The Rose is far from your typical South Korean rock band. The band comprising vocalist Woosung, vocalist and guitarist Dojoon, bassist Taegyeom and drummer Hajoon has built a dedicated following with their unique sonic identity of integrating pop vocals underlined by an alternative rock sound and emotionally charged melodies. But what really sets them apart from other Korean bands is their almost completely English discography, with hooks that are perfect for large crowds to sing along to. After years of bringing their music to Black Roses around the world, The Rose finally made their way to Singapore for their first-ever solo concert in the country.

Apart from this stop being their first visit to Singapore, it was particularly meaningful as this marks the end of their tour named ‘ROSETOPIA’ which is their last tour before the band enters into an extended hiatus.

The band opened with ‘Utopia’ where its electrifying sound drew the audience to raise their hands in unison with Woosung. Following up with ‘Lifeline’, the band ended the song with a heartfelt reminder that The Rose could be their lifeline, before moving into the more upbeat song ‘RED’. The momentum was continued with ‘Yes’ where Black Roses enthusiastically shouted of the song title while the members reciprocated their excitement with plenty of interactions and playful exchanges with the crowd.

As the night went on, the sound mellowed into their mid-tempo discography starting off with ‘Walking On Clouds’ where a lucky Black Rose was invited to touch Woosung’s hair during the part of the song which sings, “you can touch my hair”. These moments were a physical manifestation of the intimacy woven into their lyrics which made the experience of listening to it live even more special.

They continued with ‘Nebula’, but quickly paused when a bass malfunction briefly interrupted their performance. While the technical issues were being sorted out, the members were quick to jump in to keep the atmosphere light and spirits high. Woosung and Dojoon took the opportunity to reminisce about their earlier busking days, when Woosung was in-charge of entertaining the crowd while Dojoon worked on fixing the audio. They even joked that they might have to perform in Singapore all night while the issue was being resolved. At one point, the members encouraged fans to stand up and enjoy themselves, only for the audience to explain that they were being considerate of those seated behind them. They wittingly responded that fans did not necessarily need to see them as long as they could hear the music, ending this age-long debate about standing at a seated venue once and for all. The amusing exchange during an unplanned pause in the night showcased the rapport the group had with the fans who were more than happy to share this mishap with them.

The next song ‘Shift’ marked the beginning of a mellow set of songs that have a strong guitar presence. The section closes out with ‘Slowly’ and the evening hit a new high again with fan favorite ‘Back To Me’, which received one of the loudest singalongs of the night. The high continued with ‘Control’ and ‘Cosmos’, that got fans jumping and dancing just as multi-coloured confetti burst into the air.

As the main set draws to a close, they sang ‘Sour’ and ‘Blue Moon’ to emphasise that Black Roses are paramount in The Rose’s journey as a band and a reminder that this goodbye is temporary. Members also took the opportunity to hand out roses to fans, giving them a rare chance to get up close with Taegyeom and Hajoon, who typically remain close to their instruments on stage.

With this being The Rose’s first Singapore concert, and the possibility that it may be their last for some time as they prepare for an extended hiatus, the evening carried a significance beyond that of an ordinary tour stop. From the spontaneous conversations during technical difficulties to the heartfelt singalongs and final exchange of roses, the band gave Singapore fans plenty of memories to take home. While the future may keep the members away from the stage for a while, their first meeting with Singapore’s Black Roses was certainly one worth remembering.

Article by: Cass @ KAvenyou
Photo credits: CK Star Entertainment