#FangirlGigs: EXO’s Chen delights fans with astounding vocals, glimpse of himself during ‘Beyond the Door’ fan con

“It’s been such a long time [since I last performed in Manila],” he greeted his fans during his first ment. “I really have to say this before we begin anything, you guys are the same since the last time we met–– passionate, powerful, beautiful, and cute,” he shared, to which the crowd replied with a collective “Awww.” Chen last visited the Philippines in 2022 for the “Be You 2: The World Will Care” benefit concert. 

Chen also explained the concept behind his “Beyond the Door” concert, saying that he intends to serve the show as a stress-free space for his Soondingies.

Apart from showcasing his vocals, the singer also entertained the crowd during his “Chen-llenge” where he had to guess the title of the song based only on single-line lyrics. If he fails, he has to wear costumes found inside a box. After failing to guess almost all of the songs, Chen had to wear a French Fry costume, his iconic Harry Potter costume, and Cardcaptor Sakura, among others. 

He continued to serenade the fans with his songs, Fall In Love Again, Hold You Tight, Beautiful Goodbye, and Don’t Remember. 

The evening was filled with surprises for Chen. Not only did he delight the crowd, but he was also touched by his fans' creative fan projects. A particularly heartwarming moment was when the venue lit up with dandelions wrapped in fairy lights as he sang Starlight.

After a while, he took a short break from the stage, while fans waited while singing his hit song, Everytime, an OST for the K-drama Descendants of the Sun, in collaboration with solo artist Punch.  

Passion for music 

A short video was also played during the show, where Chen shared a glimpse of himself as an artist outside the stage, where he talked about how he finds peace when making music, and how he relays his art to his fans. 

“I usually enjoy writing lyrics, when I write them, countless words come to mind just to express one particular idea…When I pour out the stories I’ve been holding onto, I feel a great sense of relief,” he said in the recorded video. 

He added, “In those moments, it’s as if the knots in my heart that I’ve been wanting to express are untangled and resolved. This always gives me a feeling of my heart being cleared and refreshed.” 

The K-pop idol, who debuted as a solo artist in 2019, also got real about the challenges in his craft. 

“To be honest, there are times when I do feel exhausted. I sometimes wonder, ‘Am I doing well in this performance?’ ‘Are the people watching from below really enjoying it?’” he mused.  

“I hope my music can be something subtle that you’ll recall when you look back someday. I want to create music that isn’t overwhelming but instead approaches you in a simple and pure way,” he concluded. 

Wrapping up the night, Soondingies and EXO-Ls gave him a special banner that read, “You fill our days with brightness, our sunshine Jongdae!” and a video compilation of fans, now working as professionals, sharing how they get strength and inspiration from his music.  

Bidding his farewell, Chen told the fans, “You guys are really the best for being the last stop of 'Beyond the Door' tour. It’s also touching hearing that message, that you can overcome your hardships with my songs.” 

“I will never forget all of the love and messages I received throughout this tour so let’s be together happily for a long time. I promise here in Manila, I will come back,” he concluded. 

The fancon did not have any grand production and wardrobe, but the warmth of the intimate event was a much-awaited moment between Chen and his Filipino fans who have been together since the idol debuted in the K-pop scene in 2012 as part of the group EXO.

It was indeed a core memory for those who have consistently sought comfort and inspiration in his music.