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Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
For spectacular Blackpink concert, Rogers Stadium finally gets it right — with one glitch
3.5 stars (out of 4) Rogers Stadium, Toronto, Tues., July 22, 2025 The biggest girl group on the planet just touched down in Toronto and it looks like Rogers Stadium has finally gotten something right — it was ready. Blackpink, one of the K-pop groups that has inspired your kid to learn Korean, brought out its legion of fans to the city's newest and largest concert venue, located in Downsview Park . After many highly publicized operational gaffes since opening a month ago, last night was different. Staff was prepped, crowds were moving, and even the performers themselves remarked from the stage that it was a beautiful night for their very first time playing Toronto. If you want to know what it's like to do perfect crowd control with an audience of almost 50,000, you start by making them Blackpink fans or Blinks, as they are called. By the time the show started, many people had been there for hours. Any self-respecting K-pop fan understands that showing up early is being on time. This gives ample time to check out the merch and fan fashion. Last night, Blinks wore black, pink, frills, bows and immaculate makeup. You would not mistake this crowd for any other fandom. The Ferris wheel on the grounds added to a chill, festival vibe, and I'm happy to report I didn't wait in any lines at all (I skipped the exorbitant official merchandise, which had the longest queues). Staff, from the TTC to the venue, worked to usher people along quickly. Toronto has been talking about the logistical issues of this venue while Blackpink fans have talked at length about Blackpink's world tour, which launched in Seoul earlier this month. The tour is called Deadline, although it hasn't been explained why. Will this be their last? That's hard to imagine as they are at the absolute top of their game, weaving hit after hit into a tight set list built into five acts plus an encore. They do it looking like they don't even break a sweat. Jennie, Lisa, Rosé and Jisoo began the show with three megahits in a row, starting with the fanfare of 'Kill This Love,' the slow chants of 'Pink Venom' and their trademark call-out at the top of 'How You Like That' ('Blackpink in your area!'). Fireworks began popping off from the very start of the show, with plumes of confetti exploding no less than three times. It's really lovely to watch a crowd slowly look up into the sky with delight, watching pretty bits of paper drift across a stadium. The name of the game here is spectacle, with 16 dancers, three massive screen displays and plenty of pyro. My meter for gauging the crowd's response was how much my bleacher seats shook. Yes, Blinks can shake a stadium. Favourites included 'Like Jennie,' 'Fxck Up the World,' 'Ddu-du Ddu-du,' and 'APT,' last year's inescapable radio hit based on a Korean drinking game. The only technical glitch came at a moment that should have been the beat drop of the entire concert. When screens lit up with the word 'Jump,' the title of their new song that producer Diplo calls their 'Blackpink rave anthem,' everyone leapt to their feet, light sticks in hand, expecting to be released into a dancing frenzy. Instead, there was a long, awkward pause. The crowd, fairly quiet and respectful, began to chant, 'Blackpink!' Finally, the screens, clearly malfunctioning, parted as they were meant to do, and the group streamed out with their dancers. Judging by the choreographed party scene on stage, most attendees couldn't tell anything was amiss. If there's anyone who deserves a raise from last night, it would be a nameless, enterprising K-pop fan in the marketing department at Tim Hortons. Blinks know that Rosé begins her solo miniset behind the scenes, as a camera follows her route to the stage. At last night's show, her bandmates handed her a box of Timbits and a coffee and Rosé did her whole shtick indulging in this most Canadian coffee-and-donut combo. Nothing is casual or improvised at this level. And let's not kid ourselves that this entire spectacle isn't about sales. I saw official Blackpink in Toronto jerseys going for $190. A commercial embedded into the show? At least it was clear, obvious and cute. In between the high-octane hits, and each member showing off her solo persona (Rosé the singer-songwriter, Lisa the playful vixen , Jennie the entertainer, Jisoo the sweet flower), the group stopped to chat with the crowd. This is a key element of K-pop shows and the more unplanned and natural-seeming the conversation is, the better. For fandoms that are so intensely digital, and in a world where fans are truly at the centre, K-pop acts know to take time to chat, like friends would, from the stage. What did Blackpink want to say to Toronto? 'I heard that this is a very newly built stadium and that a bunch of people struggled to get here on time because it's such a far walk over.' Please don't pull a Coldplay and call this stadium 'weird,' I thought. 'We want to thank everybody for putting in the cardio,' Rosé finished. They are infinitely charming, that's for sure. They also pleaded with the audience multiple times to put down their phones and instead raise their hands high. It's a nice try, but this just won't happen. But now we know, Blackpink members are tired of the phones. They want more in-the-moment connection. Over the past few years, Blackpink members have focused on solo music, sponsorships (their brand endorsements read like a list of French fashion houses and the directory at your local mall) and acting ( Lisa in 'White Lotus,' Jennie in 'The Idol' with The Weeknd). Given that the crowd responded to them as warmly for their solo works as they did for their Blackpink oeuvre, one has to wonder what's next? There is time to figure it out online, Blinks. The Deadline world tour takes them to the U.S., Europe and Asia until January of next year. The world will be watching through clips online, but nothing beats being there in person, in the moment, outdoors on a perfect summer night.
India Today
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Is KATSEYE the next BLACKPINK or are we asking the wrong question?
Every time a new girl group rises to fame, the same question pops up: "Are they the next BLACKPINK?" But when it comes to KATSEYE, that question feels incomplete. Because what they're doing isn't just following a path, they might just be forging a brand-new debuted in 2016 with a bang. Tracks like 'Kill This Love,' and 'How You Like That,' didn't just top K-pop charts, they reshaped what it meant to go global as a Korean act. Their sleek blend of hip-hop, EDM, and fashion-forward visuals gave them crossover appeal. And they earned it, slowly and methodically, over the years. advertisementKATSEYE, by contrast, feels like a rocket launch. Their debut single, 'Gnarly,' cracked the Billboard Hot 100 at 92. The follow-up, 'Gabriela,' climbed even higher globally at 24 on Billboard Global (excluding US), and Top 10 in several Southeast Asian countries. Their EP 'Beautiful Chaos' charted in the US, South Korea, and Europe. Impressive? Undeniably. But it's also important to remember that KATSEYE didn't come up through traditional K-pop systems. They're a joint HYBE and Geffen Records project, essentially a global experiment, armed with Netflix-level marketing and Western music infrastructure from day one. That's not a flaw. But it is a different is tightly-knit, consisting of four members: Jisoo, Jennie, Rose, and Lisa. All Korean (though Lisa is Thai), and they've stayed close to their K-pop roots while going global. That consistency helped build their mystique. They were aspirational, high-fashioned, and They're intentionally diverse, six women from six different cultural backgrounds. There's Yoonchae (South Korea), Sophia (Philippines), Lara (India – also openly queer, which is rare and powerful in this space), Manon (Switzerland + Ghana), Daniela (Mexico/US), and Megan (USA).That kind of representation matters. It makes their music and visuals feel more reflective of Gen Z's global mindset. You see it in their lyrics, their styling, even in how they interact with fans. It's less about the glossy idol fantasy and more about relatability and here's the interesting part: That multicultural approach is exciting, yes, but it also risks diluting a singular identity. BLACKPINK has an aesthetic and sonic signature. KATSEYE is still experimenting. Is that a strength or a challenge? Time will visual universe is polished and carefully curated. They blend hard-hitting beats with soft elegance, what some call "femme fatale pop." Their stage presence is magnetic, and their production levels are insane. It's They're more experimental. 'Gnarly' is glitchy hyper-pop, while 'Gabriela' dives into dramatic Latin pop with a full-blown telenovela-style video featuring Jessica Alba. Their performances are energetic, but sometimes chaotic. They're clearly searching for a core sound. But honestly? That makes sense. BLACKPINK took years to settle into theirs too. advertisementBLACKPINK became global through the K-pop system. YG Entertainment focused on making them icons, not just idols. Their Western expansion happened slowly but effectively, backed by Coachella slots, collaborations with Dua Lipa and Selena Gomez, and high-fashion brand deals like Dior and was built for globalisation from day one. Their Netflix documentary followed the group's creation like a Western pop biopic. HYBE clearly understood one thing: the future of pop might not speak just Korean, it speaks English, Spanish, Tagalog, Hindi, and beyond. That's revolutionary. But it also comes with risk. The K-pop model is successful because of its structure. KATSEYE is trying something much more flexible, more Western in are they the next BLACKPINK? The easy answer is no. And honestly? They don't need to be. It's not about being 'better' or 'bigger.' It's about approach. BLACKPINK is a legacy. KATSEYE is a possibility. One built a throne, the other is building a spaceship. So instead of comparing, maybe we should just watch closely.- Ends
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
BLACKPINK's Jisoo Lights Up the Stage - "Happy to Be with BLINKs"
The Queens Are Back After Two Long Years After what felt like an eternity for fans, BLACKPINK finally returned as a complete group, and honestly, it was worth every second of the wait. The girl group that's basically the blueprint for global K-pop success kicked off their 'DEADLINE' world tour at Goyang Main Stadium on July 5th and 6th - and let's just say, they didn't come to play around. This wasn't just any regular comeback concert. We're talking about BLACKPINK becoming the first K-pop girl group ever to perform at Goyang Stadium, which is basically like being the first to climb Mount Everest in the K-pop world. The numbers don't lie either - 78,000 fans showed up over two nights, setting a new record for the highest attendance by any K-pop artist. That's more people than some cities have! Jisoo's Emotional Social Media Post Melts Hearts Three days after the concert, on July 8th, Jisoo took to social media to share her feelings, and honestly, it hit right in the feels. She posted, "Thank you to all BLINKs and everyone who joined us for the hot start of summer! DEADLINE World Tour Start!! We'll be back!" But what really got everyone emotional was her special message to fans across the globe. In a heartwarming addition to her post, Jisoo specifically reached out to her fans saying, "To all our precious BLINKs, especially our beautiful fans in India - please look forward to our new song 'Jump'! I hope we can meet you soon in India and share this incredible energy together!" The photos she shared were pure gold - behind-the-scenes moments, dressing room candids, and those epic stage shots that make you wish you were there. From her unique strap-detailed mini dress to those sleek stage outfits, Jisoo served looks that would make fashion weeks jealous. But what really stood out was how genuine her smile looked in every single photo - you could literally feel the happiness radiating through the screen. A Setlist That Had Everyone Losing Their Minds The concert was basically a greatest hits parade that had fans screaming from start to finish. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo They opened with 'Kill This Love' (because of course they did - what a power move), then rolled through 'Pink Venom', 'How You Like That', 'Playing with Fire', and 'Shut Down'. Each song was like a reminder of why BLACKPINK owns the global music scene. But here's where it gets really exciting - they performed their new song 'Jump' live for the very first time. Imagine being one of those 78,000 people who got to witness history in the making! The members were heavily involved in everything from stage production to costumes and choreography, which explains why the whole show felt so authentic and polished. Jisoo's excitement about the new track was infectious, and you could tell she was genuinely thrilled to share it with the world. The World Tour That's About to Take Over Everything This Seoul concert was just the beginning of something massive. BLACKPINK is now embarking on a world tour that spans 16 cities across 31 shows. We're talking Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, New York, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, London, Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Jakarta, Bulacan, Singapore, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. It's the kind of tour that reminds you why BLACKPINK isn't just a K-pop group - they're a global phenomenon. For fans everywhere, this tour represents everything we love about K-pop's international reach. Just like how Bollywood has gone global, K-pop groups like BLACKPINK are showing that great music transcends borders and languages. The anticipation for potential future dates is already building, with fans worldwide hoping to experience the magic that Seoul witnessed.
Korea Herald
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Blackpink returns sharper, stronger and more united than ever
Record-setting Goyang concerts mark group's first full reunion in nearly two years and launch of long-awaited world tour GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province — Blackpink made a triumphant return to the stage this weekend, performing for 78,000 fans over two days at Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi Province. The highly anticipated "Deadline" concert not only marked the quartet's official reunion after nearly two years apart, it also underscored why they remain the most successful girl group in K-pop history. The emotional impact of seeing all four members — Jennie, Jisoo, Rose and Lisa — back onstage together wasn't lost on the 39,000 fans who filled the stadium, Sunday. Since signing only group activity contracts with YG Entertainment in December 2023, skepticism had swirled about whether the group would ever perform together again. Their full-group return, now confirmed, felt momentous. For over two hours, the group powered through 27 songs with a set list packed with hits. Interspersed were solo performances that highlighted each member's growth during their individual careers, delivering moments of renewed synergy that electrified the crowd. As the thunderous beat of 'Kill This Love' blasted through the speakers, the stadium lit up in pink. Blackpink launched into 'Pink Venom' with commanding charisma, then seamlessly transitioned through a medley of hits including 'How You Like That,' 'Playing With Fire' and 'Shut Down,' sending the energy in the stadium soaring. Each member brought a distinct edge to her solo sets. Jisoo exuded elegance with 'Earthquake' and 'Your Love.' Lisa, with 'New Woman' and 'Rockstar,' showcased fierce charisma and unleashed an explosive energy. Jennie, delivering 'Mantra' and 'Like Jennie,' had the entire stadium on its feet, leading an arena-wide singalong. And Rose delivered a show-stopping run of '3AM,' 'Toxic Till the End' and her global hit 'APT.,' bringing the emotional peak of the night. 'We were excited — and a bit nervous — to showcase a mix of group and solo performances that really highlight our different colors,' said Jisoo during the show. But the highlight was the debut of their brand-new group song, 'Jump' — their first full-group release since 2022's 'Born Pink.' The track opened with sleek beats and individual verses, before shifting into a bright, summery rhythm that had the crowd erupting. The sound felt like a bold evolution from Blackpink's past hits, while still unmistakably theirs. 'This song is super addictive, isn't it?' Jisoo asked the crowd. 'We wanted you to be the first to hear it. Please give it lots of love when it is released.' 'We're so grateful to kick off this tour in Goyang. It's bittersweet to leave, but we can't wait to meet Blinks all over the world again soon,' Jennie added. The group is the first K-pop girl group to play the venue, and brought its largest attendance on record on its first time out. Among the K-pop singers spotted in the crowd were BTS's J-Hope, Seventeen's Jeonghan, Mingyu and The8, Twice's Jihyo and members of Le Sserafim. Despite the spectacle, the event wasn't without controversy. Fans in section N3 at the concert venue expressed frustration after paying full price for seats that turned out to have obstructed views due to a large stage screen that wasn't disclosed during ticketing. Meanwhile, Blackpink is headed to stadiums across 16 cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Toronto, Paris and London, for 31 shows in total.
Express Tribune
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Blackpink face mixed reaction to setlist and performance at Deadline tour kickoff in Seoul
Blackpink launched their 2025 Deadline world tour on July 5 with a sold-out concert at Goyang Stadium in Seoul. The event marked the group's return after a long hiatus focused on solo projects, but fan response to the opening show was sharply divided. The setlist featured Blackpink's signature hits like 'Kill This Love,' 'Pink Venom,' and 'DDU-DU DDU-DU,' alongside recent solo tracks from Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa, and a live debut of the group's soon-to-released single "Jump". While many praised the group's coordination and stage presence, others were disappointed by the lack of new group material and minimal changes from previous tours. Some fans on social media expressed frustration with YG Entertainment, calling the setlist repetitive and criticising the label for what they perceived as a 'cash grab.' Others noted the energy was low and the remixes underwhelming. 'It's the same old songs since the In Your Area tour,' one fan wrote. Another said, 'Aside from the solos, this is literally just a repeat of Born Pink.' Despite the criticism, many attendees defended the performance, highlighting the updated solos and powerful visuals. 'They really proved everyone wrong and came back stronger than ever,' a supporter shared. Another added, 'This is how you do a setlist—old hits, solo moments, new bangers!' The Deadline tour continues through January 2026 with stops in Los Angeles, Paris, London, Jakarta, and more. As Blackpink returns to the global stage, fans remain eager to see how the tour evolves.
