Suga's ambitious solo debut tour is a cinematic ode to his past and present
And for BTS Army, another chance to see the superstar rapper/producer before he heads off to military service
It’s been exactly one week since I took an early morning flight to Chicago to catch one of my ultimate K-pop biases perform on his first solo headlining tour. I can’t quite say that I have fully recovered from that whirlwind weekend. But would I do it again for Suga?
Absolutely. In a heartbeat!
Those who follow my posts will barely need an introduction to Suga. As a member of BTS, the group has topped the Billboard charts, sold out stadiums around the world and made history as the first K-pop act to be nominated for multiple Grammy Awards.
There was much uncertainty about the band’s future last June, after BTS announced it would be slowing down group activities to pursue solo projects and eventually enlist in the military. But thankfully there really has been nothing to worry about for fans. Simply, it’s just a new and more mature phase for the group.
One of the most exciting things for me is seeing the BTS members shine on their own through solo releases, exciting collaborations and brand ambassadorships. And in the case of rapper/producer Suga, it’s also given fans — or ARMY — another chance to gather together to see him perform live in some of the arenas he and his members first toured in when they started coming to North America.
Suga has been instrumental in writing and creating many of BTS’s top hits as a rapper and lead producer for the group. But his solo work released under his moniker Agust D (derived from his hometown Daegu plus his stage name backwards) have taken fans back to his underground hip hop roots and given insight into his deepest and darkest thoughts.
We see this clearly displayed in his first solo feature length album D-DAY released this past April. Now he takes his vision to the next level in a show-stopping solo concert that I can only describe as a cinematic ode to his past and present.
What I love about Suga as an artist is that he always does what I least expect of him. In 2018, he surprised millions when he went on stage to perform his single “Trivia: Seesaw”, which had him singing, wearing a suit and performing choreography. In a V Live sometime after, he revealed he wanted to try something “idol-esque” — a departure from his intense rapper persona.
Then last year, Suga showed off a goofier side to himself, featuring on PSY’s “That That.” I had always known he had a playful side, but it was refreshing to see him not take himself so seriously and perform silly dance moves. I swear this man also keeps me guessing! I’ve also been loving how many dance challenges he’s recently taken on with his HYBE label mates including Seventeen (my Army-Carat heart!), NewJeans and TXT.
I say all this because Suga could have very well done what we all expected of him for his first concert tour by delivering a more stripped down version of a BTS show. However, Suga gives his everything in an entirely different way.
His concert has pyrotechnics, a live band and one of the coolest moving stage set-ups I’ve ever seen. And unlike the complex choreography we often see at BTS shows, Suga also rarely dances. The show is instead both theatre and a hardcore rap concert. I was here for all of it.
Unlike most K-pop concerts that hype fans up with music videos over the years, Suga’s pre-show starts off moody with the booms of thunder and rain playing on the big screen behind the stage. Though the moment the concert begins, it literally starts with a loud bang.
The concert is split into separate segments, each with VCRs that show three facets of who the BTS member is: Suga (the idol), Agust D (his fierce alter ego) and Min Yunki (the boy from Daegu with humble beginnings and defied his parents’ wishes to get into music). These videos play out like a noir thriller, each reflecting on themes including life, pain and survival. In the first clip, the rapper is depicted in a scary motorcycle accident — a reference to a real life accident he endured as a deliveryman that resulted in a shoulder injury. We then see dancers lifting the real life Suga onto the stage and placing him on the ground. The strums of “Haegeum” then start to play, and thus begins an epic two-hour set.
“I came here to Chicago during our Wings: Love Yourself Tour and now I am here for my first solo tour,” Suga said in his first address to the crowd during the third and final show at Allstate Arena on May 6th.
“I have a lot of good memories here, so, I’m sure this will be amazing too!”
While Suga’s strengths have also been his rapping, some of the biggest surprises of the night had him showing off his vocal abilities. He picks up a guitar to perform an acoustic version of the BTS crowd-pleaser “Trivia: Seesaw”, then transitions into the chill track “SDL” while sitting on a lounge chair.
But the highlight for me came right after as Suga turned things up a notch to conclude the first act of his concert. “Burn It (feat Max)” plays as flames literally start blowing up around the stage. The song’s lyrics allude to finding the courage of letting go. And as Suga ends the track by walking away amidst the fire, he belts out the words “Everything was all wrong!”…as if he’s leaving his anger and pain behind with him. Watching this felt both cathartic and liberating.
Though the show was largely filled with his solo work, Suga dedicated a portion of his concert to a rap medley from BTS’s discography. “Interlude: Shadow” saw him unveiling himself in all white amidst a group of dancers dressed in black, highlighting the song’s lyrics that have him reflecting on life as an idol and contemplating the darker side of fame. Suga then jumps into a mash-up of “BTS Cypher Pt. 3” and “BTS Cypher Pt. 4”, which then led to the super hype tracks of “UGH!” and “HuH?!” (feat. j-hope). The highlight however was the moment Suga jumped into the unreleased (and highly anticipated) track “Ddaeng”. Suga is a man that knows how to pay good fan service. And we’re all grateful for him for that!!
Throughout the show Suga would pause to address the crowd and the audience would start barking in unison to his amusement.
“You guys slayed tonight!” he says as the audience screams louder. “SLAAAAAYYY!”
The energy settles soon after as Suga walks down the stage to sit on a piano to perform “Life Goes On” and “Snooze” featuring The Rose’s Woosung and the late Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Right before the latter, a clip of Suga’s conversation with Sakamoto is played on screen to honour the musical hero. Suga then pays homage to Sakamoto with the simple phrase: “I wish you peace on your long journey.”
The final act before Suga’s encore is concluded with the somber and vulnerable tracks “Polar Night” and “AMYGDALA”, in which the rapper emotionally raps about the pain he experienced on his journey to becoming one of the top K-pop stars in the world. He lays on the floor as the final notes of “AMYGDALA” plays, and he is then carried off stage by his dancers once more.
The encore begins with the extremely hype “D-DAY”, almost as if it is marking a rebirth of Suga as an artist and person. “Future’s gonna be okay!” he belts at the beginning of the song.
The mood is happier, confident and more self-assured. He interacts with the audience by taking their phones to record himself (but Samsung Galaxies only!) and even does a swag surf with his fellow dancers.
“When I was on stage, I saw everybody’s faces and it made me really happy,” Suga says in his final speech to the crowd.
“That’s the reason I’m alive.”
Suga then jumps into the final one-two of “Intro:Never Mind” and “The Last”, the latter a haunting tune that alludes to his past mental health struggles with depression and self-hatred. The last image we see of Suga is him walking off stage swiftly as the lights around him immediately turn on. He’s leaving behind the anger and pain of his past. And thus, a new chapter for him begins.
To finally get a chance to see Suga perform on his own has been extra meaningful for me because his words have often comforted me through some uncertain and dark times of my life during the pandemic. When he says ARMY is the reason he’s alive, I truly believe him. It’s because the energy and love we return to him and BTS is reciprocal. We’re not a community without one another.
This is probably the last time I’ll get to see Suga perform in person for the next few years, but I’m grateful to have had the experience. I just know he’s going to thrive throughout the rest of the tour and into his military service. Until then, bbyong!
In other news…
BTS to release a book telling their own story
After much speculation, the rumours are true. BTS will be releasing an oral history of their lives and careers through the years on July 9 in South Korea and through the U.S. publisher Flatiron Books.
The book, “Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS,” was written by the journalist Myeongseok Kang and members of the group, and it will be published in South Korea by Big Hit Music.
The book’s announcement was initially slated for June 13 and released on July 9. Both dates are significant in the fandom as June 13 is the day BTS debuted and July 9th marks the founding of ARMY.
While the dates aligned perfectly with BTS, I remained skeptical (as many journalists are!) until the news was officially confirmed. How could I when we were all fooled when Jimin didn’t show up at the MET Gala?! Or that he didn’t perform “Tony Montana” while Suga was on tour despite being in New York at the same time?
I’m just glad the rumours are true. I hope the book finally addresses the long mysterious dumpling incident between V and Jimin. I swear, why is Jimin always at the scene of the crime?! READ MORE HERE.
LUCAS officially leaves NCT and his sub-group WAYV
SM Entertainment announced that LUCAS will be leaving NCT and WayV earlier this week.
“After our deliberate discussion with LUCAS, we made a mutual decision to part ways with the group NCT and WayV to pursue his individual endeavors. Thank you for your understanding and continuous support as this was a decision taken with much consideration of both the members and all the fans who have supported,” SM Entertainment said in a statement.
“LUCAS is planning on showing his performances through a wide variety of individual works from now on. Again, we sincerely appreciate lavished love and support from all the fans and ask for your continuous support and interest in the future.”
LUCAS also issued a letter to fans on Instagram.
“After much deliberation and reflection, I have made the difficult decision to part ways with the group NCT and WayV. I sincerely feel sorry for the members, and it is with a heavy heart that I leave behind a long-standing friendship. It has been nearly 8 years since I first joined the members, and I am deeply grateful for their care and support. I will cherish these memories and never forget. I hope that the members will remember me as Huang Xuxi, not just LUCAS. I genuinely love them and will always support them from the bottom of my heart.”
The statement continued, “I believe the best way to repay the fans who support me is by continuing to deliver outstanding performances. I will strive to become a more mature Huang Xuxi and an even better LUCAS. Lastly, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the fans and everyone who has continually supported me.”
See me elsewhere!
I am super excited to share my first byline with GRAMMY about the many sounds of Asian pop music! Asian Heritage Month has always been a wonderful opportunity to platform creatives and artists of all forms. I had a lot of fun diving in for this one! READ MORE HERE.
GIVEAWAY ALERT: Come party with me!
It's almost time to celebrate 10 years of BTS!
Join my friends at @bangtan.ball for their 10th FESTA BTS Dance Party on May 27th at The Axis Club! In honour of the amazing decade Bangtan has blessed us with, Bunni Pop is giving away one pair of tickets to this event 💜👯🎉
**CONTEST CLOSES TUESDAY 5/16** The winner will be randomly chosen on 5/17/23, and will be contacted by this account only.
In order to enter the giveaway:
1. Follow @bunnipopletter & @bangtan.ball
2. Share your favourite memory from the year you became ARMY
3. Tag up to two friends!
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗦
🗓 Saturday, May 27th
📍 The Axis Club (@theaxisclub)
🎶 BTS bangers brought to you by @francotone
⏰ Party will be popping off at 9pm to 1am, so come early & stay late!
🪪19+ event
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Accountability is important to me, so please address corrections and concerns by sending me an email at bunnipopnewsletter@gmail.com. Continue the conversation by following Bunni Pop on Instagram and Twitter.
Had no idea BTS is releasing a book. Am pretty sure my mom is going to want to read it once it comes out 😆
I need more Ddeng in my life. A lot more.