Lauv's Seoul concert draws more than 15,000 fans

Music & Performance

Published: 30 Aug. 2023, 13:39 Updated: 30 Aug. 2023, 16:34

Lauv's Seoul concert draws more than 15,000 fans

American singer Lauv performs during the ″Lauv Live in Seoul″ concert held at KSPO Dome in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Tuesday. [LIVE NATION KOREA]

It was apt for "Paris in the Rain" singer Lauv to visit a soaked Seoul to perform on Tuesday. It drizzled all day, but the more than 15,000 fans who came to see the American singer perform at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul didn't mind their soggy shoes and were more than happy to hear his songs live on a rainy day.

As the concert, "Lauv Live In Seoul," began, Lauv pranced on stage without any sessions or backup performers, clad in a blue jacket and showcasing his latest single, "Love U Like That," as the first song to kick off the concert. He enthusiastically shouted "I love you" in between the lyrics, delighting the audience.

This was followed by the singer's biggest hit to date, "Paris in the Rain," a song about how being with the one you love makes it feel like walking in the rain in a romantic destination. The crowd at the KSPO Dome sang along to the chorus in a prime example of the singalong habits of Korean concertgoers, to which Lauv seemed to respond with amazement as the singer beamed on stage.

American singer Lauv performs during the ″Lauv Live in Seoul″ concert held at KSPO Dome in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Tuesday. [LIVE NATION KOREA]

"Paris in the Rain" was followed by hits including "Paranoid" (2018), "i'm so tired..." (2019) and "Chasing Fire" (2018), during which Lauv maintained an upbeat energy and entertained the crowd. There seemed to be some problems with the building-sized electronic boards surrounding the stage, however — the board on the right side of the stage did not come on during the first couple of songs. This didn't faze the singer, and the concert went on in high spirits.

During "Tattoos Together" (2020), Lauv showed off a tattoo — with the camera for the electronic boards zooming in on his leg — which said "crab meat" in Korean, making the fans laugh. In between "Summer Nights" (2022) and "Molly in Mexico" (2022), the singer jumped into the crowd and performed while swamped by his fans.

The highlight of the concert came when the set list came to "Steal the Show," a soundtrack song to the Pixar animation "Elemental." "Elemental" has enjoyed box office success and mainstream popularity, especially in Korea, and the crowd seemed hyped for the performance of "Steal the Show."

More than 15,000 fans are in attendance at Lauv's concert at the KSPO Dome in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Tuesday. [LIVE NATION KOREA]

Lauv came on stage to play the piano session himself, and a moment later, a couple from the audience came on stage as well — before the man of the couple knelt down and proposed on stage as Lauv sang the song. The proposal was a success, with thousands of people cheering on the couple and Lauv himself in tears afterward.

The encore songs for Tuesday's concert were "Never Not" (2018) and "I Like Me Better" (2018), a hit song almost as equally popular as "Paris in the Rain."

The crowd, not disappointing the singer, sang along to "I Like Me Better" in chorus as Lauv shouted, "Let's break these walls," referring to the walls of the KSPO Dome, and ended the 80-minute performance.

More than 15,000 fans are in attendance at Lauv's concert at the KSPO Dome in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Tuesday. [LIVE NATION KOREA]

"It was one of the best concerts I have been to recently," Kim Hyun-joo, a university student at the concert, said. "And the proposal event during 'Steal the Show' was such a romantic moment and a good surprise. I wish something like that would happen to me in the future," Kim said, laughing.

Lauv debuted in 2015 with the EP "Lost in the Light" before seeing a breakthrough with "I Like Me Better." He has since gone on world tours and written songs for other artists, including Charli XCX, Cheat Codes and Demi Lovato, while making his own music in albums "How I'm Feeling" (2020) and "All 4 Nothing" (2022). Tuesday was the singer's first solo concert in Korea.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]