By Vlad Baranenko (Saitama-ken, 2000-02) for JQ magazine. Photos by JYP Entertainment, Sarah Waxberg.
On February 20, the sensational K-pop group TWICE lit up UBS Arena for the second of three sold-out performances in Belmont, New York. The eight members in attendance, along with backup dancers and a live band, transformed the 19,000-seater into a party of lasers, dynamic light effects, and voices that has mesmerized fans of all ages around the world. This writer was fortunate enough to have been invited to witness the spectacle firsthand, enjoying a spellbinding 30-song extravaganza ahead of the group’s tenth anniversary this fall.
Before diving into the concert, it’s noteworthy to mention a bit about the group. Formed in 2015 under JYP Entertainment, TWICE debuted as a nine-member girl group — Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu — and quickly rose to prominence with catchy and energetic hits that became their calling card. Early singles like “CHEER UP” established their blend of bubbly pop melodies and sharp choreography, and later releases like “FANCY” and “Feel Special” showed everyone the group’s evolution. In just the last few years, TWICE have hit their share of milestones: In 2023 they became the first female K-pop group to headline major U.S. stadiums, selling out shows at SoFi Stadium and MetLife Stadium, and last year they made history again as the first K-pop girl group to headline Lollapalooza in Chicago. Their English-language single “The Feels” broke into the Billboard Hot 100, and 2024’s mini-album With YOU-th became their first to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Their most recent full-length album, THIS IS FOR, also debuted in the Top 10.
This wasn’t my first time seeing a girl group perform at a major U.S. venue, and I wasn’t expecting the crowd to be any different from the likes of J-pop fans or Hatsune Miku, but I must admit that this mix felt different. Somehow, the teenagers and older fans well into their 30s seemed more mature, dressed in a stylish manner that I wasn’t used to. Needless to say, I later discovered that the outfits many fans adorned were a tribute to the style of the group’s music videos. Multiple people wore the iconic red crochet bonnet, the style associated with TWICE’s “THIS IS FOR” music video. High cut pink fur boots were also abundant, featured in the group’s performance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (another first for a K-pop group).
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