K-pop has been one of the most surprising genres of music to take over the American music market in the last decade. Filled with catchy melodies, elaborate choreography, strong visual aesthetics, and the ability to make the audience feel like they are part of the show. Even when many fans may not understand the lyrics, we can all connect with the emotion of the performance. This has led to many K-pop bands selling out major venues across the US and the world. Solo K-pop Artists BIBI has set off on her 2025 1st World Tour [EVE], with stops in some of the biggest cities in America. Her stop in California has led her to performing at the YouTube Theatre in Los Angeles, filling the 6,000 capacity venue with diehard fans.
Opening the night was an artist known as James An. He introduced himself to the crowd, informing us that he was BIBI’s translator, and it has been his honor to work with her for many years. He was also there to be our opening act for the night. His first song was written about his dog and was a lo-fi ballad that was pleasant to vibe too. With his second song, he wrote it about the Pulp Fiction character Mia Wallace, and this is when James An caught us off guard as he began rapping with serious intention. To see this reserved soft spoken man truly open up during his performance was a transformation you had to experience to understand him. With his third and final song, it was about freedom of the people called “Ain’t No Body Free.” This one has such a catchy hook, and in English, that much of the crowd was able to sing along by the second chorus. James An was a joyous way of starting off the show, as he doubled as BIBI’s hype man getting us to cheer as loud as we could before she took the stage.
Before BIBI could finally take the stage, we got a short video package to hype up the crowd one more time and get us cheering. When she sauntered onto the stage, YouTube Theatre lit up with fans ferociously waving light sticks all around the venue. Opening with the song “Midnight Cruise,” BIBI serenaded the crowd with her charm and beauty, we were all enthralled the moment she started singing. BIBI did feel the need to apologize as she had started catching a cold and swears she can sing better than what we were hearing. But if she hadn’t said anything, I don’t think anyone would have been able to tell, as every note was still candy to the ears.
Though the first couple songs BIBI kept the show a bit softer with her just singing on stage, it was with the song “Scott and Zelda” that she really brought the exuberant stage show. This song portrayed a story of a school student studying in the library, when a group of boys walk through all fighting for her attention. With one eventually getting to sneak a kiss under the table before being caught by the school security guard. It was shortly after this that BIBI went through her first costume change, and brought a more sensual tone to her show with “Burn It.”
BIBI wasn’t just a singer, she was a performer, she was an entertainer, she was a storyteller, she was our Queen of the Night. BIBI never let the set sit in one mood for too long, changing up the energy of the night and forcing us to stay engaged with every song. Whether it was a softer ballad, an upbeat dance song, or she was just creating an atmosphere. She had us wound around the tip of her finger all night. BIBI’s set was a two hour spectacle that included songs like “Bam Yang Gang,” “Pygma Girl,” “Hongdae R&B,” “Real Man,” “Meat,” “Derre,” “Winter,” “Bluebird,” “BIBI Vengeance,” “BAD SAD AND MAD,” “City Lover,” “Fedexx Girl,” “The Weekend,” “KAZINO,” “BINU,” “PADO,” “Bumpa,” and ending with “Eat My Love.”
This was my first K-pop show I’ve seen live. Though I’ve heard plenty of bands and songs in passing over the years, finally getting to experience this genre of music live was a whole different experience. I truly now see why so many K-pop bands are selling out these major arenas across the globe. Even if you can’t understand the lyrics, you can connect with the show through the emotion and stories that these artists create. I have to thank BIBI for being my introduction to K-pop as it has shown me this world in a whole new light, and I want to explore more of it.
GALLERY: BIBI with James An at YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, California (June 22, 2025)
