Stray Kids dominate in Seoul
SEOUL—Han ran happily through the stage with outstretched hands while confetti in rainbow colors burst ahead of his strides. First, it was red, then orange and so on until he reached purple, the end. It was like watching a Disney character come to life and make flowers bloom with a touch.
I stood close to the center of the extended stage, craning my head to welcome the shower of blue and purple crepe paper as they lazily descended, twirling in the air. One piece landed perfectly on my left cheek. It felt as soft as a gentle kiss.
I looked back onstage, mesmerized by the fourth-generation ace’s stage presence. Han was cosplaying a female anime character, Nana Osaki. He copped her look—a black sleeveless top over a striped black and white long-sleeved shirt, black pants and an attitude.
“Hold My Hand” is a love song about not letting go of a loved one. By the end of his performance, his housemate Lee Know was sharing the stage with him. They shook hands and interacted for a few seconds before Han exited.
If Han was rock, Lee Know was pop. The transition was like switching anime shows from “Nana” to “Oshi No Ko.” The dance leader of Stray Kids took the stage.
He danced joyously to “Youth,” a song about enjoying freedom with someone. He wore a blue oversized hoodie and jeans and his eyes shone like stars as he moved in them. The stage was raised so that even those in the higher section would see him up close. The ironic coincidence is not lost on me, as Lee Know, who doesn’t like heights, finds himself dancing in another high place again. He adlibbed in between his choreography, showing that he’s in his element and he’s having fun. His number ended with celebratory bursts of red and pink confetti, adding to the previous pile.
Unreleased tracks
“Hold My Hand” and “Youth” are just two of the eight unreleased tracks that Stray Kids surprised Stay (their fandom) with during the four-day kick-off of “DominATE” World Tour in Seoul. It takes a lot of chutzpah to bring into the tour songs fans have never heard of before. But this also comes with the territory of being their discography’s writers and producers.
This is another one of Stray Kids’ disruptions in the K-pop industry. When “Dominate” was expected to just feature songs from the albums “5-Star,” “Rock-star” and “ATE” along with their concert staples, they included eight songs that represent them as individual artists.
It’s uncertain if they are going to bring these songs out of the concert venues and into an official album. But if they don’t, it’s not going to be the first time. During the “5-Star Dome Tour,” six members showcased unreleased tracks that never panned out into anything else. “Rev It Up,” “Don’t Say,” “Perfume,” “Baby,” “Mic and Brush” and “Yes Seo” are unavailable on any music platform.
In a way, it made the experience of the very short “Dome Tour” more special and exclusive. But it’s a pain if you want to listen to those songs again. As a Stay, you learn to be patient.
Showcases
It remains to be seen if the “DominATE” solos will share the same fate. But what’s abundantly clear is that their showcases must be enjoyed while they’re being performed live because it’s unlikely for them to carry them over to their next tour.
Seungmin’s ballad “As We Are” had him sitting on top of a cliff. His feet dangled on the edge and his silhouette was defined by the full moon on the screen. He strummed his guitar while singing a song about going through the highs and lows with someone. Seungmin, the vocalist, sang his heart out and his sincerity was felt. It was beautiful.
Hyunjin’s “So Good” featured his artistry in moving form. It’s easy to spot this man on stage with his big fluid movements and the way he lets the rhythm take over his body. He’s always feeling it. It also helped that his custom Versace fit, clothes that Donatella personally oversaw, glittered and showed off his toned arms. It’s hard to take your eyes off of him.
Bang Chan opened the second part of the individual showcase with “Railway,” a synth-heavy R&B song that was so very him. The sensual lyrics were matched by red lights and the hypnotizing choreography of the dancers around him. It was a reinforcement of his wolf brand. He was wearing contact lens in one eye that made him look feral. He ended his part by removing his jacket to reveal handprints and scars on his body before he fell into a void of nothingness.
I.N declared that he’s no longer the baby that the fandom raised through “Hallucination,” which he cowrote with Changbin. He came out in a black cut-out jacket, and pants styled with a skirt on top. The song is about a lover who is now gone. I.N was generous with his body rolls as well, giving the audience a peek of his waist. The youngest member walked off the stage like a prince while Felix was slowly being lowered from the sky at the same time.
The fur on Felix’s Louis Vuitton jacket blended so well with his blonde hair that his tresses appeared longer. Silver confetti danced beneath him, making him shimmer like a moon fairy before he started rapping the words to the heartbreak song “Unfair.” Felix’s deep voice cast a spell, and it was only broken when the lights went out and marked the end of his part.
Mad dancing skills
Changbin’s “Ultra” is solid proof that confidence is the most attractive thing you can watch live. That and mad dancing skills. The number has him rapping about strength and being untouchable by stress and worry. Defining his stage as very sexy is an understatement. It’s criminal, addicting and the one number that Stays talked about outside the dome when the show was over.
All the solos had individual production concepts and imagery. They did not follow a strict theme for the showcases, but it didn’t alienate fans because all the songs reflected the boys’ core music. They made and performed the songs that they wanted.
Current K-pop concert formats are already immersive. It’s what makes them an experience that even nonfans should try at least once. And yet, Stray Kids still manages to push boundaries. The lines between reality and imagination blur as the group plucks the audience out of the KSPO Dome and into a universe where the members’ every step results in an explosion, leaving a cloud of smoke and inspiring awe.
The widescreen that wrapped itself around the stage did not just serve as a background for performances to support a song or segment theme. Anamorphic illusions were employed, making members appear like they were popping out of the screen during one of the VCR breaks. The same technique was used several times, making some elements appear 3D, as in the opening song “Mountains” where the “ATE” mouth opened while the eight members were being raised simultaneously.
Typically, VCR time is the chance for concert attendees to go on bathroom or snack breaks because they can watch the clips later on YouTube. But that’s not the case for “DominATE” because there were pyrotechnics and stage effects even during the VCR breaks. Skipping them meant missing out.
Trail effects were used on the members, following their moves and making the visuals on screen feel trippy. There were no giant spiders in “Venom” this time, but the laser lights crisscrossed and created suffocating and inescapable spider web imagery. Two separate smaller screens on both sides were utilized to project the faces and choreography of the members so clearly, the main screen was used to elevate the viewing experience.
The fast-paced concert felt compact because there were no real breaks. It just kept going on, maintaining a level of excitement among the fans. The setlist had 36 songs, but when the show reached the three-hour mark, it still felt like only one hour had passed.
“DominATE” will be staged on Nov. 23 at the Philippine Arena. The biggest challenge for that day is to replicate the quality of the production locally. Because there’s no doubt that Stray Kids will eat the stage up when they return to the country.
