Fusing traditional Korean music with their brand of K-Pop, MONSTA X presented a uniquely appealing stage at the MBC Gayo Daejejeon, December 31, 2020.
MONSTA X follows their fellow Starship Entertainment boy group CRAVITY in an electrifying sequence of performances together with the traditional Korean drum music courtesy of the TAGO ensemble.
As soon as CRAVITY finished their performance, the traditional sound from percussions heralded the entrance of the six-member boy group. As the accompaniment transitions into a fusion of hip-hop and electronic sounds, the members - Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Jooheon, and I.M - began with an intro dance number. Even their respective costumes work following the theme of their performance stage: a modernized take on the men's hanbok, in black and gold prints flowing past their waists like a cape, with fitted pants of mostly gold designs.
MONSTA X then went to perform one of their 2020 hits, "Fantasia," which served as the lead single for their eighth EP "Fantasia X." This single also marked Jooheon's return to the group's promotions after taking a break at the start of the year to focus on his mental health.
Starship Entertainment's performance masters displayed their incredible synchronization through every verse of "Fantasia," with the entertainment level only accented further by TAGO's heavy drums, the digital background, and dance floor, as well as their back-up dancers dressed in contrasting white costumes.
About the MBC Gayo Daejejeon
The Korean fusion stage brought to life by MONSTA X, CRAVITY, and TAGO was among the highlights of this year's MBC Gayo Daejejeon. MBC's annual end-of-the-year celebration remains among the most anticipated televised events in South Korea. It was first held back in 1966, then known as the MBC Ten Singers Match, and was broadcast live on MBC Radio. The first of its kind to be televised was the 1970 iteration of the ten-singer competition.
While it traces its origins as a music competition, it has stopped being an awards show in 2005, renaming the program as the MBC Gayo Daejejeon and adopting the format seen by audiences around the world until now. Held last December 31, the 2020 MBC Gayo Daejejeon was hosted by Girls Generation's YoonA, news announcer and TV host Jang Sung-Kyu, and "Start-Up" star Kim Seon Ho.
Aside from MONSTA X and CRAVITY, other big acts graced the 2020 music festival - including Rain, Park Jin-Young, Mamamoo, NCT, GOT7, ITZY, TWICE, STRAY KIDS, NORAZO, Loona, aespa, Iz*One, and more.
Watch the electrifying TAGO - CRAVITY - MONSTA X stage on the 2020 MBC Gayo Daejejeon below:
