(G)I-DLE concert site. 2023.06.17. (Photo = Provided by Cube Entertainment) photo@newsis.com *Resale and DB prohibited
Reporter Lee Jae-hoon = The concert is a version that compresses and shows the growth narrative of K-pop idols. In a situation where starting a world tour in Seoul with the release of a new album has been schematized, the ability of the team is determined by what kind of grammar they show for 2-3 hours.
The first performance of the world tour “I am FREE-TY” by (G)I-DLE, a representative girl group of the 3.5th generation of K-pop, was held at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Seoul on the afternoon of the 17th. The narrative of the members who have grown compressed for a year has been clearly imprinted.
(G)I-DLE held their first offline concert exactly a year ago. On June 17 last year, they presented the aesthetics of ‘parentheses’ (()) through ‘Just Me () Children’ at Olympic Hall, Olympic Park, Seoul.
Parentheses are used to indicate elements that are usually omitted or for additional notes (records added to the original text). Adding parentheses to a specific object means to set aside parentheses and actively look at that object objectively.
(G)I-DLE’s concert scene Miyeon. 2023.06.17. (Photo = Provided by Cube Entertainment) photo@newsis.com *Resale and DB prohibited
In the K-pop idol scene, (G)I-DLE is showing such ‘the aesthetics of bracketing’. This team reads as just kids, not ‘girls’. ‘(female)’ is silent. I have been running for 5 years with the pride that I can be evaluated as a team rather than a girl group.
Big hit songs from last year, such as ‘Tomboy’, ‘Nude’ and the title song ‘Queen Car’ of the latest mini-album vol.6 ‘I Feel’, are not only melodic with a sense of weight, but are also a symbol of self-confidence to be free from outside gaze. . This is also the reason why ‘FREE-TY’ is included in the title of this concert, which has a festival concept to mean enjoyment to the fullest.
(G)I-DLE’s concert on this day, where most of the songs were performed with an intense live band, was reminiscent of a rock festival. The songs arranged for the concert, such as the jazz-style prelude of ‘Nude’, raised the charm of the live performance. At the Olympic Main Stadium, the venue right next door, American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars, a pop superstar, held a concert for 50,000 people, but his enthusiasm and energy were never suppressed.
Shuhua at the (G)I-dle concert. 2023.06.17. (Photo = Provided by Cube Entertainment) photo@newsis.com *Resale and DB prohibited
As much as there were hit songs, all the stages became famous scenes, but the culmination of the show was ‘Say No’. The stage, where Jeon So-yeon sits and kneels together while the red lights are shining, meets the members’ expressiveness and the video production of lightning and thunder, and the psychological state of “If you see the day when it gets dark and my heart is bruised / Tears are splattered” physically. implemented The members’ spleen and grotesque facial expressions made me feel the materiality of the song.
Of course, big hit songs such as ‘Nude’, ‘Tomboy’, ‘Queen Car’, ‘I Feel’ and the pre-released song ‘Allergy’ contain various topics and stories, so the stage itself became a narrative.
Individual growth narratives were also seen on the solo stage. Miyeon showed off her refreshing singing ability with the title song ‘DRIVE’ of her first solo album ‘My’ released last year. Minnie sang the enchanting “DAHLIA” while playing her piano herself, and Soyeon showed off her intensity with “Psycho,” a song from her solo album “Windy,” released in 2021.
(G)I-DLE. 2023.06.17. (Photo = Cube Entertainment Twitter capture) photo@newsis.com *Resale and DB prohibited
The youngest, Shuhua, who usually has a cute image, presented a twist with a sensual stage. She played ‘Boys’ by American pop star Britney Spears, in which she sat and provocatively spread her legs or put her fingers in her mouth. However, rather than stimulating her sexual instinct, it was read as a breakthrough to break down the prejudices that had been placed on her. Yuqi, who staged her solo stage after Shuhua, made a mistake in her guitar playing and joked that she forgot her sheet music (note) to her youngest’s intensity. Yu Qi, who wanted to show a new side of himself this time, played the guitar himself and released his new solo song “Quad It Be” for the first time, which received a great response.
The K-pop industry was hit hard by Corona 19, but (G)I-DLE in particular is one of the axes that this period is the most precious. Those who held their first concert online when they were in full swing present a greater charm on the live stage. As a team and as individuals, they have the ability to recreate a powerful hit song as a ‘stage story’ rather than just singing it. For (G)I-DLE, concerts are a stage for self-proving.
The second world tour started at a venue that was more than twice as large (approximately 5,000 seats) than the first offline concert (2,500 seats). showed what
(G)I-DLE will hold another concert at the same place on the 18th. Afterwards, they meet global fans in 16 regions, including Taipei, Bangkok, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Los Angeles (LA), Dallas, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, Berlin and Tokyo.