“Osaka, I’m dwelling!” Kazuha proclaims between performances on the primary day of LE SSERAFIM’s ‘Flame Rises’ cease within the Japanese metropolis on Wednesday (September 6). The gang, lit by a sea of synchronised, colored lightsticks, erupts in ear-splitting roars in response to the idol’s exclamation of her homecoming. “It’s a really particular feeling to have the ability to carry out right here in Osaka, the place I used to be born and raised.” That particular feeling was an undoubtedly infectious one, palpable all through the historic Osaka-Jo Corridor, alive with an uncontainable pleasure that may solely be described as electrical.
Theatrics are what really drive the ‘Flame Rises’ tour. Between their dramatic entrances to the stage – by falling backwards from a raised platform – to holding up apples impaled by arrows, each set, tune and efficiency are the clear results of lengthy, gruelling follow. They open the present with the tune that began all of it – their debut observe ‘Fearless’. Regardless of being solely 5 ladies on an expansive stage in opposition to an unlimited LED display screen, their presence fills the in any other case empty house with ease.
Because the dimmed lights morph right into a heat purple, the gang shrieks as they see LE SSERAFIM lay in a circle on the prolonged stage. The viewers know precisely what’s coming: twinkling and luscious fan-favourite B-side, ‘Impurities’. Impeccable choreography that engages with audiences from all angles apart, the tune’s bridge was the true spotlight. As Eunchae, Kazuha and Sakura’s steady-pitched voices croon the refrain traces, Yunjin’s ethereal falsettos gracefully intertwines, effortlessly lending the already enchanting observe much more texture and charm.
Although LE SSERAFIM deliver their A-game all through the live performance, the pacing can really feel a bit quite abrupt at occasions, particularly after they’re transitioning between high-octane songs to the laid-back ones. However the quintet are fast to deliver issues again to hurry with crowd pleasers ‘Antifragile’ and ‘Unforgiven’, in addition to their viral hit ‘Eve, Psyche and The Bluebeard’s Spouse’. The vitality they consistently imbue into their intricate, bodily demanding choreographies and dwell vocals is awe-inducing.
A significant spotlight of the present is definitely the brand-new, presumably tour-exclusive remix of ‘The Hydra’. Infused with contemporary EDM instrumentation and dance-pop components, this remix injects the present with a contemporary burst of vitality, full with an intense dance break. It successfully indicators the numerous progress they’ve skilled as musicians and performers within the quick span since ‘The Hydra’’s launch, marking their speedy development and journey in direction of stardom.
However ‘Flame Rises’ in Osaka was not made this unbelievable by LE SSERAFIM alone. The followers who flocked to see the group dwell this Wednesday night time got here with a way of heartwarming camaraderie – between the false finish of the present and the beginning of the encore, the hilarious indicators written by followers with inside jokes, and even thrilling bulletins like birthdays and engagements. It’s what makes Okay-pop concert events like LE SSERAFIM’s so emotionally fulfilling; each single particular person in that corridor was there not simply to look at their favorite group carry out dwell, but in addition to return along with the like-mindedness of celebrating the women and one another.
“Due to the brand new encounters with many individuals and the help they provide us, I believe that the 5 of us are capable of witness such an exquisite surroundings that I might have by no means been capable of see alone,” Kazuha says in a shaky voice to the gang, amid emotional sobs because the realisation of the milestone units in. (“Unbelievable,” one member mutters below her breath as all of them attain out to consolation her, as a result of Kazuha by no means cries.) “I can’t thanks sufficient, however I hope that sooner or later, I can repay you by exhibiting you all how [brightly we’ll be able to] shine on a stage like this.”
It’s clear to the viewers that even LE SSERAFIM themselves don’t need the night time to finish – as they closed with the Latin-pop-inspired ‘Hearth In The Stomach’, the quintet selected to elongate the tune with a number of extra repetitions of the road “Olé, olé, olé, olé”. Throughout this encore, they took their time to walk alongside each the first and prolonged phases, basking within the ethereal sight of the Osaka crowd, bathed within the comfortable, multi-coloured glow of their lightsticks as Fearnots chanted together with them.
“At the hours of darkness of the highway / Engraving the historical past / That is your and my odyssey,” LE SSERAFIM belt on tune, squeezing out the remaining morsels of vitality they’ve left for the night time. It’s an apt observe to finish the present on: ‘Flame Rises’ is certainly simply the beginning of LE SSERAFIM’s odyssey as they attain new heights as Okay-pop greats, and as they persist in shaping their legacy, we’re gifted the privilege of witnessing them ascend to even higher heights.
LE SSERAFIM performed:
‘Fearless (Japanese Model)’
‘The Nice Mermaid’
‘Blue Flame (Japanese Model)’
‘Impurities’
‘No Celestial’
‘Decisions’
‘Good Elements (when the standard is dangerous however I’m)’
‘Bitter Grapes’
‘Flash Ahead’
‘Antifragile (Japanese Model)’
‘The Hydra’
‘Eve, Psyche and The Bluebeard’s Spouse’
‘Unforgiven (Japanese Model)’
‘FEARNOT (Between you, me and the lamppost)’
‘No-Return (Into The Unknown)’
‘Hearth In The Stomach’