Agust D also known as Suga from the K-Pop sensations BTS released his latest album D-DAY in April 2023 and has undergone several tour dates around the USA and Asia. To make the tour as special as possible and to share his music with as many fans and ARMY as possible, the Agust D tour show in Japan was live streamed around the world in a variety of cinemas. This one day only showing was high in demand and I managed to book a ticket at my local VUE cinema on the 4 June 2023.
The last time I ventured to the cinema was pre-COVID and a lot had changed at my local cinema. Every seat was now a recliner with automatic buttons to make the viewing experience that extra more comfortable. Of course, I purchased the cinema must-have, a box of sweet popcorn and settled into my seat, impatiently anticipating what the next two-hour would have in store. I have been a fan of BTS and K-pop for some time and adore their music as a group, but equally enjoy their solo material. Suga’s mixtapes and albums are my favourite and showcases his talent as a musician, producer and writer. His albums explore the personal side of his personality and character that emphasises his passion for music. This was my first time viewing a live event at the cinema and was unsure as to what would transpire – would there be film adverts before the show like an ordinary screening? would the picture quality be high-definition? Would the sound and connection be ok? All these are common questions when I’ve watched the BTS concert live streams at home in the past. I was surprised that instead of film adverts for upcoming releases, the cinema was showing a China nature channel exploring the different aspects of Chinese culture. This was really interesting to watch and learn from while waiting for the live stream to start.
Lights, Camera, Action…
The lights dimmed and the show began. The audience hushed into silence as the visuals started. The staging was simple but effective that deconstructed as the show progressed, the staging embodied Suga’s latest album D-Day. Throughout the concert, I was in awe at his talent to command the stage and seamlessly transition between one high intensity rap to another that then transitioned into a powerful and emotive acoustic performance. BTS are known for their high energy and incredible choreography that makes their live shows a spectacle of amazement. Suga’s concert was no different, his dedication to putting on a high-energy and impactful show is showcased in his Japan concert. The staging was thought-provoking and emphasises how thought-out every detail was, such as Interlude: Shadow staging was similar to the music video for the song. The incorporation of cameras and faceless dancers emphasises the deeper meaning of the lyrics and delivers a passionate performance. All of Suga’s performances were spectacular and compelling to watch, but personal favourites included Burn it, Daechwita, seesaw, AMYGDALA, Agust D and the compilation of many of BTS iconic songs such Ddaeng, UGH, cypher pt 3 / 4. Every song increased the energy and tension. The crowd was equally excited, energetic and supportive of Suga’s music and staging.
Throughout the concert, Suga continually thanked his fans, ARMY, and wanted to make sure everyone was having a good time – even those watching on the live stream. The tour has allowed Suga to present his talents as a musician and was evident through an acoustic version of Seesaw played on the guitar, tracks on the piano and his intense rapping. I was in awe at his talent that has been brought to the forefront in a compelling and passionate manner. The visuals throughout the show was intellectually driven that followed a story of various versions of his character Agust D, that I interpreted as Suga destroying each version or duplicate of himself until his true and current version is left. This was visually and artistically well thought-out and showcased his artistic skills that are embodied throughout his music.
The only negative to watching the live stream was the problem that occurred half way through the show, the cinema’s connection dropped out and we lost the video and sound. This was met with an audible gasp by the audience and a rush to find a member of staff for assistance. The staff were able to reconnect the video and sound, but this did mean we missed out on the several songs. This is the negative side of live streaming and potentially needs some advancement in the future.
Final thoughts
Suga commanded the stage and overwhelmed with his talent as a musician, artist and performer. His thought to staging, setlist and dedication to giving the fans what they want is awe-inspiring and I hope to one day experience this energy in person. Every song was perfectly executed and sounded even better than the studio recorded version – which I didn’t even think was possible. A compelling and enjoyable experience that continued to entertain and surprise.
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