Introduction to Blackpink
The South Korean pop band Blackpink has solidified its position as the largest girl group in the world with a rebellious two and a half hour show in the Wembley Stadium. The quartet, consisting of members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa, was the first K-pop girl band to headline the venue, following in the footsteps of Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, BTS, and Oasis.
The Concert Experience
The band rewarded fans with a high-voltage set, full of insane hooks and crisp choreography, while highlighting their sisterly bond. "What an absolute honor to perform here in the Wembley Stadium," said Lisa, dedicating the concert to the 70,000-strong audience. The stadium was immediately flooded with pink as the audience jumped to their feet and waved light sticks that flashed in time with the throbbing beats.
Killer Choreography
The dance movements on stage were complicated and precise, with Blackpink rising in formation and pulling off intricate routines. During the performance of "Play with Fire," the massive video screen on the back of the stage split into four, allowing each member to have their own close-up camera as they danced around the circular catwalk. This went perfectly with the killer choreography, with hundreds of hardcore fans mirroring their movements.
Solo Performances
The tour is billed as a reunion tour, although it’s only been two years since Blackpink last played in London. In the meantime, the band has negotiated a new contract with South Korean agency YG Entertainment, received honorary MBEs from King Charles, and spent a year pursuing solo efforts. Rosé has teamed up with Bruno Mars for the global smash "Apt." As a result, the tour switches between group and solo sections, with the British pop star FKA Twigs making a short cameo during Rosé’s set.
Band Chemistry
The band’s chemistry is particularly clear when Lisa and Rosé deliberately collapse against each other on the catwalk and dissolve into a fit of giggles. When the song ends, the band spends a few minutes chaotically waving to the crowd as Rosé struggles to fix a faulty lace. Then, during a reprise of "Jump," the band picks up their prescribed dance moves and throws their heads back and forth as if they were in a Wayne’s World parody.
Setlist
The setlist included a range of songs, from early hits like "Whistle" and "DDU-DU-DDU-DU" to recent favorites like "Lovesick Girls." The band’s chemistry is particularly clear when they perform together, with each member bringing their own unique personality to the stage. The tour will conclude in Hong Kong next year, with the band expected to break their own record for the highest-grossing tour by a female group.
Songs Performed
- Kill This Love
- Pink Poison
- How You Like That
- Play with Fire
- Switch to Me
- Earthquake (Jisoo)
- Your Love (Jisoo)
- Donner (Lisa)
- Lifestyle (Lisa)
- Rockstar (Lisa)
- Pretty Savage
- I Don’t Know
- Pipe
- Remain
- Lovesick Girls
- Jenner (Jennie)
- With IE (Jennie)
- Like Jennie (Jennie)
- Dance Dance All Night (Rosé)
- Toxic to the End (Rosé)
- Apt (Rosé)
- Jump
- Boombayah
- DDU-DU-DDU-DU
- As If It’s Your Last
- Forever Young
Encore
- Jump (repeat)
- Yes Yes Yes
- If It Rains
