Taeyang poses for a photo with the Filipino crowd during the Manila leg of his 'The Light Year' tour at the Mall of Asia Arena, February 22, 2025. Photo from Taeyang's X account

As with most K-pop concerts, the Manila leg of Taeyang’s “The Light Year” tour was a visual feast, with vibrant backdrops, multicolored lights, and dramatic bursts of flames and pyrotechnics. Yet, despite all these embellishments, none burned brighter than the man at the center of it all.

It was only fitting that his stage name meant “sun,” as Taeyang ignited the Mall of Asia Arena with a two-hour show that displayed the full range of his artistry.

Taeyang’s skills were on full display the moment he emerged from atop a raised platform at the upstage, a blazing sun glowing in the background. Without missing a beat, he launched into “Prayer,” seamlessly blending equally powerful and fluid choreography with the track’s mid-tempo R&B groove. 

Fans, on the other hand, welcomed Taeyang with thunderous cheers and collective sing-alongs. It was hardly surprising. After all, seven years had passed since the singer’s last visit to Manila, and the Filipino fans—known for their passionate energy during concerts—were more than ready to let out their long-held excitement.

“I’m very excited to meet you all and I miss you so much,” Taeyang, who spoke in English throughout the concert, told throngs of fans that flocked to the Pasay arena. “After all those years, thank you for having me once again.”

At the start of the show (presented by Karpos Multimedia), Taeyang also made a special request: “If you know the song during the show, please stand up and sing along with me… Tonight is the last day of ‘The Light Year,’ so you guys really need to express every single energy you have.” Not that he even had to ask, as his request seemed like something the local crowd did naturally.

For his part, Taeyang delivered a 26-song repertoire that included “songs that you missed and songs I haven’t had the chance to show onstage in the past.” And he managed to fit them all into a two-hour event. Despite shortening the songs to fit the concert’s running time, each one still felt complete and satisfying. It’s likely the way Taeyang immersed himself fully in every number that made the audience feel so engaged throughout the show.

Taeyang’s vocals were strong and emotive, with impressive belts, runs and ad-libs that gave his performances their signature flair. He executed the dance moves—including smooth spins and toe stands reminiscent of Michael Jackson—effortlessly. However, for the most part, he opted for minimal choreography, choosing instead to focus on singing and interacting with the crowd.

Setlist

Taeyang, whose solo works mostly lean towards R&B and soul, showcased singles like “1AM,” “Only Look At Me,” “Wedding Dress,” and “I Need A Girl.”

But the idol, whose real name is Dong Young-bae, is no stranger to high-energy tracks either. He had the crowd hyped with “Ringa Linga” and dished out the dance-heavy “Where U At,” a song that he rarely performed in the past because, as he put it, “It’s very tough.”

The concert also featured tracks from Taeyang’s 2023 extended play (EP) “Down to Earth,” including the new jack swing-tinged “Vibe” (with BTS member Jimin’s parts kept intact during the show), the laidback hip-hop track “Shoong!” (originally recorded with Blackpink’s Lisa), and the upbeat, groovier “Inspiration” and “Nightfall.” The EP’s lead single “Seed” served as the finale, with Taeyang offering a heartfelt performance that moved some fans to tears.

READ: BIGBANG's Taeyang returns with new EP ‘Down to Earth’

Taeyang also performed BIGBANG tracks, including the mellow “Blue” and slow jams “If You” and “Loser.” The show reached a high point when he dove into his group’s well-loved hits “Bang Bang Bang,” “Fantastic Baby” and “We Like 2 Party,” with nearly the entire crowd on their feet, jumping and dancing in unison.

As a special gift to his Filipino fans, Taeyang covered the chorus of TJ Monterde’s “Palagi,” performing it for a second time at the audience’s request. “Manila, I love you, palagi (always),” he said.

Perhaps the most anticipated moment of the evening came when Taeyang finally fielded his 2014 single “Eyes, Nose, Lips,” leading the crowd that sang along enthusiastically to every word of the piano-heavy heartbreak ballad.

Towards the end of the main show, Taeyang took a moment to reflect on the experience, admitting, “I didn’t realize how quickly time flew because guys all showed me so much energy. It was really fun.”

Since Manila marked the final stop of the tour, the artist could not help but turn sentimental. “I can’t believe that the tour is already done. When I got on the plane to Manila, I was kind of sad and emotional. Every single person’s joy and excitement from every city [I visited] just passed through my head,” he narrated.

‘Yeorobun’

However, his sentimental speech was abruptly interrupted by the crowd’s enthusiastic chant of “yeorobun” (Korean for “everyone”), a reference to a viral moment from a past concert where Taeyang sang while conversing with his audience.

“You know, I’m talking [with] a kind of serious feeling and you guys want ‘yeorobun’ right now. That’s so awkward,” he said.

He explained that he did not intend for his “yeorobun” moment to gain viral attention. “It was [an] accident. It was kind of a random creation,” he said before eventually relenting, singing a special version of the “yeorobun” verse tailored just for the Filipino fans.

As the show neared its conclusion, Taeyang thanked the Manila crowd “for making the last day of this tour meaningful and unforgettable.”

“I will never ever forget your huge love and energy, and your voice,” he said. “I promise you that I will come back soon.”

The audience continued to erupt into cheers for a BIGBANG concert, to which Taeyang responded: “Like I always said, I’ll try my best, but you guys should know that I’m trying hard. Trust me, I’ll try harder.”