How Filipino fans fell for Baekhyun all over again
EXO’s Baekhyun has established himself as the “genius idol” because of his skills as a vocalist and performer. The moniker isn’t just a result of his chart-topping records, wide range of activities as an artist or fandom size. It’s recognition of his amazing talent and his charming rapport with fans.
Baekhyun’s talent and stage presence shone once again during his solo concert “Lonsdaleite” on April 13 at the Araneta Coliseum.
His fun and easy communication with his fans was a delight to watch. He knew how to talk to his audience, get them engaged and connect with them. His tone when talking to his fans was affectionate, sometimes with hints of teasing and always comfortable. It’s one of the reasons why EXO-Ls (EXO’s fandom name) say that Baekhyun always knows what fans want.
But one can also say that Filipino fans also give what Baekhyun wants. When he attended the EXO fan meeting in Seoul the next day, he mentioned that his Filipino fans had so much energy, one that he hopes the fan meet meeting could match.
The first two songs in the “Lonsdaleite” set list were EXO’s “Diamond” and “Playboy” which Baekhyun rearranged for his solo act. Later, during his ment (talking parts), he asked EXO-Ls how they felt hearing EXO songs after such a long time. He boasted about trying out the rap parts of his members to showcase his other skills.
The songs that followed were a complete package of his iconic title songs and popular B-sides from his solo albums and some of his singles that have been loved by fans and non-fans alike.
“Stay Up” and “Ice Queen” were good choices to introduce Baekhyun’s solo songs because both songs haven’t been performed live often.
“UN Village” has been a fan favorite since it came out in 2019. Some people at the standing pit chose their spot because of the song. For the first time, Baekhyun took off his bejeweled jacket while performing the song. He said he did it first in Manila.
The much anticipated “Love Scene” was the first song he sang from his latest album. Fans were looking forward to the song because it was released right before he enlisted in the military in 2022. “Bungee” was more upbeat but equally vocally challenging. It was followed by this writer’s personal favorite “Love Again.” The song captures the emotions of a person desperate to be loved again.
Bed scene
One of the most talked-about moments from “Lonsdaleite” was Baekhyun’s “Cry for Love.” Baekhyun did a dramatic and sexy performance of the song while sitting on a bed. Baekhyun knew that this performance would make a lot of fans jealous, so he asked them if it was okay to perform it with a dancer. The audience gave him the thumbs-up.
It was an elaborate performance that “Cry for Love,” one of his most excellent songs, deserves. More than the skinship and choreography, Baekhyun’s vocal prowess and smooth high notes while lying down made the performance memorable.
Baekhyun changed from an all-white outfit to an all-black outfit for the second part of the show. “Ghost” was followed by “Underwater” before whipping out his infamous fedora hat for “Bambi.” The last song is probably the most awaited track on his entire set list. Screams filled the arena during this song because it also showcased Baekhyun’s skills in doing body rolls.
For the third part of the show, Baekhyun performed his most upbeat dance songs while wearing a fluffy neon hat and a colorful outfit. He made sure to mention how his stylist meticulously prepared to make his outfits cute and unique. “Poppin” and “R U Ridin?” made the audience sway and dance. He even prepared a special dance break that had the crowd chanting his name to the top of their lungs.
Baekhyun teased the fans and said that they were sad because there are only two songs left. He repeatedly said throughout the show that he will be coming back soon. He gave Bench a shoutout.
He capped the main show with “Betcha” and “Candy” as the audience danced and sang along.
For his encore, Baekhyun performed “Paranoia,” his collab for the video game “League of Legends.”
Fans sang along with him as he performed “Beautiful,” one of his first OSTs. He complimented their voices but also made a playful jab because the fans found it difficult to sing his high notes.
He walked around the stage and made sure to greet as many fans as possible while performing “Privacy” and “Garden in the Air.”
“I’m really happy that I was able to come back to the Philippines. Next time, let’s do the concert for two days,” Baekhyun said.
Fans also prepared a video message for Baekhyun, narrating his growth as an artist and compiling messages from fans all around the Philippines. Baekhyun asked if the fans in the video were in the venue and acknowledged them by teasing “now you guys are famous too.”
Baekhyun’s last song was “Amusement Park.” Indeed, some of the best moments are those unplanned because he accidentally coughed in the middle of singing, proving that he was singing live the whole time. He apologized cutely which endeared him to the audience even more.
There’s always a satisfying feeling after watching a great artist perform confidently on stage. It’s even more gratifying when it’s an idol who gives back as much love as he receives. Baekhyun stands out not just because he is a talented performer but also because he puts extra care in everything he shows to his fans.
You also cannot remove the EXO tag from Baekhyun’s name. He mentioned his group and his members several times throughout the show. He also wished that EXO could perform again together in a concert in the Philippines.
Before leaving the stage, Baekhyun also made EXO-L’s chant to EXO’s tagline “We are one, EXO saranghaja (let’s love).” It’s always heartwarming when EXO members consistently shout saranghaja with their fans even during their solo shows. Baekhyun exited the stage after giving his fans a loud kiss and a big heart, delighting the audience once again.
“Lonsdaleite” is just one of the series of EXO solo events in Manila promoted by Wilbros Live and Applewood. EXO’s Suho will have his solo concert “Su:Home” on June 22 while EXO’s D.O.’s fan concert “Bloom” will be on Aug. 31.
