Canadian K-pop enthusiasts were treated to their very own Korean pop culture festival over Victoria Day weekend, May 20-22: Toronto Kpop Con. Emotions were running wild, and there was something for all pop lovers everywhere with VIXX, GOT7, DAY6 and GFriend performing in front of the Toronto audience throughout the weekend and interacting with con-goers through a series of fan meetings.
Fan meetings, or miniature concerts that incorporate casual fan interactions, games and MC-led interviews, are common in South Korea and a tenant of K-pop idols’ relationships with their fans. During the five fan meetings held at Toronto Kpop Con — with headlining act GOT7 holding two — the spectators and K-pop stars alike expressed enthusiasm about being able to interact face-to-face with one another. The idols, many of whom had never been to North America before, were thrilled to see the bevy of fans, while those sitting in the crowd cheered, laughed, screamed and even cried with delight over being so close to their stars.
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Let’s take a look at five memorable performances from the weekend:
1. VIXX, “Voodoo Doll”
VIXX set the tone for much of the con with their flawless opening of the three-day event. Known for their theatrical motifs and unerring dance performances, VIXX kicked things off at the con with their latest single, the BDSM-inspired “Chained Up,” but moved rapidly into “Voodoo Doll,” the group’s most graphic and powerful production to date. The soaring builds and aggressive raps melded with the intense choreography, shocking audiences with the faux-stabbing movements that previously had VIXX temporarily banned from Korean television. The seamless execution of the interpretive dance and the exemplary vocals from all six members raised the bar for the rest of the weekend.
2. GFriend, “Bring It All Back” (S Club 7 cover)
The six-member girl group entranced South Korea with their wholesome style and diligent performance ethic, but they took the opportunity in Toronto to bring out their disco side with a cover of one of the biggest pop anthems of the early 2000s. There was no better way to get the twenty-somethings in the crowd to be overcome with nostalgia than GFriend breaking out in a rendition of S Club 7’s “Bring It All Back.” Everyone in the audience did exactly that the second GFriend started singing. G-Friend’s vocalists ascended to new heights with their execution of the song, eliciting cheers from the audience as they performed with perfect English pronunciation. An unfortunate technical issue hurt the performance during its final few moments as audio feedback cut off the singers’ mics for a few seconds, but G-Friend has proven time and again that they’re consummate performers and are always ready to pick themselves up (literally!) from any stage incidents.
3. GFriend, “Rough”
Already smiling from delight at the passionate response from their Canadian fans, GFriend was met with an eruption of cheers during their flawless rendition of “Rough.” With powerful ’90s style dance melodies and ballet-inspired choreography, “Rough” was the true highlight of G-Friend’s set. The song, their latest hit pervading South Korea, brought forth cries of pleasure from the crowd as the team of women belted their hearts out while portraying the movements of a clock through their dance motions. Less than two years into their career, GFriend was able to hold their own during the con amongst three popular male idol groups, proving their worth as one of the K-pop most popular new acts. Able to attract both male and female fans, G-Friend had the most diverse audience at Toronto Kpop Con cheering on the six burgeoning starlets all throughout their fan meeting.
4. DAY6, “Letting Go”
DAY6, who had spent time busking and playing small clubs in South Korea in contrast to the typical K-pop act, had one of the most stimulating sets throughout the entire Toronto Kpop Con. After captivating the audience with their lively attitude while performing their first few songs, the five men launched into the performance of their latest single, pop-rock power ballad “Letting Go.” As the crowd held up banners, sang along, and chanted the names of the members to the rhythm of the song, DAY6’s five members were dumbstruck. Main vocalist Sungjin visibly cried while performing the song while bassist Young K, who had attended high school in Toronto, and Californian-raised guitarist Jae told fans that they were also trying not to shed tears.
5. GOT7, “Fly”
Selling out both their fan meetings, GOT7 thrilled with their energetic performances and charming, humorous interactions with fans. The seven men were greeted by enthusiastic supporters who knew every word of their songs and every step of their dances, but were all the more excited to get up close and personal in the intimate setting of the theater at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. While fans were already well-aware of the perfectly synchronized choreography, the dynamic song got an unwitting upgrade thanks to the concert venue. From the bird’s eye view of the concert hall’s balcony where much of the audience was seated, GOT7’s soaring interpretive dance for “Fly” was all the more visible with the choreography transforming the six men into a facsimile of a plane. (Seventh member JB was unable to perform the group’s complex dance routines due to an injury, but sat to the side of the stage during the performance to the delight of fans who had not expected his presence.)