On the Riize: Rookie boy group thrills Manila fans
The floor trembled at the booming sound of thunder. The red sky projected on the screen was split by lightning, bright lights throbbing in sync with the movement onstage. The beat of the music intensified amid the blinking lights before it turned into a steady rhythm. The center of the stage opened and members of Riize (pronounced “rise”) walked in.K-pop experiences are often defined by moments like these—the buildup of excitement until it feels like your heart is about to burst. When idols appear in front of the fans, their mere presence plus the fans’ screaming offer relief from the sensory overload.
Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton catwalked full of confidence and swagger. They opened with the synth-heavy “Siren” that reflected the dystopian imagery onstage. The song was heady and heart-stopping.
Riize is a seven-member K-pop group from SM Entertainment. Seunghan is on hiatus. He did not participate in the Riize’s fan con tour “Riizing Day” and the group’s Bench campaign as Global Benchsetters (aka Bench brand ambassadors). Bench was the main sponsor of the event.
Good memories
Fan projects often include lamppost banners typically set up outside the venue, this time at the Big Dome. All members had their own banners, but Seunghan’s were extra special because of the notes and love letters stuck on it by fans awaiting his return. The rookie boy group debuted in September and they’ve been one of the leaders of K-pop’s fifth generation racing to the top.
The clothes reflected their age. They came out in long-sleeved shirts and sweatpants bursting in colors that resembled a patchwork quilt. The tops were slowly discarded during the first “ment” (talking segments) to reveal their plain black T-shirts underneath. It’s very on-brand with the group that favors Y2K fashion.
“Manila’s energy is really different. It’s our first time to come to the Philippines and I am so happy to meet everyone,” Sungchan said. “I have a memory of coming here to Manila when I was younger. We hope to make new good memories with you today.”
A lot were indeed made that day with local Briize (fandom name, pronounced “breeze”) in different segments of the show. The capsule game was a mini showcase of their talents. Riize doesn’t lack in the talent department, but the boys’ spontaneity showed how each could rise to the occasion. Wonbin, Sohee and Anton performed their song “Honestly” in a cappella, and Shotaro did a dance cover of EXO Kai’s “Mmmh.” The group also performed P-pop hits such as SB19’s “Gento” and Bini’s “Salamin, Salamin,” learning the choreography on the spot.
In the Odyssey games, they had a Ctrl C + Ctrl V type of game where one poses while the opponent tries to copy it while blindfolded. Eunseok particularly excelled in this as he utilized the ground most of the time, confusing Anton.
Milestone
At a time when K-pop’s reach is beyond Asia, concerts often need to include pop songs that would resonate with global audiences. Riize chose to cover “One Thing” by One Direction for this reason. It’s fun and familiar even to those who attended as casual viewers.
The group had a crowd-pleasing set list that included their songs that have gone viral on platforms such as TikTok, and a song by their seniors in SM Entertainment catering to longtime K-pop fans. It’s a flex for a group so young.
They made their way to the extended stage singing “Happy! Happy! Happy!” while flirting with the audience, waving at them and posing for the cameras. They went on to perform “Love 119” before proceeding to “White Christmas” by Super Junior.
They also performed “Boom Boom Bass” for the first time on tour. It was a song Briize begged them to sing during the show. Included in the set list are “Talk Saxy,” “Get a Guitar,” “9 Days,” “Impossible” and “One Kiss.” They ended the show with their predebut song “Memories.”
Manila is a dream stop for a lot of K-pop groups because of the energy of the audience. The crowd returns whatever is given. It’s incomparable.
The fan project inside showed a roll-up banner that said, “Let’s Riize together and climb up to the top of the world.” Indeed. Riize performing in Manila is a significant achievement, marking an important milestone in their career. INQ
