ATEEZ : Launch of the tour!
The ATEEZ pirates storm Seoul for a weekend for wild concerts.
Composed of the members HONGJOONG, SEONGHWA, YUNHO, YEOSANG, SAN, MINGI, WOOYOUNG, JONGHO, ATEEZ is a group that no longer has its international success to prove. Holding a series of concerts in Seoul on the weekend of January 27 and 28, the concert hall is packed with fans, answering the name ATINY, coming from all over the world for the occasion. KSTATION TV being present, we asked some questions to these fans before the concert, to know their interest in the group.
“I’ve been a casual fan of ATEEZ since debut but I came to know them and became an ATINY during the pandemic through their song “Promise”.” – TAHLIA, Australia
Before entering the stadium and attending the concert, fans can access various stands in the area, three of which stand out. The official goodies stand at the concert sold out very quickly, and even before the stand opened, a queue of hundreds of people had formed, the fans having to wait sometimes three hours to access the articles. Then the Superstar stand which is a mobile song game. For those entering the required qualifications, it is possible to play on site and win exclusive photocards. Finally, the “Atiny zone” stand, reserved for members of the group’s official fan club. With the presentation of the entrance ticket, and the fan-club card, you can receive two random photocards also exclusively. Next to the booth, fans are waiting, hoping to exchange the photocards for their favourite member. One fan said:
“YUNHO is my bias! I love how much passion and energy he performs with, and he seems like he tries to find as much joy as he can in all of his performances and with his members!” – MIKA, U.S
At 4 pm, the doors of the stadium open and the fans do not waste a moment to enter the hall. The concert starts in an hour, but videos are broadcast, announcing the arrival of mascots with the effigy of the group. In addition, ATEEZ will be in concert on February 2 and 3 in Japan. Charting at the Billboard, the group’s future looks bright, and the fans are there to prove it:
“This is the 6th time I’im seeing them, I’ve seen them in England and in Korean, and I went to the show yesterday. I’m so excited to witness it again.” – LAURYN, UK
The concert begins at 5pm with a video presenting the members to mark the beginning of Act I. named “We are the light”, followed by the expected performance of “Crazy form” whose clip was shown a few minutes before the launch of the show, as well as “Guerilla” and “Bouncy”. The stadium is first immersed in a bluish atmosphere, the dancers of the group offering a first performance, until the light and flames gush at the arrival of ATEEZ. Fans wave binoculars to watch their favorite member, and shout to support the group. The boys are dressed in black and shiny outfits. HONGJOONG particularly stands out from the crowd, with its platinum hair. The pyrotechnic effects also highlight the group, which takes a few minutes to greet the fans, before going on with “Say my name”, ATINY singing as one. The lightsticks illuminating the stadium make the show more magical and rich in power and energy, while the song is performed with a rock band.
It is undeniable that the artists sing live, as their voice carries in the stadium. The third song performed is “Win”, this time turning the hall into a fire with its orange colors. This title ends the first Act. to begin the second, “Lost”. After a new performance danced by HONGJOONG, ATEEZ continues with “The world” and “Wake up”. The staging shows YUNHO trying to escape an evil tower, before being carried away by the militia to remain in line with the universe of the group wanting to be post-apocalyptic. Then, a performance of SAN, dancing on a techno-trance rhythm with the dancers of the group, before being chained. The outfits changed, but remain black and purple, with more sexy touches like lace and harnesses. The performances proposed by the boys are most captivating, underlined by the impressive notes of JONGHO.
“I’m looking forwards to hear “It’s you”, “Matz”, “Guerilla”, “Cyberpunk”, “Deja vu”, “Wonderland”, all of them please!” – LAURYN, Angleterre
“Guerilla” is the next performance, also with rock sounds. HONGJOONG begins the song with some notes scraped on an electric guitar, the flames continuing to gush on stage. It is with powerful raps that MINGI attracts the attention of fans on him, who are then confronted with the sensuality of SEONGHWA. The screams would be deafening if the energy of ATEEZ did not already fill the room. After these first songs which dazzled the ATINY, the group presents itself individually, HONGJOONG starting by presenting itself as the captain of the group. YUNHO wishes everyone a good evening, being only halfway through the Act.II on V. JONGHO even states that the boys have ‘delivered’ their throats, and can sing as loud as they want. HONGJOONG addressed a word to the reporters present;
“Today, we’ll show you who really ATEEZ is!” – HONGJOONG
In addition, the group wishes a happy birthday to the fans of ATEEZ, the concert being a good opportunity to pay tribute to ATINY. YUNHO then describes the concert title, “Towards the light: Will to power” as the light inhabiting every individual on Earth that can give him the strength to achieve great things. MINGI then makes the audience laugh by showing the tattoo he has on his face, claiming that it is temporary and not to worry. The group also returns to the presence of a band to bring a rock dimension to their songs, giving them the feeling of being rockstars according to SEONGHWA. JONGHO congratulates HONGJOONG for his guitar solo, but the latter evades saying that it was not him who played to make a joke to the fans. The leader said that he had wanted to try something unique for a concert for a while, and that it was an opportunity thanks to the band present to accompany them.
“San is my bias because of his line in the song “Promise” I fell in love with his vocals before I learnt how he looked and let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed.” – TAHLIA, Australie
SAN‘s muscles are then put forward, MINGI talking about the boxing that he practices as a hobby and that makes him gain muscle mass, highlighted by the sleeveless top that he wears. Resuming the performances, “Cyberpunk” is presented, after MINGI animated the stadium with a solo rap to prepare the set. They continue the show with «Déjà vu», advancing on the second stage to be closer to the fans. An interlude allows to languish a little more until the last song of the ACT.II, “It’s you”. The lights used also make it possible to highlight ATEEZ, encircling them with halos of light, shades varying between blue green and purple red. For this interlude, SEONGHWA, YUNHO and HONGJOONG dance on the front of the stage, showing that their talent in dance is just as impressive as that in singing and rap. The room is conquered, no one makes any more noise to observe with attention the performance of the trio.
Marking the beginning of “It’s you”, YEOSANG seems to emerge from a feather nest, trying to escape from a cage making him a prisoner. Wearing white and a cream top, he is joined by SAN in a fluffy outfit, then WOOYOUNG appears for the chorus. The more dreamy atmosphere is highlighted by the smoke on stage. A video is broadcast, marking the beginning of Act.III “Towards the light”. It is Act. is the central one at the concert, and therefore the most important. It begins with the song “Youth”, YUNHO and MINGI now wearing suits. The table begins with YUNHO answering the phone, chatting in a phone booth with MINGI. The atmosphere is more calm and groovy, then it is the song “Everything” that begins after the broadcast of a new video. JONGHO then takes the mic to begin the ballad he performs solo.
After a dance interlude proposed by WOOYOUNG, the first notes of «Silver light» resonate. The atmosphere becomes more joyful and light with «Wave» taking over, one of the fan-club’s big favorites. ATEEZ evolves on stage to say hello to ATINY at different corners of the stage. The outfits are then black and gold, and the group again takes a few minutes to discuss. SEONGHWA explains that the evil tower placed in the decor is no longer red and threatening, but radiant now with a bluish and warm light. The boys ask the fans who came the day before, and for those coming for the first time today, if they avoided the spoils on the internet or not, saying that phones should be banned the first dates of concerts.
At HONGJOONG’s request, the trio WOOYOUNG, SAN, YEOSANG rehearsed the chorus of their song “It’s you”, followed by compliments addressed to the unit YUNHO x MINGI. They show a pirouette where they do tricks with their heads and then continue to discuss their song “Youth”. Regarding the conversation they had on the phone on stage, it is inspired by a real conversation before the debuts of the group. Indeed, the two were already friends, and had called one evening trusting that each had an audition the next day, without knowing that they auditioned for the same agency. They dance a few steps on stage, then the group moves on to JONGHO and his solo performance.
“This song represents that ATINY is all to me, you’re my everything” – JONGHO
Confident, he presents his song “Everything” as a comfort song for fans. MINGI makes the stadium laugh again, asking if the ATINYS are ready for the next song, with a voice crack. “Dancing like a butterfly wings” begins, to terminate Act.III, and begins Act.IV entitled “Prime time”. ATEEZ jumps on stage singing with the fans, before the next song brings the stadium back into a more serious atmosphere with «Matz». The broadcast VCR is rich in color, showing the group as manipulating the light they have learned to tame.
“Matz” is the sub-unit song of HONGJOONG and SEONGHWA, wearing fur coats for the occasion, the accompanying dancers having outfits and spears making them think of firefighters. A video then shows them as TV presenters, breaking the set and rebelling against the system. The next song is “Arriba”, performed as a group, in a setting with cowboy concepts. The fans sing in heart «Arriba» to accompany ATEEZ, which does not lose energy after two hours of show.
The group then sits on the tables and chairs of the set to chat. They start by mocking the outfit of MINGI, wearing a jumpsuit with a very indented V-neckline, a top, and glasses reminiscent of Willy Wonka. He ended up removing his accessories, saying that they corresponded rather well to the concept of the song, before continuing with «Django» to stay in the cowboy universe. The heat in the stadium is constantly increasing, since “Bouncy” is the next song performed. The energy of the room reaches its climax for the last song of this Act., «Wonderland». Octopus tentacles are agitated on stage, SEONGHWA is equipped with a sword, and fireworks are flaring in all directions. The group leaving the stage after such a performance, it does not take long for the fans to ask for an encore. The group finally accepted their request, and began the last Act of the evening, ‘Will‘, with the song ‘Dreamy day‘.
A final VCR is presented, the members all dressed in white and surrounded by soothing light, after their fight against darkness. A large hand appears on stage, collecting the light from one of the ceiling spotlights. ATEEZ wears casual outfits with cute accessories, such as a hat, a large bag, and darlings in the image of Mito, their mascot rabbit. Afterwards, a medley is performed, including the songs “Eternal sunshine, 불놀이야, 멋”. HONGJOONG gets a compressed air lance, walking on stage and bragging in front of the fans. For the last song of the medley, the members scream on stage, proving that two and a half hours of show without big breaks are nothing for them, and that they could continue all night.
The hand is deflated to give way to the last two performances of the night. The fans sing in ac capela with the group the melody of “멋” then the group addresses its last words, taking a picture with ATINY who have slogans prepared for the group, but also fans and banners in fabric with the effigy of their favorite member. A video is broadcast, showing moments of life of the members during their career with messages left by the ATINY. Moved, it is with admiration and gratitude that the boys watch the video with attention.
“We have been very happy, and in the future I think we will continue to be.” – HONGJOONG
HONGJOONG is taken aback, wondering why the fans ask them to cry in front of the video, rather than not, YUNHO being the one with tears in his eyes in the group. MINGI wishes everyone a Happy New Year, saying there is a lot more for the group to show to the fans. SEONGHWA, more touching, said, “You asked us if we have experienced happiness in recent years. I think I can answer because of you. Thanks to ATINY, I have become someone who knows love and happiness, and I am very grateful for that.” YUNHO bounces back on these remarks, saying that he has often reflected on the meaning of “happiness” asserting, that it is within ATEEZ and with ATINY that he is the happiest.
For the group, it is above all important that the fans had a good time this weekend with the group at his side. The boys wholeheartedly hope that the fans are as happy, and stay with ATEEZ as long as possible. The following members emphasize this idea of shared happiness, before greeting and thanking the ATINY present at the concert and having prepared this most significant surprise. JONGHO is also put in the center of attention, receiving hug and kisses from the other members as the maknae (younger) of the group. It is a consecration for them to have climbed the steps day after day to stand on stage today, surrounded by their loved ones and fans.
“This is my second time seeing them, but I’m extra excited to see this show because the first time was last year after the unfortunate Itaewon tragedy. They were absolutely amazing, but I look forward to see them without something so heavy weighing on their minds.” MIKA, U.S
The last two songs of the evening are thus “야간비행” and “Utopia”. Earlier, HONGJOONG stated that he hoped that he and the other boys could show the fans that they were able to produce songs with strong performances, saying, “We can do it, we will do it”. The opportunity for them to have experienced other things, like the guitar for the leader, is something they are very grateful for. Thanks are therefore sent to the agency, whose directors are present this evening, as well as the staff who made these two days of concerts possible.
HONGJOONG finishes in beauty by teasing a fanmeeting for the ATINY who without surprise start screaming in the stadium. It’s a way for the group to give back to the fans, with this precious gift that will arrive in July. After finishing the last tracks, ATEEZ leaves the stage definitively, addressing words of love and thanks to the ATINY, claiming to be eager to see them again very quickly, during the fanmeeting.
The words of our reporter : “As always, I am never disappointed with ATEEZ. Their concerts prove every time what a talented group looks like, I can’t wait for the next concert!”
Journalist: Pillet Anaïs
Photos: KQ ENTERTAINMENT
Sources: KSTATION TV, KQ ENTERTAINMENT
