2 days ago
High energy, strong vocals: J-pop boy band Be:First makes explosive debut in Singapore, Entertainment News
No fancy effects, no outfit changes, not even a backing track. But these didn't matter.
The two-hour Who is Be:First? sold-out performance on July 5 was not just the Japanese boy band's debut concert in Singapore. It was also my first J-pop concert and just like the lyrics of their opening song Mainstream, they certainly showed me a new standard.
The seven members of Be:First - Leo, Manato, Shunto, Junon, Ryuhei, Sota and Ryoki - are a balance of skilled vocalists and dancers, with a strong stage presence that amplified their performances.
The high energy from the start didn't dim one bit, even though almost every song had a dance break to keep the beat up.
Halfway through, they slowed things down a little with SOS, the track I looked forward to hearing the most.
As expected, they didn't disappoint, and I would argue it sounded better in person with their clear vocals that weren't drowned out by instrumentals or backing tracks.
What impressed me was how everyone sounded stable when singing and rapping despite the often-intense choreographies their songs had.
Sota, for one, stood out with his confident, clean and sharp moves, but that's not to say the other members were lacking. They each knew how to keep the audience engaged with their stage charisma.
"Singapore too hot," remarked the youngest Ryuhei, 19, at one point, after a loving Sota wiped his perspiration with a towel.
The latter then asked the crowd if they were doing okay, and Shunto, 21, looked up at the second level of Capitol Theatre to ask in English: "Are you okay?"
Sota, 24, joined him, making fanning gestures: "Are you okay? Not hot?"
I was admittedly disappointed that there was no interpreter for their talking segments, but it was little moments like this one where I appreciated the sweet attempts to break the language barrier.
We agree Ryuhei, Singapore is really hot 🥲#BF_WORLDTOUR2025
— AsiaOne (@asiaonecom) July 5, 2025
The members, who made their debut in 2022, talked about having local dishes like chilli crab and paper-wrapped chicken and visiting the Merlion Park before asking fans for recommendations on other places to go to.
Their fandom Besty matched the group's energy by tenfold, be it through singing when asked to or giving enthusiastic cheers and answers to the boys' questions. Many suggestions on where to go were heard from the audience, with the popular ones being Sentosa, Universal Studios Singapore and Night Safari.
Light sticks unite the crowd in K-pop, but I noticed J-pop fans make up for that with their handheld banners and matching merchandise. I also personally loved that official fanchants aren't a thing for the latter, as fans often drown out the artistes' live singing at K-pop concerts.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed myself - the setlist had something for everyone: From catchy, dance-heavy tracks like Scream and Grit to spirited and lighthearted tunes like Sailing and Blissful.
Who is Be:First? They might just be the new standard indeed.
Watch for our E-Junkies video interview with Be:First coming out soon!
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