BamBam, a member of K-pop boy band GOT7, wowed Filipino fans at his first solo world tour in Manila.
The Thai star held his “1st World Tour [Area 52]” concert on Sept. 22 at the Araneta Coliseum with special guests Sandara Park, or Dara, a former member of 2NE1 and his colleague at Abyss Company, their agency in South Korea, and girl group DreamNote.
BamBam performing at his “1st World Tour [Area 52]” concert in Manila on Sept. 22 (Jonathan Hicap)
This marked his return to the country. In July last year, he held fan signing events in Cebu and Manila, and performed at the “2022 K-pop Masterz in Manila” show.
Manila was the first stop of BamBam’s solo world tour after launching it in Seoul last Sept. 16. BamBam said he made this decision because of Filipino fans.
“Last year, the time that I came here with Jackson [Wang], you guys really made me impressed. I love your energy so much so I wanted to feel the heat before I start the world tour so I chose Manila as the first place,” he said during the press conference at Gateway Mall 2 on Sept. 21.
For BamBam, the Area 52 show is “more [than just] like concert. It’s not like I’m coming out [on stage) and singing. It’s more than that. It’s like a time you can really…communicate to each other. This time, I want to bring something more than that.”
“I don’t wanna end it as just a concert. I want every Aghase to have a part, be a part of my tour, be a part of this concert. My tour, I have my tour until next year. In between, we’re coming up with a lot of fun stuff that you guys can do,” he added.
BamBam at his press conference for his Manila concert on Sept. 21 at the Gateway Mall 2 (Jonathan Hicap)
With Dara and DreamNote, doing ‘Gento’ dance
DreamNote became the opening act for BamBam’s concert, performing “Lemonade” and “Broken.”
BamBam opened his show with “Satellite” and “Wheels up.” He also performed “Pandora,” “Sour and Sweet, “Ride or Die,” “Let's Dance,” “Who Are You” “Take it Easy,” “Ghost,” “Typpy Toe,” “Air,” “Subliminal,” “Ribbon” and “Look So Fine.” He also performed GOT7’s “Hard Carry” and “Look.”
“First I wanna welcome everyone to my first solo concert in Manila,” he said. The show’s title “Area 52” is derived from Area 51, a secret US Air Force facility in Nevada that became a subject of rumors about UFOs.
“Area 51, people believe they have UFO, alien and stuff, which is a topic that I really love. I brought it back to this show’s concept,” he said, adding that he was born on May 2, so he got the “5” and “2” and used them for the title.
He added, “This area is a place for everyone here to enjoy. If you guys wanna scream, if you wanna dance.”
As a treat to his Filipino fans, BamBam performed “Raining in Manila” by Lola Amour twice and “Ngiti [Smile]” by Ronnie Liang.
Dara returned as BamBam’s special guest for his concert. In July last year, she was also his special guest when he performed at a show in Manila.
For BamBam’s concert, Dara performed 2NE1’s iconic song “I Am The Best,” and two songs from her first Korean album “Festival”: “Dara Dara” and “Festival.” She also sang “In or Out,” which was released in the Philippines in 2004 before she became a member of 2NE1.
BamBam performing at his “1st World Tour [Area 52]” concert in Manila on Sept. 22 (Jonathan Hicap)
“Congratulations BamBam and Aghase for your first ever world tour and I’m so happy to be part of it. He’s really good, he’s handsome and he’s so hardworking. And I can feel his love for his fans.
To the delight of fans, BamBam and Dara did the SB19’s “Gento” dance challenge.
“I can call you ‘Ate’ [a Filipino word meaning older sister],” BamBam told Dara.
“You can call me Ate Dara,” said Dara.
“First, I wanna say thank you so much for coming with me, this time in Manila for my solo concert. She’s making me love the Philippines so much,” said BamBam,
During the press conference, BamBam said Dara “has taken good care of me when we became Abyss family. You know I was kind of surprised that we got close really fast because, you know, she’s kinda quiet and she doesn’t really, like, talk and we don’t really text a lot too.” He added that Dara wanted him to eat “balut” (fertilized duck embryo) while in Manila.
With “Area 52,” BamBam is on his own but said “it’s not much different” between performing solo or with GOT7.
“It’s just that me, I have to sing the whole song and dance the whole part. That’s the hardest part. But besides that, I think the most different thing is the music style. GOT7 we got our music style. Myself, I want to show another side, another style for me. You know, it’s different between we doing group and solo. It’s a little bit lonely sometimes at the hotel room but besides that, there’s nothing much,” he said.
As BamBam wrapped up his first solo concert in the Philippines, he expressed his thanks to the fans who came to watch the show.
“Manila, you guys’ energy is crazy. Thank you. Manila, I love you,” he said.
BamBam’s “1st World Tour [Area 52]” in Manila was presented by iME Philippines.
BamBam at his press conference for his Manila concert on Sept. 21 at the Gateway Mall 2 (Jonathan Hicap)