The 2001 movie Josie and the Pussycats is about how America mixed art and consumerism at the turn of the millennium. But it could just as easily describe the K-pop machine, which churns out one group after another to see what sticks—sometimes without much care for the art or the artists. The film ends with shady record executives selling branded headsets that beam subliminal ads directly into fans’ brains.
BTS: Arirang review – the world’s biggest pop band return with dumb fun and downright weirdness
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That movie comes to mind while watching BTS play their first UK show in seven years. It’s an incredibly fun spectacle, full of fireworks and a stage that surrounds the audience, and it’s the purest example of what makes a boyband perfectly designed to win fans’ hearts. BTS is the biggest K-pop group in the world. With over 40 million albums sold, they have a fanbase so devoted it’s called the Army. This is their first tour after a three-year break for each member to complete 18 months of mandatory military service—marked by a new album, Arirang—and it’s celebrated with events across London, including taking over the London Eye. A cynical person might think the round stage is just a way to sell more expensive pit tickets. A cynical person might see the brands covered up on the water bottles onstage and think, “Clearly Fiji Water didn’t pay for sponsorship.” A cynical person might look at the glowing “Army Bomb sticks” in the crowd and wonder, “Are those mind-control devices?”
But the Arirang tour makes it as hard to be cynical about BTS as it is to hear anything after two hours of the Army’s ear-splitting screams. It starts strong, with all-black outfits, wraparound sunglasses, and fireworks right from the beginning. BTS glare into the cameras that broadcast them onto giant screens above the stage, looking like caricatures, distant from the crowd and barely interacting with each other. But gradually, it softens into something more communal and relaxed: a bunch of guys having fun as they work through a catalog of songs that range from hard rap to smooth pop.
No matter how much we know K-pop groups are trained to perfection, BTS’s versatility is still amazing. The stands literally shake as they thunder through the pop-rap crossover Hooligan; the Tame Impala-inspired Like Animals shows off their skill with ballads, soft and airy enough to feel like it’s being sung directly to each of the 62,000 people in the room. The high-energy hits in the middle of the show are a thrilling release, and the surprise songs that aren’t usually on the setlist seem to delight even the band, who grin and sing along to each other’s parts.
The joy onstage is reflected back about a million times over. It echoes through the wall of screams and the sea of glowing Bomb sticks. Girls have photos of their favorite members woven into their hair or dangling from handbags. The show ends on a gentle note, with the band motioning to each other to take out their in-ear monitors so they can hear fans sing Into the Sun back to them. I started the show feeling indifferent, and by the end, I had a favorite member (Jimin) and a desire to learn Korean. I wanted to make them my wallpaper and run into them at Duck & Waffle. I didn’t even have a Bomb stick, so if they were controlling my mind, it was through other means. Whatever BTS has, it’s powerful. At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, on 7 July. Then touring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the BTS review written in a natural tone with clear answers
General Context
Q What is this review about
A Its a review of BTSs first concert in the UK in seven years focusing on the emotional experience and their musical versatility
Q Why is this concert such a big deal
A Its their first UK show in seven years so its a huge return for fans who have waited a long time It also marks a new chapter for the group
Q Is this review positive or negative
A Very positive The reviewer describes the concert as pure joy and praises the group for being incredibly versatile performers
The Performance Music
Q What does pure joy mean in the context of the review
A It means the concert was an overwhelmingly happy uplifting and euphoric experience for both the audience and the performers
Q What does incredible versatility refer to
A It means BTS performed a wide range of music styles and switched between intense choreography and emotional strippedback moments effortlessly
Q Did they only play new songs
A No The review implies they played a mix of classic hits and newer material showing how their sound has evolved over seven years
Q Was the live singing good
A According to the review yes Their vocal and rap performances were strong energetic and emotionally resonant
Practical Fan Experience
Q Did the concert have a lot of fan interaction
A Yes The review highlights how BTS engaged with the UK crowd making the atmosphere feel personal and electric
Q Is this review for someone who isnt a BTS fan
A Yes The review focuses on the universal appeal of the showthe energy the showmanship and the emotional connectionso even a nonfan could understand why it was special
Q What was the best part of the show according to the review
A The combination of emotional ballads and highenergy performances created a perfect emotional rollercoaster
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