As a self-proclaimed metalhead used to being slammed against other bodies in a mosh pit, it was quite the experience to be at a K-pop concert. Yes, after all of my concert experiences, I finally found myself at my first-ever K-pop show: South Korean girl group Twice performing for the second night at United Center in Chicago on June 29, 2023.
I must admit, I have been curious about the global phenomenon that has been able to pack arenas and stadiums around the world.
As someone who has been to all different kinds of concerts, this was one I had yet to experience. No matter how much research I did before the show, I knew I wasn’t going to be in the know. Nonetheless, I still found myself having a good time.
The arena was filled with lightstick-toting audience members in lavish outfits alive with vibrant dancing energy. As they danced and handed out swag, the grand stage flashed gorgeous shots of the nine members of Twice. Right at 7:30 pm, the lights went out, and the lightsticks in the crowd began to shine. Their imminent arrival was met with the roaring thunder of screams. Their fans, known as Once, were ready for night two of the K-pop megastars.
Credit where credit is due. Twice having the ability to sing flawlessly while executing outlandish choreography is nothing short of amazing.
The whole production felt grand in scope and scale. And it was clear that everyone involved with the show wanted to give the audience the greatest experience possible. For the most part, the show flowed smoothly in a way that didn’t feel robotic. This was aided by the group’s interaction with fans. There was a clear desire to connect with the crowd. That being said, I couldn’t exactly buy into the whole show.
Twice played for about two and a half hours. It was a set that could’ve easily been cut by about twenty minutes or. Most of the pacing was due to stalling in between songs. Understandable, but it had an overall effect on pacing. The moments where the group addressed the audience were also a bit prolonged. I can’t blame this on the group’s use of an English translator, but I will blame it on extremely long banter. It’s a wonderful feeling to feel connected with the performer at a show. However, the nine members would sometimes banter for way too long, sometimes disengaging with the audience.
From a musical standpoint, there was no disengagement. Twice went from good to great.
The music was amazing from start to finish. While the singing and the music itself were on point, it was obvious that everyone was there for the dancing. Everyone in their seats was flawlessly executing the choreography of each song while the group commanded the stage. Each member performed a solo, ranging from their own solo material to covers of pop songs such as “Juice” by Lizzo.
To start off the second segment, a live band came out and performed a bunch of songs with the group. This not only made the music sound so much cooler, it makes me wonder why they didn’t perform throughout the whole show. In a set filled with pyrotechnics, confetti, props, and flawless choreography on a massive stage, the live band was the best part of the performance. It made the music feel much more alive.
Going to my first-ever K-pop show was quite the experience. There are things I enjoyed and things I didn’t.
There are obviously things that I did not understand. Certain gestures or moves made by the group would generate extremely loud reactions. For example, I don’t understand why the group would bark at each other at various points throughout the night. When asked if I would go to another K-pop show, I can’t say yes, but I also can’t say no.
I really enjoyed the group’s dynamic while performing, taking small moments to interact with the crowd and even spinning a prize wheel to determine the last two songs of the night. Pop shows are a lot of fun, and they allow me to not take myself and my taste in music too seriously. I’ve only ever seen one other group with nine members, and that was a Slipknot. While they only had one dancing member, Twice had nine, and they made it look astounding.
There is a lot of fun to be had at K-pop shows, even for a sick metalhead like myself. I now see the appeal of K-pop. Despite not knowing any of their songs, it was impossible to stand still at the show. A positive atmosphere and extremely catchy songs made the experience worthwhile. I can’t even begin to imagine how much fun Once had.