Admittedly, I’m no aficionado of K-pop. With the exception of a few BLACKPINK hits, my knowledge of the genre’s music is quite limited. I also lack a favorite ‘idol’ and struggle to justify spending £75 on a light stick synchronized to songs. Nonetheless, I’m not entirely clueless about this vibrant world—thanks to a dear friend who is a dedicated K-pop enthusiast, I found myself at a Stray Kids concert in London last year.
This year, in a bid to reciprocate, I invited her to ATEEZ’s performance at the BST festival in Hyde Park. This band, another of her favorites, comprises eight members: San, Wooyoung, Seonghwa, Hongjoong, Yunho, Yeosang, Mingi, and Jongho. Initially, I anticipated a challenge in distinguishing each member amidst the genre’s famously intricate choreography.
However, my concern was unfounded. Each performer exudes such distinct charisma that even from the edge of the Diamond VIP pit, their individuality shone brightly. Accompanied by a live band and an entourage of dancers, Mingi captured attention with his deep vocals and rap verses, while Yunho’s mesmerizing dance moves left a profound impression.
Debuting in 2018, ATEEZ has rapidly ascended the music scene, topping Billboard charts and amassing billions of streams. The allure of their music is evident in high-energy tracks like “WORK” and “Guerrilla,” which even had those who might otherwise be disengaged, moving along to the beat.
Admittedly, there was a momentary dip in energy during the performance with songs such as “ARRIBA” and “Ice on My Teeth,” which didn’t quite resonate with me. However, perhaps this is simply a reflection of my incomplete education in the diverse tapestry of K-pop.
Personally, I was drawn to the ballad Now This House Ain’t a Home, performed with a backdrop of rain streaming down the huge screens that surrounded the stage like tears.
ATEEZ also took to the stage with their latest single BAD, released at the end of June. After a much-begged for encore, they performed The Real, leaving most people in the crowd screaming before finally departing the stage for good.
Am I now a die-hard K-pop stan? Probably not. But I couldn’t help but be drawn into the music, the vocals and in particular the choreography. I found myself wanting to know more about each band member, and leaning over to shout questions in my friend’s ear, and at one point as the set drew to a close I asked myself, ‘Is this why so many people love this music?’ as I danced along in a swell of screaming fans.
K-pop is not just a genre of music, it’s a community – one I was happy to be part of just for a night.