K-pop group ZEROBASEONE poses with the crowd during the Manila stop of their 'Timeless World' tour at the Mall of Asia Arena, October 12, 2024. Screenshot from video on ZEROBASEONE's X accountA few songs into the recent Manila stop of ZEROBASEONE’s “Timeless World” tour, the eldest member Kim Jiwoong fired up the crowd of fans, called Zerose, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“To all the Zerose here, shout!” Jiwoong called out, prompting a wave of loud cheers to echo throughout the Pasay venue.

Jiwoong hardly needed to stir up the audience as they were already bursting with enthusiasm for the rising K-pop boy group. Hours before the concert, the venue and its surroundings buzzed with excitement, with some fans arriving as early as the morning to join the “fan zone,” where they exchanged and distributed fan-made merchandise.

As the concert was about to begin, a power supply issue disrupted the opening VCR, leading to a delay of about 20 minutes. However, the wait was more than worth it when Jiwoong, Zhang Hao, Sung Hanbin, Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin, Park Gunwook, and Han Yujin finally emerged on stage, greeted by the audience’s deafening screams.

Wasting no time in getting closer to their fans, the boys, clad in studded black and white suits, made their way to the B-stage and set the tone for the night with “Road Movie,” a song that shifts between chant-like deliveries and dramatic, vocal-driven pre-choruses.

Both “Road Movie” and the following number, “Take My Hand,” showcased dynamic dance routines that highlighted immediately ZEROBASEONE’s cohesion. The members effortlessly morphed through various formations, occasionally splitting into smaller groups before merging back into a united front. Their movements were a blend of elegance and power, executed with remarkable precision and synchronization.

The setlist, which included over 20 songs, showcased ZEROBASEONE's diverse discography. Their debut single, “In Bloom,” cleverly incorporates a sample from a-ha’s “Take On Me” with drum and bass elements, a genre also utilized in “Crush,” which possessed a more abrasive chorus.

Bright and upbeat tracks like “New Kidz on the Block” and “Kidz Zone” saw the members moving freely around the stage and closely interacting with their fans.

The synth-drenched “Insomnia” and tender, romantic “Good Night” put the spotlight on the members’ vocal talents, while “Dear Eclipse” and “Hot Summer” created a sultry atmosphere with their choreography, including moments where the members executed body waves while kneeling on stage.

The infectious “Feel the Pop” had the entire audience singing along, highlighting its vibrant drum and bass and UK garage influences.

As the main show drew to a close with the latest single, “Good So Bad,” fans reveled in the song’s irresistible groove that had them jumping with excitement, eagerly calling for more. The group obliged by repeating the catchy chorus five times before finally stepping off stage to prepare for the encore.

A portion of the concert also paid homage to “Boys Planet,” the 2023 survival program that formed the group. After a solo performance by Zhang Hao, Jiwoong, Matthew, Ricky, and Gunwook took to the stage with the sensual “Over Me,” while Hanbin, Taerae, Gyuvin, and Yujin raised the energy with “Switch.”

They also performed the show’s signal song, “Here I Am,” engaging fans by posing alongside them in split screens displayed on the large stage monitors, as well as the bubbly “Say My Name” and hard-hitting “En Garde.”

Return to PH

Produced by PULP Live World, the “Timeless World” concert marked ZEROBASEONE’s first solo show and their second visit to the Philippines, following their appearance at the Asia Artist Awards (AAA) in Bulacan last December.

“Last year, we only went for a short time for [an] awards [show]. So we're super happy and proud to be here for our own concert,” Gyuvin said.

Ricky, who was unable to attend the AAA due to passport and visa issues, expressed his joy at finally meeting his Filipino fans. “I was really sad that I couldn’t be here last time so finally, I’m so excited to meet you guys,” the Chinese idol said.

In addition to connecting with their fans, the boys expressed their eagerness to try local dishes. “We heard a lot about delicious Filipino meat, dishes like adobo... So we are looking forward to trying them out,” said Yujin, the band’s maknae (youngest member).

Taerae, on the other hand, said he wanted to try a burger from a popular local fast-food chain.

There were barely any dull moments in the show, even during the boys’ time off stage. One VCR, for instance, depicted Zhang Hao being shrunk down, with the audience encouraged to participate through interactive prompts — singing along and answering questions about the members — to help bring him back to his normal size.

‘Special gift’

Before wrapping up the concert with the heartfelt “Hello,” ZEROBASEONE surprised their Pinoy fans with what they called a “special gift” — a cover of Filipino singer-songwriter Maki’s “Dilaw.”

WATCH: ZEROBASEONE covers Maki's 'Dilaw' at Manila concert

During their final remarks, Gyuvin shared that at the beginning of the year, he wished to present an “improved version” of himself as a member of ZEROBASEONE and to travel with his bandmates — something he is finally accomplishing through the tour.

And in their pursuit of their dreams, the members acknowledged the important role of their fans. “You guys right now, here with me tonight, are my pride. So I hope you all are happy, and I promise I’ll do better and work harder,” Jiwoong told Zerose.

The members also thanked their Filipino fans, calling them an “amazing” crowd for enthusiastically reciting fan chants and singing along throughout nearly the entire three-hour event.

“When we were backstage, we were all saying, ‘The energy here is so, so amazing.’ You guys, we were having so, so much fun. You guys made the time go by so fast. We love you guys so, so much,” Matthew said.

“The Zerose in Manila have given us so much passion and love that we really enjoyed and had so much fun tonight,” Zhang Hao remarked.

“Because [Manila Zerose’s] passion has been deeply ingrained in all our hearts, we’ll surely come back, prepare ourselves more, and see you next time,” Taerae added.

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