[REVIEW] 'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

Sun, October 1, 2023 | 01:48

K-pop

REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists

Posted : 2023-06-05 17:05

Updated : 2023-06-06 14:34

K-pop star Taeyeon performs during the "The ODD Of LOVE" concert at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

Taeyeon electrifies 18,000 fans at her two Seoul concerts

By Dong Sun-hwa

The K-pop scene has seen a plethora of gifted female vocalists to date. It may not be possible to decide who the best one is, but Taeyeon, the leader of Girls' Generation, must be one of the main contenders.

The SM Entertainment star was only 18 when she burst onto the music scene as part of her group in 2007. However, she ascended to stardom immediately after her debut thanks to her vocal bravura. Her velvety and unique voice, wide vocal range, fluent expression of emotions combined with exceptional live performing skills have made her a game changer in the cutthroat K-pop industry.

Unlike other stars who often juggle singing with acting, Taeyeon has been focusing only on singing and performing over the past 16 years. And she demonstrated the power of persistence during her "The ODD Of LOVE" concert at the KSPO Dome in Olympic Park in southern Seoul, June 3-4. The 34-year-old is the first female singer to perform at the KSPO Dome ― one of the largest concert venues in Korea ― both as a group and a soloist. Her two solo concerts attracted 18,000 audience members.

"It has been a long time since I have performed, so I have no idea what to say first," Taeyeon said with a smile during her concert, Sunday. It has taken more than three years for her to perform a concert since her last show in 2020, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Thank you for waiting for me," she added.

Singer Taeyeon drew 18,000 fans during her two solo concerts in southern Seoul, June 3-4. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

Clad in a long black dress, Taeyeon opened her show with "INVU," the lead single and title track off her third full-length album that came out last year. Amid thunderous screams from her fans, she took the stage with other popular tunes from the album such as, "Can't Control Myself," "Some Nights" and "Set Myself On Fire."

Not only did she perform songs from her latest release, but also some fan favorites like "Stress" (2015), a track reputed for its powerful melody and high notes. On the spot, the audience reacted wildly when she followed the lyrics of the song ― "You got me smoking cigarettes" ― by acting like she was throwing a cigarette. After performing this challenging song with no flaws, Taeyeon had to eat a banana to recharge herself.

"My throat hurts," Taeyeon said. "But I really wanted to belt out 'Stress' today because I knew a lot of you like it."

Another gem of the concert was her performance of "Fine," the lead track off her first studio album released in 2017. She crooned the sentimental ballad without any music for a few seconds at the end, creating absolute silence among audience members. Nobody wanted to miss this rare opportunity to listen to Taeyeon's pure voice ― the biggest weapon she has.

Singer Taeyeon performs during the "The ODD Of Love" concert at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

Taeyeon also commanded the stage with upbeat and uplifting tracks such as "Weekend," which came together with bubbly dance moves, adding a festive mood to her party.

"When I prepared for this concert, I thought it might be quite difficult to perform all these songs on the set list," she said. "But I think I am receiving so much energy from all of you here. Thank you."

She also showed appreciation to the four Girls' Generation members ― Yoona, Sooyoung, Hyoyeon and Tiffany ― for attending her show.

"I do not have many friends, but thankfully, a few of them came here today," she said. "I am glad to see our members enjoying my concert."

Wrapping up the concert, Taeyeon hinted about her future plans.

"Today is the last concert in Seoul," she said. "But I will continue my tour in Asia. I will first stage concerts in the places that have been revealed, but I will also be performing in more places, so please look forward to it."

sunhwadong@koreatimes.co.kr