‘Übermensch’ Reveals G-DRAGON As Both Pop Royalty And Human – Review

There are only so many artists who have earned the title of pop royalty — Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Britney Spears have all been decorated with hefty titles worthy of their contributions to global pop culture as a whole. On another side of the planet, someone was establishing his reign well before the Hallyu Wave — and that was G-DRAGON, the King of K-pop.

On May 17, 2025, G-DRAGON (otherwise known as Kwon Jiyong) came back to the Philippines for the first time in eight years. His last visit dates back to his Act III: MOTTE world tour at the Araneta Coliseum in 2017. This time, he took on the world’s largest indoor arena — the Philippine Arena — and made it clear that his long-awaited comeback was not one to be taken lightly.

Despite an eight-year hiatus, Übermensch made one thing abundantly clear: time and distance have done nothing to dim G-DRAGON’s brilliance. The moment he took the stage, it was evident that his throne remains untouched.

Putting aside all the glamor, Übermensch, both in show and as an album, presents Jiyong in a striking duality (mirrored by the two figures on the tour cover): one looking back at the past, the other grounded in the present. Over the course of three hours, G-DRAGON’s performance traced his artistic evolution, offering fans a rare glimpse of both his larger-than-life persona and his introspective, deeply human side.

From the outset, it was clear no detail had been spared. The production was as meticulous and fashion-forward as one would expect from an artist of Jiyong’s caliber. Exclusive tour merchandise lined the arena’s booths, selling everything from his daisy-shaped lightstick to its flowerpot cradle and fuzzy blue covers (should your flowerpot ever get cold).

Likewise, the stage itself took into many transformations throughout the night, with massive inflatable figures resembling the two figures in the album’s cover, shifting LED screens, grand floral arrangements, and lasers galore. Every prop was evident with Jiyong’s fingerprints and particular eye for design.

Finally emerging in a coat of red roses and a glittering red crown, G-DRAGON had to wait a full minute for the crowd to calm down before he started performing.

It’s no surprise that the leader of BIGBANG would want to open his show in an array of stadium rousers, forging through the first part of the show with “POWER,” “HOME SWEET HOME,” “MichiGO,” “ONE OF A KIND,” and “CRAYON.” During “HOME SWEET HOME,” members Taeyang and Daesung appeared on screen — a heartfelt touch that brought warmth (and for some, tears) to the arena. The song simply wouldn’t feel complete without them.

The mood shifted with the dreamy “BONAMANA” and “Butterfly,” where fog swirled around the stage and Jiyong, in a shimmering silver blazer, descended glowing steps like a vision. The sequence felt ethereal, almost unreal. He then pivoted into a jazz-infused segment, performing “I Love It” in a ruffled black blazer, evoking a blend of playful elegance and showmanship.

Dialling up the tempo, the K-pop icon then took the stage with a unique rendition of “WHO YOU?” combined with the production of The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” After descending the stage for a high-paced performance of “Today,” the crowd erupted into a frenzy as he charged the arena up to his 2013 hit, “CROOKED.”

In a wave of nostalgia, he captivated the crowd with his solo debut track “Heartbreaker” and “BULLSH*T,” the latter fun interpolations of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” from this year’s Super Bowl halftime show. A fun extra tidbit for VIPs in attendance was that, in his fresh mix of the 2017 track “BULLSH*T,” he added in some lyrics he’d written for “ZUTTER,” his 2016 collaborative track with TOP.

As the night neared its end, G-DRAGON anchored his final act of his main set on “TAKE ME,” “TOO BAD,” and the poignant “DRAMA.” It was in “DRAMA” where his vulnerability shone through — his singing was raw, deliberate, and undeniably human. There was a sense of stripping back the layers, showing us the person behind the persona, before closing the main show on a reflective note.

The encore was anything but quiet. Fans chanted for songs still missing from the set list, particularly BIGBANG staples like “BANG BANG BANG” and “We Like 2 Party.” G-DRAGON indulged them with a surprise a cappella performance, closing with a heartfelt message to wait for next year — the 20th anniversary of BIGBANG.

More than just an album showcase, Übermensch at the Philippine Arena was a living, breathing portrait of G-DRAGON’s duality — an artist both mythic and grounded, extravagant yet earnest. Between flashing lights and intimate video segments, he spoke of reconnection, reflection, and learning to smile again. Übermensch wasn’t just about reclaiming his crown — it was about showing us that the King of K-pop is, after all, also just “A Boy.”

And in doing so, G-DRAGON reminded us that true greatness lies not in perfection, but in the courage to be seen in full — roses, ruffles, scars and all.