For the first time since their debut in 2020, K-pop stars STAYC finally made their way down under to meet their eagerly awaiting fans.
They rounded off the Australian leg of their tour at Brisbane’s The Fortitude Music Hall last night (8 July). The six-member girl group put on a dazzling performance for the packed venue, highlighting why they’re one of the current standouts of K-pop’s ‘4th generation’.
The 25-song set list was a delightfully mixed bag of fan favourites, best hits and solo and unit performances. An excited and passionate crowd of SWITH – the group’s devoted fandom – proudly waved their lightsticks for the entire 2 hours and 45 minutes of the show’s duration.
STAYC – an acronym for Star To A Young Culture – certainly lived up to their name, twinkling and sparkling onstage as they kicked off the show with their most recent title track ‘Bebe’.
Image © Selena Oung
It was impossible not to be immediately swept up in the excitable atmosphere as members Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon and J flawlessly executed high-energy choreography, all while showcasing incredibly impressive vocal talent.
With a discography as diverse as STAYC’s, it was clear we were in for an absolute treat and the girls definitely didn’t disappoint. They truly did it all, heightening the hype with punchy, upbeat songs like ‘Stereotype’, ‘Cheeky Icy Thang’, and ‘RUN2U’, as well as having fun with bouncy and bubbly tracks ‘Teddy Bear’, ‘ASAP’, and ‘Poppy’.
While they stunned with beautifully touching and soulful renditions of ‘Young Luv’ (a clear fan favourite), ‘Be Mine’ and ‘Meant To Be’ in a self-described “inspirational” middle segment.
However, it was the charismatic solo and unit performances of ‘Roses’, ‘Find’ and ‘Fakin” that really added the extra personal note fans were hoping for. Each stage was perfectly crafted to encapsulate the members’ unique essence and colours as performers, highlighting their individual charms and talent.
Image © Selena Oung
The girls wrapped up the official set list with the single that started it all, their debut hit – and my personal favourite – ‘So Bad’. Despite the song’s title, the night was anything but.
If anyone at this point in the evening was still doubting the show’s high energy, they would have had their scepticism squashed from the very first note of the encore. The atmosphere was electric as the members surprised an ecstatic crowd with two more bright and catchy tunes, ‘Gummy Bear’ and ‘Stay With Me’, as well as a lively cover of Sia’s ‘Cheap Thrills’.
STAYC’s eye-catching choreography, knockout vocals and captivating stage presence were accompanied by striking graphics cast on the big screen. Each performance had its own specific background with animated scenery, trinkets, emoticons and lyrics popping up throughout.
We were also treated to several VCRs, one of which featured childhood pictures of the members as they talked candidly about the personalities, goals and dreams of their younger selves. This level of personal connection was one of the show’s highlights.
STAYC continually engaged with the crowd, often responding to the small signs held up by adoring fans or offering a hand heart in the direction of their cameras. Bubble guns were brought onstage to accompany their fun and fresh song ‘Bubble’ and the members playfully showered their fans with the song’s namesake.
Image © Selena Oung
If I took a glance around the room at any given point in the show, at least one person would be engaging in a fan chant – practised audience engagements common in K-pop – or attempting to catch the attention of a certain member, excitedly clutching their friend’s hand if they were rewarded with a response.
There were several moments in the show dedicated to chatting with the crowd and the members made good use of this time, taking the opportunity to discuss their music in more depth, share their thoughts and feelings on the performances, interact with SWITH, and exchange light-hearted banter.
The room reacted with fond amusement as the group tried their hand at Australian accents and slang, throwing in a few ‘Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Ois!’ for good measure.
It was during one of these talking segments the members cheekily let some spoilers slip regarding their upcoming single ‘I Want It’. The song’s release is not until 23 July, but the girls gave us a sneak peek of the choreography, humorously teasing the lyrics along to the melody of ‘Happy Birthday’ before insisting they’d already revealed too much.
The members skipped around onstage with boundless energy, eagerly engaging with their beloved fans until the very last beat, and continually expressing their gratitude. They parted with a promise to return and, if the enthusiastic cheers they received in response were anything to go by, they will be warmly welcomed back.
– written by Georgia Mason
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