Glastonbury 2024: Seventeen bring K-pop party to Pyramid Stage

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By Mark Savage, Music Correspondent

Solely Taylor Swift bought extra information all over the world than Seventeen final 12 months

BBC Seventeen on the Pyramid Stage — Solely Taylor Swift bought extra information all over the world than Seventeen final 12 months

Boy band behemoth Seventeen have made historical past on the Glastonbury Pageant, by turning into the primary Ok-pop group to play the principle Pyramid Stage.

Pouring onto the stage on Friday afternoon, the 13-piece group delivered an hour of precision choreography and sticky pop melodies to an viewers of diehard followers and curious onlookers.

“We’re simply extraordinarily honoured to be right here,” they stated.

“Although the language, nation and tradition are all completely different, we are able to nonetheless join as one, via music.”

The band, who sometimes play Taylor Swift-length three hour exhibits, delivered a compact and energetic 60-minute set

Seventeen on the Pyramid Stage — The band, who sometimes play Taylor Swift-length three hour exhibits, delivered a compact and energetic 60-minute set

Seventeen had been the biggest-selling group on the earth final 12 months, shifting greater than 10 million albums – however they solely scored their first High 40 single within the UK final month.

Aware of that, they put collectively a setlist that targeted on their most quick and accessible songs.

They opened with their huge hit, Maestro, which mixes honeyed vocals and fast-paced rapping with uneven piano riffs and sudden rhythmical switch-ups.

It is certainly one of their most bold tracks – but it surely was the songs with guitar riffs and easily-chanted English lyrics that fared greatest – amongst them, the rap-heavy monitor Lalali, the rocky 2 Minus 1, and the sinagalong anthem Scorching.

“Have you ever heard of Seventeen earlier than,” requested band chief S Coups at one level. “So many members, proper?”

The intelligent staging allowed all 13 members to shine. The group splits into smaller “sub-units” primarily based on their rap, vocal and dancing prowess – with every given a solo spot.

Seungkwan and band chief S Coups had been probably the most exuberant, riling up the group throughout and between songs, whereas Woozi’s ethereal vocals had been juxtaposed with Vernon and Joshua’s extra soulful tones.

The viewers grew frequently all through the band’s one-hour set

Fans watch Seventeen at Glastonbury — The viewers grew frequently all through the band’s one-hour set

Even so, the Glastonbury viewers appeared sceptical at first.

The sector in entrance of the Pyramid Stage cleared out after packed units by Squeeze and Olivia Dean earlier within the day, and there have been giant patches of empty area as Seventeen launched into their first monitor, Maestro.

However over the course of an hour, doubts had been dispelled because the band labored onerous to get the viewers on aspect – racing onto the wings of the stage, and descending into the group to whip up enthusiasm.

It culminated with the brilliantly daft disco-dance anthem Very Good – which had half a dozen of false endings, the vitality constructing each time the group launched again into one other refrain.

The present was an indication of Ok-pop’s rising chart dominance. 4 of the highest 10 best-selling acts on the earth final 12 months hailed from South Korea, with Seventeen joined by Stray Youngsters, TomorrowxTomorrow and NewJeans.

The truth is, Glastonbury is comparatively late to the get together. Boy band BTS performed two exhibits at Wembley Stadium in 2019, whereas lady group Blackpink headlined each Coachella and London’s BST competition final 12 months.

Seeing a Ok-pop band on the Pyramid Stage was “so sudden however actually, actually sensible”, stated Australian fan Milia, who got here in a customized soccer T-shirt bearing the title of Seventeen heartthrob Hoshi.

“These acts are touring globally and it’s actually superb to see Glastonbury truly placing them on. You possibly can see by the group, there’s lots of people right here – whether or not they’re followers or they’re simply searching for one thing completely different. We should always see extra of it.”

The band utilised each inch of the Pyramid Stage

Seventeen — The band utilised each inch of the Pyramid Stage

“Ok-Pop coming to the UK is the way in which to go,” agreed Ami, who’d been within the entrance row together with her daughter Molly.

“I’ve been working at Glastonbury for 22 years, we’ve bought a Thai meals stall, and I’ve by no means stepped foot close to the Pyramid Stage,” she added. “That is our first time, and I cherished it.

“They’re simply so good-looking, aren’t they? They’re so match!”

“Did you discover that one of many members got here down and cheered with the viewers?” stated London-based fan Qi. “That was Seungkwan, who’s our bias.

“It is not like they had been nervous or attempting to behave themselves. They had been so relaxed, they had been energetic they usually had been assured, identical to at all times. That is why we love them.”

The band definitely appeared relaxed, regardless of the importance of the second – often breaking out of their precision-tooled choreography to work together with followers and throw coronary heart indicators into the air.

“Thanks a lot for inviting us,” stated Joshua. “We’re Seventeen. Do not forget that.”

Their followers will always remember.