Sunshine wasn’t all that Wembley Park was blessed with on Friday 21 June 2024. There were two incredible performers that afternoon due to delight audiences at Wembley: Taylor Swift, and IU – both amazing performers with worldwide appreciation and dedicated fanbases. I’m not sure if I have ever seen so many excited people gathered all in one place. There was so much glitter and excitement in the area on the glorious sunny afternoon that it was impossible not to feel touched by and enjoy.
Nobody could attend both but I noted several pleasant exchanges between the respective concert-goers, and a few people swapping music as they sat in the shade, which was really nice, and all of it set the tone for what promised to be an unforgettable evening, no matter which concert you attended. By the time I stepped into the welcome cool of the air-conditioned OVO arena, I couldn’t help feeling lucky to be there. Being there felt like I was experiencing a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ kind of luck.
The delights continued when I was handed, as were all those in attendance, a small gift on my arrival. Inside the pretty little tin I was presented with was a keyring, magnet and two photo cards. IU later shared that this gift had been prepared by her mother, and this added another dimension to the evening. It was a gentle touch that demonstrated how IU cherishes her fans, and the small act of recognition (which must have been very time-consuming and expensive to arrange) leaves a lasting sense of friendship.
As soon as Lee Ji-eun, better known by her stage name IU, appeared on the stage (pictured above), she completely captivated the audience’s attention and hearts. The scale of it was different to any other performance I have seen. Highly regarded as one of Korea’s most loved performers, earning herself the title of the ‘Nation’s Little Sister’ and sweetheart, IU is a standout performer. It’s clear she (and her team) put a great deal of thought and care into the little flourishes that make her the incredible performer she is.
From the start to the end, the magical spell of an evening was truly incredible. Being there felt like a privilege in a way that is hard to describe. The stages were immersive and theatrical, but not so grand that they distracted from the music, only enhanced the feeling you’ve experienced something magical. IU is utterly charming, and delighted with the candid way she engages with her audience, speaking with ease both in English and Korean. She laughs and smiles easily and naturally. I challenge you to find anyone more charming or delightful. IU is beautiful, the manner in which she engages with her audience in a way that’s hard to replicate, and even harder not to feel spellbound. That’s all without commenting on her voice. IU is a standalone artist. There is thought and meaning to be found in every aspect of her performance, but there are no gimmicks. Everything you see compliments her talent, rather than distracts from it. This allows her to truly sparkle on stage, and give her fans a glimpse into her personality.
The concert itself was split into four parts (plus 2 encores). Hypnotic, Energetic, Romantic & Ecstatic. Each brought with it a change in tempo, as well as a costume change that matched the spirit and energy of the songs to follow. The differences in the various styles, allowed IU to showcase her talent, and leaves the audience with no doubt about what a versatile performer she is. Her vocal range has no comparison. As the evening progressed IU demonstrated that she’s also delightfully charming. She allows her audience to get a glimpse of her personality and looked clearly touched that so many people were singing along.
The first part was titled ‘Hypnotic’, and I’m not sure there is a more fitting description to her first appearance on the stage. IU appeared angel like, and wearing an all white ensemble, every inch as beautiful to behold in real life as you might expect.
During the second section, ‘Energy’, IU spoke with the audience candidly, and shared that this much awaited performance marked a particular milestone for her, being that it was her first time during her 17 year long career, to perform in London. IU beamed when she shared how delighted she felt to be performing in London, a place she described as “the city of music”. She joked about how she liked to put meaning to things, and shared that being there felt like a dream. She also joked that she was surprised by the good weather, and that it had not rained for the whole 3 days she had been here.
The tone for the third part of the concert was ‘Romance’, and it began with one of the more moving aspects of the evening, where a young girl appeared on stage holding a (LED) candle. She ran to various parts of the stage and waved to the audience prompting cheers of endearment. This all created a sense of mystery and intrigue, and the mesmerising images transformed into a glittery path that floats its own way across the stage to where IU waited as the music for Celebrity begins. This section of the evening featured more of IU’s ballads, and allowed the audience to really get a sense of how incredible her vocals are.
The unforgettable moments weren’t just for us to treasure, IU relished in special moments of her own. She serenaded us with a meaningful rendition of a song from her favourite artist: Corrine Bailey Rae (“CRB”). It was meaningful to IU that she could sing ‘Just Like a Star’ in London – it was the first song she learned to play on the guitar – the city where CRB lives. IU shared that it was a moment she would cherish forever, and us with her.
When it came to the performance of Strawberry Moon, IU teased the audience with the knowledge that she originally taken the song off the set list, but placed it back on when she learned that there would in fact be a strawberry moon in the sky that night.
As the concert reached the end, it was clear that IU had truly captivated her audience.
To go to an IU concert is to experience pop perfection!
IU performed:
Holssi
Jam Jam
Ah puh
BBIBBI
Obliviate
Celebrity
Blueming
eight
Coin
I stan U
Havana
Like a Star (Corinne Bailey Rae cover)
Strawberry moon
Through the Night
Shopper
Above the Time
YOU&I
Love wins all
Encore:
Heroic
Shh..
Twenty-three
Holssi
En-encore
Someday
LILAC
Love poem
Palette