Over the weekend, EXO’s vocalist Doh Kyungsoo, also known by his stage name D.O., captivated his Filipino fans with a solo, two-day fan concert, Bloom in Manila. As a longtime Kyungsoo bias, I can confidently say that this event was a dream come true for countless fans like me in the Philippines.
Presented by Wilbros Live, the concert held at the Big Dome was a visual and auditory feast. D.O.’s visuals were a beauty to behold, and his vocals were as powerful as ever. He showcased his immense talent and versatility in every song he sang.
From the moment the lights dimmed and Kyungsoo’s silhouette appeared on stage, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause as we waited for him to reveal himself. His powerful vocals, combined with his charismatic stage presence, immediately drew us into his world.
The setlist was a perfect blend of his solo hits—from his previous albums to the latest tracks from BLOOM.
He welcomed the massive crowd with his hit song “Mars,” owning the stage with powerful vocals and soulful delivery. He greeted his Filipino fans by saying, “Mabuhay, Philippines,” which they reciprocated with loud screams and cheers for the EXO member.
Kyungsoo then treated his fans to a segment where he connected with them through a series of games.
The K-pop idol wasn’t EXO’s vocalist for nothing, as he showed off his vocals by singing some of the requested songs from fans, including “Hawak Kamay,” some of the group’s songs like “Lotto,” “Christmas Day,” and “El Dorado,” and English tracks such as “Call Me When It’s Over,” “Billionaire,” and “Fly Me to the Moon.”
If you think he was done serenading his fans, you’re wrong; before leaving the stage for the second part of the show, Kyungsoo sang “Simple Joys” and “That’s Okay.”
After a promotional video was shown, he returned to the stage, singing “I Do” and “My Dear” before interacting again with his fans.
One of the most memorable moments of the night for me was when Kyungsoo performed one of my favorite songs of his—“Ordinary Days.” Hearing it live almost brought tears to my eyes, as it was a comfort song I listened to when I felt sad.
He later performed more of his songs, such as “Good Night,” “About Time,” and “Somebody.”
A concert wouldn’t be called a concert without the “encore,” a term used for an additional performance from an artist requested by the audience. This also meant that the event was about to end.
As the concert drew to a close, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude that I got to meet and see Kyungsoo perform in my homeland. He delivered his last performance of the night, “Popcorn,” and left us with a promise to return.
