#FangirlGigs: XG’s First Howl echoes loudly across Manila
XG, the Japanese septet that's redefining the pop landscape, made quite an impact on Filipinos when they entered the Big Dome. Manila was hyped as fans witnessed firsthand the Japanese R&B/rap girl group's explosive energy and undeniable talent.
XG 1st WORLD TOUR “The first HOWL” Landing at Manila marks the group’s first world tour and the global reception has been phenomenal so far, scoring multiple sold-out tickets for stops in Asia and the US. It is scheduled to continue until the first quarter of 2025.
Short for Xtraordinary Girls, XG prides itself on breaking the mould of customary girl groups. They come off strong on all bases. Their music, which is heavily influenced by American R&B and hip-hop, unapologetically preaches about empowerment, confidence, and self-love – values that resonate well with the youth of today.
Add to this their outlandish fashion aesthetics which are instant eye-catchers. Just watch their music videos and you’ll see the impeccable mishmash of polar-opposite elements like sci-fi, Y2K, extraterrestrial, visual kei, and a whole lot more. As a final flourish, the ladies have the passion, energy, and skills to pull off their high-level live performances.
XG— composed of JURIN, CHISA, HINATA, JURIA, COCONA, MAYA, and, HARVEY—aims to pass this attitude to their fans, rightfully dubbed as ‘ALPHAZ ' which essentially means pack leaders. The group hopes their fans will follow their lead in breaking stereotypes and making a difference in the world.
XG’s powerful performance
Blasting off with the amped-up rock version of SHOOTING STAR, XG made their entrance, bedecked in shiny silver co-ords, lined with thick, white furry frills. This was followed by the trap beat-infused songs GRL GVNG and Tippy Toes.
The ladies’ charisma was irresistible, radiating a strong girl-boss aura that only seemed to intensify the longer they performed on stage. Their knife-like precision in dancing was also awe-inspiring. From the get-go, the crowd’s energy was as intense, their hoots and cheers turning into literal howls. In many instances, they were literally shouting the lyrics.
Each member got their time to shine during their solo stages which paid homage to their musical influences. ALPHAZ also did their part as they changed their lightstick setting according to the respective performer’s official color. It was a white ocean for JURIA, yellow for CHISA, purple for HARVEY, and so on.
XG’s rap line was up first. COCONA spat fire as she rapped to JID’s Surround Sound and Jay Z’s Dirt Off Your Shoulder. MAYA sustained the flow with her cover of Dreamville’s Down Bad and Connor Price’s Million Cash. HARVEY flexed her melodic rapping style as she performed I Won by Ty Dolla $ign and BIG MAD by Ktyln. The group’s leader JURIN puts her own glamorous spin on Rosalia's SAOKO and Still Hot by Nic D and Connor Price. Together, the four rappers charmed the audience with their take on David Guetta’s Trampoline.
XG’s vocal line also showed their prowess as they serenaded the crowd with their silky rendition of familiar pop songs. JURIA held everyone’s attention as she sang Adele’s Hello. HIRATA rocked Taylor Swift’s Red and CHISA belted out the high notes for Beyonce’s If I Were a Boy. The three ladies later joined forces for a sweet cover of FLO’s Losing You.
The Eyyy connection with Filipino ALPHAZ
Filipino ALPHAZ proved their superiority when they held many fan projects for their beloved girl group. The fanbase XG Philippines prepared official concert banners for all, with the words “XG, you gave it your all. ALPHAZ will make it pay off” which was raised while XG performed WINTER WITHOUT YOU.
The fans’ ardent support was well-reciprocated by XG members during their speeches. The ladies greeted the crowd with Filipino words like “magandang gabi” and “mahal ko kayo,” but the one phrase that connected with them the most was undoubtedly the “eyyy” buzzword with the matching Y hand sign. XG members were so amused by it, that they kept saying it after every statement they made.
Save the best for last
XG 1st WORLD TOUR “The first HOWL” Landing at Manila was a gift that kept giving, especially towards the end. XG’s trademark bops like WOKE UP, TGIF, and MASCARA had the party going even louder.
As a special treat, Manila was the first crowd in the world to witness the live stage for the retro-sounding dance track SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT which was released in late July. It will be included in their highly-anticipated new mini album later this year.
Capping off an amazing show, XG bid the crowd good night with LEFT RIGHT, one of their biggest hits thus far.
With promises of a return, the night ended on a high note, leaving the ALPHAZ eagerly anticipating the next chapter of XG's journey.