XG ‘The first HOWL’ Landing at Manila: An Xplosive Entrance to the PH Stage
“Wolf,” “Growl,” and “Roar.” These seem to be recurring titles and themes in music, but if anything, they certainly make a statement. Wolves are symbols of power and spirit, which is why any song or artist that makes use of this theme immediately turns our heads and instantly captures our attention.
Perhaps that’s why we shouldn’t be surprised how this seven-member girl group from Japan easily howled their way into our ‘favorites’ playlist and managed to blow us away with their explosive tracks and performances.
Actually, no. It may have nothing to do with the “wolf” theme but everything to do with the global group sensation, XG.
Meet JURIN, CHISA, HINATA, HARVEY, JURIA, MAYA, and COCONA, the “Xtraordinary Girls” that make up the international girl group from Japan currently making waves worldwide. There is definitely nothing ordinary about these girls though, from their eclectic visuals down to their Hip Hop and R&B-inspired music (all sung in English, FYI!) classified in an entirely new category called X-Pop — a genre that’s meant to transcend current paradigms.
The group made their debut in 2022 under XGALX, a global entertainment production company launched by AVEX who’s known to have produced renowned K-pop acts like BoA and BIGBANG. According to an interview with AVEX CEO Katsumi Kuroiwa on Billboard Japan, the project was created “with the aim of creating hits” and — as reflected in the group’s name — hopes of making XG (which literally stands for “Xtraordinary Girls”) their “breakthrough artists.”
It seemed they were right on the mark because, in less than two years, XG has already amassed a loyal following and has performed all over including in Singapore for the Formula Grand 1 Grand Prix; New York for 88rising’s Head in the Clouds festival; and Australia where they headlined the inaugural South by Southwest in Australia. All that just in 2023 alone!
This year, XG embarks on their first-ever world tour titled XG 1st WORLD TOUR “The first HOWL” which has gotten fans anticipating and trembling with excitement. And last Aug. 2, Filipino ALPHAZ (XG’s official fandom name), finally met the septet in an explosive concert that shook the entire Araneta Coliseum.
The Beat Asia got to witness this exciting event, and we’ll walk you through some of our favorite moments. Safe to say, they’ve “eXceeded our eXpectations!”
A cosmic start to a galaxy of stunning stages
Filipino ALPHAZ came to play last Friday night as they were a pack of fashion icons dressed in their signature style and Wolf-inspired outfits. It’s one of the best parts about concerts: how fans show their excitement by dressing up, adding to the visual experience a concert provides.
At 8 PM, the lights dimmed, and the screen lit up on stage to show the Wolf VCR, sending the entire venue into a pandemonium of flashing lights and booming sounds.
It wasn’t a full moon that night, but the lights shone bright over the stage as XG opened the show with their hit, “SHOOTING STAR.” The septet performed a cosmic opener filled with fierce Hip Hop beats, smooth R&B rhythms, and intense dance breaks.
It was quickly followed by their debut single “Tippy Toes” and “GRL GVNG.” A strong start to what we already expect to be an unforgettable show, the first act lineup reflected XG as a world-class group ready to take over the hearts of Filipino fans and newcomers alike.
One of the show's major highlights must be the solo performances. With XG performing for the first time on the Philippine stage, it was a fantastic way to get to know them as they showcase their individual talents and colors. Rappers MAYA, HARVEY, JURIN, and COCONA, took center stage and performed a series of cypher tracks that got our hearts pumping. They ended the set with a joint performance on the track “Trampoline” which was originally by David Guetta & AFROJACK (ft. Missy Elliott, BIA & Doechi).
But the rap line isn’t the only one who’s got something to show. Members JURIA, HINATA, and CHISA showcased their vocal prowess with renditions of some of the most popular pop hits today.
JURIA serenaded us with Adele’s “Hello” while HINATA brought the sun into the venue with a bright cover of Taylor Swift’s “Red” track. A powerhouse performance was brought in by CHISA as she belted out to Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy.” Similar to the rappers, they ended the set with a joint cover of “Losing You” by British R&B group, FLO.
Filipino ALPHAZ were then treated to a touching VCR featuring XG’s journey from debut before the group kicked off the much-awaited remix performance of their global hit, “LEFT RIGHT,” sending ALPHAZ into a frenzy!
The group made history on US Radio charts last year with the R&B single entering the Top 40 Radio Airplay Chart, making them the first-ever Asian female group to claim and maintain a spot on the list.
The performance was followed by “WINTER WITHOUT YOU” and a cover of the song “Just Stand Up!” which was originally performed by an all-star female group composed of some of the biggest artists in music such as Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and Beyonce. With those names, you can bet it’s not an easy song to cover, but XG delivered an outstanding performance, pulling off those high notes and riffs, and further amplifying our admiration for them.
Closing the show with a big bang! (and new music?)
“ALPHAZ, mahal na mahal kita (ALPHAZ, I love you so much)!” HARVEY said, starting off their ment with a passionate message for the fans. The rapper then revealed that she wanted to visit Manila Ocean Park, while HINATA and MAYA pitched in and said they wanted to try some of the local delicacies such as sisig and adobo, as well as try the popular Filipino food chain, Jollibee.
JURIA greeted everyone in Tagalog by saying, “Kamusta kayo (How are you)?” which was met by deafening screams. When MAYA asked what the Filipino translation for “You guys are the best” was, Filipino ALPHAZ responded with “Eyyy” — a trend among Filipinos on social media popularized by the nation’s girl group, BINI.
More stages followed after that short break, and XG performed more singles from their discography. We got to see live performances of their new track “WOKE UP” as well as older songs like “MASCARA” and tracks from their 2023 EP, “NEW DNA.”
No concert would be complete without an encore performance and the Japanese girl group didn’t disappoint as they returned to the stage with even more vigor, like they didn’t just already go through over twenty songs in the past two hours!
Filipino ALPHAZ danced to “NEW DANCE” and to the first-ever live performance of their latest single, “SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT.”
The group promised that they’ll be back soon in their final ment, and even teased that they’ll be releasing a new single soon. They then closed their first Manila concert with the original, upbeat version of “LEFT RIGHT.”
“Don't you let these pretty faces fool you,” a lyric in “GRL GVNG” said. A fair warning, if we say so ourselves, as XG delivered in every respect. From their charisma and stunning visuals down to their exemplary talent, they are a force to be reckoned with. Truly, global icons that should be on your radar.
Get to know more about global superstars XG by following them on Instagram, and don’t miss out on all the amazing live performances from local and international artists by staying tuned to Ovation Productions.
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