Stars for all seasons
“FULL FAN experience” best describes the concert of K-pop group GFriend in Manila over the weekend.
VVIP ticket holders were given the opportunity not just to watch the concert but to get access to pre- and postevent activities such as the red carpet, photo and hi-touch sessions, as well as the press conference and the sound check that followed. It was literally a whole day of GFriend interaction and for the group’s fans — called Buddies — it was well worth the money spent on the tickets.
The show was originally set for Aug. 19 but the airplane mishap at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport forced the producer, My Music Taste, to reschedule the concert for a week later.
The six-member girl group apologized for making its fans wait but the ladies made sure the show more than made up for the inconvenience. The three-hour spectacle had Sowon, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju, SinB, and Umji singing some of their biggest hits, combined with solo performances that highlighted their individual dancing and singing skills.
There were five sets, with the ladies dishing out 28 songs, including two encore numbers, “My Buddy” and “Falling Asleep Again.” While the stage and the overall production were neither outlandish nor grand — there was only one LCD screen which served as the stage’s backdrop — the
relative simplicity suited the size of the venue.
GFriend opened with “Fingertip” from its The Awakening album and “Navillera,” a cut from LOL. Wearing sexy, military uniform-inspired outfits, they followed these up with “Crush” and “Ave Maria.” To give themselves a breather, they slowed things by singing the ballad versions of “Summer Rain” and “Mermaid.”
During the brief press conference held at the Novotel shortly before the concert, the GFriend members said that, if given the chance, they would want to have an acoustic collaboration with award-winning Filipino singer Morissette Amon. Eunha also gamely shared with fans that opening a hamburger restaurant has always been in
her bucket list.
Each had the opportunity to take the spotlight during their solo stages. SinB gyrated to BoA’s “No. 1” even if she was suffering from a shoulder injury and was unable to participate in the hi-touch that followed the concert. Sowon, meanwhile, danced to “Gashina,” an original of Sunmi. Umji, Eunha, Yuju and Yerin also sang “23” (IU), “Bloom” (Gain), “Heaven” (Ailee), and “U Go Girl” (Hyori), respectively. It would have been better if they had original solos but since GFriend is a relatively new group — they were launched only in 2015 — they will likely have more opportunities for separate projects in the future.
It was the second time that GFriend performed in Manila as the group was also here last year for the K-Pop Republic 2 concert. This was their first full solo concert in the Philippines.
“Filipino Buddies always welcome us with passionate and energy and (every visit) is very unforgettable,” Sowon said. Noticeably, male fans made up more than half of the audience and with fan boys in the crowd, the baritone chants that accompanied each of GFriend’s songs were a delightful sidelight.
With the recent disbandment of girl group, Sistar, GFriend wants to be known as the K-pop fandom’s “summer friends.” Sistar was best known as K-pop “queens of summer,” regularly churning chart-topping summerthemed songs. Last Saturday, the audience was pleasantly surprised when the group sang “Sunny Summer” as this song was not included in the regular show set list.
As Korea is experiencing its hottest summer in centuries, GFriend, during the Q&A session, reminded fans planning to visit Korea to keep themselves cool by eating naengmyeon (a type of cold noodle) and, if possible, avoiding spicy food.
Other well-applauded songs were “Me Gustas Tu,” “LOL,” “Glass Bead” “Rainbow,” and “Time for the Moon Night.”
GFriend songs are upbeat and easy on the ears. However, there were several segments during the concert when a dispassionate spectator may have felt that the tempo and melody of some of the songs were similar, if not the same.
But this has always been the trademark GFriend — light and airy and nothing heavy — so that their music can be enjoyed whatever the season.
Concert Review Season of GFriend in Manila Aug. 26
Kia Theater, Cubao, Quezon City