On May 1 (KST), Mamamoo wooed global online viewers with a beautiful New York-inspired performance as the first headliners of LIVENow’s K-Pop series. With bright stage lights, towering skyscrapers, and NYC-esque décor (catch the “N.Y. Street Food” and “Times Square” directional signs), the quartet transported themselves to Main Street and delivered a grand performance of some of their iconic tracks across the span of their seven-year-long career.
The virtual performance kicked off with “Dingga,” the group’s funky, vibrant single with lyrics about the desire to return to the good old days before the pandemic. With a solid vocal performance and an extended dance break, the performance set the bar for the night’s festivities. Mamamoo then moved into their upbeat track “나로 말할 것 같으면 (Yes I Am)” followed by a cheeky, aegyo-filled performance of “Waggy” before greeting their virtual audience with their signature harmonious introductions. Solar, Moonbyul, Wheein, and Hwasa shared how excited they were to perform for their fans worldwide and how honored they were to be LIVENow’s first K-Pop act. Past A-listers who held shows on the platform include Dua Lipa, Ellie Goulding, Gorillaz, and Maroon 5.
Mamamoo debuted in 2014 and is known as a vocal powerhouse group for their stunning, impeccable vocals in both their albums and live performances. Despite their reputation, the girls spilled that they too have had their share of fumbles. During a candid chat and Q&A segment, Solar shared, “We improvised a lot on stage, and we made a lot of mistakes. Also since our group name is Mama ‘moo,’ there were a lot of improvisations and puns related to “moo.” Hwasa recalled the time they performed “Memory” for a Christmas special, but their set time had been delayed so long that they had fallen asleep.
According to the girls, they have received countless nicknames from their fans. The one that impressed Solar the most was “Bolamor” while Moonbyul’s favorite nickname was “MoonToTom” in reference to her favorite clothing brand, Tomboy. Meanwhile, Wheein was nicknamed “Ggomo” after her beloved cat and Hwasa’s favorite simply after her favorite season, “Summer.”
When asked about their favorite song on the concert’s setlist, Wheein chose their breakout song “Uh Ah Oh Yeh,” citing it as the song that made them “more well-known, busier, and happier.” Mamamoo then performed the track live, allowing themselves to vibe out and enjoy the feel-good song as they wrapped up the first set of the night.
For their next set, the girls swapped out their cute, sweet personas and returned onstage with a girl-crush concept. Sporting dark chick outfits, the girls opened up with a surprise rock rendition of “gogobebe.” The presence of an electric guitar and commanding drum beats elevated the performance and produced a refreshing and edgy sound quite different from the original reggaetón track. The set continued with their self-empowering anthem “HIP” and segued into the ever-addictive “Décalcomanie.”
For their third and final set, the camera crew made their way upstairs for a stellar rooftop performance that overlooks the city, reminiscing of NYC’s night skyline. With refreshed and recharged energy, the girls performed their song “AYA” with a special, up-tempo dance break remix followed by “Egotistic.” For their encore stage, Mamamoo closed off their first-ever global performance on LIVENow with the instrumental-focused track, “Starry Night,” only befitting to perform under Seoul night sky.
In the wake of the global pandemic, online performances carved out a new outlet for global fans to watch their favorite acts perform live from the safety and comfort of their own homes. While it cannot replace the sheer exhilaration of being in a live concert, it does bring solace to our otherwise monotonous lifestyle over the last year. With LIVENow’s ability to create new experiences and visually aesthetic sets, we look forward to seeing what the new K-Pop series will bring to the table in the near future.