18th March 2023 is a day most Singapore I.Ds (official name for B.I's fans) will have etched in their hearts for a long time. From unreleased songs, special guests, to a jam-packed setlist, B.I's concert was definitely a night to remember.
Held at Singapore Expo, excited I.Ds eagerly awaited for B.I's arrival while swaying along and waving their 'BinBongs'(official name for B.I's fanclub lightstick) to his songs. The crowd erupted into cheers as the familiar intro of 'BTBT' blasted over the speakers. 'Be I', 'One and Only' and 'Waterfall' followed, starting the night off with a bang.
Known for his unwavering love for his fans and fan service, B.I hinted that he would be walking among the fans and hoped for everyone to "stay safe and give way" when he approached the stand. Most importantly, he wished for "everyone to have a good time, be it through taking photos or videos".
Fans sang along and jumped to the catchy lyrics and tunes of 'Alive', 'Flame', 'Illusion', 'Lover', 'GRAY', 'Remember Me' and 'Got It Like That'. After a short VCR break, B.I returned handsomely decked in white, slowing things down with 'Daydream', 'Tangerine', 'Nerd', and 'STAY'. Staying true to his word, he came down the stage to be closer to fans mid-song, much to their delight.
After a quick outfit change and as another treat for fans, he performed an unreleased song with special guest 131 label mate 'Reddy', and mentioned that he will be releasing a new single with Reddy and another rapper this coming April. We even got to see Reddy perform some of his songs like 'CHICKEN DINNA'.
We were not kidding when we said there was a jam-packed setlist, the night followed with 'illa illa', 'Endless Summer', 'Middle with You', 'Keep me up', 'Numb', 'NINETEEN', and 'COSMOS'. B.I made sure to thank fans for "taking the time out of their busy day to come see (him)" and promised I.Ds who flew down from other countries that he would try his best to make a stop in their cities in the future.
Our favourite part of the night was the special fan projects I.Ds prepared for B.I during the encore stages. As B.I walked out with 'Then' playing in the background, a sea of banners with the words 'We will protect King Hanbin then, now and in the future' filled the hall. A fan-made video ensued, comprising of a compilation of handwritten messages, touching words of encouragement and thanks for the artist over videos of his pre-debut days. Something we agree wholeheartedly on that we remember from the video - B.I, "You're a treasure, a talent to behold", that's for sure. Although B.I expressed his embarassment whilst watching the videos of his younger self, you could still hear how touched he was by I.D's gesture of love in his voice. A cake was also prepared as a surprise, and B.I wasted no time to take a group photo to remember this special day with everyone. 'Re-birth' closed off the heartwarming portion for the concert, but of course it was not yet the end.
Before the 2nd encore stage, I.Ds earnestly chanted for B.I to make an appearance again. In the midst of the excitement, there was some synchronicity lost in the chanting, but B.I made sure to keep it going on beat, hyping up fans for the next segment of the night.
Fans were truly spoiled with love, as B.I played more unreleased songs while making his way through the sea of I.Ds to greet them in person again. We admire this strong bond and sense of trust he has with his fans, as he made them promise to not share snippets of the unreleased songs on social media and they very willingly obliged without hesitation. What a privilege it was for us to be able to hear these songs in person too! What we can say with certainty is that you will not be let down and to be prepared for some ear candy once they are officially released. The night ended off on a high like how it started, with an encore of crowd favourite, 'COSMOS'.
Needless to say, B.I never disappoints when it comes to live performances and putting his fans first. It was truly a pleasure to watch someone so passionate about his music and people perform on stage. We can't wait for his new releases and hopefully see him in Singapore again soon!
Watch his BTBT performance below:
Special thanks to Three Angles Production for inviting KpopStarz to cover B.I 'L.O.L The Hidden Stage' in Singapore.
Writer: Emily Neo Jing Yu | Photo Credits: Sng Kai Lin | Video Credits: Ong Melin
