S Poddar
Why worry about football when you can experience one of K-pop’s most electrifying bands?
As the sun set over Hyde Park, BST Hyde Park presented a compelling reason to switch off the football and head to the Great Oak Stage: Stray Kids, making their long-awaited return to the UK after over four years.
“Did you guys miss us?” shouted Bang Chan, the band’s leader, as they launched into a dynamic hour-and-forty-minute performance. The deafening cheers confirmed the fans’ excitement.
Despite the set being shorter than their usual two-hour-plus gigs, every minute was packed with their greatest hits, taking the audience on a thrilling musical journey.
Formed in 2018 through a reality TV show, Stray Kids – consisting of Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. – have rapidly risen to stardom, winning awards, going platinum, and selling out stadiums globally. Remarkably, most members are still in their early twenties.
Their infectious energy is unbeatable. Fans, adorned in band merchandise and glitter, were ready to dance the night away to Stray Kids’ unique blend of rap, electronica, and hip hop.
The band delivered an impressive performance with awe-inspiring visuals, precise choreography, and remarkable lyrical flows. Early highlights included powerful renditions of “Topline,” “Item,” and the intense “Domino,” showcasing Felix’s deep voice clashing with Han’s rapid-fire rap.
The hits kept rolling. “Charmer” featured Felix revealing his abs to ecstatic screams, and “God’s Menu,” the song that catapulted them to fame, was enthusiastically chanted back by the crowd.
As night fell, the crowd’s energy was euphoric, matched by the band’s playful spirit. “Do you guys have a curfew?” Bang Chan joked, amidst talks about football and their upcoming mini-album “ATE.” “You guys wanna go home?” The resounding answer was no, leading to three “last songs” – “Miroh,” “Lalalala,” and “Victory Song,” complete with pyrotechnics, before another unexpected finale.
“Bloody hell, let’s go!” Bang Chan exclaimed, as the band powered through “Megaverse” and “Haven,” spraying the audience with water and coordinating handclaps from the stage.
“London, we’ll be back,” promised Stray Kids as they left the stage, smoke lingering in the air. Judging by the crowd’s reaction, their return can’t come soon enough.
