A SPECIAL NIGHT WITH WINNER
Growing up, I was very explorative when it came to music. Like a lot of kids, I had my fair share of phases and drastic changes in my music preferences. Oh, boy — I had a ‘‘Sk8erboi’’ phase which was greatly influenced by Avril Lavigne, and I’ve painstakingly memorized My Chemical Romance’s Welcome to The Black
Parade by heart. My Friendster profile was embarrassingly punk to its core for quite some time. Now, in my early 20s, I never would have expected a new addition to my life’s playlist.
I’ve had a handful of friends who were into K-Pop, but it wasn’t until this year that a close friend of mine introduced me to the path of clarity that is Korean pop. I’ve taken further baby steps, watching
Win: Who is Next, a reality survival program where I got to know more about the rookies of Team A and Team B. The same team that competed and won is now the well-known “Winner” of South Korea, and the next boy group to debut under YG Entertainment after Bigbang.
I remember just casually listening to them on Spotify while at work because their songs are such a bop stay, and they loved it.
After the friendly chats, each member performed solo for us. Mino sang
Body and Turn Off the Light from “The MOBB,” his album with IKON’s fellow rapper, Bobby. Jinu followed by singing his own rendition of Bigbang legend, GD’s Untitled, 2014. Yoon graced the stage by showing off his amazing vocals starting off with his own song It Rains and a cover of Lauv’s I Like Me Better, which left the fans in awe. Dancer Hoon swept the stage with his killer moves singing Ringa Linga from Taeyang’s album “Rise.”
Inner Circles united as we achieved a fan project with our phones’ flashlight, swinging them in unison as we sang the chorus of Movie Star altogether. I would consider that moment one of the best; simply being surrounded with fellow Inner Circles who felt the same way towards our idols was just pure and magical. The boys eventually returned to the stage for an encore.
I will never forget Yoon’s last words to all of us who watched: “The singer cannot exist if (there are) no listeners.” Of all the overwhelming feelings I tossed towards the stage, I was grateful, above all, for that. I’m grateful that I’m stanning the