A couple of hours before K-pop group BTS took to the stage at Wembley Stadium, member Suga told press they wanted to create a ‘festival feel’ for their show this time around.
While they are no strangers to huge venues, it was the first time Suga, RM, J-Hope, Jungkook, Jin, Jimin and V were playing Wembley, joining the ranks of U2, Beyonce and Adele.
So it was fitting that the London leg of their Love Yourself: Speak Yourself tour stood up to their surroundings.
Kicking off with a bone-shaking performance of Dionysus (one of the night’s highlights), the stage was decked out with huge Greek pillars and lunging silver panthers. The increased number of dancers made stadium-friendly bangers Not Today and IDOL look really impressive.
Jungkook, who looked over the moon to be able to dance with his members after an injury last year, took flight over the standing crowd in a tender performance of Euphoria. Anpanman also got a fun upgrade with inflatable slides rising out of the floor for the boys to muck about on.
However, other than four songs from new album Map Of The Soul: Persona, little had changed from their tour last year. But that’s unsurprising when you think their feet have barely touched the ground since.
Any other artist would be in danger of losing their audience with a samey show, but BTS aren’t any other artist. They kept their energy and passion up right through the 24-song setlist.
Weirdly, Boy With Luv, their recent single, came across the weakest as the older songs just went so hard. The rapline, boosted by their surroundings, breathed new life into Tear while MIC Drop was a solid reminder as to why they blew up.
Love Yourself: Speak Yourself at Wembley was livestreamed across the world, and the global ARMY who couldn’t be in the sold-out stadium weren’t forgotten. Clever flourishes to the camera work – like a holographic ‘I love you London’ appearing over RM’s head during his solo – made them feel included.
Ultimately the fans are what make it all worth it for BTS. They know they are loved globally, and couldn’t thank their fans enough for getting them to such a historic spot. And ARMY would do anything for them, even sit through what was basically a shinier version of their 2018 show at The O2.
It was touching to see them recognise what it meant to be standing at Wembley Stadium. An emotional RM noted in his ending speech that they had ‘broken the wall’ of the UK music scene, which they all look up to but felt they would never get into. We’re sure that phone call from Paul McCartney is on its way, boys.
BTS Love Yourself: Speak Yourself setlist
Dionysus
Not Today
Interlude: Wings
Trivia 承: Just Dance
Euphoria
Best Of Me
Serendipity
Trivia 承: Love
Boy With Love
DOPE/Silver Spoon/FIRE
IDOL
Singularity
Fake Love
Trivia 轉 : Seesaw
Epiphany
The Truth Untold
Tear
MIC Drop
Anpanman
So What
Make It Right
Mikrokosmos
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