To start the new year with a bang, SM Entertainment held their live online concert titled "SMTOWN 2022: SMCU EXPRESS @KWANGYA" on January 1, which featured performances from numerous artists of SM Entertainment, as well as collaboration performances and more.
This year, SM Entertainment's live concert recorded an all-time high of 51 million streams from 161 different countries all over the world, beating their previous record of 35.83 million in 2021 and setting the highest stream record by any Korean online concert.
With SM Entertainment concluding their 2022 live concert on a successful note, check out some of the most unforgettable moments that happened at the concert that you might have missed!
1. Girls On Top Debut with 'Step Back'
During the "SMTOWN 2022: SMCU EXPRESS @KWANGYA" concert, SM Entertainment's supergroup and the female-equivalent of SuperM, Girls On Top, made their highly-anticipated debut at the event with the performance of their addicting and energetic song "Step Back."
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Girls On Top features seven artists of the label: BoA, Girls' Generation's Taeyeon and Hyoyeon, Red Velvet's Seulgi and Wendy, and aespa's Karina and Winter.
2. Super Junior's Pays Tribute to SMTOWN Artists in Dance Break
At the concert, second-generation and iconic boy group Super Junior performed some of their latest and hit songs. In particular, during their performance of their 2015 track "Devil," Super Junior decided to spice up their dance break by paying a tribute to their fellow SM Entertainment artists, such as dancing the iconic dance moves of aespa's "Next Level," S.E.S' "I'm Your Girl," and H.O.T's "We are the Future."
3. TVXQ Reunite for Performance of 'Rising Sun'
Aside from performing their solo tracks at the concert, TVXQ's Changmin and Yunho made their highly-awaited reunion by opening the event with their performance of "Rising Sun," which was originally released back in 2005 as part of their album of the same name. They also ended the concert with a performance of "Catch Me."
4. SHINee Onew and aespa Ningning Perform the Ballad 'Way'
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Most K-Pop idols don't often sing ballad tracks, so their true vocal potential is usually hidden. However, Ningning was able to show off her amazing and strong vocals by collaborating for a ballad performance with SHINee's Onew for the latter's SM Station release "Way."
5. aespa Giselle, NCT Yangyang, Taeyong, Hendry, and Jeno Perform 'Zoo'
Another unforgettable moment that happened at the live concert was Giselle's collaboration with NCT members Yangyang, Taeyong, Hendery, and Jeno for a performance of their new song together, "Zoo," as part of the "2021 Winter SMTOWN: SMCU EXPRESS" album.
Which is your favorite moment at the SMTOWN live concert?
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Written by Robyn Joan