THAT sad moment when you are following your favourite music group on TikTok or Instagram, only to see them release a World Tour! In excitement you await the poster, only to see that South Africa has yet again, not made it onto the list. As you sit in tears, calculating how much it would cost to see them, seeing how little your money is worth because of our currency, an alert on your phone tells you that load shedding is getting worse, you realize, the only time you are going to see any of their concerts, will be through their social media pages and fan edits on TikTok.
I’m being a little dramatic but that is the true story for lots of music lovers in South Africa, as many bands and K-pop groups showcase their concerts all over America, Asia and Europe, but skip Africa as a whole. Leaving South Africans in the dark, literally!
That is until, post-COVID, the world of Zoom and live chat became more of a reality, with the thought process being, what if we live stream these concerts in cinemas?
With this being the column of all things anime and K-pop, I decided to cover my favourite live stream concerts.
BTS Permission to Dance (Live in Seoul)
…was broadcast on March 12 at Nu Metro cinemas, drawing huge support, however many ARMY (BTS fans) were disappointed in missing the show or sections thereof due to load shedding. The concert, BTS Permission to Dance (Live in LA) was later loaded onto Disney+ along with many of the other BTS shows such as ‘In the Soop: Friendcation), J-Hope’s solo documentary ‘J-Hope in the Box’ and ‘Suga, Road to D-Day’.
BTS Yet to Come in Busan,
… a bittersweet concert marking the close of Chapter 1, as many BTS members leave to enlist in the army (the actual army, not become one of their own fans) the concert was a rebroadcast of the original free concert that was aired over Weverse and Navers. Unfortunately, the constant chat stream on the platform caused both sites to crash periodically, leaving many fans frustrated and annoyed. Thus allowing fans to watch the concert in cinema, in both 4XD and 2D, for a completely immersive experience.
Suga, AgustD Tour ‘D-Day’ in Japan,
…a live concert broadcast of a solo member of BTS, proved to be another huge hit as tickets were sold out within hours of going live. Equally broadcast in multiple countries, the concert was broadcast on the 04 June was notice given that there would be possible delays due to the live nature of the concert.
Live-streamed concerts have been a step closer to seeing your favourite groups in action, with the audience often dancing and singing along, all dressed up for the event. With ticket prices averaging R200, it is a worthwhile experience that is one step closer to seeing your favourite K-pop group live.
And not forgetting the opportunity to purchase amazing merchandise from the vendors that NuMetro have pulled on board for each concert experience.
Alternatively, opt for a Disney+ subscription, inviting over all your Army friends and having a mini-concert in your lounge. But bigger is always better! I mean who else is going to appreciate you shouting, ‘Yoongi Marry Me!’
Now for real, can they come to South Africa already?
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