What are the odds that two K-pop concerts happen in the same city, mere hours apart, and in stadiums adjacent to one another? This unlikely scenario unfolded for K-pop fans in Singapore last weekend, as Zerobaseone and Stray Kids graced our city with their tours.
While this shows the popularity of K-pop in Singapore, some fans find themselves in a delightful dilemma. Choosing between Zerobaseone’s fresh energy and the seasoned charisma of Stray Kids can be tough for some. Luckily for me, this was a no-brainer. I was in for Zerobaseone, especially after following their journey on Boys Planet.
Despite releasing only four mini albums, Zerobaseone delivered an impressive 2.5-hour set of non-stop performances, remarkable for a group that is just over a year old. Their ability to captivate the audience for that long speaks of their talent and dedication to their fans, Zerose.
The tour, aptly named Timeless World, emphasises the significance of creating and cherishing lasting memories. They exemplified “timelessness” by performing ironic tracks from Boys Planet, including “Here I Am”, “Say My Name”, and “En Garde”. Each song is a testament to their rapid growth since Boys Planet. Watching them evolve from trainees performing these songs on screen to becoming idols in Zerobaseone is satisfying, especially as an international voter who voted for them. It’s also heartwarming to see some shy yet talented trainees on Boys Planet blossom into confident performers in Zerobaseone.
Their Singapore setlist closely followed their Seoul stop, featuring a mix of dance tracks like “Kill The Romeo” and “In Bloom,” interspersed with more laid-back songs such as “Goodnight” and “Insomnia”. The overall pace and setlist were good, creating an experience that kept us engaged from start to finish.
Clinching the top spot on Boys Planet, Zhang Hao truly shone on his solo stage “Always”, reminding us once again of his star power and talent. Standing on the elevated platform in the middle with a stand mic, he captivated us with his mellow voice, drawing everyone in as the stadium fell silent.
While there was not an overarching storyline, one particular VCR stood out. In it, Hao shrinks, prompting Zerobaseone to find a way to enlarge him. They cleverly enlist Zerose’s help, asking the audience to sing along to “Say My Name” and participate in a quiz to guess whose childhood photo is shown, as the camera zooms in on selected fans to feature them on the big screen.
Their opening ment had Zerose squealing from the cuteness as they introduced themselves while sprinkling in some Singlish, a colloquial form of English in Singapore. They threw out Singlish phrases that resonated with us like “I love you lah”, “Swee lah”, and “Chili crab die die must try”. Though most members relied on a prompter for part of their ments, Singaporean Zerose appreciated their effort to speak in English. Every member made a commendable attempt to do so, particularly Sung Hanbin, Kim Gyuvin, Park Gunwook, and Hao, who relied less on the prompter. Kudos to native speakers Matthew and Ricky for leading most of the conversation.
As Chinese is Singapore’s second most spoken language, Hao even switched to Chinese for his final ment, delivering a heartfelt message. He expressed his gratitude to international Zerose who travelled to Korea to see them, stating his desire to give back by coming to us instead. Hao’s speaking in his native language added to the sincerity of his message, especially his warm wishes for the audience to eat and sleep well. Ending off on the sweetest note, they even left us with a handwritten note in English accessible by scanning a QR code on the screen after they went backstage.
Overall, Zerobaseone exceeded expectations. For a young group embarking on their first international tour, “Timeless World” showcases Zerobaseone’s impressive synergy and potential. In Singapore, where K-pop is the mainstream, Zerobaseone has proven that they are a force to be reckoned with, leaving Zerose wanting more. Given that Singapore was their first stop, I’m looking forward to seeing them grow as they continue their world tour.
