[SINGAPORE] IVE Dazzle as ‘The Prom Queens’ at Sold-Out Fan Concert

IVE are considered the ‘rookie queens’ for their immense popularity after debut, and their first fan concert tour The Prom Queens showcased exactly why they are one of K-pop’s current top girl groups. Composed of An Yujin, Jang Wonyoung, Gaeul, Rei, Liz, and Leeseo, the group performed in Singapore for the first time at The Star Theatre on June 30, 2023 to a sold-out crowd. 

The six-membered group has achieved what many K-pop groups can only dream of since their debut in 2021 – from winning multiple Song of the Year awards, to playing to crowds of tens of thousands. From their enchanting facial expressions to powerful performances, they showed why they were fourth generation royalty. 

Once the opening bars of After Like played, DIVEs went wild. The dance pop song, which samples I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor, perfectly encapsulated IVE’s bright and fun musical identity. 

The girls then greeted the audience and played a game called “I-Ting Golden Bell”, a combination of the term “I-Ting” – which is IVE’s version of the phrase Fighting – and popular 2000s Korean game show Star Golden Bell. Befitting their high-teen concept, they had four subjects that tested their skills in different categories: general knowledge, physical education, fine arts, and coding. 

Three teams were created, showcasing the different dynamics and personalities within IVE. Rei and Yujin named their group “Twins”, while Gaeul and Leeseo were “Queens”, and Wonyoung and Liz’s team was Singapore’s national fruit, “Durian”! Despite the name, Liz revealed that she actually didn’t like durians all that much, while Wonyoung loved them. On the topic of Singapore cuisine, Yujin revealed that she loves pandan cake, and wants to try kaya toast.

The members competed for the title of “Prom Queen” through trivia quizzes about the members, and a dance battle to other K-pop girl groups’ songs. The lineup included fellow fourth-generation NMIXX’s Love Me Like This and NewJeans’ Hype Boy. After a tough fight, Wonyoung and Liz emerged victorious, taking a victory stroll across the stage in little tiaras.

IVE also showed off their unique style with Kitsch, and performed fan-favourite Blue Blood, a term that refers to having royal lineage. With a snappy snare drum, the anthemic track allowed IVE to demonstrate a strong yet understated fierceness, proclaiming their power in the new wave of Kpop.  

Aside from their top hits, IVE also covered a few songs to show off the different members’ strengths. Yujin and Liz wow-ed the crowd with their emotional rendition of Jessie J’s Flashlight, which is notoriously hard to pull off. When asked about why they chose the song, Liz explained, “We chose an English song so the lyrics can portray our emotions better.”

Yujin added: “The lyrics are all I want to say to you guys.”

Contrasting the ballad, Wonyoung and Rei performed a cover of Megan Trainor’s bright and funky Me Too. The track was a good match for the duo who are at the top of the game, and the girls expressed the perfect nonchalant confidence. 

Although renowned for having a cute image, Leeseo and Gaeul performed Kill This Love by BLACKPINK. The girls encapsulated the song’s fierce and charismatic vibe, presenting fans with a new side to IVE.

IVE then performed their latest Korean title track off their first full-length album, I AM. The bridge especially had DIVEs cheering, as it built from Wonyoung’s smooth vocals into Yujin’s famous high note. This was followed by Eleven, the group’s debut song, which made it all the more special for fans to watch the performance that started it all. IVE and DIVEs both felt like elevens during the concert! 

The concert finale was the track that really put IVE on the mark, their 2022 smash hit Love Dive! The girls hypnotised us with the catchy melody and the dance break. It was the perfect summation of IVE’s journey so far, and the crowd couldn’t help but want more.    

Once the girls returned to the stage for the encore, fans surprised them with a cute cake topped with their MINIVE characters, and a heartfelt video letter filled with messages of support and love for IVE. Before they closed the concert with Not Your Girl, IVE took a moment to say goodbye to Singapore DIVEs.

“You guys cheered really loud so it felt like the concert ended so quickly,” Rei said. “It was so, so fun. You even prepared a cake and video letter, and that made the day even more special.” As fans expressed their sadness at the concert’s end, Gaeul cheered them on: “Don’t be sad guys, we will see you soon!” 

With that promise, DIVEs left the concert excited for IVE’s return to Singapore’s shores. 

The Seoul Story would like to thank CK Star Entertainment for the media invite. See you at the next show!

Written by: Nicole
Photos by: CK Star Entertainment

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