On Saturday night or Sunday morning – depending on the time zone – Blackpink fans were finally able to experience the closest thing to a show in person with “The Show”. While the K-pop titans – Lisa, Jennie, Rosé, Jisoo – intended to be touring opening their debut album, “The Album”, which was released in October, this arena-scale show, broadcast live from Seoul, showed that the four did not miss a step, despite the pandemic.
Blackpink The Show
A supernatural theme filled the sound stage throughout the set for almost an hour and a half, while the quartet was accompanied by LED lights, mirrored walls, neon lasers and confetti. Apparently emerging from outer space, the four members exploded in a post-apocalyptic scenario in shades of pink, where they took the stage with a bombastic “Kill This Love”. They carried the same confidence throughout the show with such successful performances as the sassy “How You Like That” and a rock version of “As If It’s Your Last”.
“The Show” (rescheduled from its original December 27 date due to pandemic concerns) is presumably a representation of what the tour would have looked like if we weren’t in a pandemic, which made your presentation feel more in-person experience. From the group’s choreography to its flashy costumes of tulle, feathers and corsets, the production made the audience feel like they had a real seat at the Seoul site.
Between the changes of clothes, neon images flashed on the screen and showed each member of Blackpink performing on their own: Jisoo delivered a stripped cover of Tove Lo’s “Habits” on a velvet sofa; Lisa put a deft touch on Doja Cat’s “Say So” on a lighted dance floor; and Jennie was delighted with her 2018 single “Solo”. But perhaps the most remarkable moment was when Rosé shared her debut solo track “Gone”, a vulnerable separation hymn that she performed on a swing, interspersed with passionate vignettes from a accompanying video clip.
The four also launched their fun collaboration with Lady Gaga “Sour Candy”, a fierce farewell kiss “Playing With Fire” and the pop dance anthem “Lovesick Girls” – with the help of some cascading glitter confetti. But one of the most visually exciting moments of the night was during a stunning transition from “Pretty Savage” to “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du”, where the group literally heated the stage with fire and danced on the water. But even the quietest performances were cinematic: after touring the metal tunnels of the studio, the group emerged with the gigantic ballad “Don’t Know What to Do”.
Despite the intensity of the show, the group was carefree during the interludes in which they laughed and shared their enthusiasm for being back on stage – and, in the K-pop tradition, shared how much they miss their “Blinks”. (fans).
“I hope that everyone has felt our presence because, in our minds, we are with everyone,” Rosé told the audience before the end of “Forever Young”. “Watching our show, I hope you get the feeling that we are all together.”