Philippine Concerts

Tag: NCT DREAM

  • “Begin Again” Kicks Off K-Pop Concerts in PH with Key, NCT DREAM, WEi, and ALICE

    “Begin Again” Kicks Off K-Pop Concerts in PH with Key, NCT DREAM, WEi, and ALICE

    Words and photos by Danica Lacson

    Begin Again: K-Pop Edition makes up for the last three years of no K-Pop concerts with an unforgettable showcase of performances from Korea’s top idols and the unwavering love of Pinoy K-Pop fans.

    Coming back to the Smart Araneta Coliseum after more than two years since the CoViD-19 pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization seems surreal, but the energy of Pinoy K-Pop fans told us otherwise. They are ready to fill arenas again. They are all set to Begin Again — lightsticks in hand, banners ready, and loud cheers waiting to be heard.

    And CDM Entertainment made sure that the wait is most definitely worth it. A new beginning unfolded last May 29 at The Big Dome with Begin Again: K-Pop Edition, featuring SHINee’s Key, NCT DREAM, WEi, and ALICE.

    ALICE gift Filipino K-Pop fans with an unforgettable summer dream

    ALICE kicked off the concert with “This Is Me”, a track from their fourth extended play Jackpot which was released in 2020. EJ, Do-A , Chaejeong, Yeonje, Yukyung, Sohee, and Karin did not only charm the crowd with their refreshing vocals and lively dances but they also got the Philippines falling for their sweet greetings for their local fans. The girls relayed their happiness to have had the chance to return to the country and bring new members EJ and Chaejeong.

    But the girls were only starting. Bringing the energy higher, they took the crowd back to their debut days with their debut song “We, First” from the mini-album of the same title which they followed with “Summer Dream”, the title track of their extended play of the same name.

    ALICE definitely had a lot in store for the fans as they also gamely played the pirate game on stage and faced the penalties that came from losing the game, including doing a random play dance and saying cute and sexy versions of “I love you”. Love was felt even more in the air with the girl group’s performance of “Power of Love”, their latest digital single. After showcasing their dream-like vocals in “Power of Love”, they gave an all-out performance of “No Big Deal”.

    Before closing their stage with “Jackpot”, EJ, Do-A , Chaejeong, Yeonje, Yukyung, Sohee, and Karin promised to come back to the Philippines and shared their plans of releasing a new mini-album soon.

    WEi say hello to PH RUi for the first time thru Begin Again concert

    Firing up the concert stage next, WEi made their highly-awaited debut on the Philippine concert stage in Begin Again, opening their stage with their debut song “Twilight” from their first mini-album Identity: First Sight. Daehyeon, Donghan, Yongha, Yohan, Seokhwa, and Junseo expressed their thanks to the Pinoy fans for welcoming them with thunderous cheers, relaying that, due to the CoViD-19 pandemic, concertgoers in South Korea were not allowed to cheer when they had their concert in their homeland.

    There was no stopping the boys from giving their all as they showcased a strong performance of “All or Nothing”, before taking a break with a crocodile game. Junseo was the crocodile’s favorite, having to do two punishments in a row which include a random play dance (with all the members joining their maknae) and saying “I miss you” in a cute manner (with leader Daehyeon giving his shot of the punishment too!).

    WEi then treated RUi with “Bye Bye Bye” and “Super Bumpy” from their Identity: Action and Love Pt.1: First Love albums, respectively. After giving out their ending meant which is also filled with smiles and promises of meeting Filipino fans again, the boy group ended their stage with their latest song “Too Bad” from Love Pt.1: First Love.

    Hello, Future? We want more NCT DREAM in Manila.

    NCT DREAM held the last K-Pop concert in the Philippines before the world stood still because of the pandemic. More than two years after, Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung were part of the line-up of the first K-Pop concert in Manila.

    In the midst of the preparation for the release of the repackage of their second studio album Beatbox, the boys kept the promise back in 2019 to return to the Philippine concert stage, bringing their latest tracks and being welcomed with the unwavering love of NCTzens.

    NCT DREAM opened their Begin Again stage with “Hot Sauce”, their first studio album which was released in 2021 and sold more than a million copies on the first week of its release. The boys then greeted their fans amidst the thunderous cheers that filled The Big Dome.

    The boy group reciprocated the warm welcome of PH NCTzens with a special stage of “Dive Into You”. The performance marked the first time they performed the song overseas. Following “Dive Into You”, they treated the crowd with “Hello Future”, earning loud cheers from fans who also sang along.

    NCT DREAM closed their stage with “Glitch Mode”, the title track of their second studio album of the same name. The album recorded more than two million copies sold in its first week. Glitch Mode broke the personal record of the boy group they previously set with Hot Sauce.

    The boys said their goodbyes with hopeful words of coming back to the country for another concert.

    The Almighty Key shines bright in Begin Again

    No one does it like Key and that Sunday night was proof that the SHINee member definitely deserves the title “Almighty Key”. The multi-talented star opened his stage with “Saturday Night” from his 2021 extended play Bad Love.

    He then shared that his members wanted to come to the Philippines too, adding that they are envious of him for being able to come back to the country and the group’s desire to perform again in the Philippines. SHINee last visited the country for a concert in 2017. Begin Again also marked Key’s first performance as a solo artist here.

    Nonetheless, Key shone brightly on every stage as he delivered exceptional performances of his solo songs “Helium”, “This Life”, and “Bad Love”. He also entertained fans’ requests for SHINee songs that brought everyone back to where it all started — “Replay” and “Ring Ding Dong”. The singer even joked that he was not expecting such throwback requests.

    Still, with Key as the final performer of the night, Begin Again ended with the biggest blast for all fans and a hopeful spirit that the concert energy is coming back — slowly but surely. The night wrapped up with good memories of the evening that saw us return to The Big Dome. It was a night when we heard the loud cheers of the crowd once again and saw lightsticks color the arena once more.

    Begin Again: K-Pop Edition was presented by CDM Entertainment, in partnership with BRODYWORKS. Philippine Concerts would like to extend its gratitude to CDM Entertainment for the invitation to the event.

  • NCT Dream Takes PH NCTzens On An Adventure In “The Dream Show” In Manila

    NCT Dream Takes PH NCTzens On An Adventure In “The Dream Show” In Manila

    Words by Micah Tampil

    Photos by Danica Lacson

    It’s no easy feat for teenagers to be seen as having achieved beyond their years, yet NCT Dream showed why they have rapidly risen to the top. As the youngest unit of supergroup NCT took command of the New Frontier Theater on February 29 for the NCT Dream Tour “The Dream Show”, they presented themselves as the group that sings of the hopes and dreams of their peers, in a variety of genres that showcase their growth from boys to young men.

    Known to the fandom as Dreamies, NCT Dream took the fans on a musical adventure delivering bubblegum teeny boppers from their debut days to their recent edgier tracks.

    The concert, presented by SM Entertainment and promoted by PULP Live World, was the group’s second time visiting the country, having first met Filipino NCTzens during the 2019 K-Pop Friendship Concert. The boys mentioned that the energy they were welcomed with during their previous visit made them excited to come back for a solo concert and spend more time with fans.

    Dreamies exhibited power as they opened with “Go”, the song that signaled their transition from young and cute to grown-up. The track illustrated how the group overcame stereotypes and redefined what it means to be young, encouraging teens to live outside the box and embrace their individuality. It was then followed by even more impactful performances such as “Drippin’” and “119”.

    Even as they have grown into the cool adolescents they are today, the members still made Seasonies (NCT’s nickname for fans) fawn over them like older siblings especially when they gave messages in Filipino, saying “Sobrang miss ko kayo” (Jeno), “Higit na nagmamahal kay Seasonie” (Jaemin), “Magandang araw sa isa’t-isa” (Jisung) and “Sobrang masaya ako dahil nakita ko ang Manila Seasonies” (Chenle).

    Concerned about everyone’s safety, Haechan cutely asked the fans near the stage to “Take a small step back please!” Renjun paid special attention to the fans on the second floor and always made sure that they had a great time.

    It was impossible to get over the charming gestures the boys made as they performed their debut song “Chewing Gum”. The group took the K-Pop community by storm in 2016 when they were introduced as having an average age of 16, emphasized in their initially youthful and vibrant concepts. They then treated the fans with high-spirited performances of “Dunk Shot” and “Dream Run”.

    Dressed in white and gray and looking like gentlemen, the six members yet again showed another side of them. A piano was set-up for a heartwarming string of tracks. Chenle wowed with his own arrangement written as a prelude to “Best Friend”. The group continued to serenade the crowd with “Walk You Home” and “Candle Light”.

    NCT Dream lifted the atmosphere with songs reminiscent of carefree summer: “We Young”, “My First and Last”, “My Page” and “Bye My First”. They ran around and chased each other in circles while interacting with the fans.

    As the end of the concert inevitably approached, fans expressed their sadness by chanting “Walang uuwi!” The members asked Seasonies to give all their energy for the last set of performances and make the most out of the afternoon. Extending the same energy as the fans did, they performed their special releases “DNYL (Don’t Need Your Love)”, which is a collab with English singer HRVY, and “Fireflies” and “Trigger the Fever”, official songs of The World Scout Foundation and FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea 2017, respectively. The boys capped this energetic set with the recently-released “Boom”.

    The concert ended on an intimate note as the group sang “La La Love” and “Beautiful Time”, celebrating the wonderful memories NCT Dream and Filipino NCTzens have made together throughout the concert. With a promise to come back, the members expressed their gratitude to everyone who came and bid their goodbyes. Hoping for another fateful meeting, the group and the fans, led by Haechan, parted ways as they sang “우리 다시 만나자” (Let’s meet again).

    The NCT Dream Tour “The Dream Show” in Manila was presented by SM Entertainment and promoted by PULP Live World. Philippine Concerts extends its gratitude to PULP Live World for the invitation to the event.

  • 7 Things About NCT Dream That Make Our Hearts Go “Boom, Boom, Boom”

    7 Things About NCT Dream That Make Our Hearts Go “Boom, Boom, Boom”

    Here’s the tea: NCT DREAM is a talented group made up adorable sweethearts that melt our hearts and make them go boom, boom, boom.

    As NCT DREAM TOUR “THE DREAM SHOW” comes near, with only a week before it happens at the New Frontier Theater on February 29, we list down seven — of the many things — we love about NCT’s third sub-unit in this feature article.

    SEE ALSO: All About NCT DREAM: The Boys Who Melt Our Hearts With Their Limitless Charms

    #1 The Members

    NCT DREAM is composed of incredibly amazing individuals — Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung plus former member Mark — who also have the best personalities. We love how they complement one another and bring out the best in each other.

    Although they have displayed their seeming limitless capabilities in the past four years, the boys are far from done as they continue to show their improved skills and their willingness to explore more and go out of their comfort zones.

    #2 The Music

    We love how their music has grown since their debut in 2016 with “Chewing Gum” — that fresh adorable sound that got us LSS — to their most recent release “Boom” which is giving us all the tita feels as we beam with pride on the glow up that is NCT DREAM.

    They have successfully switched up their music, not locking themselves in one genre. Moreover, they have also expanded their reach through collaborations with other artists including HRVY and Prettymuch. And NCT DREAM is full of promise that we are 100 percent sure that there is so much more to tap from these incredibly talented boys who also work hard to improve their crafts.

    #3 The Charms, The Charisma, and The Talents

    When you got Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung in one team, expect that the group will overflow with charms, charisma, and talents. They have astounded us with their vocals, raps, and dancing through their every release, have made us go soft with their charms, and made us speechless on how they shed their cuteness and fire up the stage with their charisma.

    NCT DREAM is full of surprises, owing to the fact that each member has something to offer on the table and they are willing to give more. Remember Jeno’s effort to learn acrobatics for NCTzens? Or how Jisung impressed everyone during his Dancing High stint? Or how can we forget the iconic hoverboards they used during their “Chewing Gum” era?

    #4 The Concepts

    Because we have already talked about hoverboards, we jump right into the different concepts they did in the past four years. The “Chewing Gum” era gave us schoolboy Dreamies, blowing large bubbles with cheeky grins that transport us back to our school days where nothing matters but school, friends, and that puppy love. This adorable concept was reignited in “My First and Last” which reminded us of our first love. The first two eras were appropriate and highlighted the natural charms of the boys — their youth and childlikeness.

    Because NCT DREAM started off cute and young, the next concepts, where they showed off — little by little — a more mature feel, did not feel off because we saw the transition happen. “We Young” was upbeat, bright, colorful, and summery. It was still cute, but did not give the same childlike-feel “Chewing Gum” and “My First and Last” gave, owing probably to the moves and expressions of the boys that were cooler than cheeky.

    And now we talk about “Go”, a track from the NCT 2018 Empathy, that was a big leap from the fun beats we got with the first three title tracks. NCT DREAM gave us angsty teenagers ready to take over. Then, they treated us to another bop, “We Go Up”, Mark’s final release as a member of NCT DREAM. They have reiterated their cool teen energy in this era which they intensified in “Boom”, their first era without Mark.

    #5 The Performances

    We need no words for this one because we are going to let these NCT DREAM videos speak for it.

    https://youtu.be/gE__xeCFrVQ

    #6 The Visuals

    They attacked us with their cuteness during their debut era and now, Dreamies are hitting us hard right in the feels with their superb visuals.

    We don’t know what words will best describe the beauty that are Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung so make sure to check their social media channels and marvel with us on the top-class looks the boys have been serving.

    #7 The Bond

    We are knocking on SM Entertainment’s door to please disregard the initial plan of rotational concept and just let our Dreamies stay together, please?

    Through the years, NCT DREAM (and all NCT members, to be honest) has showed us the close bond they have developed that warms our hearts and melts us. Remember that Idol Room episode where the members revealed that Chenle gives them gifts? Or that time Renjun has had enough of the sasaeng who keeps calling Jeno?

    There more sweet moments from the boys and we can’t wait to see more of their closeness and adorable relationship on February 29 at the New Frontier Theater.

    So, NCTzens, ready yourselves because your hearts will surely go boom, boom, boom!

    NCT DREAM TOUR “THE DREAM SHOW” IN MANILA is brought to you by SM Entertainment, Dream Maker Entertainment Limited, and PULP Live World.

  • All About NCT DREAM: The Boys Who Melt Our Hearts With Their Limitless Charms

    All About NCT DREAM: The Boys Who Melt Our Hearts With Their Limitless Charms

    Introduced as the third sub-unit of SM Entertainment’s boy group NCT, NCT DREAM has since made a mark in the Korean music industry, earning their rightful place as one of the rising boy groups of their generations. With recognition from Billboard and Time as leaders of the next generation of K-Pop acts and with Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung showcasing their limitless capabilities and charms, it is undeniable that their rise to the top is unstoppable.

    As we count down to the days before the Philippines will once again witness the boy group take over the Philippine concert stage in their first-ever solo show in the country, the NCT DREAM TOUR “THE DREAM SHOW”, we celebrate the start of NCT DREAM and feel the nostalgia while looking back on the past four years.

    READ: NCT Dream To Return To PH Concert Stage With “The Dream Show”

    THE BASICS

    Group Name: NCT DREAM, NCT’s third sub-unit which follows a graduation system

    Members: Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung

    Former Member: Mark, who graduated from the group on December 31, 2018

    Agency: SM Entertainment — home to renowned groups such as TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, SHINee, f(x), EXO, Red Velvet, and NCT

    Debut Date: August 25, 2016

    Fandom Name: NCTzen, a name shared by all fans of NCT which was revealed on June 12, 2017, after securing the highest number of votes

    THE START

    Before becoming members of NCT DREAM, most of the members were known as part of SM Rookies, SM Entertainment’s pool of trainees. In 2016, SM Entertainment’s Lee Soo Man shared his vision on launching a group that will comprise of sub-groups around the world.

    And that year, NCT came into fruition with NCT U as the first sub-unit with the release of “7th Sense” where Mark also made his first debut. In July 2016, NCT 127 came out with “Fire Truck”, marking their debut as the second sub-unit. Mark once again debuted with Haechan joining him in the lineup.

    On August 18 of that year, NCT DREAM was announced to be the third sub-unit of NCT. A few days after, the sub-unit released “Chewing Gum” as their first digital single, performing on M Countdown and making their official debut with Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung as the members.

    THE RISE OF NCT DREAM

    After almost a year, NCT DREAM made their first comeback through the release of their first single album The First. Unfortunately, Jaemin did not participate in the new era due to the complications from a herniated disc. Still, the boy group went on to show the world their promising career as The First debuted on top of Gaon Chart and “My First And Last” gave them their first-ever music show win on The Show. Their music show win, which they got on Valentine’s Day of 2017, was also the first music show win for an NCT unit.

    The boys continued the momentum with “Trigger The Fever”, a promotional single they released as official ambassadors of the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea. And after only six months since The First, the boy group came back with their first extended play We Young which included the title track of the same name and its Chinese version, “La La Love”, “Walk You Home”, “My Page”, and “Trigger The Fever”.

    NCT DREAM closed 2017 with the single “Joy” as part of SM Entertainment’s digital music project, SM Station.

    THE YEAR OF NCT

    The year 2018 kicked off with a jam-packed first quarter which saw all NCT U, NCT 127, and NCT DREAM come together for NCT 2018, a project that put together the 18 members of NCT (including then-new members Kun, Jung Woo, and Lucas). In March, the boy group’s first full-length album NCT 2018 Empathy was released which contains six singles including the full-group track “Black On Black” and NCT DREAM’s “Go”. “Go” also marked Jaemin’s first comeback with NCT since his debut.

    NCT DREAM decorated the third quarter of 2018 with their second EP We Go Up which included tracks “We Go Up” and its Chinese version, “1, 2, 3”, “Beautiful Time”, “Drippin’”, and “Dear Dream”. The EP topped Gaon Chart and placed 22nd on the chart’s year-end list. Additionally, it ranked number five and number seven on the World Albums Chart and Heatseekers Albums Chart of Billboard.

    The boys were also listed as the only Asian act in Billboard’s 21 Under 21 2018: Music’s Next Generation and on Time’s 25 Most Influential Teens of 2018.

    Before the year ended, NCT DREAM once again participated in SM Station with “Candle Light”. However, 2018 also signaled Mark’s graduation from the sub-unit.

    THE COLLABORATIONS, THE NEW ERA, AND THE DREAM SHOW

    The year 2019 saw NCT DREAM explore more in terms of their music through collaborations with HRVY in “Don’t Need Your Love” and PrettyMuch in “Up To You”. The boys also made their first comeback with Mark last year through the release of their third EP We Boom featuring the title song “Boom”.

    That year also witnessed the debut of NCT DREAM on the Philippine concert stage through the 2019 K-Pop Friendship Concert In Manila where they shared the stage with April and Noir.

    They then kicked their first concert tour, The Dream Show, in Seoul and Bangkok. The tour will also bring Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung to the Philippines once again on February 29 at the New Frontier Theater. Tickets to the concert have been sold out on the first day of ticket selling, proving the immense popularity of the boy group in the archipelago.

    Aside from their growth as artists and their on-going tour, there truly is no stopping NCT DREAM from soaring high as they continue to add accolades under their name including becoming the first global ambassadors of the World Scout Foundation, making it on Billboard’s 21 Under 21 list for the second consecutive year, and taking home Hot Performance of the Year from Gaon Chart Music Awards, Disk Bonsang from Golden Disc Awards, and Bonsang Award from Seoul Music Awards.

    Going four years in the industry, the growth of NCT DREAM as artists has been exceptional. With achievements coming one after the other and deserving recognitions being given, there is no denying that the boys will continue to rise — with us keeping our fingers crossed that this family will only grow.

    PH NCTzens, are you ready to celebrate the awesomeness of our Dreamies? See you on February 29 at the New Frontier Theater!

    NCT DREAM TOUR “THE DREAM SHOW” IN MANILA is brought to you by SM Entertainment, Dream Maker Entertainment Limited, and PULP Live World.

  • NCT Dream To Return To PH Concert Stage With “The Dream Show”

    NCT Dream To Return To PH Concert Stage With “The Dream Show”

    Dreams really do come true and for fans of South Korean boy group NCT Dream, the dream to finally see Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung in a solo concert will finally be realized this February.

    NCT Dream will return to the Philippine concert stage, almost a year after sharing the stage with fellow K-Pop idols April and Noir in the 2019 K-Pop Friendship Concert in Manila. PULP Live World is bringing the boys back to the country, giving them the full stage as they make their solo concert debut this month.

    Happening on February 29, 3 p.m., at the New Frontier Theater, NCT DREAM TOUR “THE DREAM SHOW” IN MANILA promises exciting stages and fired up performances from NCT Dream. A sold-out venue will also welcome the NCT unit as NCTzens buy out all tickets to the show a few hours following the start of ticket selling on February 2 via Ticketnet.

    Ticket prices:

    • Standing A – Php 10,000
    • Standing B – Php 7,500
    • Loge – Php 8,000
    • Balcony – Php 5,000

    Note that ticket prices above are exclusive of ticketing charges.

    Debuting in 2016 as NCT’s third sub-unit, NCT Dream follows an age-based graduation system where members graduate upon reaching the Korean age of 20. The unit kicked off its promotion with seven members namely Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung. In 2018, Mark graduated from the unit, bringing the current number of members to six.

    NCT Dream debuted with “Chewing Gum” and has since released singles and albums including the extended plays We Young, We Go Up, and We Boom. The boys have also received awards and nominations from various award-giving bodies including their most recent Bonsang Awards from the Golden Disc Awards and Seoul Music Awards.

    The boy group was also listed on Billboard’s “21 Under 21: Music’s Next Generation” for two consecutive years and Time’s “25 Most Influential Teens of 2018”. They have also proven their rising popularity in every release, consistently charting on Billboard charts. Their latest EP, We Boom, also topped Gaon Weekly Album Chart and ranked 16th on Gaon’s Year-End Album Chart.

    New Frontier Theater will boom with immense energy as NCT Dream brings its first concert tour The Dream Show to Manila on February 29. Are you ready to see Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung live on the Philippine concert stage?

    NCT DREAM TOUR “THE DREAM SHOW” IN MANILA is brought to you by SM Entertainment, Dream Maker Entertainment Limited, and PULP Live World.