Filipino XBACKs had Christmas come early as Chinese superstar Lay Zhang made his way back to Manila after 10 whole years!
Organized by Warner Music Philippines, the rapper and singer-songwriter held an intimate fan meeting and exclusive listening party last December 4 at the Teatrino, Promenade at San Juan. More than 20,000 fans registered for a chance to attend the free event, but only 220 were selected for the event – such lucky fanboys and fangirls indeed!
Deafening screams filled the hall even before the event started as Lay’s music videos played on the big screen on loop, so you can just imagine how crazy it was when he finally stepped on stage! Lay kicked off the grand reunion with a stripped back version of ‘Boom’ and ‘Right Back.’
“Hello, Philippines! XBACK, EXO-L. Since I first came here, it has been 10 years. I missed you guys,” Lay excitedly said in his opening ment. He also greeted the audience in Filipino! Our multilingual king!
There was also a quick Q&A segment where Lay gamely answered a few questions his fans were dying to know the answer to, including what his 2024 goals were. His response? To “come [to the Philippines] more often!” Grandline Tour PH stop secured!
Speaking of 2024 plans, the highlight of the event of course was the sneak preview of two of the singer’s upcoming tracks. ‘Psychic’ seems to be an upbeat dance track, while ‘Step’ is a groovy song with some retro elements. It was just a few seconds, but what we heard was enough to make us extra hyped for the full version’s release! Zhang Yixing, your talent is truly unmatched!
And of course, Filo XBACKs did not waste this opportunity to show him their love through their fan project. Lay was visibly touched watching the short video compilation of messages from his supporters all around the country, and was elated to hear the crowd, holding banners that said “SAIL WITH LAY, XBACKS WILL ALWAYS STAY”, loudly sing every word to ‘Right Back’ to him.
“You guys are so thoughtful,” Lay said. “Keep healthy and stay with me, jumping until the end.”
Thank you so much for keeping your promise, Lay! We will always be cheering for you!
Huge thanks as well to Warner Music Philippines for making this event possible.