High-energy rap, dance, singing (Image from IG @uarmyhope)
“It was incredible. Like one big dance party. Barely halfway into the concert, we were on our feet, dancing with Hobi. Ninety percent of Hobi’s songs were fast, high energy!”
That was how TheDiarist.ph contributing editor Nikko Dizon summed up her first night watching the kick-off concert of j-hope Tour HOPE ON THE STAGE in Seoul at the KSPO Dome last February 28. She woke up the next day with body aching from all that action at her seat—but was back for the March 1 concert, and the March 2.
IG @uarmyhope
On March 2, she would get, as she put it, “the shock of my life” when BTS Jin showed up in the concert, took his seat without many noticing. “He came in low lights so no one really noticed except his seatmates,” Nikko said of the moment. Then the giant screen showed him, and with j-hope rocking it onstage, and Jin cheering on—and joining ARMY in the fanchant, especially during MIC Drop—the house was simply on Fire (to borrow another BTS record-smasher)! ARMYs at KSPO and those watching the livestream worldwide were getting the major double treat of their lives. Nikko went home with both aching body and hoarse voice—Jin is her bias, though she is a devoted OT7.
IG@uarmyhope
IG@uarmyhope
The South Korean band BTS is the most popular pop icon/celebrity today, breaking practically all chart records, with arguably the most active and committed fandom in the world, from East to West, so that the band members’ physical absence from the world stage to serve in the military has been hardly felt. Individually and as a group, they continue to rouse ARMYs worldwide into support that never skips a beat, whether it’s a single’s launch or live chats; the tens of millions of views and following are simply there.
Jin (Kim Seokjin) was the first to end his military duty in June 2024, and j-hope (Jung Hoseok) in October 2024. The other members, RM, Suga, Jimin, V, and JK, are still completing their military duties and are set for discharge this June. ARMY has already started the countdown to the days.
IG @uarmyhope
j-hope’s kick-off concerts at the 15,000-capacity KSPO Dome were sold out, so that, according to Nikko, BigHit had to free up limited-view seats, which, of course, quickly went, as well.
j-hope’s world tour would bring him to New York, Chicago, Mexico City, San Antonio in Texas, Oakland and Los Angeles in California, Manila, Saitama, Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, Macau, Taipei, and Osaka. Anywhere in the world, any BTS concert could be a reality-altering experience, given the lethal combination of their universal music, awesome production, and most important, the BTS’ rapport with ARMY and the rest of their audience, which could make an Olympic stadium setting feel nearly intimate; it’s as if it’s only you and BTS, always.
Related story:
‘Mga sawi’: Losing hope for j-hope concert tickets
j-hope physically reunites with ARMY during the concert
IG@uarmyhope
j-hope—Hobi—held the audience in the palm of his hand even before he could emerge onstage, as the stadium erupted in cheers, an ARMY ocean of light. Then when the band struck, the audience, both in the stadium and on livestream—indeed the world—realized once again why Hobi, the singer, the rapper, the songwriter, the producer, the dance leader, and the empathic idol, is simply the complete package. Just like the BTS.
He rapped his way through the opening numbers What if…, Pandora’s Box, Arson, STOP. In a stop-in-your-tracks vermillion jacket ensemble and his characteristic bling, Hobi went on to MORE, the most familiar on the street, lock/unlock, i don’t know. By the time Just Dance was on, the audience had clearly given up its collective seat—just to dance. Then Hobi did Sweet Dreams, the song the world will welcome this March.
View this post on Instagram
Then ARMY reunion with BTS became absolute as Hobi did Airplane, MIC Drop, Silver Spoon, Dis-ease, Outro-Ego.
He ended with his own chart-busters Daydream, Chicken Noodle Soup, Hope World.
Hobi indulged ARMY with three encore numbers: = (Equal Sign), Future, NEURON.
Hobi went from luxury fashion—no way you could miss Vuitton—to streetwear.
But Hobi wore the best accessory there is—that “I’m-your-hope” smile!
You get your music. You get your moment. You get your friend. That’s because individually and collectively, BTS is a complete package.
