Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Yu Jin Kim
IU has officially launched her highly anticipated world tour. Spanning six months and 18 countries, the tour kicked off in Seoul with the IU H.E.R. WORLD TOUR CONCERT IN SEOUL. Each night of the Seoul shows featured surprise guest appearances, adding an extra layer of excitement for fans. Let’s take a closer look at the four guest performances that delighted UAENA, IU’s official fan club, at the Seoul leg of the tour.
NewJeans – ETA
K-pop group NewJeans kicked off IU’s world tour with a surprise guest appearance on March 2nd at the Seoul concert. The group performed their hit song “ETA” and then Hyein performed a solo cover of “Shh..” from IU’s album The Winning. “Shh..” is a song that features collaborations with female artists from different generations. Hyein showcased her soulful vocals, belting out IU’s part with a bluesy twist, and then transitioning to a rock-inspired rendition of Joe Won Sun’s part. The performance ended with a powerful narration by veteran singer Patti Kim.
After the concert, EXID’s Hani shared her thoughts on the experience on social media. She recalled how “Above the Time” by IU comforted her during her trainee days. She said, “I felt like I was transported back to the practice room when I used to sing this song as a trainee. It was like a deja vu. This song really gave me a lot of comfort.”
RIIZE – Get a Guitar
K-pop band RIIZE made a special guest appearance at IU’s world tour concert in Seoul on March 3rd. The appearance was particularly noteworthy as it marked the first time that IU and RIIZE’s Anton had met since RIIZE’s debut. The two have been friends since childhood. IU has also previously collaborated with Anton’s father, musician Yoon Sang, on the song “Only I Didn’t Know.”
RIIZE kicked off their performance with their debut single “Get A Guitar.” The song is an upbeat track with a funky rhythm and catchy guitar riff. The members’ high-energy performance and the killer guitar-holding move captivated the audience. The lyrics of “Get A Guitar” tell the story of a group of individuals who come together through music and embark on a journey to achieve their dreams. The music video for the song was filmed in Los Angeles and was recently featured in a promotional campaign by the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board.
LE SSERAFIM – EASY
LE SSERAFIM, fresh off their comeback with the powerful mini-album EASY, joined IU as a special guest on March 9th for her Seoul concert. “EASY” is a song that delves into the group’s approach to navigating anxieties and worries. Their performance showcased a captivating transformation, featuring R&B-tinged vocals, addictive melodies, and their first foray into the trap genre.
IU’s unique 360-degree stage setup presented a challenge, but LE SSERAFIM impressed with a performance that catered to everyone in the audience. Yun Jin delivered a heartfelt acappella rendition of IU’s song “Knees,” while Sakura surprised IU with a handmade hat as a gift. After the guest segment, IU returned to the stage expressing her thanks to LE SSERAFIM. Their thoughtful and lengthy comment allowed her ample time to change for the next performance.
Park Bo Gum – Let’s Go See The Stars
The final guest for IU’s Seoul concert was actor Park Bo Gum. The two will be starring together in upcoming drama When Life Gives You Tangerines. Having filmed together throughout last year, they developed a special bond.
Park Bo Gum sang Jukjae’s “Let’s Go See the Stars,” a romantic song about thinking of someone special when looking at the night sky. He explained his choice, saying, “I looked at the concert’s setlist. The stage after mine was a romantic and lovely one, so I wanted to keep the flow going. I hope everyone is having a happy moment right now, and that everyone has a shining day.”
Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
