Kim Hanbin, more widely known as the former leader of popular K-pop boyband iKon and by his stage name B.I, has finally made an appearance in Singapore. On 7th August 2022, B.I held his long-awaited fan meeting at the Sands Theatre Singapore, much to the delight of IDs (B.I's official fanclub name) in the region.
Boasting a huge following of 4.3 million on Instagram, it is no surprise that there was a full house of fans arriving at the venue for this singer-songwriter's solo fanmeet. Clad unanimously in white tops and neon yellow lightsticks known as "BinBongs", this sight was surely a spectacle to many shoppers at Marina Bay Sands.
B.I kickstarted his fanmeet with his popular hits "Waterfall" and "Illa", hyping the crowd up with powerful dance moves and striking on-screen visuals.
"Can you believe he's actually here? Feels like a dream right?" The host, Chris, addressed the screaming crowd, a remark that sent the crowd squealing in agreement. The question and answer segment commenced soon after, as B.I responded in a blend of fluent English and Korean, showing off his linguistic proficiency.
The male artist also shared his songwriting process, stating that his newest single "BTBT" was challenging to produce, though his hard work has clearly paid off, evident from the way the song has topped both domestic and international charts upon its release.
Segueing into the games segment, we see mystery boxes being rolled onto the stage as B.I is made to participate in the "What's in the Box" activity. IDs mischeviously declared that the items in the box were alive in order to scare their idol, and B.I played along, revealing his cheeky demeanour as he yelped and flinched theatrically upon contact with various mystery items. Failing to guess the name of a local fruit -- Rambutan, B.I is made to perform "aegyo" as a punishment.
Fans thoroughly enjoyed the VCR that was played soon after, cooing at the adorable sight of their idol playing with the unusual hosts, which turned out to be two playful dogs called Yeontan and Milky.
The energy in the venue soared to an all-time high when B.I returned on stage, performing his songs "Flame" and "Lover" consecutively.
The highlight of the event was when B.I showed off his sensitive and romantic side during the date simulation activity. With an amusement park date in mind, the idol opted for a cute boyfriend look, putting on a varsity jacket, and shared his knowledge and tips on how to make your date's heart race. B.I's confession, "I love you. Will you be my girlfriend?" was met with deafening cheers, and fans enthusiastically reached out as B.I passed out various gifts such as sneakers to the audience below when the game was over.
After a quick wardrobe change, B.I performed "BTBT", "Cosmos" and finally "Rebirth" and "Remember Me" during his encore. IDs got onto their feet and jumped in synchronisation with his addictive beats. Fanchants resounded throughout the theatre space, a testament to this 7-year-idol's popularity.
The event eventually came to a close after fans presented B.I with a surprise fan-made video, featuring handwritten messages and their beautiful singing voices. This touching and unforgettable moment was immortalised in the form of photographs as fans posed with their yellow banner, which said "Even in my next life, I will be your fan".
In his closing statement, B.I sincerely thanked his fans, mentioning, "I hope to be remembered for my music, and also remembered for being a good person."
B.I is currently working hard on his 2022 global album project in collaboration with American Agency Wasserman, and he hopes that fans will give their full support when his global EP is released in the near future.
Special thanks to Three Angles Production for inviting KpopStarz to cover 'B.I 1st Fanmeeting [B.I OFFLINE] in Singapore'. Writer: Jean Leong | Photo Credits: Ong Melin
