Chapter 102 Coachella Music Festival
"Friends, come and see what our pride, our leader, our Kwon Ji-yong is doing."
"Brother, I'm here—"
Hearing the noise behind him, Kwon Ji-yong took off his headphones, turned around, and lazily greeted Kang Dae-sung's camera.
Kang Daesung wanted his team leader to say a few more words, but then he heard Kwon Ji-yong's drawn-out voice: "Yoon-sung, you promised to watch it with me~"
Han Yunxing pressed the pause button, and the movie on the screen stopped. She raised her hands in surrender and muttered, "Oppa, I'll tell you all the parts of the movie you missed."
Kwon Ji-yong lowered his gaze to meet Han Yoon-sung's bright eyes, his fingers itching, and he couldn't resist touching her head. Feeling the hand messing with her head, Han Yoon-sung tilted her head back and pushed his hand away with her forehead, her voice softening: "Okay, okay, I'll wait for you to watch together."
She turned around and stared curiously at the camera in Jiang Dasheng's hand: "Are you filming a vlog?"
Jiang Daesung was still feeling a little guilty for interrupting the young couple's time together when he heard Han Yunxing's question. He turned the camera on her and said, "Yes! It will be posted on my YouTube channel. Yunxing, do you want to say hello?"
"Hello everyone, I'm Yoon-sung!" Han Yoon-sung waved happily at the camera, her eyes curving into crescents: "We're on a plane right now, that's right! It's for the trip that everyone's been waiting for~ Please give Big Bang and Kwon Ji-yong a lot of support for their performance at Coachella."
Laughter came from off-camera: "Please also support Coachella Day 2 Yoon Sung's performance."
*
The weather was fantastic that weekend at the music festival; the California sun shone generously on the land. Han Yunxing didn't perform on Day 1; Big Bang's performance was on the Sahara stage. After visiting backstage, although there was still some time before the performance, the number of people outside the Sahara tent had noticeably increased. Han Yunxing followed the staff to the audience area.
Dusk was approaching in the desert, and the air was filled with a low rhythm and a faint excitement coming from not far away. She was gazing absently at the gradually changing clouds on the horizon when she suddenly heard someone calling her name from behind.
"Lyra!"
She instinctively turned around and saw several young women looking in her direction from a short distance away. The moment their eyes met, their eyes lit up, and they waved excitedly, "Hi Lyra!"
Han Yunxing smiled and took a few steps forward, saying, "Hello, are you here to see the stage performance later?"
Just moments ago, from a distance, a friend shared with shining eyes the stunning beauty she had seen. Upon closer inspection, the group realized it was Han Yunxing. Now, as they approached, and Han Yunxing gazed upon them with her beautiful eyes, the girls' faces flushed with excitement.
"Yes! We came for Big Bang and for you!" They chattered excitedly about how they managed to snag tickets and how they rented a car with their friends to drive to Coachella. Finally, they asked if they could take a photo with Han Yoon-sung.
Han Yunxing readily agreed and chatted with the girls for a while afterward. When the sky turned completely orange, the large screen on the Sahara stage flickered, and amidst the screams of the crowd, the screen played the changing seasons, then froze on flowers blooming in the desert. The members' names and silhouettes appeared one by one on the screen, and finally the words "BIGBANG STILL LIFE" grew larger and larger on the screen, bursting through the screen and reflected in the eyes of the audience with a drumbeat.
The screen dimmed, and red rays burst forth from the center of the stage, weaving into a net. With each drumbeat, the light flashed violently, and the screams from the crowd were deafening, gradually coalescing into a series of shouts:
"BIGBANG!"
"BIGBANG!"
"BIGBANG!"
The stage slowly rose, and red rays swept across the room, eventually turning into a blazing white light. The figures of the Big Bang members appeared in the light, sending the entire audience into a frenzy.
As the intro to "Bang Bang Bang" began, the people on stage raised their arms, leading the entire audience to clap along to the rhythm. The audience joined in singing along, and one could faintly hear excited, even cracking, shouts.
Kwon Ji-yong surveyed the audience like a king returning home, raised the microphone and shouted, "Coachella, are you ready?!"
The deafening screams made him nod in satisfaction, leaving behind a smiling "let's go." He turned to exchange glances with the members next to him, a dazzling smile spreading across his face.
As it turns out, time can't turn Bigbang into a dance crew. At first, they managed to maintain their individual dance styles, with T.O.P showcasing his "dance king" prowess. But during the chorus, the members went wild, scattering across the stage and interacting with the audience. The ending, with the hand outstretched like a gun, struck a chord with everyone in the audience. The entire Sahara area turned into a massive rave, with every inch of air vibrating and boiling.
Countless crown-shaped lights flickered in rhythm with the crowd, forming a sea of crowns. It must be said that the quality of the support lights was quite good. Even after not being used for several years, they still worked perfectly under the vigorous waving of the crowd, witnessing this long-awaited reunion.
While he was talking, Kwon Ji-yong walked to the edge of the stage, squatted down, and peered at the light held by a fan clinging to the railing. When the fan saw him looking over, he excitedly raised the light even higher. If he hadn't been so rational, he would have thrown the light onto the stage and given it to Kwon Ji-yong.
“Okay, okay,” Kwon Ji-yong raised an eyebrow, revealing his signature parentheses smile, his voice carrying throughout the venue through the microphone: “Thank you, thank you for preserving the light sticks so well and bringing them here. Really... thank you.”
Upon hearing these words, a chorus of "Thank you, Big Bang!" erupted from the audience. The fans who had taken photos with Han Yoon-sung earlier were still next to her, and almost immediately after she finished speaking, she clearly saw several of them wiping away tears.
The other members on stage also shared their heartfelt words to the fans. Everyone laughed and cried. Finally, Kwon Ji-yong drawled out his words, his tone as sincere as ever: "Ji-ji, we're back."
Just then, the sound of an orchestra filled the room. Kwon Ji-yong tilted his head back, casually ruffled his hair, took a deep breath, and opened his tightly closed eyes:
You said everything has quietly changed.
The excitement will continue, so be sure to give it your all!
Singing old songs after a long time
I feel like I never left.
Yes, I never left.
A moment of surprised silence fell over the audience, followed by an even bigger commotion. Fans raised their phones to record, exchanging surprised glances with those around them, eager to confirm their suspicions: a new song was coming!
That's right, they were on the stage for their new song premiere, and the entire audience singing along to "Home Sweet Home" announced Big Bang's return. It's not a fresh start, but rather that they never left.
Bigbang's Coachella setlist this time had a total of 16 songs, and including costume changes and a short talking segment, it lasted for an hour and a half. But time seemed to pass so quickly at this moment. When they sang "haru haru" and the line "Please don't look back when you leave," everyone's reluctance was palpable.
Looking at the expressions of the fans below the stage, Taeyang secretly marveled at how brilliant it was for Kwon Ji-yong to choose "We Like 2Party" as the last song. Sure enough, when the last song started, the entire audience joined in the party revelry with "Cheers to the sky for today that will never come again."
Live for today, for tomorrow we may die; they've never truly left.
As fans chanted "Encore!", the stage lights dimmed, and the crowd began to leave. But the shouts from the audience stopped them in their tracks, and the sounds became clearer:
"Kwon Ji-yong!"
"Kwon Ji-yong!"
"Kwon Ji-yong!"
Amid gasps of surprise, Kwon Ji-yong's name flashed on the big screen, and the next moment he returned to the stage in a black robe.
"When GD's in the house."
"Aaaaaahh ...
It was Kwon Ji-yong's special stage. It wasn't until yesterday that the official announcement was made that Kwon Ji-yong would also have a solo performance at Coachella. Fans had been eagerly waiting for this moment, and what surprised them even more was that this stage also featured a new song.
"Power" incorporates Kwon Ji-yong's signature hip-hop elements, igniting the stage with a unique attitude. The rap is sharp, catchy, and effortless. The double entendre of "power" and "pabo" (idiot) further treats the excessive scrutiny from the outside world as a boring trick. Beneath the cynical mockery lies a deadly confidence, and the whole audience dances to his rhythm.
As the melody of "power power" still fills my mind, the intro to "Pheonix" begins. If "Power" is blatant mockery and unwavering courage, then "Pheonix" is rebirth, reflection, and the pursuit of one's true self.
"From the ashes, a thousand voices cried out, 'Stop! Don't go any further!'"
Where do you want to go?
Moving forward is Nirvana, moving backward is mediocrity.
Bury your inner demons and break free from your shackles.
You are pheonix, the fire forged your powerful wings.
Fate is in your hands, as if a god has descended to earth.
"Conquer your distractions, spread your wings, and fly to a new world."[1]
As the song's melody grew brighter, the large screen displayed the phoenix, reborn from the flames, spreading its wings and seemingly hovering above everyone's heads. Kwon Ji-yong looked up and met the phoenix's gaze. The lyrics of "Phoenix" resonated powerfully with the audience.
As the song ended, thunderous applause erupted from the audience. Kwon Ji-yong wiped the fine sweat from his forehead with a towel and then adjusted his slightly open robe.
Returning to the stage, he had a lot to say, but upon reflection, he realized that everything was already in the lyrics. Taking this opportunity, Kwon Ji-yong revealed the progress of his next album.
"My third full-length album, Ubermensch," a fan accurately identified the new album, and a wave of cheers erupted in the venue. He waited for the cheers to subside before continuing, "It will be released to everyone in the near future."
"The reaction? It should be pretty good." He casually pinned his sunglasses to his head, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his chin.
The audience immediately responded with a very positive response. One male fan shouted, "What are you thinking? Of course you will!" Upon hearing this, Kwon Ji-yong laughed so hard he almost stumbled.
He raised an eyebrow and continued, "And then? I'll be very happy. If I'm happy? Then I'll continue."
Kwon Ji-yong's skillful push-pull technique brought a knowing smile to the fans' faces, but his next words truly got the whole audience's blood boiling, and they shouted loudly.
"If we continue, you'll really like it. Then we will?"
"Together forever."
He turned and walked forward, beckoning to the roaring crowd behind him with his finger: "crooked!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the familiar intro to "Wild" played perfectly in time, and the powerful drumbeats and electric guitar sounds exploded, pushing the scene to another crazy climax.
Han Yunxing looked at the dazzling people on the stage, her face flushed with excitement. She and the people around her were immersed in the musical revelry, shouting their support and waving their crown lights vigorously to the rhythm.
Even before the performance ended, online reviews of Coachella Day 1's performances surged, with hashtags like #KwonJiYongBringsBack #BigBangStillLife #KwonJiYongPower #KwonJiYongPheonix #KwonJiYongStandingLife3 generating countless trending posts.
After the official high-definition footage was uploaded to YouTube, Kwon Ji-yong's solo stage compilation garnered over ten million views in a single day. The one-hour Big Bang stage compilation transformed into a national chat room. It's no exaggeration to say that on your commute by public transport, if you accidentally glance at someone's phone, you'll see that they're playing Big Bang and Kwon Ji-yong's stage videos.
Han Yoon-sung hasn't yet experienced this wave of enthusiasm, as she's preparing for her upcoming stage performance. This setlist includes 15 songs from her five albums since her debut, and also the first live performances of her collaborations "Lose Control" and "Speechless."
Han Yunxing's performance was scheduled on the main stage. Since there was no tent area on the main stage, the sky above the desert was unobstructed. It was nearly nine o'clock, and the stars were shining brightly. Everyone unconsciously looked up and immersed themselves in the starry sky with their relatives and friends.
Coachella's evenings are not as scorching as the days. A gentle breeze blows by, making the people in the arena shiver. Even those who are not afraid of the cold put on their coats. Suddenly, the sound of bass strumming comes from the speakers not far away. They stop what they are doing and begin to gather around the central stage.
The bass variation stopped, and the entire venue fell silent for a second. A beam of silver spotlight poured down like moonlight, precisely illuminating the center of the stage.
Han Yunxing stood there, her long red dress seemingly dyed by the last rays of the desert sunset, burning brightly under the starry sky. A gentle evening breeze blew by, causing her slightly curled long hair to flutter, and the extreme contrast of black and red on the screen was deeply imprinted in the eyes of the audience.
“What’s up Coachella—”
Brighter than the stars was the vibrant energy in Han Yunxing's eyes. Although she had a slender frame, her explosive power was in no way inferior to that of European and American stars. Her opening was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, followed by the drumbeats of "Luminous", which instantly made the venue hot.
Her red dress billowed as she danced, and her clear voice, with its irresistible magic, captivated everyone's emotions. The audience below had long forgotten the cold, their eyes fixed on the most dazzling light source on the stage.
"Run towards the distance, no longer chasing the daylight."
You'll always know where I am.
Because I am like a star, shining brightly.
I got the stars and the moon
i am always gonna be luminous"
As she soared to the high notes and opened her arms, the wind once again favored her, blowing her red skirt into a perfect fan shape, like a flower blooming brilliantly in the desert. At this moment, the glittering Milky Way became the background color flowing in her eyes; she was the embodiment of radiance.
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Author's Note: While writing about red clothes, I suddenly realized that 2022 is Yunxing's birth year in the Chinese zodiac.
[1]pheonix - League of Legends
BGM:
Still Life
Bang bang bang
"We Like 2Party"
《haru haru》
Power
Home Sweet Home
Power
Crooked
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