I still remember how it started in July 2017–me casually scrolling through K-pop dance practices on YouTube, looking for a new dance to learn, and somehow ending up permanently changed. One minute, I was watching the Don’t Wanna Cry dance practice. The next, I was googling, Who are they? That search led me to discover that they were coming to Manila, and ticket selling was in five days. Five! I asked my dad if I could go, fully expecting a “maybe next time,” but he said yes.

!!! a small warning before you read: this post touches on grief, death, and bereavement. “Smile” is a song that quietly walks into your thoughts, and suddenly you’re feeling things you didn’t plan on unpacking today. It’s Michael Jackson, but stripped down to something softer, almost fragile, like he’s reminding you that even the most iconic voices still carry sadness underneath all the spectacle. And somehow, a song literally called Smile doesn’t feel happy in the obvious wa

There are live performances that feel polished, and then there are performances that feel alive. This one sits somewhere in the middle–but leans heavily into energy, nostalgia, and pure stage chemistry. Watching “Burnin’ Up” performed live again feels like stepping back into my 5-year-old self, fully obsessed with them all over again. Cool / Burnin' Up in SNL I Jonas Brothers on YouTube A Little Bit Longer Album Art I Copyright: Hollywood Records Burnin’ Up Artist: Jona