Nothing showcases the dominance of Korean pop music higher than KCON. Not even a tropical storm might cease followers from packing the Angeles Convention Center and the Crypto.com Arena to catch a glimpse of their favorite idols, all whereas basking within the sheer pleasure that’s being a Okay-pop fan.
This weekend’s KCON LA 2023 was jam-packed with electrifying performances from iconic Okay-pop acts throughout generations. Legends similar to Rain and SHINee’s Taemin led the pack alongside present powerhouses ATEEZ and Stray Kids. The pageant even made time to showcase what the way forward for Okay-pop might appear to be, with Boys Planet group ZEROBASEONE and SM Entertainment’s new boyband RIIZE taking the centre stage.
Here are a few of the most riveting moments from KCON LA 2023’s three-day weekend.
WayV’s ‘Love Talk’
On the primary night time of KCON LA 2023, the Lakers’ dwelling was soaked by a neon inexperienced tide courtesy of NCT followers, who skilled the lengthy overdue first US look of Chinese sub-group WayV. The quintet (chief Kun didn’t attend as a consequence of a battle of schedules) inaugurated their efficiency with KCON’s signature tune, ‘Poppia’, nevertheless it was only a heat as much as what was about to come back. The wait was transient, and as quickly as they crooned, “I can hear it callin’”, the opening lyrics of fan favorite ‘Love Talk’, euphoria ensued.
This is Taemin’s world and we’re simply residing in it
Lee Taemin is like no different. Hypnotic and mesmerising, the vaunted “the idol of idols” forged a spell on the Crypto.com Arena together with his solo stage, bringing out beloved songs similar to ‘Advice’ and ‘Criminal’. It was charming to see how between every efficiency, he additionally displayed his endearing essence off stage. Taemin bid farewell to the night time with the timeless gem ‘Move’, an ideal ending for what might be remembered as one of the crucial iconic KCON units of this 12 months.
Dream Stages
Opportunities the place followers can share the stage and carry out with their favorite idols are extraordinarily uncommon, however KCON does it finest. During the three-night live performance, the ‘Dream Stage’ was one of the crucial thrilling moments to behold as a result of it confirmed the particular connection that makes the world of Okay-pop so distinctive.
On Friday, rising queens IVE and their fandom DIVE teamed as much as enthral the viewers with the pop perfection that’s ‘I Am’. The subsequent day it was the flip of monster rookies ZEROBASEONE, who carried out ‘Here I Am’, the tune that kickstarted their journey to stardom. It was an evocative event, contemplating followers helped them crystalise their aspirations of debuting as Okay-pop idols. And final however not least, ITZY introduced again the shimmering zest of ‘Wannabe’, a tune that by no means will get outdated.
Stray Kids and ATEEZ: The pinnacle of the fourth era
Headliners ATEEZ and Stray Kids are two of the most important teams to come back out of Okay-pop’s fourth era – and the boybands confirmed the gang precisely why on the second and third days of the pageant, respectively, remodeling KCON LA 2023 into their very own concert events with their formidable presence.
ATEEZ set the sector ablaze with the enduring Kingdom model of ‘Wonderland’, together with Seonghwa’s breathtaking sword section that’s ceaselessly dazzler. On the opposite hand, Stray Kids thrilled with crowd favourites ‘S-Class’ and ‘God’s Menu’.
The absolute spotlight, although, have been the particular performances titled ‘Hi My First’, the place ATEEZ and Stray Kids gifted their followers with a rendition of their debut songs ‘Pirate King’ and ‘District 9’. It was a spirited celebration of their beginnings and the journey that led them to be the juggernauts they’re right this moment.
XG, Kep1er and NMIXX cowl the queens of Okay-pop
Across all of the entirety of KCON LA 2023 pleasure and nostalgia reigned supreme. Yet, it’s the covers of Okay-pop classics that all the time ring a bell throughout generations.
NMIXX took upon themselves to honour their labelmates TWICE with a phenomenal rendition of ‘The Feels’, whereas Kep1er chosen ‘Mr.Mr.’, completely embodying the colourful charisma of Girls’ Generation. On the third night time, international group XG hit the gang with an explosive cowl of 2NE1’s ‘I Am the Best’ that prompted a collective roar from the tribune.
Despite the generational shifts, there’ll all the time be an area to acknowledge and applaud the queens that formed the present entrance of the Okay-pop panorama.
JO1’s first time within the United States
J-pop boyband JO1 missed KCON LA 2022 as a consequence of an unlucky streak of COVID infections that prevented them from travelling. This 12 months, they’d one other alternative to depart a lingering first impression on the American viewers – and so they didn’t disappoint.
Dynamic and all the time in sync, JO1 offered the Korean model of their newest launch ‘RadioVision’, instantly adopted by the rousing power of ‘Trigger’. However, the crowning second of JO1’s night time was once they carried out a high-energy cowl of SEVENTEEN’s ‘Super’, demonstrating they’re a power to be reckoned with.
The Return of EVERGLOW
After a drought that lasted almost two years, EVERGLOW lastly made their wonderful return at KCON with their new single ‘Slay’, bewitching audiences in a approach solely they’ll. And by the point a remix of ‘DUN DUN’ and the magnificent ‘LA DI DA’ kicked in, everybody within the Crypto.com Arena rejoiced at their toes and sang in unison. Welcome again, ladies.
