Chanyeol brings rock and laughs in his solo tour
Chanyeol has declared the end of an era: He finally bid farewell to performing “Hawak Kamay” by Yeng Constantino at his shows.
“Raise your hand if you expected me to perform ‘Hawak Kamay’ again,” he asked EXO-Ls (EXO fandom) and Yeolmaes (Chanyeol’s fans). Most of the crowd raised their hands. “I guess all of you thought I was going to sing it. Sorry. No more ‘Hawak Kamay.’”
The audience laughed as he apologized, grinning from ear to ear, showing off his dimples. His connection to the song is understandable, going back to EXO’s first visit to the Philippines when the K-pop powerhouse was still in its rookie days. The group performed the song as part of their showcase at a K-pop event in 2013. Since then, Chanyeol has performed it at every opportunity, including at EXO-SC’s “Back-to-Back” Fancon Tour last year.
Thus, his cover of “Raining in Manila” by Lola Amour came as a surprise during his “Chanyeol Live Tour: City-scape in Manila” on Oct. 19 at the Araneta Coliseum. Fans had anticipated a cover for a local song in this Pulp Live World-promoted tour.
“The first time I heard this song, I was preparing for this tour. I guess this is a very popular song, too,” he said. Fans loved the song choice so much that they requested he perform it again, and he happily obliged, singing it for the second time that night. He promised he would prepare another new song on his next visit.
Connection
Someone told this writer that the Philippines is Chanyeol’s bailiwick. It’s hard to oppose the statement when his connection with local fans is palpable. It’s evident in the way “salamat po” rolls off his tongue before he bows. He understands basic Filipino concert chants like “Isa pa!” and “pogi”—phrases he likely picked up from his frequent visits to the country. It was hilarious watching him point at himself every time the crowd praised his good looks in Filipino. Chanyeol has always been confident in that department, and rightly so.
He was apologetic whenever he heard the chant, “Walang uuwi” (“No one’s going home”).
“I really need to go home. Can we do one more show tomorrow?” he asked. He was flying back to South Korea right after the event. Sweetly, he added, “I really don’t want to go home. But of course, if you call me back, I will fly anytime to be here. Anytime.”
It was an endearing statement, and Chanyeol, as an artist, truly knows how to endear himself to his fans. He opened the show with “Back Again,” coming out strong with the pop-rock song while wearing a black Y/Project tank top and distressed jeans, with another shirt tied around his waist. Halfway through the performance, he took out his electric guitar and started tearing up the stage with it. He screamed the lyrics “I really/ I really/ I really shouldn’t” into the microphone before jumping and running around the stage.
This is why fans came to watch him. This is Chanyeol the soloist completely in his element, having fun and letting the music take over every fiber of his being. “Back Again” is one of the six tracks from his first mini album “Black Out,” which was released in August. The high-energy song set the tone for the evening, followed by a slower track, “Good Enough,” which he wrote.
He continued showcasing his guitar skills by playing covers of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, “Hotel California” by Eagles, and “Basket Case” by Green Day. He jokingly complained that his fingers hurt from strumming and fingerpicking, which prompted an “awww” from the audience. He cockily smirked before flashing a smile, knowing all too well the effect he has on his fans. And he used that knowledge to his full advantage, driving fans insane.
The songs he performed that night reflected his artistic journey, with a strong emphasis on tracks from “Black Out.” “Hasta La Vista” was played twice, including during the encore. He also performed songs from his subunit with Sehun, EXO-SC, such as “Telephone” and “Just Us 2.”. His rap and deep voice excited in tracks like “Nothin’.”
The crowd came alive for “Stay With Me” from the “Goblin” soundtrack, as they sang along with him. They took over Punch’s parts and they were on time, creating a memorable interaction with the artist.
Chanyeol’s concert felt light and easy because he was at ease. His clothes were loose and comfortable, letting him easily move around.
The audience also teased him mercilessly, often causing him to overexplain himself. For example, he emphasized that he chooses the most comfortable clothes when he goes live online, which often happen to be his Penshoppe swag.
Then there was the matter of his lunch. He joked that Yeolmaes weren’t interested enough in him because no one reacted to the photo he shared of him and his meal. Chanyeol was quite excited about his tangsuyuk and the catering prepared for him. The crowd denied the statement vehemently.
Natural comedian
When he wasn’t singing or dancing, Chanyeol had the crowd laughing. It wasn’t just because he said funny things, though he did, but more so because of his timing and how he reacted to situations. Chanyeol is a natural comedian.
You also felt his gratitude. He made an effort to mention all the fan projects his fans had prepared, including the lights they lit during his performances. He read about them aloud from the back of the clover banner they had created. It felt like he truly saw them—the fans who have stayed by his side through the years, who come to his events without hesitation, and who endlessly cheer him on. He bows in a perfect 90-degree angle and sustains it.
It’s a running joke that Chanyeol has already bought a condo unit in Metro Manila. While no one takes this seriously, if he ever does, he will easily become the nation’s favorite neighbor.
