Donghae and Eunhyuk’s story began when they met when they were 15. The duo collectively known as D&E, were trainees who dreamed of becoming idols, not only because they loved singing and dancing but also because they saw it as a way to improve their lives and help their families.
Their hard work paid off as they debuted as members of Super Junior in 2005 and later as the D&E subunit in 2011.
For their 10th anniversary as D&E, they wrote the song “Need U,” which was part of the “Countdown – Zero Ver. (Epilogue)”, their first full-length album. The duo said the only way they can give back the enormous love from ELFs (Super Junior’s fandom) was through music. It emphasized their wish to continue their journey with them as they build a new chapter of their story.
It was a song performed at the DElight Party in Manila on Sept. 30 at the Araneta Coliseum. The duo now is under ODE Entertainment, the agency they cofounded.
Hands on
The Delight party is one of their first projects. They were hands-on in every detail from the stage design, lighting, setlist, and all the elements involved in preparing the show. It was an ode to their love for their craft and their fans.
Videos uploaded on their YouTube channel (@Superjuniordne) show a behind-the-scenes look at their preparation for the show. Eunhyuk, the creative director, said it will not just be a fun party that has everything but a “D&E/Light Party.”
The two emerged onstage wearing sparkling attires with the same color tones as the dazzling lights swirling around. They made sure their fits matched the mood of the segment. In the “99-second relay game” and “Moment of Delight” segment, they wore shirts that eagle-eyed ELFs identified as ones from a local brand.
Setlist
They opened the night with a mix of songs that differ in tempo and concept with a live band. Starting from “Zero,” “B.A.D” and their explosive rendition of “Danger,” all of which were title tracks from their previous albums cowritten by Donghae, who was also the show’s music director.
Then they performed songs that seemed to pertain to different stages of falling in love: “Sunrise,” ‘Bout You,” “Still You,” “Gloomy,” and “Growing Pains.”
D&E are known for their impressive dance moves, but they stood still, overwhelmed with emotions when they performed the song composed by Donghae, “Growing Pains” especially when they got to the line, “I hope you don’t hurt as much as I do. I wish that every day.” The song also showcased D&E’s versatility as artists.
The fan project was revealed when they performed “Home”. The audience turned into a sea of swaying stars through the flashlights of their phones.
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D&E switched to a brighter mood with “Need U” “I Wanna Dance,” “Oppa, Oppa,” and “Share My Love.” They made everyone sing and dance again with their medley of Super Junior songs, “Mamacita,” “Sorry, Sorry,” and “Bonamana.”
Spontaneous
If they were all business with their performances, their ments (talking parts) were more spontaneous. When they learned the meaning of “walang uuwi,” they told the audience they were not going home but to their hotel instead.
When the interpreter translated Donghae’s Korean expression as “Kayo talaga!” The two immediately repeated the phrase in perfect timing drawing laughter from the audience.
Eunhyuk congratulated one fan who shared the news of her graduation,
“Congratulations, although you have graduated from school, you cannot graduate from being an ELF. I’m always watching you.”
As the creative director, Eunhyuk knew every detail of the show and quickly noticed the heart-shaped confetti after they sang “Share My Love.” While they were busy picking them as a keepsake, another surprise came in the form of a fan-made video. According to SJ United PH, who led in organizing these fan projects (together with the other fan groups), they have been preparing as early as May. These fan projects made it to the stars’ social media accounts, proof they appreciated the gesture.
“Thank you so much for today. We tried our best, so when you think of us, you’d want to see us performing again in the future,” Donghae said.
Eunhyuk added, “In Korea, we celebrate Chuseok (Korea’s Thanksgiving) and spend time with our loved ones. I will cherish these unforgettable memories. Today, I will look at the full moon while thinking about you guys and make a wish.”
Just the beginning
After performing for two hours, Eunhyuk asked the audience, “Why are you still not going home? It’s all finished! Why are you still here?” It was funny, but this kind of conversation was only possible because of the level of trust between them and ELFs.
While this was happening, Donghae walked towards the main stage to talk to the band. It was another “kayo talaga” moment where they gave in to the audience’s clamor for them to perform “Can you feel it?”
They talked about Super Junior a lot, including how Shindong directed all the show’s videos shown in between segments. The show was their playground and when it ended, they said “Hello” instead of goodbye, because this is just the beginning.
