The everlasting voice of Kyuhyun
Eighteen years ago, Kyuhyun—then a 19-year-old rookie and the youngest member of Super Junior—fought for his life. A van carrying him and fellow members crashed and rolled over twice, leaving Kyuhyun in a coma for four days.
His father refused surgery that would have damaged his son’s vocal cords, and because he held on to his son’s dream, Kyuhyun is able to sing again.
And that’s exactly what Kyuhyun did in Manila on April 5. He sang his heart out in front of KYUpiters (Kyuhyun’s fandom) and ELFs (Ever Lasting Friends, Super Junior’s fandom) for the final stop of “Colors,” his 10th-anniversary concert tour. The event was promoted by L-Squared Productions PH.
He opened the night with “Restart,” a hopeful track about new beginnings, followed by “Together,” “Journey,” and “Last Poem”—dreamy tracks that made you forget the sweltering heat outside. He smiled as he asked the audience to sing the “la-la-la-la” part of “Journey.”
It was just one of the many duets he had with the Filipino audience, whom he praised for their talent in singing and their good pronunciation of Korean. A live band complemented his many colors as a singer, musical actor, entertainer, and super idol.
He told the audience he was happy to be back after two years. “It’s the last day. I’m so grateful that you are with me because, after today, we won’t be able to see this ‘Colors’ tour anymore.”
“Kyuhyun! Kyuhyun!” The audience was so charmed by his performances that they chanted his name after the sixth song. “Encore time? No! We just started. Save your voice for later during the encore.” His spontaneous reaction to a simple cheer made everyone laugh.
The setlist featured 24 songs, including tracks from his various albums, a medley of two K-drama OSTs, two duets with Filipino singer-songwriter Moira Dela Torre, a medley of four Super Junior originals, and three more songs during the encore.
He was visibly moved as Dela Torre sang lines from his ballad “A Million Pieces.” He let her shine in their duet of Dela Torre’s “Paubaya,” a heartbreaking song about letting go of someone you love but who loves someone else. It was a treat to witness two powerful vocalists having the most painful conversation through music—the kind that makes you say, “Thank God I’m alive.”
Theater side
He showed off his musical theater side with “Nights Without You.” He went down the stage to interact closely with everyone as he sang “Time With You” and “Flying, Deep in the Night.” He looked like James Bond as he ascended the stairs to meet fans on the second floor.
Super idol Kyuhyun shined on stage with “Bring It On,” an upbeat and sexy track from the “Colors” album. The venue turned into a full-on party when he sang and danced to Super Junior’s “U,” “Sorry Sorry,” “Devil,” and “Super Clap.” It was also meaningful to see Filipino dancers performing alongside a Super Junior member.
He said he almost fainted because it was his last time performing the medley and he wanted to give it his all.
“I will never faint, because I’m a strong man,” he joked. When the audience asked for a repeat, he responded, “Look at me. Impossible.”
He then apologized to attendees who were seeing him live for the first time because the shift between his serious and humorous sides might have confused then.
“They were not like this before. They’ve loved me for 20 years,” he said, referring to his fans. When they chanted “Super Show,” he promised, “I’ll tell SM that the Philippines is waiting for us!” He said he’d return—if not with the members, then by himself.
Banner
While he was singing “At Gwanghwamun,” a large banner prepared by Forever Kyu PH was raised. I was one of those who held it up. We were instructed to raise it from the bridge of the song until photo time, but it took him a while to notice. We initially raised it while seated to avoid blocking the view of those behind us, but they kindly encouraged us to stand so Kyuhyun could see it. We were ecstatic when he finally did!
“There’s a message at the back for me. ‘Mahal Kita, Kyuhyun. Let’s walk on the flower road for 100 more years,’” he read.
It wouldn’t be Kyuhyun if he simply said “yes.” Instead, he replied, “I will be 138 years old by that time.”
He added that with all the advancements in modern technology, it might not be entirely impossible. A video played during the first half of the show, featuring him portraying different characters while highlighting key milestones in his career. In the end, a conversation unfolded between two versions of Kyuhyun. His present-day self admitted feeling happy but sometimes scared about the future.
The wiser Kyuhyun reassured him: “You’ve done well so far. You’ve lived a harder life than anyone else. Have some faith in the people around you.” He then pointed to the screen, directing his younger self’s attention to the fans in the venue. The crowd erupted in cheers, waving their lightsticks in response.
According to his agency, Antenna Music, Kyuhyun is like Jupiter. Just as Jupiter safeguards the solar system from asteroids, his fans will continue to protect him—just as his father protected his dream 18 years ago.
Earlier, after singing “Horizon,” he clarified that it wasn’t a sad song. He said the lyrics express how he manages to live each day. “Because of you, I breathe. That’s the message of the song,” he said.
“Colors” is the story of Kyuhyun’s journey. He is, indeed, an incarnation of Jupiter. It was a night of showing his colossal presence—and repaying the universe for giving him another chance at life, and another chance to share his music.
