“Tonight is about feeling free, however the hell you want, singing as loud as you want! If you feel like moving, don’t be afraid to stand up and dance!” Tiffany Young said as she began Open Hearts Eve to a jampacked crowd at the New Frontier Theater on January 25.

As a member of Girls’ Generation/SNSD, one of the biggest girl groups in South Korea, Tiffany is no stranger to our country. Her last performance with the group was at the Best of Best concert at the Philippine Arena on 2015. Having left SM Entertainment on 2017, she signed under Transparent Arts, an American entertainment agency, and pursued a solo career thereafter.

The concert attracted multitudes of loyal SONEs (Girls’ Generation fans) and Young Ones (her fanbase’s name) who passionately cheered and sang along with her for almost two hours. The bright pink hues of the Girls’ Generation lightsticks (fondly called as Molar Bongs) filled the theater all throughout the evening. Fans also prepared special projects for Tiffany, including the synchronized lights during “Yellow Light”, plus the welcome and farewell banners.

Tiffany was a captivating presence onstage as she performed a mixture of her original songs, cover songs and some nostalgic Girls’ Generation classics. The show progressed like a theatrical play with Tiffany Young as the main character. There were magnificent lights and elegantly choreographed sequences, all backed by a live band. This amplified the concert experience, making it more entertaining than usual.

She made a fiery beginning with “Run for Your Life”, “Over My Skin” and “Heartbreak Hotel”. She then paid tribute to the divas she admired as she performed endearing covers of Destiny’s Child’s “Independent Women”, Lee Hyori’s “Invincible” and Uhm Jonghwa’s “Invitation”. More notably, Tiffany also paid homage to our very own Lea Salonga in her short but sweet rendition of “Reflection” and “A Whole New World”.

Young Ones prepared a surprise video tribute for her which showed snippets of her recent interviews and some heartfelt commentaries from fans who expressed their gratitude to their idol. Tiffany, moved to tears by the gesture, was overflowing with gratitude as she took in the crowd’s cheers and jeers.

She was also a beacon of positivity as she encouraged her fans to be open and to support one another. “That’s what ‘Open Hearts Eve’ is about — the fact that we can open up and embrace both light and dark, and hold one another, and be there for one another, not judge, and just love each other just the way we are,” she said.

“The most amazing thing I have found with you is our voices. So no matter what it is you’re feeling, what it is you’re going through, don’t forget that this is the most powerful, most wonderful thing we have together. If we come together, there’s nothing we can’t go through. Thanks to you, I’ve had an amazing few years to step out and go after the things I want no matter the outcome. And guess what? The outcome is pretty amazing ‘cause I’m here with you tonight.”

Tiffany has a flamboyant yet mellowly warm manner of speaking that highlights her caring personality. At one point, the crowd chanted “mumshie” (Filipino slang word for mother) which she accepted lightheartedly, saying “Mommy Long Legs! I live for that!”

Another highlight of the concert was the finale. As Tiffany sang a stripped down version of Girls’ Generation’s “Into the New World”, the fans seated in the front row brought out big head cardboard cut-outs of the GG members’ faces, much to her surprise and delight. “I feel like they’re here”, she said. Eventually, she went down the stage to take the photos, saying she’ll be giving them to the girls. Later on, she posted a photo with the cut-outs with the hashtag #GG4EVA.

by Sandra Mae Laureano

Setlist

1. Run for Your Life

2. Over My Skin

3. Heartbreak Hotel

4. TALK

5. Wrecking Ball (Miley Cyrus cover)

6. Yellow Light

7. Indepent Women (Destiny’s Child cover)

8. Teach You

9. I Just Wanna Dance/Don’t Stop the Music (Rihanna cover)

10. Invincible (Lee Hyori)

11. Invitation (Uhm Jung Hwa cover)

12. Run Devil Run (Girls’ Generation)

13.Runaway/City of Stars” (La La Land OST)

14. The Flower

15. Lips on Lips

16. In My Blood (Shawn Mendes cover)/Born Again

Encore:

17. Magnetic Moon

18. Run for Your Life (Reprise)

19. Remember Me (Coco OST)

20. A Whole New World (Aladdin OST) and Reflection (Mulan OST)

21. Speechless (Aladdin OST)

22. Into the New World (Girls’ Generation)

---

TIFFANY YOUNG <OPEN HEARTS EVE> PART TWO in Manila is presented by CDM Entertainment. Special thanks to CDM Entertainment for the invitation to the press conference and event.