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REVIEW BLACKPINK sets Goyang ablaze with historic stadium tour kickoff, debuts new track 'JUMP'
BLACKPINK members, from left, Lisa, Jennie, Jisoo and Rose perform during the group's kickoff of the "DEADLINE" world tour at the Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Courtesy of YG Entertainment
By Pyo Kyung-min
Nearly two years after their last group concert, BLACKPINK proved they've still got unmatched star power — together and solo.
The global superstars — Jennie, Jisoo, Rose and Lisa — reunited as a full group over the weekend for a long-awaited concert, marking their first group performance in nearly two years. In the time since, each member has soared to individual superstardom, building global fan bases that only heightened anticipation for their return.
With scorching solo momentum behind them and a new song in their pocket, the quartet set Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, ablaze with their signature blend of style, power and show-stopping visuals.
Billed as the kickoff to their new "DEADLINE" tour, the Goyang concert made history on multiple fronts. BLACKPINK became the first K-pop girl group to perform at the stadium, setting a new attendance record — some 78,000 fans for two concerts — for the venue.
Fans arrived hours early on Sunday, decked out in signature colors black and pink, filling the area outside with chants and cheers. As the summer heat began to ease and the sky darkened around 7 p.m., the screen playing past BLACKPINK music videos suddenly cut to black, only to explode moments later with a cinematic countdown. The roar that followed shook the open-roof stadium.
K-pop girl group BLACKPINK performs during the group's kickoff of the "DEADLINE" world tour at the Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Courtesy of YG Entertainment
The four members rose to the stage via lift, launching into the explosive opening numbers "Kill This Love" and "Pink Venom." The four kept the energy high with an unrelenting string of hits including "How You Like That," "Playing With Fire" and "Shut Down," songs every K-pop fan would instantly recognize.
Then came the solos, set perfectly against the sunset. Jisoo appeared under early evening skies with "earthquake" and "Your Love," her tone both whimsical and elegant. Lisa followed with the dusky, red glow of "New Woman" and "Rockstar," exuding sultry confidence.
Jennie then turned the energy up again with her powerhouse solo set, performing "Mantra," "with the IE (way up)" and "like JENNIE" to a screaming crowd that shouted every lyric back at her.
Rose closed the solo segment with a beautifully emotive "3am" and "toxic till the end," before launching into her global favorite "APT." The opening notes alone sent fans into a frenzy and the entire stadium joined in singing.
BLACKPINK premieres "JUMP," the group's new track during the group's kickoff of the "DEADLINE" world tour at the Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Courtesy of YG Entertainment
But the biggest reveal of the night came with the world premiere of BLACKPINK's new song, "JUMP," the group's first release in two years and eight months.
Long teased in the lead-up to the show, the track opened with a sparse whistle before diving into an uptempo electronic beat. Minimalist lyrics and its pounding drop give the song rave-like vibes, transforming the stadium into one of the biggest, hottest clubs in the capital area.
Laser lights swept across the crowd, fan lightsticks glowed in sync with the beat, and fans literally jumped in rhythm, flooding the venue with a sea of pink.
The performance was indeed a full sensory experience. Fireworks lit up the night sky as dynamic LED visuals and ever-shifting lighting bathed the stadium in color and motion. Fans were also treated to a drone show in the sky above — another production flex that showed the YG label still knows how to stage a showstopper.
BLACKPINK performs during the group's kickoff of the "DEADLINE" world tour, at the Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Courtesy of YG Entertainment
The night also featured moments of heartfelt connection. Between sets, the members expressed their emotions about being back on stage together.
"It's such an honor and a dream come true to reunite as a full group in a stadium like this," they told the crowd. "It's all possible because of BLINK (BLACKPINK's official fandom). Thank you so much."
The Goyang concert marked the beginning of BLACKPINK's 31-show stadium tour, which continues July 12 and 13 in Los Angeles before heading to Chicago, Toronto, New York, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, London, Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Jakarta, Bulacan, Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong.
The official release of "JUMP" is also on the horizon.
Fireworks adorn the sky above the Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday, where some 78,000 BLACKPINK fans gathered during the two-day "DEADLINE" world tour kickoff over the weekend. The tour is scheduled to visit Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, New York, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, London, Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Jakarta, Bulacan, Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Courtesy of YG Entertainment