[RECAP] Inside TWICE’s Electrifying ‘THIS IS FOR’ World Tour Stop in LA

On January 21, veteran girl group TWICE began their four-day residency at the infamous Kia Forum in Los Angeles as a part of their North American leg of the <THIS IS FOR> World Tour. This tour marked a shift not just for TWICE, but for K-pop live shows through the introduction of a 360-degree stage. It allowed ONCEs to see the members more intimately than before. Filled with jaw-dropping technical visuals, a fantastic live band, and charismatic performances from the members, the concert was a masterclass in stage production and live performance. 

Before the show, ONCEs were seen buying merchandise from the booths and filling their clear bags with freebies from other fans. Chattering excitedly, they went to their seats to see a stunning, large four-panel LED rectangular screen with the tour name, “THIS IS FOR,” with the backdrop of a live feed of the audience trickling in. Some concertgoers were spotted wearing a variety of TWICE’s iconic outfits over the years, while others were filming TikToks performing their memorable choreography. 

The concert wasted no time stunning the crowd, opening with a beautiful introduction video of the TWICE members, flashing lights, and a live rendition of “FOUR.” The video itself featured Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu blazing through the city nightlife before slowly introducing “THIS IS FOR.”

Large-paneled screens slowly lifted dramatically to reveal the members, with Dahyun sitting down respectfully on the corner of the stage due to an ankle injury. The arena shook considerably as ONCEs screamed back the chorus and danced the iconic choreography in their seats. 

The nine-member group seamlessly went through “Strategy” with perfect precision and coordination, maneuvering to different sides of the main stage. “Make Me Go” featured highlighted tiered platforms that kept the energy going. It was clear that the group aimed to ensure everyone in the crowd saw their faces and wasn’t being subjected to seeing their backs, typically seen at other shows with 360-degree stages. This level of consideration was impressive, and it illustrated the enormous amount of preparation and love for ONCEs to ensure the fan experience was even across the board. 

TWICE continued to embody strong and fierce feminine energy with “SET ME FREE” and “I CAN’T STOP ME,” concluding the section with red streamer confetti. ONCEs were seen screaming and singing the lyrics word-for-word, showcasing the perfect synergy between the fan and the idol. 

Barks, a staple at K-Pop shows, echoed throughout the venue at the end before the members did their introductions. Jihyo encouraged the crowd to do tonight’s chant, “This is for ONCE! This is for TWICE!” in which the audience obliged and yelled at the top of their lungs. A sea of Candybongs (TWICE’s lightstick name) twinkled in pink during this moment, which energized and excited the arena more with passionate screams of affection from the crowd.  

The concert shifted to a slower pace with “Options” and “Moonlight Sunrise,” where the members were able to showcase their vocals. Notably, Jeongyeon’s voice shined as she hit the high notes with ease. ONCEs took this moment to sway their lightsticks back and forth, taking in the members’ harmonizing voices and beautiful visuals of a starry night illuminated through the arena before ending the first section of the show. 

As the members prepared backstage, backup dancers performed fiercely, taking over each stage one by one. The moment built to an epic peak, with powerful choreography spreading across all three stages. The graphics illuminated a bright red, symbolizing their next track to perform, “Mars.” Jihyo and Nayeon’s soaring vocals were a highlight, as expected from the main vocalists. It was a gorgeous sight to see them at their best, emotionally capturing the hearts of the crowd through solid and strong vocal ability. The members soon split off to perform “I GOT YOU,” a beautiful track about someone being in a healthy relationship with someone else who has been through adversity. Throughout the song, they interacted with the audience, waving at ONCEs with bright, energetic smiles. If there’s one thing TWICE never failed at, it was making immense and prioritized effort to connect deeply with their fans. 

TWICE ended the section with a live band version of the earworm English single, “The Feels.” TWICE challenged themselves by performing at the corners of the main stage, demonstrating their determination to entertain every ONCE in the arena. Charisma was felt throughout, and concertgoers were seen doing the main chorus choreography in their seats.

There was a short break with another ment, shouting out to all sections of the arena. Humorously, when it came to shouting out to the floor, the male fans made their presence known by barking at the members, earning laughter.

Jihyo led the next section with her captivating aura, walking over to the extended stage to start “Gone.” A high point was Mina’s mesmerizing beauty, which caused many ONCEs to swoon in their seats. She was the moment, and owned every second of it, like a siren in the seas. The femme fatale performance was dark and sensual. A metal rock rendition of “CRY FOR ME” was a definitive highlight of the entire show as it was equal parts elegant and powerful, with a bridge that captured so many ONCEs’ hearts. Sultry performances came after with “Hell in Heaven” and “Right Hand Girl,” spotlighting TWICE’s strong feminine presence and charisma. 

As the members left for outfit changes and touch-ups, the empty stage is illuminated with fiery motifs. Passion spilled across the different panels as the live band did an incredible rendition of “Right Hand Girl,” stunning the audience and keeping them engaged. It marked the halfway point and went into the solo stages mostly from their fifth studio album, Ten: The Story Goes On. The interludes were refreshing to see as the band and backup dancers were deeply involved, a bittersweet departure from the VCRs K-Pop groups would rely on during intermissions.

Tzuyu emerged on the side stage performing “DIVE IN,” a solo track about confronting someone who was hesitant in falling in love, showing off her dancing skills and delightful vocals. Next was Mina with “STONE COLD,” a fan favorite. Her mysterious aura and bewitching vocals carried the performance, and many barked after it was over. 

Nayeon joined the main stage soon after, performing “MEEEEEE,” a spunky pop track about having a no-nonsense approach with a partner. The performance showcased her playful persona with a strong dash of strong feminine independence. The fun continued with Jeongyeon performing “FIX A DRINK” in a sparkly cowboy outfit, complete with hollowed-out trousers and cowboy boots to match the country theme of the track. The sudden switch was a refreshing highlight of the solos and demonstrated how complex and diverse TWICE’s discography is.

Seguing into the classical and hip-hop genre, Dahyun appeared with a sparkly piano, playing the beginning of Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” before performing “CHESS” on the side stage. She was still cheeky and coy despite her limited mobility. Chaeyoung followed up with a synth-pop track, “SHOOT (Firecracker)” from her solo album, Lil Fantasy vol. 1, in a stunning A-line white dress with lace details. 

Up next was Jihyo performing “ATM” on the side stage in a hoodie and with black glasses. Her swagger was palpable, and as she took off her jacket to reveal her purple bralette, ONCEs went wild and started barking. Sana came on the stage after with her tropical dance pop track, “DECAFFINATED,” capturing the crowd’s attention with her slick dance moves and sultry vocals.

Lastly was Momo with the bass-filled “MOVE LIKE THAT” that became the epic climax of the solo stages. Her deep rap and vast vocal range showcased her talent well, and her burning and passionate charisma wrapped around the arena. 

It wouldn’t be a TWICE concert if there wasn’t an attempt to “Seal the Honmoon.” Chaeyoung, Jihyo, and Jeongyeon came on to perform “TAKEDOWN” from the blockbuster, Oscar-nominated Netflix animated film, Kpop Demon Hunters. Concertgoers were seen singing along excitedly and jumping along to the beat of the music.

After a short intermission featuring the members on the runway, TWICE moved on to their bigger hits like “Fancy,” “What is Love,” “Yes or Yes,” and “Dance the Night Away” to interact with the audience. Sana was spotted giving streamer confetti to some lucky ONCEs, while several other members splashed water on other fans. Jihyo and Chaeyoung did fan service at the climax of “What is Love,” generating a lot of cheers and excitement from the crowd. 

As the night drew to a close, the members thanked ONCEs for the energy given throughout the night, with a hope to see the fans for the rest of the residency. They performed “ONE SPARK,” which lit up the fans to get up from their seats and dance along. 

The members teased that this was their last song, but everyone still waited for the encore to come. While waiting, the camera operators filmed several members of the audience to do TWICE dance covers, including someone who was dressed as Momo from the “Like Ooh-Ahh” music video, Nayeon from the “THIS IS FOR” music video, and even as Huntrix as Kpop Demon Hunters to much fanfare and excitement. The encore time was filmed like a news segment, and as expected, it became “breaking news” that TWICE would return for the encore. 

TWICE re-emerged in concert tour merchandise to “Talk That Talk” before doing group photos with every corner of the arena. After, it was time for the crowd to pick their last song, “Feel Special,” much to the crowd’s surprise since the song was previously cut from the encore in Vancouver. 

Overall, the concert embodied TWICE’s love for their fans and showed the immense growth of the group since their debut. The intricate staging and dedication to the rotating choreography paid off. Dahyun, despite being injured, remained bubbly and spunky throughout the night, interacting with fans and doing the choreography from her seat. 

As ONCEs left the arena, they chattered about the upcoming shows, hoping to catch them at another date or stop. No doubt TWICE remains one of the top girl groups today, and their enduring popularity remains strong.