K-pop girl group IVE during the Manila stop of their 'Show What I Have' concert tour at the Mall of Asia Arena, July 13, 2024. Photos by  Jasper Lucena, provided by Starship EntertainmentMANILA — “You think you already know a lot about me?” IVE challenged the audience in the opening video of their “Show What I Have” concert tour. Dives, as their dedicated fan base is called, might have felt like they had a firm grasp on their idols, but the K-pop girl group swiftly shattered that notion during their tour’s Manila stop.

The tour’s title proved fitting as the six-piece act captivated the crowd by unveiling fresh performances and facets of their talent. With each number, it became clear: IVE had returned to demonstrate the full breadth of their artistry.

The opening set alone perfectly encapsulated IVE’s identity. Clad in regal white ensembles, the sextet kicked off the show with the anthemic “I Am,” which showcases the group’s ability to blend messages of self-love and empowerment into their music. This was followed by the club-ready “Royal” and bold “Blue Blood” — songs in which the girls declare themselves of noble birth, embodying their “chaebol crush” concept.

Presented by Live Nation Philippines, the concert marked IVE’s return to the Philippine stage after more than a year. Building on the success of their fan concert here in June 2023, which featured a blend of song-and-dance numbers and entertaining segments (such as games), the group shifted their focus to performances this time around.

READ: Fan video moves IVE to tears in ‘memorable’ Manila concert

“We have prepared this world tour to give back our thanks to Dives. Just like the title, ‘Show What I Have,’ we will show you what we have through this world tour,” member Wonyoung said early into the show.

For two and a half hours, IVE delivered a 24-track repertoire that captured a wide array of sounds. They seamlessly transitioned from the hushed tones and briskly instrumental of “Blue Heart” to the cool, confident charm of “Cherish.”

The infectious energy from debut hit “Eleven” had the crowd singing along to the song’s catchy lyrics and percussive pulse.

The mood shifted dramatically with the heartfelt ballad “Shine With Me,” as the members gave an emotionally-charged delivery while seated.

The concert’s atmosphere lightened up with the breezy, bossa nova-sounding “Lips,” while the groove of “Off the Record” evoked the intimacy of late-night conversations.

During a lighthearted moment in between songs, the members shared their favorite Filipino food. Gaeul, Rei and Wonyoung affectionately dubbed themselves “banana girls” after indulging in turon (deep-fried bananas).

Yujin opted for the classic Filipino dish, chicken adobo, while Leeseo developed a sweet tooth for ube ice cream. Liz, on the other hand, raved about halo-halo, saying, “I tried halo-halo. There were a lot of jellies in it. You know, I love jellies so I liked it. Perfect.”

Solo, unit numbers

The concert also included solo and unit numbers, highlighting the members’ individual talents. Fans were surprised by Gaeul’s twerking during her cover of Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings,” while Rei enchanted the audience with her rendition of Niki’s “Every Summertime.” The two then joined forces for the Spice Girls’ iconic “Wannabe.”

Wonyoung and Liz’s dreamy vocals shone as they sang Richard Sanderson’s “Reality.” Meanwhile, Yujin and Leeseo exuded confidence and charisma with their powerful performance of Little Mix and Nicki Minaj’s “Woman Like Me.”

After a chilling horror video featuring the members played on the screens, the girls reemerged on the stage in striking black leather outfits, casting a spell over the crowd with “Hypnosis” and “Accendio.”

The concert reached its fever pitch as IVE unleashed a barrage of hits. From “Love Dive” to “Heya” (with “Kitsch,” “Baddie” and “After Like” in between), the crowd cheered, sang along and ardently recited the fan chants.

Their efforts were not lost on the girls. As Yujin expressed, “I was really, really happy to feel the passion of Manila Dives once again.”

“I was so glad that many of you guys are singing along,” Rei said.

‘More meaningful’

Near the end of the concert, Rei said the group prepared with “extra effort” since “Show What I Have” was both their first solo concert and world tour. “It was a very happy time for us because Manila Dives were more passionate than us,” she said.

For Yujin, “Compared to last year, I think it was more meaningful tonight because there are more Dives and your cheers are much louder.”

“I can’t wait to visit here again so always stay tuned and be healthy,” she told fans.

“If ever we go back to Korea, I think this moment will be very unforgettable for me. We’ll make sure to come back very soon so please wait for us, okay?” Leeseo said.

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