BTS live in London review: K-Pop giants return for dazzling stadium spectacle
After seven years away from London, BTS return with a spectacular show which proves to be more than worth the wait.
“It’s a bloody beautiful night, London,” shouted RM as he greets the 60,000 strong ARMY inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a sweltering Monday evening. For many in attendance, that was quite the understatement. They had waited seven years for BTS to return to the capital, bringing their ‘ARIRANG’ World Tour to London.
Having fulfilled their mandatory South Korean military service and pursued solo careers, BTS – consisting of Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook – made their long-awaited comeback earlier with their ambitious fifth studio album, ARIRANG.
Through ARIRANG, BTS looked to shine a spotlight on Korean culture and heritage as they returned to their roots. The world tour acts as the natural extension of this expression of Korean identity, with everything from the stage design to the choreography and visual effects contributing to its authentic story.
As the group prepared to take to the stage, traditional Korean instruments played over the speakers as the anticipation inside the stadium reached fever pitch, as fans chanted for the group at the top of their voices.
And then they arrived. Hooded figures emerged on the stage carrying red smoke flares, before BTS emerged and kicked off proceedings with ‘Hooligan’ and ‘Aliens’, igniting a reaction which showed that the seven year gap has only made fans more desperate for their return.
‘Run BTS’, meanwhile, saw fans respond with a reaction which could well have sparked a Richter Scale ranking in the N17 area.
One of the biggest challenges in bringing the ‘ARIRANG’ World Tour to life is being able to strike the balance between paying respect to their Korean roots and heritage while also creating something innovative and forward-thinking. However, tradition met modernity in perfect harmony through performances of ‘they don’t know ‘bout us’ and ‘Merry Go Round’, as traditional Korean masks and dances such as seungmu were incorporated into the choreography.
Perhaps the song that best encapsulated the blending of modernity and tradition was the pop-rap track ‘Body to Body’, which also features a sample of the traditional Korean folk song ‘Arirang.’ As the sweet melody of the folk song played over the speakers, a stunning 360-degree fireworks display lit up the North London sky, giving the moment the gravitas and pageantry it deserved.
That celebration continued with ‘IDOL’ as BTS left the stage and led a grand procession of 50 dancers carrying flags and LED ribbons, in what felt like an unintentional nod to British pomp and pageantry.
There was also a chance to see the humans behind the global phenomenon. During a later section where they performed ‘Butter’ and ‘Dynamite’, a purposeful lack of choreography gave the group time to unwind and interact with the crowd. It also produced some fun moments as Jin jumped on Jung Kook’s back for a piggyback ride across the stage. Keeping up the chaotic antics, the ‘Golden Maknae’ also ran from one side of the stage to the other with two bottles of water to drench Jin and V.
The ARIRANG World Tour wasn’t simply a way to reintroduce the world to BTS after their hiatus; it was a coronation. The South Korean group reclaimed their throne as the biggest band in the world in style. Despite their legacy, countless hits and enthusiastic fandom, BTS didn’t rest on their laurels. Instead, they put on a masterclass for the fans who had waited seven years to see them take to the stage. It was perfectly executed, combining all the elements that have made BTS so popular over the years: floor-filling hits, swagger and showmanship from every member, and a genuine connection with their fans to create something entirely worthy of that prolonged absence.