IU Dazzles fans at Sangam Stadium concert: ＂I′ll Keep Singing As Long As I Can＂

IU Dazzles fans at Sangam Stadium concert: "I'll Keep Singing As Long As I Can": K-POP / 연합뉴스 / 2024-09-23 07:12:11

▲ This photo, provided by EDAM Entertainment, shows K-pop diva IU performing at her solo concert held in the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sangam, Seoul, on Sept. 22, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- "I've been told today marks my 100th solo concert. I don't know how many hundreds more I'll have before my career ends, but I'll keep going as long as I can. My goal is to become an artist who survives long-term, as light and free as a 'dandelion seed.'"

On the afternoon of the 22nd, at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sangam, IU, riding the cool autumn breeze, soared above the stadium, looking over a sea of 50,000 fans as she opened her concert with the song "Dandelion Seed." Singing, "I’ll bloom in the sky no matter what," she seemed to embody the lightness and freedom of a dandelion floating in the wind.

The audience, with their colorful light sticks in red, blue, green, pink, and yellow, echoed back in unison, singing, "She became a dandelion seed," creating a mesmerizing scene.

Following her historic concert at Jamsil Olympic Stadium in 2022, IU once again made history by selling out the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Over the two days of performances, a total of 100,000 fans attended.

▲ This photo, provided by EDAM Entertainment, shows IU's solo concert held in the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sangam, Seoul, on Sept. 22, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The grand scale of the Seoul World Cup Stadium offered an immersive experience, with the dazzling lights blending with the waves of light sticks, creating a breathtaking sight. IU's clear and pure vocals were a perfect match for the crisp autumn weather, and her harmony with the live band was outstanding. Her high notes during "Jam Jam" and "Obliviate" resounded powerfully into the open sky.

IU expressed her gratitude, saying, "Summer suddenly ended yesterday. Thank you for choosing to spend this beautiful autumn day at my concert as we welcome this long-awaited season." She added, "The way you, the audience, look at me with such loving eyes makes me want to send the same affection back to my fans."

Her new song, "Bye Summer," which she performed while playing the guitar, felt like a farewell tribute to the departing season.

IU also put great effort into providing various spectacles and engaging with the audience. During her performance of "Ah Puh," whale-shaped balloons appeared, transforming the venue into a cozy ocean, and drones carrying white stars danced across the sky before gently landing on the ground. When she sang her hit song "Celebrity," she floated across the stadium in a "flower palanquin," drawing cheers from the crowd.

After reaching the secondary stage, she said, "I came here because I wanted to see you up close. I didn’t realize we’d be this close until we rehearsed. Your eyes are sparkling, and you all look so lovely and beautiful."

As the concert moved into its later stages, IU performed a string of emotional hits like "The Meaning of You," "Through the Night," "You and I," and "Love Wins All." During "Last Fantasy," a dazzling drone show lit up the stadium, and fireworks exploded in the sky during the climax of "You and I."

Through these carefully arranged performances, IU conveyed a message of hope that everyone’s wishes would come true, echoing the theme of her album and concert, The Winning. Before singing the challenging "Love Wins All," she remarked, "I sing this song with the hope that its message reaches each of you. Even in moments of rising hatred, may love prevail. I hope you all win and find happiness."

IU garnered attention for her considerate actions before the concert, distributing garbage bags to local residents. On the day of the concert, she provided cushions and binoculars to all attendees. Her agency, EDAM Entertainment, emphasized their efforts to protect the stadium’s grass and work closely with relevant parties to ensure the best conditions for the event.

The area around the Seoul World Cup Stadium was packed with 50,000 attendees, with crowds filling the subway station early in the day. Outside the stadium, fans from countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand displayed rice wreaths as a sign of support.

Yang Mo (25), who traveled from Yeosu, remarked, "There’s so much to admire about IU as a person. Her words and actions reflect her deep compassion for humanity. Listening to her songs feels like communicating with her, and even as an outsider, I can empathize with her thoughts and want to emulate the positive emotions she shares."

IU concluded the nearly three-hour performance with encore songs including "Autumn Morning," "Strawberry Moon," "Unlucky," and "You Know." After singing the meaningful final line of "Unlucky"—"Maybe, in my own way, being slow and steady is fine just the way it is"—she flashed a bright, bittersweet smile.

"During this tour, I feel like I've spent the longest summer of my life. I never expected summer to end just in time for my Sangam concert. Out of everyone bidding farewell to summer and welcoming autumn, I think I'm the happiest person right now. Haha."