Korean singer IU during the Philippine stop of her 'HEREH' concert tour, held at the Philippine Arena, June 1, 2024. Photos from EDAM Entertainment via PULP Live WorldMANILA — There was much excitement surrounding the recent Philippine stop of IU’s “HEREH” tour. That much was evident when tickets sold out immediately on the first day of sales, prompting promoter PULP Live World to open additional seats to meet the demand.

The anticipation was understandable. After all, it had been more than four years since the chart-topping Korean diva last performed in the country for her “Love, Poem” concert tour in December 2019

Upon entering the Philippine Arena on concert day, one immediately felt the excitement from the crowd, who let out resounding cheers at even the voiceover announcement declaring that the show would start in a few minutes.

The wait finally came to an end a little past 6:30 p.m. when vocal harmonies began to echo throughout the arena, growing louder and louder until IU — who looked breathtakingly gorgeous in a pristine white dress — emerged from an elevated platform on the circular stage, greeted by the ear-splitting shrieks of her fans, known as Uaenas.

“I missed hearing all of your voices so much. Masaya ako (I’m so happy),” said the 31-year-old singer, who kept sprinkling her talk segments with Filipino expressions, much to the audience’s delight.

“I did prepare my heart before coming here somehow, but your screams really went beyond my expectations,” she told the crowd, estimated by PULP Live World to be around 40,000.

Sensory feast

Overall, the concert was a sensory feast: the song-and-dance numbers were complemented by striking visuals projected on the expansive screens. Lights encircled the stage, synchronizing with the hues of the fans’ light sticks, creating mesmerizing scenes.

Accompanied by a live band and an ensemble of dancers, IU delivered a 28-piece setlist, starting with “Holssi,” one of the singles from her latest extended play “The Winning.” At one point during the number, the singer was joined onstage by children, dancing with her in a scene reminiscent of the song’s music video.

READ: Patrick Garcia's daughter among dancers for IU's concert

IU also performed her hit singles, such as “BBIBBI,” a track that serves as a warning to her detractors. It ended with IU and her dancers brandishing the yellow cards mentioned in the song

In the breezy “Blueming,” IU’s dancers brought out a life-sized flower prop, which the singer later gifted to a lucky audience member. In “eight,” a collaboration with BTS rapper Suga, she employed her equally sweet and powerful voice for a poignant reflection on the bittersweet nature of growing up, set against a fitting backdrop of an orange sky.

While the setlist mostly consisted of upbeat pop tracks and stripped-down acoustic ballads that have become emblematic of IU’s sound, it also included songs tackling various genres, demonstrating the singer’s versatility. These include the bossa nova-sounding “Obliviate” and “Havana.”

She also performed the groovy, brass-rich “Coin,” showcasing her rap skills in the second verse, and “Above the Time,” which starts as a ballad reminiscent of a Disney soundtrack before taking a surprising turn, incorporating a fiddle-like sound that transforms the track into a more festive and whimsical offering.

‘Kayo ang langit ko’

Throughout the show, the fans were unwavering in their support, filling the arena with deafening screams, fervently waving their light sticks, and singing along to practically every song (fueled by the screens that flashed the lyrics in both Korean and their romanized form). Their efforts were not lost on the singer.

“You guys are beyond good. This is really like heaven. Kayo ang langit ko (You guys are my heaven),” IU said. 

IU appeared to cherish her fans just as much as they adored her. She even declared, “No matter how loud you scream for IU, my scream for Manila will be even louder.”

Her fondness towards fans shone in “Celebrity,” as she gestured towards the audience while singing “You're my celebrity,” and in the anthemic “I Stan U,” where she wielded her own light stick during the performance.

As a treat for her Filipino fans, IU sang in Filipino, covering local band SunKissed Lola’s “Pasilyo.” With its waltz vibe reminiscent of the Korean singer’s signature style, “Pasilyo” seamlessly blended into her repertoire, feeling like a natural addition.

“When I first heard this song, I really liked it,” she said after the performance. “When I heard that you liked it, it made the practice worth it. I was so happy while singing this song.”

Lasting for more than three hours, IU’s concert felt like a test of vocal endurance, reaching a climax with the soul-stirring performance of “Love Wins All.” The staging recreated the song’s music video, with the appearance of the villainous cube-shaped entity and a falling wedding gown.

WATCH: BTS' V joins IU in dramatic 'Love Wins All' music video

As with her previous concert here, IU spent the final segment taking requests from attendees. Casually dressed in her tour shirt, jeans and a duck headband, she performed “Someday” and “Give You My Heart,” which were recorded for the TV dramas "Dream High" and "Crash Landing On You,” respectively.

She also sang “My Sea,” “Lilac,” “Strawberry Moon” and “Well…” before concluding with “Palette.”

By the end of the evening, IU graded the audience with 300 points for their enthusiasm and appeared apologetic that she had not returned sooner. “It will not take another five years before I come back here. I was really, really happy tonight. Napakasaya ko. Kita-kita uli tayo?” she said.

("I am very happy. Let's see each other again?")

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