[SINGAPORE] A Summer Night with JANNABI Worth the 12-Year Wait

Sweat & Stardust marks the first tour that Jannabi has brought to Singapore since their debut a whopping 12 years ago. Highly regarded as “Gods of festivals” in South Korea and critically acclaimed in the indie scene, there was no doubt that the band would deliver a phenomenal night. Not only did they do exactly that, they gifted us an unforgettable evening that will be imprinted onto our hearts for a long time. Let us dive into some of the greatest highlights of the night that left us all in awe. 

Storytelling Masters

As the opening notes of Together rang out, frontman Jung-hoon exclaimed, “Singapore, stand up!”, starting off the concert on an incredible high. From Together to Love and Baby I Need You, Jannabi had everyone screaming “JANNABI!” and singing the lyrics whenever Jung-hoon pointed the microphone towards the crowd. Everyone was excitedly jumping or waving their hands and the energy and atmosphere in the theatre were nothing short of magical. “That was really the best opening,” Jung-hoon remarked in his opening Ment.

Their live instruments, including the powerful bass, drums and Do-hyung’s extraordinary guitar skills, perfectly amplified the nostalgic, K-drama-like ambiance in the theatre. They completely captivated every Janfan through the atmosphere they created and the electrifying energy that was maintained from start to finish.

What truly sets Jannabi’s concert apart was their masterful storytelling performance style. Jung-hoon proved to be an incredible performer and storyteller, pouring his soul into the way sang and carried himself on stage. His remarkable showmanship effortlessly immersed the audience into the lyrics and mood of their songs.

A Setlist Packed Like No Other

The versatility of Jannabi was showcased when they smoothly shifted from high-energy performances to a more mellow, intimate vibe. They moved into a suite of slower, deeply emotional songs that tugged at everyone’s heartstrings: Good Good Night, LEGEND, bad dreams, Clay Pigeon Boy, Land of Night, Wish and Jack Kerouac. 

Afterwards, they seamlessly cranked the energy back up with their more upbeat tracks and crowd favourites: for lovers who hesitate, May the TENDERNESS be with you!, I WILL DIE FOR YOU♥x3, After School Activity, Tell Me, Colorful and Blue Spring.

Truly, what would a Jannabi concert be without for lovers who hesitate?

A major standout of the night was their cover of What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes. This song completely transformed the standing pen into a workout class as they playfully made the crowd do squats in rhythm during the verses. Watching the crowd sing along to the English lyrics, let loose and jump in unison during the chorus was a moment that truly altered my brain chemistry.

A Special National Day Gift

Aside from the astounding energy they gave, Jannabi also went the extra mile to make the show uniquely special and personal for Singapore Janfans. An unexpected surprise came when they sang part of Home by Kit Chan, one of Singapore’s most beloved National Day classics. It was an exceptionally thoughtful gesture since the concert took place only a few days after National Day. They also did not forget to wish Singapore a belated Happy National Day! 

The love Jannabi had for Singapore Janfans did not just stop there. They also wittily changed the lyrics of the starting verse of Summer to, “Actually, I’ve been waiting for a summer night in Singapore”, drawing a wave of laughter and cheers from delighted Janfans. 

Getting Closer Than Ever to Janfans

Finally, since it was the first time local Janfans were seeing them on Singapore soil, Jannabi made sure to spoil them with endless fanservice. Jung-hoon and Do-hyung both made their way down separately into the middle of the standing pen at different points throughout the show. This gave fans who were not at the front of the standing pen a golden opportunity to see them up close. Jung-hoon even stopped to jump together with Janfans while being completely surrounded by the crowd!

Following the highly anticipated encore of dreams, books, power and walls and See Your Eyes, they tossed their concert towels into the eager crowd and even hilariously attempted to launch them all the way up to the second floor of the Capitol Theatre.

Their love for Janfans was truly on full display from their opening note to their final bow.

The tour title <Sweat & Stardust> promised every Janfan an emotional and cinematic experience, beautifully symbolising “sparkling stardust falling over sweat-drenched foreheads”.  True to their word, Jannabi completely lived up to that promise.

It was a phenomenal evening of stellar live vocals, showmanship and an abundance of fanservice. The magic they left behind during their historic local debut will undoubtedly stay in the hearts of Janfans for a long time. Thank you Jannabi for the spectacular show and we will eagerly await for our next Summer night together!

Thank you FriedRice Entertainment for the media invite!

Written by: Min Yi
Photos by: Jovin

The Seoul Story – Connecting K-Pop Fans Since 2011 
WEBSITE | TWITTER | LIKE US | WATCH US