SEVENTEEN, the acclaimed K-Pop boy group, etched their names in history with a landmark performance at Glastonbury Festival 2024 on June 28th. This remarkable event marked the first time a K-Pop group has ever graced the prestigious Glastonbury stage, a testament to their global influence and the genre’s expanding reach. Fans, known as CARATs, along with the general concert-goers, reveled in the electrifying performance, celebrating this momentous achievement.
Stellar Reviews from Esteemed Critics
The performance didn’t just resonate with fans; it garnered rave reviews from notable critics. Esteemed music and pop culture magazines like NME and the London Evening Standard awarded SEVENTEEN’s performance with five-star ratings, underscoring the group’s exceptional talent and showmanship. NME, in particular, is renowned for its insightful and influential music reviews, and their glowing appraisal of SEVENTEEN’s set is a significant accolade, reflecting the group’s triumphant success on such a prominent stage.
SEVENTEEN: A Global Phenomenon
Despite SEVENTEEN being the biggest-selling group worldwide last year, with over 10 million albums sold, their mainstream success in the UK has been more recent. They only broke into the UK’s Top 40 singles chart last month. With this in mind, SEVENTEEN curated a setlist designed to captivate the Glastonbury audience, focusing on their most immediate and accessible songs. This strategic choice showcased their adaptability and understanding of different musical markets, ensuring a performance that would resonate with both new listeners and long-time fans.
An Ambitious and Dynamic Opening
The group’s set opened with their major hit, “Maestro.” This track is a perfect blend of honeyed vocals, fast-paced rapping, choppy piano riffs, and unexpected rhythmic switch-ups. “Maestro” is one of SEVENTEEN’s most ambitious tracks, setting the tone for a performance that was both innovative and engaging. The intricate composition of the song highlighted the group’s versatility and musical prowess, captivating the audience from the very first note.
Crowd-Pleasers and Rock Influences
While “Maestro” showcased SEVENTEEN’s complexity, it was their guitar-driven tracks and easily chanted English lyrics that truly energized the crowd. Songs like the rap-heavy “Lalali,” the rock-influenced “2 Minus 1,” and the singalong anthem “Hot” were standout moments. These tracks, with their powerful riffs and catchy choruses, were designed to maximize audience participation, creating a lively and interactive atmosphere that is a hallmark of SEVENTEEN’s live performances..
SEVENTEEN’s Global Impact
Despite being a new name for many in the UK, SEVENTEEN is undeniably one of the biggest acts to perform at Glastonbury this year. Their status as the first K-pop group to perform at the festival is a landmark achievement, reflecting the global spread of K-pop and its increasing influence on international music scenes. SEVENTEEN’s performance at Glastonbury is not just a win for the group but also a milestone for K-pop as a genre, showcasing its ability to captivate diverse audiences and cross cultural boundaries.