MUSIC TO FANS’ EARS
In terms of concerts, unlike last year, KCON 2019 featured more rookies than big names. Here are some of the highlights. The show kicked off with special dances by Golden Child, Nature and The Boyz who gave it their all for the audience. It became a small gathering of Thai singers in the K-pop industry when Thai heartthrob Nichkhun Horvejkul of 2PM and BamBam from GOT7 hosted a talk segment together. Then, another Thai singer Natty who was a participant in a TV reality singing contest Idol School appeared to cover popular dance track Gashina originated by the sexy diva Sunmi. Natty wasn’t as bold as Sunmi, but the vibrant personality, decent singing and smooth movements made her pleasant to watch.
Boy Story and OneUs stood out from other rookies due to their entertaining acts. The sextet Boy Story was the youngest group at the show (aged from 12-15). Despite their young age, their performances were powerful and their sharp rapping on Enough was impressive.
The six-member boy band OneUs dazzled us with Lit, which contained sounds of Korean traditional instruments. Thus, its choreography was a mix between traditional and modern dances. In Twilight, their harmony singing was mesmerising. The song is a metaphor which compares a girl to sunlight. The intense beat and their dramatic facial expressions and movements made the show like a flawless musical play. Unfortunately, their short stay left us wanting more.
Without any complicated choreography like other boy and girl groups, Kim Jae Hwan’s performances were back to basics. It was only him and a microphone onstage. The singer songwriter charmed the crowd with his melodious singing for an emotional ballad, Begin Again, and a fun rendition of Blow Me.
The 11 finalists of the popular TV reality music contest show Produce X 101 were proven versatile and confident onstage despite their debut a month ago. Their opening slow song I’m Here For You was heartwarming and beautiful. Concertgoers got hyped on their dance renditions Flash, Move, Got It and the finale Ma. Their fans brought wild energy to the hall with their nonstop screaming and loud singing. With overwhelming responses from fans, we predict that the 11 member group X1 will be the next big thing in K-pop business.
The septet GOT7 has been one of K-pop’s top groups among Thai fans since their 2014 debut. At the concert, we could see green light sticks dominating the hall. The fans greeted them with deafening cheers while they belted out the first dance song, Eclipse. The seven members offered the best showmanship on the night. Their slow song Miracle was sweet and tuneful. And on a dance track Just Right, the guys started at different corners of the stage before approaching the fans all over the hall during the performance. Their laid-back and playful personalities made the show seem like we were hanging out with friends. The show ended with their chart-topping track Hard
Carry and was fittingly fantastic fun.