On April 12, BTS member and solo artist j-hope successfully kicked off his solo ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE‘ tour in Asia with a two-day sold-out show in Manila at the Mall of Asia Arena. This came after completing the North American leg earlier in April.
In a striking all-red ensemble accented with shimmering details, j-hope launched his two-hour concert with a powerful opening of “What if…,” “Pandora’s Box,” “Arson,” and “Stop.” The night started with a bang, igniting the stage with his high-energy performances, amplified by bursts of fireworks and dramatic fire effects.
“You guys are so great,” said j-hope. “I worked so hard [for this]. I’m so happy that I got to perform these songs for you.”
“You guys are my sweetest dreams. Manila, you know how to party,” j-hope exclaimed, showing his appreciation for the fans who sang and danced along throughout his performance.
The setlist also featured “MORE,” “on the street,” “i wonder…,” “Daydream,” “Chicken Noodle Soup,” alongside his recent hits “Sweet Dreams” and “MONA LISA.”
The show wasn’t complete without a nod to his group, as j-hope treated ARMYs to a BTS medley of “Airplane pt. 2,” “MIC Drop,” “Silver Spoon (Baepsae),” and “Dis-ease.”
“Today is the beginning of the Asia tour, that’s why this concert is such a precious moment,” he said. “It’s been such a long time since I last visited Manila, Philippines, and of course, it’s beyond expectations. Your energy, your vibes… You guys gave me lots of inspiration. You gave me the hope for this Asia tour.”
j-hope capped off the show with his dynamic stages of “= (Equal Sign),” “Future,” and “NEURON.”
He expressed, “Thank you so much for enjoying tonight. Of course, I’ll come back here. I will never forget Manila and make sure to come back.”
“I’m the happiest when I’m on stage, you guys can tell,” he remarked, met by an echoing agreement from the thrilled crowd. Indeed, his joy in performing shone through every moment of the show.
Special thanks to Smart!
SEE ALSO: All of BTS’s parents attended J-Hope’s solo concert to show support
