A masterclass in how to put on a show, Stray Kids continue their ascent to becoming the world’s biggest idol group.
When I was 16 I went to see One Direction in concert. As a teenage fangirl, I obviously loved every second of it, but quite frankly they could’ve sat there and eaten a bowl of cereal and I’d still have been giddy with delight. Casting a more discerning critical eye on the experience over ten years later, their stage presence was sorely lacking and they generally relied on the hysteria of the crowd to let them casually coast through the set (Liam and Zayn even went for a wee halfway through).
In 2024, the competition has ramped up.
Eight-piece idol group Stray Kids debuted in 2017 under JYP Entertainment. Since then they’ve sold over 10 million records, have four certified number-one albums in the U.S., and racked up over 500 million views on YouTube.
BTS – who? There’s a new kid on the block.
Tonight Stray Kids make history as the first male K-pop idol group to headline BST Festival, previously graced by the likes of Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Robbie Williams.
Their music is a gritty take on K-pop’s tendency towards saccharine gloss. Led by the group’s core producer trio 3RACHA – Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han – their songs are experimental and constantly exploring new ground, like the opening number S-Class which switches from trap into 90s-style hip-hop into hard electronica.
Group leader Bang Chan is chatty and relaxed with the 65,000-strong crowd, rapper Changbin doesn’t miss a beat, I.N and Seungmin give strong vocal performances and Felix’s unusual baritone is electrifying.
Generally, it’s refreshing to see how much fun they seem to be having, with general camaraderie and interaction with the fans.
Stray Kids’ lyrics are peppered with English, which often borders on outright silly with lines like “welcome to the Stray Kids hot megaverse”, but with so much else going on, it doesn’t matter. Hardcore fans clad in merchandise and waving their light sticks sing along to the lyrics in Korean, as well as English.
More than anything, all eyes are on the performance itself. As well as singing and rapping, their synchronised choreography is breathtaking. Even when the members are dispersed, hyping up the crowd on opposite ends of the stage, they all are drawn together in seconds to execute a clean-cut routine for tracks such as Super Bowl and LALALALA.
K-pop idol groups have hailed a new era in the history of the boy band. Stray Kids’ performance tonight is a testament to their relentless work ethic and a masterclass in how to put on a show.