K-pop in the home of pop: IVE conquers London
IVE mesmerized the sacred ground of pop.
They sang K-pop in the heart of the UK. Despite the different languages, they united through music. Gender and age didn’t matter. Their unwavering live performance and stage manners captivated London.
“I love everything about Ive – their looks, skills, songs, performances, concepts, and even their stories.” (Serina, UK fan)
From their debut, IVE has often been called ‘Born to be Idols.’ In reality, they are hardworking. They proved their growth once again through their world tour.
The scale of their venues has also changed. The O2 Arena is a place visited by global pop stars. Coldplay, Madonna, Beyoncé, Adele, Ed Sheeran, Bon Jovi, and BTS have all performed there.
On the 17th (KST), Dispatch visited the O2 Arena in London. They witnessed the enthusiasm of local fans firsthand and analyzed the charm of IVE’s stage.
1. The Live Performance is Alive
“Now I’m changing, can’t you see↗”
Youngest member Leeseo hit the high notes. As she belted out the high-pitched chorus of ‘Ascendo,’ both the stage and the audience erupted simultaneously. The crowd screamed.
Ive clearly demonstrated that ‘a singer’s foundation is their singing.’ In ‘HEYA,’ An Yujin’s ad-libs exploded, leading to a standing ovation with her solid vocals.
What’s even more remarkable is that they delivered this while performing intense choreography. ‘Kitsch’ was perfect despite constant movement. The audience was full of amazement, saying, “An unbelievable stage.”
2. The Songs are Addictive
Every song Ive released has been a hit. Just singing them turned into a medley of hits. This concert featured ‘Ascendo,’ ‘Love Dive,’ ‘Kitsch,’ ‘Baddie,’ ‘After LIKE,’ and ‘HEYA.’
“1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7”, “Take a deep breath, Love Dive”, “You and I It’s more than LIKE”, “Cast a spell, Ascendo”, “HEYA, HEYA, HEYA” (lyrics from IVE songs)
The addictive nature of Ive’s songs spread to London. Local fans had perfectly memorized the lyrics. As soon as the intro played, they stood up, sang along, danced, and enjoyed it with their whole bodies.
IVE clearly demonstrated why K-pop is hot. The unfamiliar Korean language and foreign country didn’t matter. They captivated the UK with just their music. The audience kept moving.
3. Sing-alongs are Basic
The home of pop was different. When IVE sang, the audience sang even louder. They sang from the intro, not just the chorus. The members looked pleased.
“We were so happy that so many people sang along with us.” (IVE)
From students to older people in suits, the reactions were the same. They enjoyed IVE’s songs with their whole bodies, perfectly timing their participation.
“In the darkness, shining tiger eyes (Leeseo) / Approaching while hiding (IVE’s fan club Dive)” (lyrics from ‘HEYA’)
The audience divided the parts flawlessly. They sang together as if they had practiced for a long time. They sang high notes with veins popping in their necks. The chorus ‘Ah~’ (Ascendo) was perfect.
4. The Performance is Enthralling
From opening to closing, there was no time to take your eyes off. The audience was so satisfied they used expletives. Ive leaned their bodies dramatically and showcased paired choreography.
‘Mine’ drew admiration with a performance using umbrellas. They folded, twirled, and changed formations with umbrellas. ‘Scary’ enriched the stage with rocking chairs and fabric.
“We rearranged ‘Scary’ for Dive. We worked hard with the choreography team to show a new performance!” (IVE)
The audience was captivated by Ive’s dynamic control. They completed powerful group choreography while doing waves. The perfectly synchronized choreography was thrilling. Their facial expressions added to the fun.
5. The Units are Refreshing
They prepared a London-customized stage. Gaeul and Rei covered the Spice Girls’ ‘Wannabe.’ Ive’s charming voices were added to the familiar melody.
They added a twist to the heated atmosphere. Gaeul showed her sexy charm, which hadn’t been seen before, with a bold performance. Wonyoung and Liz created a movie-like stage.
Youngest Leeseo shattered her youthful image. She and Yujin performed ‘Woman Like Me,’ showcasing overwhelming girl crush charm. Yujin expressed satisfaction, saying, “I realized our Leeseo has grown up.”
“This is ‘SHOW WHAT I HAVE,’ where you can see our diverse appearances!”
6. Fan Service is Love
The stage was T-shaped, divided into the main and protruding stages. For 150 minutes, they ran around the stage, making eye contact with fans. They continuously expressed affection with heart signs and winks.
“I want to see Dive closer, so I’m moving!” (IVE)
“How was it?”, “Did you guys like it?” After each stage, the members checked the audience’s reactions, asking if they enjoyed it. The fans naturally shouted, “Yes, we love it!”
The culmination of fan love was ‘endless encores.’ ‘All Night’ seemed to end but didn’t. Confetti kept bursting until it piled up on the floor. It was a festival enjoyed by the singers, audience, and even the security guards.
7. A Festival for All Ages
It was a festival enjoyed by everyone. Fireworks continued to shoot into the sky. Dive surrendered to the music. As a result, the venue was filled with hot energy.
IVE and Dive were one. Everyone stood up for the continuous hits. Local fans sang the chorus perfectly. The vibrations of the seats were palpable.
Even fans in wheelchairs swayed and danced. A mother and daughter could be seen jumping until the end of the song. An elderly man singing while holding a light stick caught the attention of those around him.
The seventh member was ‘Dive.’ Ive thanked Dive, saying, “We are grateful to Dive for making this concert wonderful.” After the concert, there was a stream of satisfied reviews.
“How was IVE’s concert? It was insane!” (Bronwyn, 17)
SEE ALSO: aespa, NewJeans, and IVE top Instiz chart for the third week of June 2024
