[SINGAPORE] ZEROBASEONE’s Deep Bond Shines at First Overseas Stop of ‘TIMELESS WORLD’ Tour

8,000 fans flocked to the Singapore Indoor Stadium on September 28 for the first overseas stop of ZEROBASEONE’s ‘TIMELESS WORLD’ tour, which started in Seoul and is scheduled to visit Bangkok, Manila, Jakarta, Macau, Aichi, and Kanagawa.

ZEROSEs (the group’s fandom name) were decked in pastel blue and white, a palette reminiscent of the group’s In Bloom era, for the landmark occasion. ZB1 is a project group with a limited lifespan born from survival show Boys Planet, so the sense of this concert being a once-in-a-lifetime experience was palpable.

Remarkable repertoire showcasing growth

The main stage that the nine members emerged from as the instrumental of Solar POWER played consisted of a simple, glowing ring that resembled a portal. At full speed from the get-go, the boys presented high-energy numbers Road Movie, Take My Hand, New Kidz on the Block, and KILL THE ROMEO in one breath while donning black suits adorned with silver embellishments, but they were soon traded for softer denim fits as they performed mellower tracks In Bloom, Insomnia, and Good Night.

Boys Planet is clearly inseparable from ZB1’s identity, and the group spared no expense in acknowledging their roots. A nod to his Boys Planet victory, Zhang Hao gave a valedictory performance of Always, the only solo stage of the show, captivating the stadium with nothing but a mic stand and his stage presence.

We also got treated to some sub-unit fun—Matthew, Ricky, Gunwook, and Jiwoong appeared in flowy, white shirts with red ties as dance props for a sultry performance of Over Me, while Hanbin, Taerae, Gyuvin, and Yujin presented the eccentric-sounding Switch. The nine then reunited for more Boys Planet anthems, En Garde, Say My Name, and Here I Am. It must have been an emotional moment for fans to watch the boys perform the same songs they once sang for survival, now as successful touring artists.

Something’s very special about their bond

ZEROBASEONE felt more like one big friend group than a boy band. These boys seized every opportunity to envelop themselves in each other’s embrace, exchange loving glances, and stay within arm’s reach of one another—anyone could tell that they genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. 

Insomnia saw the boys nestling up on a large, cream sofa with Zhang Hao playfully resting his legs on Jiwoong’s lap; more notably, captain of the band Hanbin warmly caught his members’ gaze as they sang ballads HELLO and Good Night and even while dancing to GOOD SO BAD. The group’s cohesiveness probably owes much to Hanbin’s nurturing leadership. It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, these nine boys were pitted against each other on Boys Planet and vying for a coveted spot in the group. 

ZB1 also proved that they are a melting pot of a K-pop group, addressing fans in English, Korean, Mandarin, and even Singlish. “Swee lah!” exclaimed Zhang Hao at the passionate energy from the audience; “Steady lah,” agreed Yujin. 

Gyuvin declared Singapore’s famed delicacy, chilli crab, to be a ‘die die must try’, recalling how he previously vacationed in Singapore with his family, much to the surprise of Ricky, who mentioned shortly before that it was all the members’ first time in the country (“Why didn’t you tell us during rehearsal?”). 

An emotions-filled encore

The main show stretched on for nearly two hours, but neither the fans nor the members looked ready to leave. The infinite encore of GOOD SO BAD—they repeated that last chorus at least three times!—seemed to echo this sentiment. 

As with any K-pop concert, the encore segment was the chance for fans to interact with the members on stage, but things went hilariously wrong for some standing at the barricade right in front of the stage extension. We spotted Gunwook and Zhang Hao cracking up at fans who got blasted in the face by sprinklers and checking if they were okay.

The group eventually had to end the encore segment, which lasted for a good half hour, but not before conveying their love to fans. “I’ve always thought about this—will we meet again if I were reborn in another life? I believe that this day will come again in my next life,” Jiwoong said earnestly. Gyuvin seemed to choke up as he said, “You guys are the reason I exist.” Surprised that the crowd was able to respond in Mandarin, Zhang Hao said in Mandarin: “You guys always came to us in Korea, so I’m glad to be coming to you this time.”

Despite being only a year into their career, ZB1 served up every song and dance with the flair of veterans. It’s written in their eyes that they love being together as a nine-piece group. We hope to see them together for a long time to come.

Thank you CK Star Entertainment for the media invite! 

Written by: Gloria 
Photos by: CK Star Entertainment

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