works. Even prior to his fan meeting in Manila, the singer-actor had been busy, having starred in the KBS2’s drama Angel’s Last Mission: Love as Kim Dan, an angel — a role he described as uncommon in South Korea. According to him, playing Kim Dan was a learning experience. Surely, that experience paid off as his portrayal in the drama earned him a Best New Actor award from the 12th Korea Drama Awards.

    And although Kim Myung Soo is willing to play all sorts of roles, his concentration at the moment is on being a cat for his comeback with another KBS2 drama, Welcome, where he takes on the character of Hong Jo, a cat which turns into a human. He currently immersing himself in the character — something he always does for every character he plays — to bring out the best acting. He added that his role in Welcome is very different to his previous roles and that fans can look forward to see another side of him.

    Aside from a drama, the singer-actor is also looking into coming back as a singer this year through the release of a solo album. Although no specific details have been laid out as of the moment, he is very much passionate on returning to the music scene and treating his fans to his songs. For variety shows, he admitted feeling intimidated by them as he has a shy personality.

    Kim Myung Soo promised to show various sides of himself this year so fans can look forward to his activities. He also asked for continued support and love, which his Filipino fans surely gave during his fan meeting event.

    Kim Myung Soo Has Come To Meet Filipino eLements And Inspirits!

    Kim Myung Soo opened his Come With Me fan meeting at the New Frontier Theater with a beautiful serenade of “It’s Okay Even If It’s Not Me”, his official soundtrack for his drama The Emperor: Owner of the Mask. He then proceeded to greet the crowd, who reciprocated it with loud cheers and big smiles on their faces because, finally, the wait is over and Kim Myung Soo has come.

    The singer-actor immediately gave his fans a taste of what the evening will be like when he gamely granted a fan’s birthday wish to have him sing a “Happy Birthday” — hug included! But it was only the first of the many “sana all” moments we witnessed that night.

    He proceeded to share more about himself including very detailed account of how his day went. It was pure adorable with laughter echoing inside the venue as everyone marvels at the cuteness of L. (He apparently orders coffee at Star*toot* :D) He also shared that he does not like taking selfies, adding that he is not good when it comes to selcas, a shocking piece of information for his fans especially since he is one of the OG visual kings of K-Pop. (Second generation fans, where you at?!)

    Instead of himself, Kim Myung Soo, who is into photography with two photo book published under his name, likes taking photos of other people or subjects. Are you ready for another “sana all” moment? To prove his point, he called the fan who asked the question on stage and took a photo of her and a selfie with her!

    After melting our hearts with his sweet gestures to fans, he got everyone falling in love with his passion for his work when he talked about his dramas. Rating his interest in dramas, he said it will be at 100 percent as he is currently shooting Welcome. Going back to his statement, he corrected himself and said that at that moment, his 100 percent is with his Filipino fans *swoon.

    He then talked about how he gives attention to the character he is set to play when choosing a drama. For him, no matter how good the story is, what is important is if he can digest the character well and show his best self.

    Among the characters he played since he made his acting debut in TV Asahi’s Jiu, he considers his role as Lee Hyun Soo in Shut Up Flower Boy Band as the most memorable, while he named Im Ba Reun and Yoo Tan from Ms. Hammurabi and The Day After We Broke Up, respectively, as the characters closest to his personality. He also named veteran actor Sung Dong Il as the actor he wishes to work with again, revealing that even after Ms. Hammurabi ended, they maintained a close relationship.

    Meanwhile, for fans, L’s portrayal as Kim Dan is the most memorable, voting it as their favorite character, while Shi Woo from My Lovely Girl received the lowest votes. And this 2020, a new character will be added into the ever-growing list of roles of Kim Myung Soo as he stars in the KBS2 drama Welcome, opposite Shin Ye Eun. According to him, Hong Jo is someone whose presence is felt despite his physical absence.

    Alert: “sana all” moment coming through! Kim Myung Soo performed his OST from Shut Up Flower Boy Band titled “Love U Like U” and went around the venue to get close to his fans! (Next parts are not for the faint-hearted — “sana all” moments in bulk coming through.) He then played a human bingo game with the fans with the winner getting a polaroid photo and a hug from the singer-actor. The finalists who failed to win the game did not go home in tears, though, because the Angel’s Last Mission: Love star also gave them hugs!

    Two fans also received customized tumblers from Kim Myung Soo, complete with his signature and special message and delivered with hug. He then gamely took on the challenge to pose for his eLements and Inspirits and record a New Year message.

    The “sana all” of all “sana all” came when the singer-actor picked five fans to have a selfie of him and with him! Initially, only one lucky fan was supposed to get treated to the sweet gift, but L generously granted the wish of the crowd to pick one more, one more, one more, until it reached a total of five.

    Kim Myung Soo commended the fans for their passionate cheers! But L is not the only one with a surprise as fans also prepared a special fan project for him. A heart-warming video was played along with a special message of always being with him. “Again today, I’m going to you right now.”

    Come With Me ended with two songs from Kim Myung Soo and a promise to return to the Philippines and bring along the other INFINITE members.

    It may have taken him years to come back, but Kim Myung Soo made sure the wait of his fans will be worth it with all the performances, sweet ments, and unforgettable memories created in the 2020 KIM MYUNG SOO “COME WITH ME” FAN MEETING IN MANILA.

    2020 KIM MYUNG SOO “COME WITH ME” FAN MEETING IN MANILA is presented by Management Lee Sang, Applewood, and CDM Entertainment. Thank you to CDM Entertainment for inviting us to the event.

  • VICTON Weaves Unforgettable Memories With PH ALICE In First Manila Fan Meeting

    VICTON Weaves Unforgettable Memories With PH ALICE In First Manila Fan Meeting

    Words and photos by Danica Lacson

    Christmas came early for fans of South Korean boy group VICTON after the boy group treated them to an unforgettable evening of applause-worthy stages, fun interactions, and sweet display of charms in VICTON 1ST ASIA TOUR “VOICE TO ALICE” at the SM City North EDSA Skydome last December 21.

    Seungsik, Heo Chan, Sejun, Hanse, Byungchan, and Subin kicked off their first solo fan meeting in the Philippines with “What Time Is It Now?”, a track from their debut extended play Voice To New World which came out in 2016. They then sat down for a talk session where they shared their thoughts on their Asia tour, getting their first win, and coming to the Philippines.

    On holding their first solo event in the country, the boys admitted feeling worried and nervous. However, the warm and passionate welcome of their Filipino fans washed away the hesitations and brought them comfort. In fact, as soon as the members came out, Philippine Alice (VICTON’s fans) welcomed them with a sweet banner project to relay their support and express their love. The boys also shared more stories about themselves through the “Secret Photobook” segment where photos of the members or taken by the members were flashed on screen.

    Despite the gloomy weather outside, the venue was filled with bright smiles and happy hearts of fans as their favorite boys made sure their wait will all be worth it with a serenade of “Farewell”, a song from their latest extended play Nostalgia.

    While the boys prepare for another stage, a VCR of them having fun and playing games was played on screen, showing off their fun-loving nature and close relationship. Seungsik, Heo Chan, Sejun, Hanse, Byungchan, and Subin were so adorable as they take on the punishments.

    Everything was all bright and fun, until VICTON returned on stage with a fiery display of their dance skills to the tune of “Gangsta”, making our jaws drop and exclaiming in awe. They then continued to show that they did not come to play with a cool stage of “New World”. *applause applause 

    But the boys are the only ones deserving the praise because their fans were also the coolest with the hot response they always give the boy group. Seungsik commended Alice for the superb energy, while Byungchan shared his hope that the energy will be sustained until the end (They did!).

    VICTON then had a bit of fun together with their fans through a game that divided the boy group into two teams — Team Pabebe (a word they learned that evening) and Team Manila. The intense competition, which saw the members trying to make the audience guess the song name by dancing, resulted to a win by Team Manila. And although Team Pabebe lost the game and received the punishment of doing a sexy modelling, Team Manila generously granted the wish of fans and ended up doing the punishment as well!

    Before performing “Time of Sorrow” and their latest song “Nostalgic Night”, the members expressed their hope to come back to Manila with a concert and to release a new album soon. They capped off the night with “Light”, words of gratitude to their fans for a beautiful ending to their Asia tour, and a promise to return soon.

    With the Manila show, VICTON successfully concluded their Voice To Alice Asia Tour and granted the wish of their Alice to see them — a perfect gift for the Christmas season. And with their superb performances, lovable charms, and adorable personalities, the boys have surely captivated Manila and created unforgettable memories for their fans as they wait for their promised return.

    VICTON 1ST ASIA TOUR “VOICE TO ALICE” in Manila is presented by Play M Entertainment, P.E.E.P Events and Production, Inc., Istudyo Ni Pipay, and FanLive. Special thanks to P.E.E.P Events and Production, Inc., Istudyo Ni Pipay, and FanLive for having us.

  • The Rose Blooms In First Concert In The Philippines

    The Rose Blooms In First Concert In The Philippines

    By Sandra Mae Laureano

    The Rose held their first ever concert in the Philippines at the Samsung Hall on December 15. Presented by MyMusicTaste, We Rose You: Live in Manila was a resounding success as Black Roses (The Rose fans) screamed and sang their hearts out for almost two hours. Their current world tour, which started in August, has reeled in crowds across Europe, America and Southeast Asia. They are also set to hold encore concerts in Seoul and Busan at the end of the month.

    The Korean pop-rock band, composed of Woosung (lead vocals, guitar), Dojoon (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Jaehyeong (bass) and Hajoon (drums), is steadily gaining popularity globally due to their concoction of soft-rock that will catch your ears and slightly tug at your heartstrings.

    Although the show did come with some delay due to the band fine-tuning the audio set-up, Black Roses were treated to a live audio feed of the band’s soundcheck session, hyping up the show even further. Fans patiently queued up early afternoon until 7:30 p.m. just to snag the best viewing spots in the concert. The standing area was visibly packed with people up to the back.

    When the lights went out, the red glow of the band’s official lightsticks floated across the venue, the crowd’s cheers getting louder and louder by the second. They started off with ballads “I.L.Y.” and “Insomnia”. Immediately, fans were enthralled, singing along so intensely, the concert seemed like a huge sing-along with the band. This fervor lasted all throughout the evening.

    “Sorry for the delay. We’re gonna give you guys the best show today,” leader Woosung told the crowd in the beginning.

    Their setlist included most of their released songs with a few welcome surprises in between. It included “Candy (So Good)” and “BABY” from Void, as well as “I Don’t Know You” and “Take Me Down” from Dawn. The crowd got to hear the band’s unreleased tracks such as “Photographer”, “OMG” and “놓지 못하게 (Can’t Let Go)” which were songs from their time as an indie band circa 2015 to early 2017.

    The Rose also performed striking covers of LANY’s “ILYSB”, The Script’s “Breakeven”, Bruno Mars’ “Runaway Baby” and The Beatles’ “Hey Jude”. Each member also had their time to shine with their solo/collab stages: Dojoon with James Bay’s “Hold Back the River”, Hajoon and Jaehyeong with Before You Exit’s “Soldier”. Woosung showed off a groovier side of himself with “MOON” and “FACE” from his solo album Wolf.

    It seems the band was overwhelmed by the passion of their Filipino Black Roses who cheered and sang along from start to end.

    “You know we’ve tried this in many, many cities. We’ve tried London, Moscow, every city. I think Manila is the best crowd,” Dojoon said, looking around the members who, in turn, nodded in approval.

    “Manila has been the best crowd, the best country, the best city we’ve ever been to, so thank you! Thank you for your support! We rose you! We love you,” Woosung expressed his gratitude.

    They capped off the evening with “RED” which is their latest single.

    THE ROSE WE ROSE YOU: LIVE IN MANILA is presented by MyMusicTaste. Special thanks to MyMusicTaste for the invitation to the event.

  • Lee Jin Hyuk Shines Like The Sun In His 1st Fan Meeting In Manila

    Lee Jin Hyuk Shines Like The Sun In His 1st Fan Meeting In Manila

    By Sandra Mae Laureano

    If you weren’t a fan of Lee Jin Hyuk before going to his fan meeting at the New Frontier Theater last Saturday, you would immediately be converted into one right after stepping out of the venue. On December 14, the 23-year old K-Pop artist held his first fan meeting in Manila, and he instantly captured a lot of hearts with his candid demeanor and dazzling positivity. Much like his famed nickname “Baby Sun”, he showed that he can be an energizing ray of optimism and fun that his fans (called “V-Dans”) need.

    Lee Jin Hyuk first made his debut as a rapper of the ten-member boy group UP10TION in 2015. Four years later, he joined the (in)famous boy group survival reality show Produce X 101. While he didn’t make the cut, his participation in the show portrayed his many charms which, in turn, earned him the favor and interest of the general public. And what exactly are those charms? Read on to find out more.

    #1 Lee Jin Hyuk is naturally bubbly and funny.

    During the Q&A session, Jin Hyuk was so eager to speak. Sunny Kim, the emcee for the event, asked the questions in English. A translator who was beside him onstage relayed the message to him. He often answered in Korean while Sunny translated his words to the crowd. However, Jin Hyuk sometimes went the extra mile by expressing himself through sound effects and improvised actions.

    For instance, when asked if he had already tried any Filipino food, he said he hadn’t, but backstage, his fans gave him a gift. He then acted out unveiling a certain item, his eyes widening in surprise and gave out a resounding “woah” and said something like “there was a small pig”. As it turned out, that was his first time to see the Filipino delicacy lechon (roasted suckling pig). He said he wasn’t able to try it at that time (probably because he didn’t know how to eat it), but he was certainly intrigued. He promised to try it after the show.

    The fan meeting also included a slideshow of HYUKSTAGRAM (photos he posted on his Instagram) in different scenarios of daily life. It showed him taking a walk, doing photoshoots, taking selfies. Sunny remarked that even though he’s sweaty, he still looks good. Jin Hyuk wittily replied, “because I’m hot,” which had the crowd cheering and laughing. “Like the sun!” he exclaimed.

    #2 He takes games very seriously. And yes, he tries his best in each one, too.

    The fan meeting had a series of games, and Jin Hyuk was more than willing to take on the challenge. There was tumbang preso wherein he was given a giant rubber slipper to topple down a giant can. The catch: the slipper was extremely lightweight and would fly off in unwanted directions when hurled with full force. Jin Hyuk was in full-concentration mode as he tried repeatedly (and failed repeatedly as well), but with his determination, he actually succeeded. As a victory ceremony, he jumped around as if he won a huge tournament.

    He also aced the 2X speed dance for his title track “I Like That”, did ten push-ups, showed three aegyo poses, shot through rows of balloons, and danced “Havana” like a pro during the random play dance game. Although it must have been tiring, the bright smile on his face never faltered.

    One of the most memorable outcomes of the evening was the morning call challenge. Basically, he was tasked to create an alarm for the fans. He was hesitant at first, but he blurted out “Good morning, sweet darling”. As much as the fans were delighted, Jin Hyuk found himself uncontrollably laughing out of embarrassment. He even forbade V-Dans to post it on SNS, but of course, the recording found its way across the net. As a follow up to this, he also made a good night version in his V-Live two nights after the event.

    #3 His rapper name would be MASA-RAP.

    Jin Hyuk is mainly a rapper, but he has yet to be given a rapper name. Fortunately, Filipino V-Dans were smart enough to give him the name “MASA-RAP” which means “delicious”. Jin Hyuk, amused by the pun, tried on the name for a bit and did a short rap.

    #4 When he takes the stage, he owns it.

    After debuting as a solo artist last month, Lee Jin Hyuk is starting to make a name for himself as a performer. His album S.O.L gives a taste of his formidable rapping skills matched with his alluring stage presence. He performed the catchy “I Like That”, the dark “Villein” and the melodic “Follow Me & You” and he shone through all of them. While he might seem to be a goofball in daily life, he gets intensely serious for his live performances.

    Trivia: When asked which song is his favorite, he said he liked all 3 songs equally because it showed his different sides.

    #5 Jin Hyuk 60% legs. Literally.

    Get this: Jin Hyuk is 185 cm tall. His legs are 110 cm long. This was measured by Sunny Kim using an actual tape measure. The title “Daddy Long Legs” really does suit him.

    #6 He greatly values his V-Dans and HONEY10.

    One of Jin Hyuk’s most endearing qualities is his receptivity towards his fans. During the fan meeting, he wasn’t focused in being the center of attention. He was also keen on hearing what his fans had to tell him. Fortunately for him, Filipino V-Dans and HONEY10 (fans of UP10TION) were more than willing to let themselves be heard. He patiently listened to the jeers and cheers of the audience when they chanted “walang uuwi” and suggested the MASA-RAP rapper name.

    He also looks directly at his fans, in anticipation for their reaction to his words. At one point, he even mimicked a fan’s bewildered expression when he answered the question about his upcoming drama. (Another trivia: He was cast in a drama titled The Way He Remembers which is scheduled to air on March 2020.) He couldn’t reveal the fine details, but he gave out a hint: His role had something to do in the venue at that time. It was such a vague reply which probably explains the fan’s reaction.

    Near the end of the evening, fans had a surprise for Lee Jin Hyuk. When he was asking the crowd to pose for a photo, suddenly a tribute video made by his fans was flashed on the screen. The video included snippets of his time with UP10TION up to his moments as a solo artist. Jin Hyuk, visibly taken aback, expressed his sincere appreciation for V-Dans and HONEY10 fans, saying he wouldn’t be here without them. He vowed to develop his skills as an artist and actor and to come back soon.

    As a bonus, everyone in the crowd got to hi-touch Jin Hyuk before leaving the theater! What a perfect way to end the evening!

    LEE JIN HYUK S.O.L 1ST SOLO FAN MEETING in Manila is presented by TOP Media, Ganada Company, and CDM Entertainment. Special thanks to CDM Entertainment for the invitation to the event.

  • Super Junior Closes 2019 “Super Show 8” Concerts With A Meaningful Meeting Day With PH ELFs

    Super Junior Closes 2019 “Super Show 8” Concerts With A Meaningful Meeting Day With PH ELFs

    Words and photos by Danica Lacson

    From the jaw-dropping and magnificent stage design and lighting to the solid and entertaining performances and heartwarming fandom love, SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR – SUPER SHOW 8: INFINITE TIME in Manila was true to its name — it was, indeed, super.

    December 15 marked another milestone as Super Junior — the first K-Pop boy group to ever stage a solo concert in the Philippines back in 2010 — stages their fifth solo concert in the country, bringing the final leg of Super Show 8 for 2019 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

    It was a meaningful day for the boys, who returned to the Philippine concert stage after more than a year and following the end of all the members’ military service, and for ELFs as they celebrate 14 years of Super Junior’s outstanding career as a group and as individuals.

    Excitement resonated all over the arena as the lights dimmed to signal the start of Super Show 8 which kicked off with a mesmerizing show by fans’ lightsticks flickering to the tune of “Superman”. It was marvelous and breathtakingly beautiful, painting promising another SUPER SHOW.

    And the expectations were not wrong. The Kings of Hallyu delivered that and much more, opening the concert with “The Crown”, “A Man In Love”, “Bonamana”, and “Blue World” before proceeding to introduce themselves and poke fun at each other the Super Junior way. “Today is a meaningful day. Me and ELF, meeting day,” said maknae Kyuhyun who adorably tried to convey his message in English.

    It was truly an unforgettable meeting day as the boys packed their three-hour concert with a diverse set list of songs of various genres and from their different albums in the past 14 years. ELFs witnessed the first live performances in the country of “Heads Up”, “I Think I”, “Somebody New”, and “Super Clap”, songs from Time Slip, the boy group’s ninth Korean-language studio album released in October this year.

    The concert also reminisced Super Junior’s earlier eras and showcased the boys’ wide-ranging vocals through the stages of “Sexy, Free, and Single”, “Mr. Simple”, “Opera”, “Love Disease”, “She’s Gone”, “My All Is In You”, “Believe”, “No Other”, “Rokkugo”, “Devil”, “Shirt”, “Mamacita”, and “Black Suit”.

    Super Junior – K.R.Y. got everyone wowing with their impressive solo dances, while Super Junior – D&E and Shindong sweetened the night with a lovely performance of “ELF Song”. Leader Leeteuk and Super Junior’s very own Santa Claus Siwon did not also miss the opportunity to show off their dancing skills through the unreleased song “Hairspray”. The members also added spice to their performances with dance breaks that deserved our super claps.

    A Super Junior concert will never be complete without the legendary and timeless hit that catapulted the boy group to Hallyu King status — “Sorry, Sorry”! Leeteuk, Yesung, Shindong, Eunhyuk, Siwon, Donghae, Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun got everyone singing along to their greatest hits “Sorry, Sorry – Answer” and “Sorry, Sorry”. It was a nostalgic and proud moment, taking everyone back to the era that started it all for most ELFs in the Philippines before capping off the evening and ending a decade of Super Show with “Show” and “Too Many Beautiful Girls”.

    Super Show 8 showed us the immense and unwavering influence of Super Junior in the country, solidifying their reign as Hallyu Kings, as ELFs made the concert more beautiful thanks to their efforts and dedication. Fans came together to gift their Supermen with touching support projects including banners, hearts, and a special message board that read “I (heart emoji) SJ”.

    It was heartwarming to witness the solid passion of the fandom and the cheers they gave, not only the members present that evening, but to Heechul, who had to sit out of the tour due to health reasons and to Sungmin, who is currently on hiatus from the group activities. The fandom name is truly perfect because they are really the Everlasting Friends of Super Junior. As Leeteuk said, “There is no other like you guys.”

    SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR – SUPER SHOW 8: INFINITE TIME in Manila has ended with so much beautiful memories to look back to and promises to hold on to as we wait for the boys’ return with a new album and to start another decade of Super Show.

    SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR – SUPER SHOW 8: INFINITE TIME in Manila is presented by SM Entertainment, Label SJ, Dream Maker Entertainment, and PULP Live World, and powered by Globe. Special thanks to PULP Live World for the invitation to the event.

  • IU Meets MA-AENAs On A Friday In Her “Blueming” Debut On PH Concert Stage

    IU Meets MA-AENAs On A Friday In Her “Blueming” Debut On PH Concert Stage

    Words and photos by Danica Lacson

    Superstitions tell us that Friday the 13th is unlucky, but December 13, 2019 got us believing otherwise as South Korean singer-actress Lee Ji Eun, also known by her stage name, IU, treats everyone at the SMART Araneta Coliseum with the luckiest and most memorable concert experience in 2019 IU TOUR CONCERT <LOVE, POEM>.

    The chart-topping and award-winning singer-actress made sure her MA-AENAs went home with big smiles on their faces and satisfied hearts, filling the almost four-hour long show with a jam-packed set list and charming and heartwarming talk session. In return, her MA-AENAs gifted her with the loudest cheers and most passionate energy, showing no signs of tiredness and sending across their love to their queen.

    IU kicked off her first ever solo concert in the Philippines with “Unlucky”, a track from her newest release, Love Poem, and “Palette”, her collaboration with BIGBANG’s G-Dragon. And right from the start, fans did not hold back in showing the singer-actress how much they longed for that moment to happen with thunderous fan chants filling The Big Dome and surprising IU and her team.

    “Wow, Manila. You guys are really passionate… I feel like I fell in love… Seriously, seriously, ang galing nyo,” IU said during a talk portion, adding that Love, Poem in Manila was the first time she can’t hear herself because of the loud cheers. She even revealed that her team was having a mental breakdown at that moment because the crowd was louder than the microphone.

    Divided into four parts — Love for Moment, Love for Message, Love for Meaning, and Love for Miracle —- the concert saw the first live performances in the Philippines of “Autumn Morning”, “Friday”, “Secret Garden”, “The Visitor”, “Jam Jam”, “Twenty-Three”, “Bbi Bbi”, “Hold My Hand”, “Last Night Story”, “Blueming”, “Meaning Of You”, “Knee”, “Lullaby”, “Through the Night”, “dlwlrma”, “The Red Shoes”, “Above the Time”, “You & I”, “Good Day”, and “Love Poem”.

    It was definitely an unforgettable concert, made special by the passion and love of IU and her fans for one another.
    The singer-actress treated fans to a special stage of MYMP’s “Say You Love Me”, a song she said she loved and sang a lot during her teenage years, and re-encore of songs fans requested namely “Leon”, “Raindrop”, “Merry Christmas in Advance”, “Ending Scene”, and her finale song “Heart”.

    She was also adorable as she tries her best to speak in English and Filipino (“Masaya ang pakiramdam ko!”, “Ang galing nyo!”, “Salamat dahil gusto ninyo ako.”, “Iinom lang ako ng tubig.”, and “Babalik ako.”) to send her messages across to her MA-AENAs and also got us smiling from ear to ear with her cute humor (“If there are people sleeping right now, don’t wake them up.”, “Did those who fell asleep wake up already?”).

    MA-AENAs prepared fan projects for IU, gave their all in cheering and singing along, and created memories for the singer-actress that we are sure she brought home with a happy heart. “If every concert my fans are as loud as this, I think I will have so much fun,” IU even said during the concert. It was a really job well done for the whole fandom who patiently waited for their favorite idol to come and as IU said, “It was so much fun and touching.”

    Love, Poem in Manila was a history made — the longest K-Pop concert in the Philippines and IU’s first solo concert in the country. More so, it was a testament of IU’s growth as an artist in the past 11 years and her humility and sincerity towards her fans, the staff, and her team and a showcase of the unwavering dedication of MA-AENAs.

    “Thank you, guys, for showing me something beautiful,” IU said. And indeed, Love, Poem in Manila was beautiful — a fruit of more than a decade of patiently waiting for this first meeting that bloomed prettily on Friday.

    “Don’t forget our first meeting.”

    Lee Ji Eun

    Check out more photos from that night below:

    The 2019 IU TOUR CONCERT <LOVE, POEM> in Manila is presented by PULP Live World. Special thanks to PULP Live World for having us.

  • Sam Tsui Makes Golden Return To The Philippine Concert Stage With “The Gold Jacket Tour”

    Sam Tsui Makes Golden Return To The Philippine Concert Stage With “The Gold Jacket Tour”

    Sam Tsui’s pizazz and energy abound on the Manila leg for The Gold Jacket Tour last November 25 held at the SM North EDSA Skydome.

    Singer-actress Daiyan Trisha from Malaysia opened the show with her original songs and effortlessly sang cover songs of “Lover” by Taylor Swift and “7 Rings” by Ariana Grande. The concert served as the Philippine concert stage debut of the singer-actress who has collaborated with Tsui in song covers including “Memories” by Maroon 5.

    After the sweet kick off by Daiyan Trisha, Sam Tsui made his golden entrance, rocking fashionable statement pieces to pay homage to the theme of the tour. But more than a color and a fashion, the Gold Jacket has a symbolic meaning. According to him, it is a representation of one’s attitude and/or state of mind, conveying one’s uniqueness and being fabulous in this day and age where beauty standards and influence seem to be validated by likes and followers. He then relayed his wish to bring into everyone’s psyche that one should really feel good about oneself and that you are enough and can make a difference in this world.

    Very evident of his love affair with his fans here in the country was how he fondly remembers the support and interaction he had with Filipino fans throughout the years and just recently, a collaboration with homegrown singer-actress Karylle came to fruition through a cover version of Sponge Cola’s “Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay”. He serenaded the audience with the aforementioned song with flawless and great diction of the country’s local language.

    A delight as well to see onstage alongside Sam is his life partner of three years, singer Casey Breves. The couple gave their own flavor to the mashup tunes of Ed Sheeran’s iconic hit song “Thinking Out Loud” and Sam Smith’s “I’m Not The Only One”. To mark an important milestone on their lifetime of togetherness, Sam shared to the audience that an original piece/song was written for it called “This Promise”.

    Sam’s glowing impression of Filipinos continues as he is well-aware of Filipinos having the knack and/or talent in singing as he brought the crowd to a trip down memory lane with his favorite songs throughout the years. It was a massive videoke session as the crowd sang with gusto with Sam such hits “Like A Prayer” by Madonna, “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion, “No Scrubs” by TLC, “Yeah” by Usher, “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis, “Somebody I Used To Know” by Gotye and “Shape Of You” by Ed Sheeran.

    A tribute to dear friend Christina Grimmie was one of the show’s highlights. Sam dedicated his performance of “Just A Dream”, reminiscing on how lucky he was to sing alongside a great talent.

    It was indeed a golden night for both Sam Tsui and his fans as he looks forward to come back to our shores. Aside from the song covers, the singer-songwriter also performed his original songs “Trust”, “Shadow”, “Carousel”, and “Just For Tonight”.

    Words and photos by Lou Belit

    The Gold Jacket Tour was presented by PULP Live World. We extend our thanks to PULP Live World for the invitation to the event.

  • DAY6 Inspires And Touches Hearts In “GRAVITY” Concert In Manila

    DAY6 Inspires And Touches Hearts In “GRAVITY” Concert In Manila

    Words and photos by Danica Lacson

    South Korean band DAY6 returned to the Philippine concert stage last November 23 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, equipped with their signature stage performances, new music, and tons of inspiration for their fans — their beautiful reason.

    The Manila leg of DAY6 WORLD TOUR <GRAVITY> marked the return of Sungjin, Jae, Young K, Wonpil, and Dowoon to the Philippines after more than a year since making their debut on the local concert stage with their first world tour, YOUTH. The excitement was definitely high as evident from the sold-out tickets and top trending topics ever since PULP Live World announced it will be bringing the band to the country this 2019.

    And indeed, the hype was well-deserved as DAY6 staged a spectacular display of their musical talents and adorable charms that made the Saturday night of My Days from all over the Philippines (and probably, the world) the best time of their lives. It was beautiful. It was perfect. And it was heartwarming — filled with sincerity from the boys and their fans who patiently waited to see them back.

    DAY6 opened the night with a sweet serving of “Best Part”, “Sing Me”, “I Wish”, “Somehow”, “Time Of Our Life”, and a promise that the night of November 23 is about to become the best night for everyone at The Big Dome, with the boys encouraging fans to forget everything even just for a while and enjoy themselves.

    Following their introduction and short ment, DAY6 and My Days collaborated for a short jam session — and in Jae’s words, “Oh my goodness, that was perfect!” But the night is only starting as the boys have more in store including a “So Cool” performance that was capped off by Dowoon’s drum solo and Young K’s bass solo.

    My Days were definitely the best concert crowd as their energy never seemed to die down that night, rocking hard with their favorite band for “Out Of My Mind” and “Feeling Good”. Screams turned louder when the boys got closer to their fans and moved toward the extended stage where they performed “How To Love”, “For Me”, and “Wanna Go Back”. Sungjin also don an impressive guitar solo, while Dowoon treated the audience with a short vocal performance.

     

    And the treats never stopped for My Days with DAY6 making Christmas early for them with a special mash-up gift of “Shape Of You” x “Like That Sun”, “Days Gone By” x “Treasure”, and “Get Lucky” x “Blood”. But the party has just started because DJ Wonpil has more to give in his solo stage of a remix of “Freely”, “Congratulations”, “Sing Me”, and “Blood”.

    Reaching the second half of the concert, DAY6 performed “Colors” followed by a hard-hitting performance of “I Need Somebody”. Getting the crowd up their feet and jumping to the music, Sungjin, Jae, Young K, Wonpil, and Dowoon rocked hard with “I Wait”.

    “We have been waiting so long to be with you here, guys,” Jae said during a short ment. Wonpil also expressed his admiration for the energy My Days displayed saying, “I think we will be able to go back with all this energy from you.”

    DAY6 then debuted their newest single “Sweet Chaos” on the Philippine concert stage. After a performance of “Headache”, Jae capped off the solo performances with a guitar solo, before they shot My Days with more outstanding performances of “Warning” and “Shoot Me”.

    A cute VCR played which showcased the boys having fun while playing games and going on an outing together. Towards the end, a special message from DAY6 unfolded where they relayed their gratitude to their fans — “Thank you for being with us, My Day.”

    Reciprocating the love and appreciation of the band, My Days created a beautiful ocean of lights during “Cover”. After hitting us hard in the feels with “You Were Beautiful”, DAY6 teamed up with their fans for “Congratulations”, the band’s debut single.

    Emotions continued to run high with the special fan projects — a touching video and a banner support — My Days prepared for DAY6. “I don’t think I will be able to forget Manila,” said Wonpil during the concert’s final ment. He expressed his appreciation for the effort fans put in making the fan projects. “Thank you for reminding us why we make music,” he added, ending with a promise to see their fans in the Philippines again.

    Trying his best to relay his message in English, Dowoon said he was touched by the fan project. “Today’s stage is a present to us. You, one by one, are very important people,” he said. He also told fans to eat well and that they will always love them. “We will come back! Thank you, Philippines,” he said.

    In his ment, Young K admitted go through uncertainty during the production of their latest album The Book Of Us: Entropy.

    “After a certain point, it was really hard to find for the reason why we sing on the stage because we are doing the same thing over and over again. I was not doing it for my parents. I was not doing it for the company. It was not a competition anymore. I was looking for the reason why and there you go. You guys gave us the answer. Thank you very much. You guys said we are the reason, but trust me, you guys are our motivation. You guys are our inspiration. You guys are our reason to be on this stage. Thank you very much.”

    Sungjin, who also went the extra mile to deliver his message in English, said My Days were awesome. “ You guys do whatever you wanna do. Study hard. Word hard. We will come back — so grown up. Thank you so much. See you soon!”

    Jae, who became emotional during his ment, relayed his appreciation and gratitude to My Days for being with them. “Life is so hard sometimes. I’m really appreciative of the fact that we have you guys and you guys have us. And that, we could be each other’s reason,” he said. He also jokingly told fans not to put it out on Twitter (We are sorry, Jae. We love you!), before ending his message with “Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for being my reason to continue to be my best.”

    And while Jae’s tears have yet to dry up, DAY6 took a group photo with My Days to remember the precious moment before wrapping up the concert with “Dance Dance, “Freely”, and DAY6’s heartfelt bows to fans who, as Young K said, are the reason why they never give up.

    Although it was saddening to see the night end with the boys bowing and waving to fans and Sungjin giving out guitar picks, the Manila leg of DAY6 WORLD TOUR <GRAVITY> was definitely an unforgettable concert filled with impressive music, fun moments, and heartwarming memories. It was inspirational and touching to witness the boys’ vulnerability and more so, their strength and the influence of idols and fans to each other that goes beyond beats and melody but transcends to life lessons and being each other’s motivation to go on.

    It was beautiful. It was perfect. It was a moment that keeps your feet on the ground and pulls you back to stand up again — like gravity.

    DAY6 WORLD TOUR <GRAVITY> is presented by JYP Entertainment, Asiana Airlines, and PULP Live World. Special thanks to PULP Live World for the invitation to the event.

  • Why Don’t We Treats Philippine Limelights With Unforgettable “8 Letters Tour”

    Why Don’t We Treats Philippine Limelights With Unforgettable “8 Letters Tour”

    Why Don’t We came back to the Philippine concert stage — more than a year since their Invitation Tour — with new songs, greater energy, and more maturity. “We kind to know who we are now,” said the boys in an exclusive interview hours before 8 Letters Tour in Manila made the evening of Limelights who came out, on a Monday, at the New Frontier Theater, unbelievable in the best scenarios.

    The show was jam-packed with new songs from their 8 Letters album and their single releases this 2019. Daniel, Corbyn, Jonah, Zach, and Jack were filled with energy and excitement as they jump on stage and roam around — passion reciprocated by their fans who cheered loud and sang along to the boys.

    Why Don’t We opened the night with “Trust Fund Baby”, “M.I.A.”, and “Choose” before greeting the crowd with short introduction. The boys went on to deliver performances of their greatest hits that brought nostalgia to the fans who have been their since day one — back in 2016 — with “Taking You”, “Nobody Gotta Know”, “Why Don’t We Just”, and “These Girls” and the highly awaited mash-up.

    The concert also marked the first live performance of Why Don’t We’s songs from their 8 Letters album, which received a gold certification in the Philippines. The album, which came out in August last year, is the group’s most successful release to date with “8 Letters” receiving gold certifications from Music Canada and the Recording Industry Association of America. Aside from “Choose” and “8 Letters”, Daniel, Corbyn, Jonah, Zach, and Jack also performed “Talk”, “In Too Deep”, “Friends”, and “Hooked” from the album.

    But the night will never be complete without getting to hear the 2019 releases of the boys which include “Big Plans”, “Cold In LA”, “I Don’t Belong In This Club”, “Unbelievable”, “I Still Do”, and “What Am I”. Asked on their plans for new songs for the rest of the year, in accordance with their monthly releases, the group hinted on a possibility of coming out with a Christmas single.

    As for their 2020 plans, nothing concrete has been shared by the boys. “We’ll definitely take sometime for the album, but what do I know?” Still, whether we get a new album or single, we will definitely be on the lookout for what the boys of Why Don’t We have in store for all of us.

    With Daniel, Corbyn, Jonah, Zach, and Jack on stage with their instruments, bringing another wave of nostalgia to Limelights, Why Don’t We wrapped up the Manila leg of 8 Letters Tour with a sweet and lovely performance of “What Am I” and Jonah’s words of “Thank you for coming out and bringing the energy tonight. Mahal namin kayo.”

     

    Words and photos by Danica Lacson

  • SF9 Shines Bright With Stellar Performances In “UNIXERSE” In Manila

    SF9 Shines Bright With Stellar Performances In “UNIXERSE” In Manila

    More than a year after their sweet fan meeting in 2018, Youngbin, Inseong, Jaeyoon, Dawon, Rowoon, Zuho, Taeyang, Hwiyoung, and Chani returned to the Philippines, bringing their talents and charms of cosmic proportions to the concert stage in the 2019 SF9 LIVE FANTASY #2 UNIXERSE held at the New Frontier Theater on November 16.

    The venue was bustling with excitement as Fantasy from all over the Philippines (and the world) came together to cheer for their favorite boys and leave lasting memories. And when the lights dimmed, everyone was ready to be transported to another universe.

    Oozing with charisma, SF9 kicked off the Manila leg of their tour with a triple-threat combination of “RPM”, “Now or Never”, and “Fanfare”. After hyping the crowd with their spectacular first set, the boys got the venue screaming with kilig as they showcase their Filipino skills with sweet words of “Namiss niyo ba kami?”, “Masaya ako”, and more, before serenading with “Midnight Road” and “Go Back In Time”, and bringing the Spanish feel with “O Sole Mio”.

    But before Fantasy got the chance to recuperate from the spectacular stages, SF9 made it hard for them to breathe with a relay of solo stages starting with the hard-hitting and blazing rap of Youngbin, followed by Dawon’s too-cool-for-our-soul cover of Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy”.

    After surprising us with his cool abs display in “RPM”, Jaeyoon gave us another reason to fall in love with him in his cover of Jeong Sewoon’s “My Ocean”. Zuho turned up the heat with an intoxicating performance of “Champagne” and the energy continued to rise up as Hwiyoung took the baton next with a captivating stage of “Snow”. Taeyang mesmerized Fantasy and got them all proud of his dancing skills in his solo stage which also featured an appearance from Zuho. Ending the relay of solo stages, Chani was ever-beautiful in his “Destiny” stage, perfectly executed in his hanbok.

    Meanwhile, Inseong and Rowoon expressed their regret of being unable to prepare their respective solo stages for that night’s show — most probably due to their hectic schedules from their individual activities with Inseong hosting We K-Pop and Rowoon starring in the drama Extraordinary You.

    Following their solo stages, the boys went on to create more memories with their Fantasy who have been waiting for their return and their first solo concert in the Philippines since last year. And although it took more than a year, the boy group, FNC Entertainment’s first male dance group, made sure that their fans will go home filled with unforgettable moments that they will remember with big smiles on their faces as they packed the evening with more of their songs such as “Dreamer”, “Jungle Game”, “Play Hard”, “Round and Round”, “Let’s Hangout”, “Mamma Mia”, “Photograph”, “Unlimited”, “See You Tomorrow”, and “Life Is So Beautiful”.

    Before ending the concert, each member expressed his feelings and left messages to Fantasy. The boys promised to work harder, come back with new music, and meet their Filipino fans once again. Despite having reached the end of the show, SF9 and Fantasy spent every minute with so much energy and happiness, capping the 2019 SF9 LIVE FANTASY #2 UNIXERSE with “Beautiful Light” and “Beat Goes On”.

    Indeed, the night was fantastic in cosmic proportions and true to its name “UNIXERSE” as Youngbin, Inseong, Jaeyoon, Dawon, Rowoon, Zuho, Taeyang, Hwiyoung, Chani, and their beloved Fantasy transported us to a whole new universe, created by their love and support for each other. It was so bright and so spectacular, perfect for the shining talents and charms of SF9 which are intensified by the selfless dedication of Fantasy.

    Words and photos by Danica Lacson

    The 2019 SF9 LIVE FANTASY #2 UNIXERSE is presented by FNC Entertainment and Three Angles Production. Special thanks to Three Angles for the invitation to the event.