K-pop: the “Stays” wave, fan of the Stray Kids, sweeps over Lollapalooza
The Korean group Stray Kids set the main stage on fire on Friday evening and concluded the first evening of Lollapalooza. Applauded by their fans who came in droves, it was the first time that they participated in a European festival not specializing in K-pop.
“We do our best to ensure that our fans leave our concerts with a smile on their face. At festivals, we can also show our music to a wider audience,” says Seungmin, a member of South Korean band Stray Kids. Yet this Friday, when the doors of Lollapalooza opened at 3 p.m., it was mainly their fans, the "Stays", who ran to the main stage in order to have the best seats to see their idols at 10 p.m. Among them, many foreign tourists, like Gabi, Maria and Sofi, Majorcan teenagers. “We came especially to see them, they explain, we are leaving soon. »
Before going on stage, the eight South Koreans hold a press conference… where no questions should be asked. After welcoming the journalists with their greeting, “Step out! Hello, we are Stray Kids”, they all sit in line, in stage outfits from brands (Versace, Balmain, Balenciaga…). As is customary in the K-pop industry , their responses to the shortlisted questions are very slick and mostly focused on their love for their fans. "We need them, we motivate each other," Hyunjin said. This is their first festival of this kind, but they were already present at the K-pop Music Bank festival on April 8, where they were already headlining.
Meanwhile, their faithful are already waiting for them in front of the stage, from where a group has not moved since their arrival. As Damso gets his audience dancing on the adjacent stage, they applaud each technical rehearsal, eager to see their idols. Some are accompanied by their parents who do not yet know the group. This is not the case for Ksenia, who came from kyiv with her 12-year-old daughter Sofia. "Now I'm a fan too, listening to them in the car," she laughs.
Photocards to collect
Around them, some are overwhelmed with emotion and cry, while others are already suffocating under the crowd and are being evacuated, while the concert has not yet started. Fans continue to arrive en masse, recognizable by their “light sticks” in hand and their “Photocards” (or PCs) around their necks. One is a band light stick that can be waved during gigs, the other is a trading card. "It's a bit like Pokémon cards," says Lola. They are in the albums, we collect them and they are exchanged… It helps to create a community too! »
She came with her group of friends, the "Stay Kids", who are in their twenties, like her. “We met online through K-pop, and we come from all over France to meet in concert. »
When the latter begins at 10 p.m., the huge crowd goes wild. In front of the musicians, balloons representing the legs of mechanical spiders rise, and the first notes of "Venom" resound. After their second song, "Maniac", they introduce themselves one by one to their audience, saying small words in shy French, before concluding: "Tonight, I am sure that not only the fans, but also the others will remember the name of Stray Kids " . They leave the stage long enough to put on a "hanbok" (traditional Korean clothing), then continue with "Thunderous".
Meticulous choreography and perfect synchronicity
As is customary in the style of K-pop, each track is accompanied by precise choreography and perfect synchronicity. Each member gives an unbelievable energy, sings, dances, jumps, runs, spins… All this without ceasing to smile and sending little signs to the fans.
But very quickly, it is necessary to take breaks between the songs to evacuate the many fainted people in the public. Bang Chan, the leader of the group reminds us: "safety first" - which the public takes up singing. Sannai, Michelle and Mélissa, who came from the Netherlands, suffered from this suffocating mass. “It was hard to hold on, we were tight and sometimes had trouble breathing. But there was an atmosphere of mutual aid: we shared our bottles of water between strangers, we helped each other to evacuate people who felt bad…”, specifies Sannai. The group then takes regular breaks again, asking the public if it is safe to resume the concert.
The show continues with 3Racha, a group within the group, consisting of Bang Chan, Changbin and Han. They launch into the frantic rap of "Hey Day", accompanied by the crowd, as much on the Korean lyrics as English. The stars then continued to play with genres. If they are used to pop and rap, they surprised by bringing more rock versions of his songs - including "Item". A risk-taking that gives their tunes a new power and has thrilled their admirers. They ended their performance with their more EDM-like tracks that got even the most reluctant audience dancing, including “Miroh,” before ending with “Heaven” and fireworks.
Happy and moved to have found their audience, the members of the group leave the stage after having started a last tune of the Seven Nations Army - the famous "Po Polo Po Po Poo Po" - which they have already taken up with the public on many occasions. Barely out, the spectators share their emotions on the spot: “I miss them already”. We redo the game: "It was epic, everything I expected and even more," sighs Dina and Joana, both already connoisseurs of Stray Kids. On the way back, they sing the tunes of the evening together, wondering when their heroes will return to France.
