Witnessing a Legend in the Making: A Live Report on 'XG ‘NEW DNA’ SHOWCASE in JAPAN' - K-POP Called Youth Vol. 171

Seeing XG live was truly incredible!

It was an overwhelming, legendary performance!

I'm sure it will be talked about for a long time to come.

*This article was published on the web news media Gunosy☺️

On November 26th, XG, a global girl group consisting entirely of Japanese members, held their first-ever solo live concert with an audience, 'XG ‘NEW DNA’ SHOWCASE in JAPAN,' at Pia Arena MM.

XG is a seven-member Japanese girl group that just debuted in March of last year. Based in South Korea and trained using the K-POP system, they have garnered attention for their next-generation style that transcends borders, though XG defines their music as 'X-POP,' neither K-POP nor J-POP.

Since their debut, they have primarily been active overseas, receiving enthusiastic welcomes at festivals in various countries, and with over 200,000 ticket applications for this performance, their popularity in Japan is also exceptional.

I was lucky enough to win a ticket for the evening show, and it was the best experience!

I'd like to look back on that day.

I woke up at 4:30 in the morning...

I spent the morning going for an early drive while listening to XG and going shopping with my wife.

After having lunch, we headed to Yokohama.

Since we were staying at the newly opened Hilton Yokohama, a 15-minute walk from Pia Arena, we checked in first.

Wait, this turned into a hotel report...

Left the hotel at 5:30 PM and headed to Pia Arena!

And although I was on the right side of the arena seating, it was easy to see!

Then, the showcase began!
Let me introduce the setlist.

"XG 'NEW DNA' SHOWCASE in JAPAN" SET LIST

1. HESONOO
2. X-GENE
3. GRL GVNG
4. PUPPET SHOW
5. NEW DANCE
6. TGIF
En1. SHOOTING STAR
En2. MASCARA
En3. Just Stand Up!
En4. LEFT RIGHT
Greetings & Photo Session
HESONOO & X-GENE Performance Video

The live show kicked off with "HESONOO" and "X-GENE," both included in their first mini-album "NEW DNA" released in September!

Amidst a mysterious and solemn atmosphere, the XG members appeared on the center stage blindfolded and holding hands, instantly drawing us into their world and heating up the venue! Although this was the first time these two songs were performed live, I was quickly made aware of their one-of-a-kind presence!

The futuristic "HESONOO," which evokes a vast universe, is an introductory track literally titled "Umbilical Cord," which leads directly into the "X-Gene" itself, "X-GENE," where their masterful rap skills explode over a high-speed beat!

The performance video for the opening tracks "HESONOO" and "X-GENE" has also been released, so please check it out!

After that, they performed "GRL GVNG," which became the first song by a Japanese artist to reach number one on the US Billboard chart "Hot Trending Songs Powered by Twitter," layering super-fast raps over a dark-toned base, and then two of my favorite songs began!

"PUPPET SHOW" features powerful vocals layered over a high-speed beat, and the catharsis when the beat suddenly disappears halfway through, shifting to a world of just piano and vocals, is the best! XG's music is filled with melodies that weave in changes of pace, never letting you get bored and wrapping you in an exquisite sense of comfort.

And then, the excitement in the venue reached its peak with "NEW DANCE," which has an irresistibly great groove!

"NEW DANCE" is one of my top two favorite songs I've heard all year, and with its light, Latin-flavored atmosphere, it feels like being at a party hosted by XG! The danceable energy and sense of liberation that make your body move on its own are irresistible!

The following song, "TGIF," is an abbreviation for "Thank God I'm Fly," a song about the importance of loving yourself. The lyrics are wonderful, and their vocals come together to be so powerful!

The unique vocals of the seven members add color to every song, and I truly believe that everyone possesses irreplaceable individuality and talent. I hope you will watch their documentary to see how much hard work it took to get to this point.

Even so, the sense of unity in the venue was wonderful, and throughout the XG concert, the beat resonated through my whole body, with a great vibe and overwhelming performances that felt just too good!

The age range was broad, and many people were dressed in XG-style fashion, all swaying their bodies and enjoying themselves to the fullest, riding the groove!

Amidst the whirlwind of performances, the venue was wrapped in a heartwarming, euphoric atmosphere for the birthday surprise for Juria, who turns 19 on the 28th. ALPHAZ (XG's fandom) held up 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' slogans in unison, and the members, who were supposed to have gone to exchange microphones, returned to the stage with a cake. Juria said, '(My mind) went blank (with surprise)! Thank you all so much!' expressing her gratitude to ALPHAZ and the members.

During the encore, XG chants erupted throughout the venue. After a while, the members reappeared in casual outfits of merchandise T-shirts and jeans. For 'SHOOTING STAR,' the title track from the beginning of this year, the entire venue shouted 'XG!' along with the member calls from the opening, and I got goosebumps the moment Jurin's vocals started! I was also intoxicated by Chisa's truly diva-like singing voice in the middle. The choreography for the 'woo-woo♪' in the chorus was also the best! The superb rap sequence from Maya to Cocona followed, and Harvey's unique singing voice there is addictive!

And 'MASCARA,' which blew me away last year, has incredible speed and a punchy melody that is so cool! I love the addictiveness of the chorus so much that it's probably number one in the last few years! It felt like the whole show was a climax, and I felt like I was bathing in their energy with my whole body.

They also performed the cover song 'JUST STAND UP!' by Artists Stand Up To Cancer, which also garnered a great response at 'Billboard THE STAGE' at 'SXSW Sydney' in October. It made me realize once again that they are a group that can seriously aim for the top of the world.

The finale was 'LEFT RIGHT,' which became the first song by a Japanese female artist or group to rank on the US radio chart 'Mediabase Top 40 Radio Airplay Chart,' and recorded 13 consecutive weeks on the chart, the longest for an Asian girl group. In this slow-tempo, groove-filled song, Harvey's voice and Cocona's rap are impressive and make me want to listen to it again and again.

Someone recorded the whole thing in a way that was easy to watch, so I'll share it. I want you to experience their charisma and the enthusiasm of the venue.

Towards the end, my favorite member, Jurin, expressed her gratitude, saying, 'Being able to meet ALPHAZ (XG's fandom name) in person like this, I'm really glad we've been doing these activities!' and after that, when she expressed her gratitude to Simon, the creator and producer of XG who was watching over them at the venue, his smiling face was also projected on the screen.

And, expressing her joy at holding their first solo performance in Japan, she announced, 'We have a happy surprise announcement for everyone!' revealing that they will be going on a world tour next year!

The charisma of each and every member is incredible!

I will also record the final greetings from the members. HARVEY: 'I'm so happy I don't want to go home! Thank you so much for coming to see us today. Thanks to everyone's support, I'm happy every day, and I could live for billions of years! I love you more than anything in the universe. Thank you!' HINATA: 'Thank you for always making us the best version of ourselves. I love you!' JURIA: 'Thank you for the surprise! I was very moved. Let's keep heading towards the universe!' CHISA: 'ALPHAZ!! (screaming) Thank you for enjoying today with us. I love you all!' COCONA: 'What I want to convey most today is that everyone watching right now, as well as everyone around the world, is special and shining. Always believe in yourself, and let's make this the best life together! I look forward to your continued support!' MAYA: 'I am a lucky person to have been able to spend this happy time with you. We Love You! I love you, ALPHAZ!' JURIN: 'It was the best to be able to hold a showcase in our hometown like this. Thank you to the members who have come this far with me! I am full of gratitude to so many people. We will continue to do our best aiming for the universe!'

Finally, they left us with a powerful message: 'I know you all have tough days, but we are connected by an umbilical cord, so let's keep moving forward together!'

The members all love space! It reminds me of Buzz Lightyear's famous line from Toy Story: 'To infinity and beyond!'

It was also announced that their new single 'WINTER WITHOUT YOU' will be released soon, and the MV teaser for the song has been released on YouTube.

Wow, XG was truly exceptional in every way.

With their grand worldview, wonderful music, and the overwhelming talent of every member in dance, vocals, and rap, combined with their unique individual charms and incredibly cool fashion, there is no shortage of reasons why they are causing a global frenzy. They are only going to get bigger.

They could probably fill the Tokyo Dome right now, and they make me believe that their dream of performing at Coachella in the US, and eventually even the Super Bowl Halftime Show or the Grammys, is not an impossible dream at all.

I look forward to seeing what kind of breakthroughs they will achieve both at home and abroad in the future!

Let's look forward to their triumphant return to Japan during their world tour.

Watching the performances that are the crystallization of their hard work gives me strength!

Looking forward to seeing XG's stage again, I will also do my best and not give up on my dreams!

Fighting!