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.

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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