K-Pop artists hardly come to Australia. Often when K-Pop groups announce their ‘world tours’, this usually includes most of Asia and some of North America. But not Australia. So for global K-Pop sensation BLACKPINK to play Rod Laver Arena was phenomenally exciting.

For those who are unaware, BLACKPINK is a 4-member girl group originating from South Korea who have spent the last few years taking the world by storm. The four girls who make up the group are, Jennie, Lisa, Jisoo and Rosé, who was raised in Melbourne. The girl group debuted in 2016 and haven’t stopped gaining momentum. They’re known for their entrancing dance tracks, which have captivated the world.

Arriving at Rod Laver Arena, I was beyond surprised at the size of the crowd filling up the Arena. The venue was absolutely packed with people from all walks of life. There was everyone from pre-teens to even an elderly lady wearing a BLACKPINK t-shirt.

It was heartening to see that despite the language barrier, there is still so much support for the girls of BLACKPINK in Australia.

When the group appeared on stage, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause, eager to get started after the delayed start. Belting out all their hits such as ‘Kill This Love’, ‘Ddu-du Ddu-du’ and ‘As If It’s Your Last’, BLACKPINK gave a performance worthy of many praises. Their vocals and rapping could be heard clearly throughout the concert and their dance moves captured their ‘girl-crush’ essence perfectly.

Image via BLACKPINK Instagram

The concert was choreographed to ensure each member got an opportunity to show off their own skills and shine on stage. Rosé sang a melody of songs including ‘Coming Home’ to celebrate her return to her hometown of Melbourne. Jennie sang her successful solo song fittingly titled ‘Solo’. Lisa showed off her impressive sensual dances and Jisoo performed ‘Clarity’ as her solo.

BLACKPINK performed to an enraptured crowd in Melbourne. Image supplied by writer.

Compounding to the magic of the performance was that BLACKPINK made a clear effort to interact with the audience, something few major artists would attempt in such a large venue. During the show, they incorporated videos of ‘Blinks’, who are BLACKPINK fans. These videos showed fans dancing, singing, and enjoying their songs around the world. The inclusivity of fans during their own performance is a sweet indication of the love and appreciation BLACKPINK maintain for their supporters, and is a good example of why they have grown so popular all over the world.

The group opted for a live band rather than a run-of-the-mill backing track. At first, I thought a live band would not work, as their genre is techno-dance music, however I was blown away by how the live band and live vocals worked in cohesion. Seriously, more dance artists should use a live band more often! It makes the concert much more energetic and lively, adding an extra layer to the performance.

A sea of pink, as BLACKPINK wows Rod Laver Arena. Image supplied by writer.

The one downfall of the concert, was a random Kia advertisement that played in the middle of the show. The ad went for 5 minutes, and really felt disconnected with the show. It took me out of the magic of the performance. A shorter advertisement would have been much more effective.

It is understandable that K-pop is not everyone’s thing, but I honestly believe if you gave BLACKPINK a go and attended one of their concerts, they could make you a fan! I doubt this is the last that we’ll see of Blackpink in Australia.

BLACKPINK at their Melbourne show, via BLACKPINK Instagram.