Hong Kong is reeling from the stunning performances delivered by Big Bang, CL, 2NE1, EXO and PSY at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA).
The ceremony promptly kicked off at 7 p.m., to a packed audience at AsiaWorld-Center.
Girls' Generation and TaeTiSeo (TTS) member, Taeyeon, flexed her vocals in the opening, on her solo hit, "I." Taeyeon delivered one of the most exceptional performances of the evening, as she filled the vast space of the Hong Kong stadium with her stirring voice.
MAMA 2015 was like a YG Family concert.
From Big Bang to 2NE1, iKON and PSY, YG dominated the killer performances of MAMA 2015.
YG's latest male group, iKON, ushered in the second hour with their powerful stage which was highlighted by "Rhythm Ta." During "Rhythm Ta," the rafters at AsiaWorld-Expo shook for the first time.
K-hip-hop continued to show its strength.
This year's ceremony continued to emphasize the transition of K-pop towards hip-hop and electronic dance. This was exemplified by performances from "Show Me the Money" and "Unpretty Rapstar" alums Lil Boi, Basick, Yezi, and Truedy.
One of the best collaborative performances was executed by GOT7 and BTS, who previously wowed audiences at KCON 2015 in Los Angeles. The cross-agency stage highlighted the performativity of BTS and the acrobatics of GOT7.
While Park Jin Young (J.Y. Park) may have delivered a sexy set that was slightly cringe-worthy, audiences were left aghast by the surprise return of 2NE1, following two solo songs from CL.
2NE1 is back and better than ever.
Cheers resounded throughout AsiaWorld-Expo as CL took the stage, but even the craftiest netizens who camped out at the airport for arrivals were surprised by the appearance of the full lineup of 2NE1.
CL took the stage to deliver a montage of her best songs, including the premiere stage of her latest track, "Hello Bitches." Choreographer Parris Goebel and her dance troupe backed CL for killer dance moves, making the song even more compelling than it already was.
2NE1 brought the house down, as stunned MAMA attendees witnessed the comeback stage of the renowned K-pop quartet.
The audience was awestruck when Dara emerged from below the stage, followed by Minzy and Bom. 2NE1 lit up AsiaWorld-Center with their classic songs "Fire" and "I Am the Best."
One of the most interesting moments of the evening occurred during their stage of "I Am the Best," as the predominantly Chinese-speaking crowd sang along with the words, verbatim.
The audience came to MAMA to support a handful of groups, but most were there for Big Bang and EXO.
VIPs in the crowd went crazy when Big Bang received the award for Best Music Video, but they were even more enthusiastic about the group's live performance.
"Bae Bae" and "Bang Bang Bang" were the biggest crowd pleasers. Their fans screamed the lyrics, throughout the performance and were entertained by their audience interaction throughout the night.
EXO's best stages of the evening were "Call Me Baby" and "Lightsaber." They even broke out the mythical "Star Wars" swords for their performance, unlike the video for the special release, proving that the song could have longevity beyond serving as a tie-in for the popular action film franchise.
PSY is truly a global sensation.
Like it or not, PSY is one of the most globally recognizable forces in Korean pop. His presence on the world stage was solidified with his closing performance of "Daddy" and his acclaimed 2012 hit, "Gangnam Style." Rather than escape the viral track, he brilliantly embraced it, for MAMA 2015.
The 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards were truly a sight to behold, with the live performances of the biggest selling artists in K-pop making the event one that every fan of the genre should consider attending.
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Adrienne Stanley is an entertainment writer, who loves Asian music. She is currently in Hong Kong, enjoying adventures centered on MAMA 2015.
