By David Yi
Teenage fanaticism took it to a whole ‘nother level Sunday night at the Hammerstein Ballroom where K-pop heartthrobs 2PM opened for the NYC leg of the Wonder Girls’ national tour. From the eclectic mix of rowdy yet devoted tweens from all ethnicities present at the concert, the night could have easily been mistaken for a Jonas Brothers’ show—but it certainly wasn’t, and fans were vocal about their deep adoration for Korean music and how they believed it to be far superior than its American counterpart.
Jenna Velez, 19, trekked all the way from New Jersey with her sister Kayla, 15, and a friend to see 2PM live. “2PM—so hot!” Kayla chimed, sporting a handmade t-shirt with the members of 2PM’s names written in bright neon paint that she spend four days creating.
The concert was everything that you’d expect from a Korean pop group from today’s generation—affected, polished almost to perfection, predictable—yet highly entertaining and dare I say, addictive. Both 2PM and the Wonder Girls proved just how and why they are such tour de forces in the Asian market—good looks, powerful dancing, catchy songs, not to mention a brand name like JYP behind them—and shined on their respective stages like true veterans.
JYP CEO Jin Young Park—who, with the two bands, almost missed the entire NYC appearance due to a tornado warning—introduced his moneymakers before they hit the stage. “I have a question for you!” he hollered into the mic. “Is [sic] there Asian cars out in the American streets?” “YESSS!!!” the audience screamed. “Is [sic] there Asian sportsmen in American sports? Is [sic] there Asian movie stars and actors and actresses on TV?” “YESSS!!!” the audience screamed. “Is [sic] there any Asian musician or artist that succeeded in the states yet? So us [sic] and you together, we are going to make the first Asian star in the American music industry!”
A bold statement for any producer to make given the likes of Coco Lee and Utada Hikaru—huge Asian American stars who made it big in China and Japan respectively—and even Korea’s own darlings Se7en and BoA, fell short of making even a minute ripple in the treacherous American musical shores. But as JYP proved on Sunday, Koreans making it big time in the States someday soon is not too far-fetched a dream.
From the fervor created by 2PM’s dynamic performance, it was exciting to get a glimpse of the possible future—Asian men being lauded for their sex appeal, and, taking it even one step further, the act of women salivating over pelvic thrusts from yellow-skinned guys being well, normalized. The shrills and screams by the audience, though not quite as loud as a, say, Justin Bieber concert, was close–only a few decibels softer with thousands of obsessed fans, some even bawling in intensity—going bat shiz insane for the five member (Junsu broke his leg so he couldn’t make the performance, announced via his Twitter account) band.
Clad in tight black muscle shirts revealing their hard earned six packs, the group was reminiscent of a 90’s Chippendale’s show—each whetting fans’ appetites like the anticipation for a chusuk dinner. But disappointment struck when none of the members sloughed their outfits to reveal some hard skin. “A depressing lack of shirtless antics in that performance set,” a British fan told me. The group opened with their latest, “Without U,” and then segued into “Heartbeat,” “Again and Again,” and “10 out of 10.” Visibly noticeable was how easily the group members performed over Jay Bum Park’s original parts, something they once vowed never to do back in late 2009.
But the stars of the show were the Wonder Girls—clad in everything from sparkling retro mini frocks, Spanish flamenco dresses, to on-trend form-fitting jean bustier outfits—who brought all of their sugary pop goodness to their K-pop lovers. The set included songs from past and present like “So Hot,” “Nobody,” and their latest, “2 Different Tears,” while mixing in American pop favorites like the PCD’s “Stick Wit U.”
The highlight of the night was when the five members each performed solo songs. Newest member Hae Lim kicked it off with her underwhelming performance of the irritating Lil’ Mama’s “Lipgloss,” where she danced and rapped without a hint of fierceness or liveliness, frigid and boring—yet all the same endearing for the effort. Same went for the cute and meek Sohee who had trouble getting outside of her shell to perform Sasha Fierce’s “Single Ladies,” a performance so uncomfortable and out of place that it ended up creating an awkward tension in the large venue.
But on the other spectrum, the true gems of the group: Yubin, Yenny and SunYe, absolutely shined with their power-packed renditions of BEP’s “Imma Be,” Duffy’s “Mercy,” and Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi.” The three showcased their vocal prowess and a small peek of divadom.
The girls concluded the night by performing an encore presentation of their hit single, “Nobody,” where the audience got affirmation of just why and how this small sensation from little bitty South Korea could possibly be the next big thing in American culture. Though we can’t be certain if the group will make it in these great Western waters or if they’ll even come remotely close to succeeding, we can say this with confidence: these girls sure are wonder girls, indeed.
To get your own tickets and to see when the Wonder Girls are hitting a city near you, log onto Wondergirlsworld.com today!
