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ITZY radiate warmth and vibrancy in heartfelt Singapore concert: “MIDZY is the only motivation and the reason that we could do this well.” — gig report

ITZY radiate warmth and vibrancy in heartfelt Singapore concert: “MIDZY is the only motivation and the reason that we could do this well.” — gig report

Estimated: 7 mins  reading

If the goal was to CHECKMATE MIDZY’s impassioned love and attention, ITZY certainly achieved that by exceeding all expectations at last Saturday’s concert. 

On 28 January, the five-piece JYP Entertainment girl group consisting of members Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna, returned to Singapore for their first-ever concert tour CHECKMATE, three years after their premiere showcase tour ITZY? ITZY! back in 2019. 

Presented by Live Nation Singapore, the sold-out and long-anticipated concert held at The Star Theatre saw a night graced with vibrant performances, riveting solo stages, and moving moments from ITZY on a stage that only belonged to them.

It had been a pretty gloomy start to 2023 thus far, but for the brief time we had with ITZY, it seemed like all colour had vividly returned to our Little Red Dot. From bright, eye-catching sets to scintillating multicolours from the special fan light rings (no, not sticks), MIDZY were treated to a vibrantly-lit concert from the ‘WANNABE’ hitmakers that was undeniably memorable.

Apart from showcasing their talents and undeniable chemistry as a group, ITZY regaled us with heartwarming moments that night, reaffirming our love for the five singers.

Lia expressed: “Please be healthy and please be happy, and please live a life that’s very valuable to yourself and not for others. Because thankfully for me, thanks to you guys, I’m doing all three of that. So I hope you guys can also do that too, okay?” 

After a series of music videos shown on the big screens ranging from ‘ICY’ to ‘Cheshire’, with enthusiastic screams that got increasingly louder as fans took in the latest videos, it was time to meet ITZY.

As with many concerts, there’s always that fleeting moment of disbelief upon catching the first glimpse of your favourite artists as to whether you’re actually seeing them in person. But as soon as ITZY welcomed us into their intriguing world with the 2021 hit song ‘Mafia In the morning’, fans were all amped up and ready to immerse themselves in the quintet’s exciting performances for the rest of the night.

The energetic ladies did not stop to rest before transitioning swiftly to the second song, with Ryujin exclaiming: “Let’s go, Singapore!” As the multi-faceted group brought us through their catalogue of performances for ‘Sorry Not Sorry’, ‘SHOOT!’, ‘WHAT I WANT’, and ‘365’, it was clear that the girl group whose talent for capturing their audiences’ undivided attention could not be understated.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ITZY (@itzy.all.in.us)

In one of the most highlighted segments of the night, ITZY impressed us all with their solo stages. Fans got to witness the different facets of the artists as we delved deeper into their individual passions and unique musical interests. In the end, we discerned that there's more than meets the eye when it comes to ITZY. 

Ryujin - ‘Boss B*tch’ (Orig. Doja Cat)

If there’s one thing we can take away from Ryujin’s solo set, it was her exuding such charisma and swagger that we could not get enough of. “It was really hard to choose the song, but I chose this song because I want you guys to enjoy it together with me.” and fans certainly did. For stage props, she had a note with “CHECKMATE” emblazoned on it, which she playfully offered to fans before taking it back, much to fans’ mischievous dismay. 

Yuna - ‘Maniac’ (Orig. Conan Grey)

Yuna was infectiously lively, showcasing her lovable personality while riding in on a bike onstage and performing the wildly popular song by Conan Grey. The youngest member was apologetic about her set as she stepped a little too hard on the bike's brakes in the introduction but as Lia later pointed out, it was a “cute mistake”. “If you guys enjoyed my stage, then I’m happy too.” Yuna shared in the end.

Lia - ‘Red’ (Orig. Taylor Swift) 

Lia stunned us with her cover of ‘Red’, showcasing her prowess as a gifted vocalist. Needing only a single spotlight, the singer poured her heart into the song while fans soaked in every precious moment. Ryujin also pointed out that Lia looked so happy while performing her solo set and marveled at fans’ reaction as she belted out her high note.

Chaeryeong - ‘bloodline’ (Orig. Ariana Grande)

Chaeryeong’s solo performance embodied impressive individuality and commanded attention the moment she appeared. Playfully interacting with a personal camera and displaying a different side of herself, she showed us what confidence looked like. She shared: “While preparing for our solo performances, I felt we all had a chance to develop our skills through this new experience. Thank you for enjoying our stages. I’m very happy.”

Yeji - ‘Hotter Than Hell’ (Orig. Dua Lipa)

We cannot leave out Yeji’s breathtaking set, which transformed the entire concert atmosphere into a fiesta, with fans giving their all and partying with her. Boasting powerful dance moves and incredible vocals, all eyes were on Yeji, an undeniably skilled performer, as she performed her cover of Dua Lipa’s hit song. 

The five vivacious members of ITZY showcased electrifying jolts of energy with ‘WANNABE’ and its iconic choreography ending with the signature crown pose — a comfort totem for MIDZY by now. As they brought fans back to their roots in 2019 with debut single ‘DALLA DALLA’, we proudly realize just how much they’ve grown and achieved as artists in just three years.

Even towards the concert's end, excitement only grew with fervour as ITZY performed a slew of popular hits and fan favourites, including the latest musical release ‘Cheshire’, ‘LOCO’, and ‘Not Shy’. 

Compared to earlier dance stages, their encore was simply a love letter to fans as they charmed us with their beautiful voices in ‘DOMINO’ and ‘Trust Me (MIDZY)’, dedicated to their beloved fandom. 

In the final moments of the concert, MIDZY proved to be exceptionally impressive when it came to showing their love for the girl group as they thoughtfully prepared a fan event with them holding up a banner that said: “WE’LL HOLD YOU 있지 잘하고 있다고 (ITZY, you’re doing well)” after a particularly moving fan video which highlighted significant moments of ITZY’s journey until now.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ITZY (@itzy.all.in.us)

After viewing the fan video, Lia shared: “It’s a bit different, the reason why I’m touched. Normally, it’s because it’s very sad, I don’t know why. Because I kinda get to think back to all the times when I was in a hard time and everything. But this time, the video just made me really feel all the happy moments that we spent together. It is very touching in a different way.”

In the ending ment, Ryujin expressed: “Thank you for coming tonight. I think tonight was a very cosy night for me. Even if today ends and this concert ends, please remember us and remember the feeling that I shared, because I will. Let’s see [each other] as soon as possible.”

When it came to Chaeryeong’s turn, she said: “It’s been a while since we came to Singapore last time right? I want to tell you guys that I’m really grateful [to you] for waiting for us. Thank you for warmly greeting us and I promise that I’ll come back soon."

The night took a turn as artists and fans alike got emotional and Yeji was eventually moved to tears.

Yeji: “[Today], I dreamt about not being ITZY. As I’m seeing you guys in front of me, it made me think a lot of things but the thing that really comes into my mind is that without you guys, I don’t think I can come [this far]. I think that’s why these days I just tear up when I hear ITZY and MIDZY.”

If anything, the Singapore stop of ITZY’s CHECKMATE World Tour showed us how diverse ITZY are and further demonstrated their calibre as one of the current top performers in K-pop’s fourth generation.

When we recall the night, we will remember how sleek and chic the five artists were, fitting seamlessly with CHECKMATE’s theme of a game of chess but still proving to be the personification of colour, bringing with them their individual hues to an otherwise monotonous chess board.

As we look forward to the next time we see them on our sunny island, we can all agree on one thing: It’s ITZY’s era and we’re fortunate just to be living in it as it happens.

ITZY CHECKMATE World Tour in Singapore 2023 setlist:

  • INTRO + Mafia In the morning
  • Sorry Not Sorry
  • SHOOT!
  • WHAT I WANT
  • 365
  • [Ryujin] Boss B*tch
  • CHERRY
  • ICY
  • Free Fall
  • Twenty
  • [Yuna] Maniac
  • [Lia] Red
  • INTRO + WANNABE
  • Dalla Dalla
  • SNEAKERS
  • [Chaeryeong] bloodline
  • [Yeji] Hotter Than Hell
  • CHESHIRE
  • LOCO
  • Not Shy
  • DOMINO
  • MIDZY
  • Boys like you
  • Nobody like you

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