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After much anticipation, global superstars BLACKPINK officially kicked off their “DEADLINE” concert series in Goyang, with electrifying shows on July 5th and 6th at Goyang Stadium. The concerts marked their awaited return to the stage as a full group, featuring a mix of their iconic hits and the live debut of a brand-new track, “JUMP”. However, this highly anticipated comeback has been met with a spectrum of reactions from their fans.

The energy inside Goyang Stadium was undeniably palpable as BLACKPINK graced the stage. The extensive setlist, spanning multiple acts dedicated to the group and individual members, showcased their powerful discography. Fans were thrilled to hear classics like “Kill This Love,” “Pink Venom,” “How You Like That,” “Playing With Fire,” and “Shut Down” (which included a dance break incorporating “Crazy Over You” and “Typa Girl”).

The concert also featured impressive individual member stage performances:

• Jisoo performed “earthquake” and “Your Love”.
• Lisa electrified the crowd with “New Woman” and “Rockstar”.
• Jennie delivered a powerhouse solo with “Mantra,” “with the IE (way up),” and “like JENNIE”.
• Rosé opened her segment with “3am,” followed by “toxic till the end” and the soaring “APT.”.

The group acts continued with “Pretty Savage,” “Don’t Know What to Do,” “Whistle,” “Stay” (acoustic), and “Lovesick Girls” (with an extended outro). The finale saw the live debut of their brand-new track “JUMP,” followed by fan favorites such as “BOOMBAYAH,” “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” “As If It’s Your Last,” and “Forever Young.” The encore included a “JUMP” reprise, and “See U Later” (extended outro), with Day 2 also adding “Really”.

However, the excitement of their return has been notably tempered by criticisms from a segment of the fanbase. Many fans expressed frustration over the perceived lack of a full album, feeling that a single new song after a significant hiatus was insufficient. A prominent point of contention was the perceived similarity of the “DEADLINE” concert to their previous “Born Pink” tour, with some fans noting the setlist felt repetitive and the remixes underwhelming.

Furthermore, the newly released lightstick also faced criticism for being too similar to the previous version, with some fans feeling it lacked significant updates or innovation. This, coupled with the perceived repetition in the concert format and the limited new music, led some to label the entire comeback strategy as a “money grab”.

Despite these mixed reactions, there’s no denying BLACKPINK’s enduring power and captivating stage presence. The “DEADLINE” concert marks their official re-entry into the performance scene. As the tour continues to cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, Paris, London, and many more, it will be interesting to see how these initial fan sentiments evolve and what future plans BLACKPINK and YG Entertainment have in store.

What are your thoughts on the “DEADLINE” kick-off and the fan reactions? Let us know in the comments below!