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[HanCinema's Concert Review] Infinite in New York City

A K-pop concert is a very unique concert-going experience. Unlike the many rock, R&B, and classical concerts that I have attended, K-pop concerts have a certain sense of unity amongst fans that is unparalleled. At the Infinite concert at New York City's Playstation Theatre on January 19, 2016 the sense of unity was awesome. It was the last leg of the North American tour and fans had waited for hours and hours in the 17°F weather to make sure that they got up close and personal with their idols.

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Infinite is one of the top K-pop acts in Korea and in the world. The seven member team is known for its strength on live stages as well as their exceptionally synchronized and finessed dancing. Their live concert lacked for nothing. They were accompanied by a live band, explosions of ribbons and confetti, and a full-scale light show. Members performed as a whole as well as breaking up into their subunits for winsome performances that include hard-hitting Infinite H and paper airplane-flying Infinite F. Fanservice like the paper airplanes is par for the course in K-pop. K-pop groups take care of their fans with plenty of heartfelt speeches, tease peeks at well-toned abs, and lots of free giveaways. In return, fans learn fanchants and sing (or scream) along with their favorite (or all) tunes despite the fact that the fans may or may not speak Korean.

This is the phenomenon of K-pop, it's polished idols who put countless hours into their singing, dancing, and performance skills. They always mind their looks, their fashion, and the impressions that they man on the world. They adhere to the concepts of their albums, their promotions, and their activities. It's a rigorous life that have equally as rigorous audiences that extend from their native South Korea to the far reaches of the globe.

As an international fan of K-pop, I recommend making the effort to see a K-pop concert at least once outside of Korea. It's quite a different experience than listening to Western pop. Fanservice is performed with near religious fervor, and the quality of the performances is predictably high. K-pop is loved because of its high-quality, and because of the rigors of being a fan. It's rewarding to see a group after hours of unseen dedication: buying albums and products, learning lyrics in a foreign language, learning fanchants, and watching programs on youtube and through platforms like Viki and Dramafever.

My trip to see Infinite was most definitely worth it after only being able to listen to albums and watch their members in dramas and variety programs. Although I was there in a professional capacity, it is always difficult not to enjoy a performance of theirs. It was very much worth the trip to New York. Until we meet again, Infinite, perhaps next time in South Korea!

Written by: Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

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