K-pop singer Suho of EXO during his 'SU:HOME' concert at the Araneta Coliseum, June 22, 2024. Jaehwa Bernardo, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — Near the end of Suho’s recent concert at the Araneta Coliseum, the South Korean singer remarked on the tendency of his international fans to drop honorifics and address him informally by his name, suggesting a sense of closeness between them.

“Whenever I meet you guys, EXO-Ls, overseas, it’s quite interesting. Because in Korean, we have honorific terms, right? But overseas fans, you [simply] call me ‘Junmyeon-a [or] Suho-ya,’” said Suho, known offstage as Kim Jun-myeon and celebrated as the leader of K-pop boy band EXO.

While this might typically be considered impolite in Korean culture, Suho holds a different view of his fans. “I like it so much because you guys call me in a friendly way,” he said.

“Should you try calling me?” he asked, before pointing his mic towards the audience, who eagerly responded in unison with calls of “Junmyeon-a,” “Suho-ya,” and even “oppa” (an affectionate honorific women use to address older men). The charismatic singer wore a big, almost coy smile each time the crowd called out to him, as though he cherished the idea of forging closer ties with his fans.

True to the title of his world tour, “SU:HOME,” Suho transformed the expansive venue dubbed the “Big Dome” into an intimate space, ensuring that Filipino fans felt at ease through his warm interactions with them as well as the performances.

“I made this show, pouring all my heart, wanting to enjoy it with you guys. So I hope that you feel comfortable in my home,” said the 33-year-old artist.

Presented by Wilbros Live, the Manila show of “SU:HOME” marked the tour’s inaugural stop, which felt like destiny for Suho.

“Last year, I went to a lot of other countries but did you know, the country I visited the most was [the Philippines]. I went to other countries just once but I came here twice,” he shared, referring to his trips for the Asia Artist Awards at the Philippine Arena and ON Music Festival at the Mall of Asia Arena last December and November, respectively.

“And do you know the starting point of the world tour of ‘SU:HOME’? Manila. I think it is destiny, for real,” he said.

Rockstar

In “SU:HOME,” Suho trades his Korean idol persona for that of a rockstar, highlighting his predominantly rock-leaning solo work. Devoid of tightly choreographed routines, the show featured Suho performing alongside a live band, delivering a setlist of over 20 songs for more than two hours.

But while “SU:HOME” lacked the typical song-and-dance numbers seen in most K-pop concerts, it was anything but a visually stale show. The stage, for instance, boasted three levels, reminiscent of a dollhouse, while elaborate production elements enhanced certain performances.

At the start of the show, the curtains were drawn back to unveil a bedroom setup on a suspended platform, complete with a bed, nightstand, round lamps, and plants. Suho rose from the bed, acting as though he had just woken up, then reached for a guitar, strumming it to segue into the opening song “Mayday.”

His next songs — “Morning Star,” “Grey Suit,” “Self-Portrait,” and “Zero Gravity” — sustained the relaxed atmosphere before he launched into a trifecta of upbeat pop-rock tunes, including “Cheese” and “1 to 3” from his recent third extended play, as well as the funk-driven “Hurdle.”

WATCH: EXO's Suho is a rockstar in space in '1 to 3' MV

“Hurdle” proved to be one of the evening’s highlights, culminating in a lively climax where Suho frenetically ran around the stage, jumped up and down, and blew kisses to the audience. Meanwhile, fans reveled in the moment, passing around large bouncy balls while being showered with confetti.

“You guys really know how to enjoy yourselves, huh?” Suho said after the number.

Suho also showcased his impressive vocal range, delivering everything from sweet falsettos to powerful notes. During “Curtain,” a white curtain covered the stage, spotlighting Suho as he performed the soulful, piano-backed song with fluidity. In “Bear Hug,” he hit the chorus’ sustained high notes with apparent ease, leaving fans in awe.

EXO medley

Similar to his ON festival outing, Suho revisited some of EXO’s hits, starting with the 2013 Christmas song “The First Snow,” which gained renewed popularity last December due to a viral dance challenge. 

He also set the stage ablaze (literally, as flames shot up from the front) with rock renditions of “Growl,” “Overdose” and “Monster.”

Sporting a hot pink bunny headdress, he alighted from the stage and roamed the venue’s floor area, interacting closely with fans, as he sang the breezy surf-rock track “Alright, Alright.”

Suho brought back a more mellow atmosphere for the show’s final stretch, performing “O2,” “Let’s Love” and “Moment.” During the encore, he sang a snippet of “Love You More Gradually” from his recently concluded series “Missing Crown Prince” before closing the evening with the fan-favorite “Made In You.”

“For the Manila EXO-Ls who have been cheering hard for me, thank you so much. I’d love to give a round of applause for you guys,” Suho said.

“Thanks for your love and support, Manila. I’m so relieved and happy that Manila is the first [stop] of this tour. Magsama tayo magpakailanman. Mahal kita. Manila, mahal kita.”

(Let's be together forever. I love you. I love you, Manila.)

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