BLACKPINK was in our area, and we still haven’t fully recovered. The K-pop quartet performed their first virtual live concert, The Show, via YouTube this past weekend, and the serotonin rush was real.
The group’s discography might be relatively small for an almost five-year-old act, but that only means each song gets space to enjoy the vitality of the live performance. Watching BLACKPINK's The Show felt like a real journey into the quartet's sound and aesthetic, and the ways they’ve transformed over the years. The four members — Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa — each got her own chance to shine, while also proving the magic of their unity in live versions of songs old and new. And, yes, the costuming was excellent.
Below, check out our 11 favorite moments from BLACKPINK’s The Show.
The “Sour Candy” Stage She Deserved
Lady Gaga and BLACKPINK’s 2020 collaboration “Sour Candy” finally got its major stage moment, fitting for the recognition this song absolutely warrants. “Sour Candy” somehow is everything you want from a collaboration between two such dynamic artists; it encompasses the best of both aesthetics and musical inclinations — Gaga’s deadpan wit perfectly playing of BLACKPINK’s duality, “So sweet 'til I get a little angry.” The Show performance of the song featured plenty of pink to go around, with choreo as lively and energetic as this candy-colored song deserves. — P. Claire Dodson
The Jewel of BLACKPINK’s Collection, “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du”
BLACKPINK managed to turn one of their biggest hits into an even bigger moment during The Show. Their performance of “Ddu-du Ddu-du” was one of the greatest spectacles of the concert, an electrifying performance with some new choreography, and excellent use of a water pit. Joined by an ensemble of backup dancers, BLACKPINK used their environment to their advantage, playing in the water as part of the choreo. Their stage presence was phenomenal — it was exactly how the song that put BLACKPINK on the map should be treated. — Maddy Myer
The Fashion
From the very first moment, we knew this wasn’t going to be a regular concert, it was going to be a Fashionable concert. (Yes, with a capital ‘F’ – this is BLACKPINK we’re talking about, after all.) Throughout The Show, the quartet’s sartorial choices were in a spotlight of their own, adding to their theatrical presence. BLACKPINK opened with “Kill This Love” clad in various archive pieces by NYC-based luxury brand The Blonds – Jisoo in an embellished white corset and shorts combo, Jennie in a flower-cascading red corset dress, Rosé in an armor-like silver top-piece to match her platinum hair, and Lisa in a slime green feathered dress from the brand’s collaboration with Disney's Villains. From Jennie’s sculptural rose top by Mihano Momosa and Lisa’s glitter Dr. Martens to Rosé’s Moncler puffer coat and Ambush bra combo and Jisoo’s flowy purple Haleia dress, the quartet offered a real mix of high and low. (Even the behind-the-scenes VCRs featured some fashion eye candy by favored brands and partners like Chanel and Dior.) They, of course, accompanied the clothes with impeccable beauty, making sure no look was like the one before. — Sara Delgado
The Tove Lo Cover by Jisoo
For the first solo of the night, Jisoo offered a rendition of Tove Lo’s “Habits (Stay High).” The eldest of the group covered the 2014 unrequited love anthem transitioning from the original English lyrics into reworked verses in Korean with ease. The pared-down stage, which included a smooth B&W to color fade, turned the alt-pop bop into a ballad and left us wondering what surprises Jisoo might have in store for future solo endeavors. To kick the artistry up a notch, Jisoo was accompanied on stage by two classical dancers. — Sara Delgado
The Stellar Solo Debut of Rosé
One highly-anticipated part of The Show was Rosé’s long-overdue solo debut. The virtual concert gave us a first look at her new single “Gone,” sharing the beginning of the music video combined with a live performance from the vocalist. “Gone” has an indie-rock sensibility, with beachy electric guitars and English lyrics that paint the aftermath of heartbreak. “Am I the story that’s sad and true?” Rosé asks. “I’ll put a curse on her and you.” — P. Claire Dodson
The Jennie Solo, Reimagined
“I want the studio version of jennie's solo 2.0,” one fan on Twitter asserted after seeing Jennie’s fresh take on her 2018 solo debut, fittingly titled “SOLO.” Hopefully, fans will speak that into existence — the original song is a confident anthem with plenty of clever references to BLACKPINK’s discography and their career trajectory so far, and the updated version only levels up Jennie’s self-assuredness. "Been gone and came back, coming for the payback,” she raps on a new verse. “Asked them how you like it and it’s looking like they hate that.” Honestly, we’ll take as many new Jennie clapbacks as she’s willing to offer. — P. Claire Dodson
The “Say So” Cover by Lisa
In previous solo stages, Lisa showcased exciting dance covers, but her performance from The Show was next level. She was coined “Liyoncé” by her members after she slayed her solo stage cover of Doja Cat’s popular hit “Say So.” Lisa delivered in all aspects — vocals, rap and choreography — all while looking flawless wearing a mini-dress and sporting long curly hair. She added her own flair with a self-written rap, self-choreographed dance break, and stage concept that left everyone wanting more, and with her solo coming this year, we can’t wait. — Maddy Myer
The Handmade Signs From Blinks
Virtual concerts have become the new normal, but it's often hard for these livestreamed events to simulate the energy of a live show. It's like trying to capture lightning in a bottle; it's a spark you can only feel when you're pulled into its current alongside thousands of other electrically charged particles. Or, as it turns out, when you're reminded of what makes the experience so beautiful to behold — like being caught in the middle of a colorful storm of handmade signs and posters. When BLACKPINK took the stage for their final performance of the night, a laid-back version of "Forever Young," they were surrounded by actual messages and artwork from their global Blinks. Written on neon-colored poster boards and hundreds of Post-it notes, made with so much care and love, these signs adorned the stage — and for a few minutes, it seemed like the old normal again. — Crystal Bell
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The Power Ballad Version of "Don’t Know What to Do"
"Don't Know What to Do" has long been considered one of BLACKPINK's best songs. It's the closest the Pinks get to ballad territory while still holding onto their signature bombast. During The Show, however, they smartly stripped away the song's original EDM instrumental and instead let their voices — and the live band — do all of the work for a soaring city-pop rendition of the beloved track. One word: falsettos! And if their vocals weren't heavenly enough, the stage looked as if it was suspended amongst the stars with swirls of twilight skies and twinkling lights, making "Don't Know What to Do" a truly out-of-this-world performance. — Crystal Bell
The Ending Number Journey from “Whistle” to “Boombayah”
For their pre-encore number, the quartet put on a show-stopping performance of some of their earliest songs: "Whistle," "As If It's Your Last" (or, “마지막처럼”), and "Boombayah." Donning outfits worthy of Bratz dolls, the four members took the stage with choreo galore. The whole composition flowed smoothly, but special shoutouts go to Jennie’s intro rap verse on “Boombayah” and the live band, who got a much-deserved mini solo during "As If It's Your Last.” Proving how important teamwork is for the BP team, and in true live concert style, they also made sure to introduce their drummer, bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, audio engineer, and dance crew separately before wrapping up the show. (Cue Rosé’s “Fighting!” on loop.) — Sara Delgado
The Compliment Fest
Music might be the highlight of the show, but compliments come in at a close second. During their traditional ending ments, the girls took every chance they had to compliment each other and make us all swoon from the comfort of our homes. “Can we or can we not talk about Rosé’s solo?” Jennie coyly started, opening Pandora’s box of compliments. From their vocals to their dance routine, they all praise part of the other member's routines individually and took turns to share words of encouragement for each other. Maybe it is because it still feels rare to see women praising other women so openly and earnestly, but it was difficult to not shed a little happy tear watching the members profess their mutual love and admiration. That’s to say, we could watch BLACKPINK shower each other with compliments for hours on end and never get tired of it. — Sara Delgado
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