REVIEW: K-Pop quartet Blackpink returned to London for two history-making shows at Wembley Stadium, after taking a break to pursue successful solo careers
There is no better feeling than screaming “Blackpink in your area!” surrounded by thousands of other fans. And despite only releasing one new song since their last London gig in 2023, Blackpink proved they’re still the It Girls of K-Pop and fans can’t get enough.
Blackpink – made up of members Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa and Rosé – last performed at BST Hyde Park in 2023. They’ve previously appeared at Wembley Arena and The O2, but for their Deadline Tour kicked things up a notch with two shows at Wembley Stadium.
In doing so, the four-piece made history as the first K-Pop girl group to play the venue, and only the second girl group in general, following Spice Girls.
The girls recently released Jump, their first new music as a whole group since 2023 track The Girls, which was a promotional song for their mobile game.
Since then, each member has launched a successful solo career with each of them pursuing music and some acting, too. Lisa, of course, starred in the latest season of uber-popular show The White Lotus.
But it meant that the songs Blackpink played were tried and tested fan-favourites. It almost felt like a greatest hits tour – and there are many hits to their name.
They kicked things off with five of their biggest songs: Kill This Love, Pink Venom, How You Like That, Playing With Fire and Shut Down.
With fireworks and pyrotechnics, the girls meant business and showed exactly why they should be playing Wembley Stadium.
Just days ago, the Stadium was filled with bucket hat wearing, beer drinking Oasis fans for another highly-anticipated tour.
Instead, on Friday, the crowd was an ocean of pink thanks to fans with their lightsticks, waving them around as they danced.
The energy continued for each member’s solo stages, with Lisa and Rosé performing songs they hadn’t previously on the tour.
Jisoo was up first with the English version of Earthquake, followed by Your Love.
Lisa performed Thunder and Lifestyle, the first time she’d performed the track on the tour, and her biggest song Rockstar.
She hadn’t treated fans to Rockstar on the other Europe dates, so when the familiar intro started, Wembley Stadium went crazy.
Lisa was back on stage shortly after with the rest of the girls for Pretty Savage, Don’t Know What To Do, Whistle, Stay and Lovesick Girls.
The group is known for its heavy, full sound and powerful lyrics, so the dreamy Stay, released in 2016, showcased they can do it all.
Jennie’s solo stage followed, with Handlebars, With the IE and one of her biggest songs Like Jennie.
I’d personally been looking forward to Mantra, which she had played on other tour dates, but it didn’t come. However, considering Wembley Stadium did get Lisa’s Rockstar, I couldn’t complain.
Rosé, whose solo music is the most different to the Blackpink sound, following things up with Dance All Night, emotional song Toxic Till The End and, of course, her viral hit APT.
Her solo section opened with a behind-the-scenes video, including a surprise appearance from FKA Twigs alongside her.
Rosé spoke to the crowd more than the other members, making it clear how excited they were to be back in London.
And they kept the energy going with even more hits after Rosé’s final solo performance.
If the crowd had been loud before, it was nothing compared to when the group performed Jump.
The track, produced by global megastar Diplo, had Wembley Stadium bouncing, with Boombayah, Ddu-Du Ddu-Du following.
My personal favourite, As If It’s Your Last, came next. It hadn’t been on the set list at the group’s 2023 BST Hyde Park headline gig, so I was beyond excited to get the chance to see them perform it again.
They closed things off with Forever Young, before an encore performance of Jump, Yeah Yeah Yeah and Kick It.
Blackpink may be enjoying their solo endeavours, but that night proved that the appetite for the superstar girl group has never been higher.
And as long as they keep coming, fans will always have a place for Blackpink in their area.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
