It has been nearly 10 years since Korean-American R&B singer Eric Nam debuted. But as he returned to Manila to kick off the Asian leg of his There and Back Again World Tour on November 10, it seemed that his fire and passion for performing is still burning brighter than ever. Here’s how the night went.

The crowd wouldn’t have it any other way

It’s a little over 8 PM on Thursday night and the crowd is eager to see Eric Nam as everyone begins chanting his name. Thanks to Live Nation PH, the multifaceted entertainer, singer, songwriter, TV personality, and podcaster is able to bring his much-awaited tour for Manila Nam Nation to experience at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura Premier.

After the three-man band set their positions on stage, Eric finally emerges from backstage, full of energy, and begins the show with “Any Other Way”. It has been nearly three years since Eric’s last performance in Manila, in January 2020, just a few months shy of the global lockdown.

“I’m so excited to be here. We’re back guys, I’ve waited for this day for a very long time,” Eric told the crowd, after performing back-to-back tracks from his latest album There and Back Again: “What If” and “Lost On Me”. He also performed old songs such as “Don’t Call Me”, “Runaway”, and “Down For You”, which ensued into madness as the crowd witnessed his energetic dance moves.

He knows how to please the crowd

If there’s one thing you’ll remember about Eric Nam other than his angelic voice and stage presence, it’s that he’s charming AF and knows how to please and drive the crowd.

He recognized everyone, including parents, friends, and partners – those who had to be there to enjoy the night with their loved ones. “I’m here to give TED Talks,” he teased, after admitting he talks a lot during his shows. We’re all for it, Eric!

Of body rolls and dance lessons

Other than his live band, Eric also had two backup dancers whom he shared the stage with. “This is the time to bring out your weirdest dance moves. This is a judgment-free zone. As long as you don’t hurt the person next to you, you can dance however you want,” Eric addressed the crowd as the band began playing his 2021 song “Echo”.

And he’s full of surprises, of course, as he splashed the crowd with water. He may have slipped during the performance (we hope your back is okay), but he continued with grace. He was too pumped up!

He kept the party and momentum going, following with a song from his 2020 album The Other Side, “Paradise”. We felt like we were in paradise, indeed.

A blast from the past

Making his return to Manila even more special, Eric serenaded the crowd with his debut song, “Heaven’s Door”. “This is my debut song and I haven’t sung it in a really long time,” he shared.

Over the years, Eric has become a household name in Korea, which also earned him the nickname “Nation’s Boyfriend”. And he did live up to that as he threw roses to the crowd while performing his 2016 song “Good For You”. He followed with another old song, “Love Die Young”, which filled the hall with senti vibes.

His relationship with Nam Nation is unmatched

We’re all for artists who return the same amount, if not, even more, of love to their fans. At one point during the show, Eric took the time to ask for fans who were celebrating their birthdays, and even made sure he got their names right.

After singing “Happy birthday”, the crowd also sang for Eric who will be celebrating his on the 17^th.

The party continued as he performed “You’re Sexy I’m Sexy”, another song from his 2019 album Before We Begin.

Eric makes a promise

“I hope when I come back, you come back. Do y’all promise?” he asked the crowd, before singing “Congratulations”.

“You’re finally leaving,” the lyrics said, but the Manila crowd chanted otherwise. The party left the stage and darkness filled the hall, but the silence broke as everyone yelled, “encore!”

He returned to the stage and did a heart-wrenching performance of “Wildfire”, the penultimate song to the setlist.  Our man really said his mic is on as he effortlessly belted runs and falsetto.

Eric may have capped off the Manila show with “I Don’t Know You Anymore” but one thing’s for sure, we will not forget about him and this amazing night, and keep coming back for more.

Were you at the show too? Share your favorite highlights in the comments below!

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