Being among the first stops on a tour brings a unique thrill, as you get to experience everything before anyone else. You are the first to hear the setlist. The first to be greeted by the artist with raging excitement as the tour officially begins. The first to see new and concert-version performances. Everyone feels new and energized at the very beginning. But in the K-pop fan world, being the last—or in concert terms– finale, brings a significant feeling of exhilaration as well.
K-pop fans around the world debate about 2-day concerts and which days are better to attend to. But a tour finale itself and in the Philippines? Well it’s more special than anything else.
“On the last day of the Light Year”
BIGBANG’s TAEYANG wrapped up the final leg of The Light Year tour in Manila, last February 22, 2025 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Photo courtesy: Ber Garcia and KARPOS
He opened the concert with Prayer and I’ll Be There, from his debut album HOT and 2010 album Solar, respectively. He greeted the crowd by emphasizing that this is the last day of the Light Year tour which brings a sense of pride to the crowd as it creates a small but lasting impression of importance, fit for a VIP. His last world tour was back in 2017, White Night. He expressed his gratitude that after all those years VIPs, BIGBANG’s fandom name, are still there for him.
“It is great to see you and I wanted to express my heart and my love towards you. “
This tour is shaped by the songs that his fans missed as well as the songs he didn’t have the chance to show on stage in the past. He proceeds to perform Vibe, a song where he features BTS’ Jimin— a legendary collab, btw. He also performs 1AM, Stay with Me, and Make Love among other songs throughout his musical career.
A true VIP experience
K-pop concerts are also known for flashing VCRs, pre-recorded videos that have their own concepts to entertain the crowd while the group prepares for the next set. Sometime the VCRs are about the next set of songs that fits another concept in the whole concert.
Photo courtesy: Ber Garcia and KARPOS
Instead of pre-recorded videos set to be shown while TAEYANG prepares for the next performance, the concert feels a bit more intimate as he talks most of the time in the small window of time he can rest instead. Since he is also fluent in English, he didn’t need a translator to convey his words. The words are from him to the fans, directly. The VIPs truly have a very special experience, whether from the upper seats or floor standing.
Yeorobon~
“ Manila, I miss you so much”
Aside from TAEYANG’s solo songs he also performed BIGBANG’s timeless songs. From emotionally-charged songs like Blue and If You to rhythmic and beatdropping songs like Fantastic Baby and Bang Bang Bang, We Like 2 Party brings the whole arena into a party scene.
Photo courtesy: Ber Garcia and KARPOS
TAEYANG created an even special night only Filipinos will cherish— he sang the chorus of Palagi by TJ Monterde. Not only did he sing it once but twice by the request of the fans— a special anecdote to reminisce and share in the future when reliving the concert.
The concert is filled with more songs; Ringa Linga, the popular and loved Eyes, Nose, Lips among others. A iconic Yeorobun line was requested by the fans and after explaining that it was not a track, TAEYANG, for the last last time as he emphasized, delivered a Manila remake of “yeorobun~~ neomu bogoshiposoyooo~~~” (trans: Everyone, I missed you) and completed it with “ Manila, I miss you so much” . Before the encore stage, TAEYANG personally introduced and thanked his dancers, the band, THEBLACKLABEL staff, and the whole Philippine team. He officially ends the concert with 5 more songs including Nightfall and Seed.
It was a night of nostalgia and tasteful music from one of the legends of K-pop, TAEYANG.
