Onew, soloist and leader of K-pop boy group SHINee, embarked on his first ever solo stateside tour this spring. After completing seven shows across the US, the singer performed his final concert of the tour at the ornately decorated Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. Filled with pearl aqua lights, the concert showcased not only the veteran singer’s talent, but also his heart and warmth.
Onew performed a wide range of songs from his solo discography, putting his smooth vocals on full display. As expected, he sang a slew of ballads such as “Focus” and “Illusion (사랑이었을까),” hitting high notes and harmonizing with his own backing vocals with ease. The singer also prepared jazzier tracks like “Gradation (번져),” songs with retro vibes like “Maestro (마에스트로),” and a variety of others across genres. Songs like “Beat Drum (매력)” were upbeat and poppy, giving the singer the perfect opportunity to show off his classic idol dance moves and even rap for the crowd. During “MAD,” an English song that was released prior to the tour, fans eagerly sang along and cheered loudly as the singer led them in a guided chant during the bridge of the song.
There was a song for everyone on the setlist, as Onew continued to show off his versatility and singing prowess song after song. The soloist performed each track with an eager passion, and most impressively, his audience matched that energy. The crowd was more than ready for the long awaited show, preparing fan projects such as roses and cheering banners to hold in the air, as well as memorizing song lyrics and fanchants. The singer was blown away by the crowd’s ability to sing along in Korean, and he was grateful that everyone, in a way, performed with him as his usual live band was unable to join for the U.S. leg of his tour. During “Winner,” for example, the crowd’s synchronized cheers and clapping added an additional layer to the music, creating a unique choral effect. Fans also sang “Starry Night (밤과 별의 노래) along with him acapella, impressing him and leading him to apologize for having removed the song from the setlist.
All in all, the main highlights of the show were two things: the performance of “Always (보통의 밤)” and Onew’s humorous personality throughout the concert. The singer has always been known to be silly and funny, but the concert could almost be considered a standup comedy show mixed with music—in a positive way. At the show’s start, Onew shared his desire to truly make a connection with his fans and hold a space for them to experience healing and happiness, and an integral part of that is laughter. At every turn, between every song, slow or fast, he was cracking jokes or pulling small pranks on the crowd to elicit genuine laughs.
On creating space for healing, the veteran idol gave a heartwarming speech prior to “Always (보통의 밤).” “What I really want to give you is rest and happiness,” he began. “To achieve that happiness, moments of nervousness and anxiety are normal. We can have those days when we hurt mentally or physically, but as long as we strive for that happiness, we can remember that it will all pass.”
Acknowledging that this speech might feel unexpected, he emphasized that this was the main purpose of the show to begin with. “I know this feels like a sudden heavy topic, but I don’t think these conversations are strange. I could be the one going through something right now, or the person next to you could be, and we are all existing here so it’s important that we can give each other support just like family and friends to overcome this together.” Using this moment, he also introduced the next song, “Always (보통의 밤),” once more. “The reason I brought this up is because the next song is one where I know the lyrics may be hard to understand, but I want to make sure to highlight them. You will always have people around you, and there is someone somewhere who will truly understand you. Sit, rest, and find healing. You all deserve happiness,” he earnestly shared, warming hearts before the soft instrumentals began to play. The song was paired with a fan project holding lit up roses into the air for Onew to see, and it was in that moment that fans were moved to tears at the realization that the healing space he created for fans was also for him, too.
After the emotional performance, it was back to funny moments and upbeat music, and slowly but surely, the night drew to a close. Onew expressed so much warmth for his fans, preparing special moments and memorabilia for the crowd from handing out signed balls and miniature bouquets to kicking off his encore in the upstairs balcony to greet fans up-close.
While he previously held space for healing and rest, during the encore, he also made space to express genuine love and appreciation. “You’ve all spent the night clapping and cheering for me, but I want to do the same for you, too,” he began, before requesting for everyone to stay silent for a moment. He then slowly walked from one side of the stage to the other, clapping, cheering, and shouting words of encouragement to the audience. He made sure this moment was understood, reminding the crowd every so often not to cheer or clap because he wanted to ensure he was giving everyone the flowers they deserved.
Considering the singer’s goal was to build a connection with his fans through the show, it’s safe to say Onew’s concert was a success. “I have felt a lot of things on this tour,” he shared. “Despite being active for so long, I felt so grateful being able to meet new people. Thank you for the endless happiness you’ve given me. I will continue to work harder to be that person for you, too.” Continuing on and mixing in some humor in true Onew fashion, he also reassured everyone he would return as soon as he could. “As long as we keep connecting like this, I don’t think this happiness will ever come to an end,” he began. “I promise I will be back, like The Terminator.”
Click on the photo below to view our photos from the concert:
