Latest news with #Taeyeon
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Show Picks: Concerts by Taeyeon, Pamungkas and Boys Like Girls
South Korean singer Taeyeon from Girls' Generation will play two nights at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. PHOTO: TAEYEON_SS/INSTAGRAM Taeyeon Concert – The Tense In Singapore South Korean singer Taeyeon, best known as a member of K-pop girl group Girls' Generation, is making a return to the Singapore Indoor Stadium for solo shows. Her two-night performances are part of The Tense – an Asian tour for her EPs To. X (2023) and Letter To Myself (2024) – that includes dates in Taipei, Manila and Bangkok. She last took the stage here at the Singapore Indoor Stadium during a two-night engagement in 2023. The singer is best known for solo tracks such as All About You (2019) – part of the soundtrack of fantasy K-drama Hotel Del Luna – Four Seasons (2019) and Invu (2022). In 2024, she collaborated with English singer Sam Smith on a new version of the latter's 2014 ballad I'm Not The Only One. Taeyeon made her name as the leader and main vocalist of Girls' Generation, which scored hits such as Genie (2009) and Gee (2009). She is also in the cast of South Korean variety series Amazing Saturday (2020 to present). Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk MRT: Stadium When: May 3 and 4, 5pm Admission: $178 to $298 via Ticketmaster (go to or call 6018-7645) Esplanade Presents – Pesta Raya – Pamungkas Indonesian singer Pamungkas' hit song To The Bone (2019) clocked a total of one billion streams on Spotify and YouTube. PHOTO: ESPLANADE – THEATRES ON THE BAY Indonesian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Pamungkas is best known for hits such as To The Bone (2019), an alt-pop tune that has clocked a total of one billion streams on Spotify and YouTube. The self-taught musician and founder of music label Maspam Records is also a regular fixture at Indonesian music festivals such as We The Fest and Java Jazz. He released his debut album Walk The Talk in 2018 and his fifth and most recent album, Hardcore Romance, in 2024. His list of accolades includes winning Alternative Song of the Year for To The Bone at the Indonesian Music Awards and Best Alternative Performance for I Don't Wanna Be Alone (2020) at Indonesian awards show Anugerah Musik Indonesia, both in 2021. His show is part of the 24th edition of Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts organised by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay that takes place from May 1 to 4. It features other music, theatre and cultural performances and workshops. Where: Esplanade Annexe Studio, 1 Esplanade Drive MRT: Esplanade When: May 3, 8pm Admission: $40 from Sistic (go to or call 6348-5555) Info: For details on Pesta Raya programmes, go to Boys Like Girls Live In Singapore 2025 American band Boys Like Girls are best known for pop-punk/emo songs like The Great Escape (2006). PHOTO: BOYS LIKE GIRLS/FACEBOOK In the last two decades, pop-punk American quartet Boys Like Girls have racked up a string of hits such as The Great Escape (2006) and Two Is Better Than One (2009), which features American superstar Taylor Swift. The band have performed here five times, including two shows in 2024 at the Capitol Theatre and *Scape The Ground Theatre. They played their first show here at The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay, in 2012. Their fourth and latest album, Sunday At Foxwoods, released in 2023, saw them return to their pop-punk roots after a detour into country music in their third album, Crazy World (2012). The concert features two opening acts – Secondhand Serenade, the solo emo/acoustic project by American singer-songwriter rock musician John Vesely, and home-grown singer-songwriter Vel. Where: The Star Theatre, 04-01 The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green MRT: Buona Vista When: May 7, 7.30pm Admission: From $128 to $228 via Sistic Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Korea Herald
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Taeyeon delights 20,000 in Macao show
Taeyeon hosted her first solo standalone show in Macao over the weekend which drew about 20,000 in the audience, said label SM Entertainment on Monday. Under the title, 'The Tense in Asia,' she welcomed her fans with a medley of hit songs that spanned across genres. Before closing the show, the songstress thanked the audience for letting her come to the city and filling up the venue, vowing to cherish the memory. She will carry on with the tour in Singapore this coming weekend. The tour is her sixth as a solo singer and marks the tenth anniversary of her solo debut. It began in Seoul in March and will also take her to Bangkok and Hong Kong in May and June. A two-day concert in Tokyo slated to be held earlier this month was canceled abruptly due to a logistical issue, and she shared on her personal Instagram account her global fan alliance's April 24 demand for an apology and compensation plans from her label, SM Entertainment.
Korea Herald
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Is Taeyeon being too fastidious, or is SM Entertainment neglecting its veteran artist?
Performances for the Japan leg of Taeyeon's solo tour were abruptly canceled last week after essential equipment failed to arrive in time. A resurfaced online post by an anonymous SM Entertainment employee criticizing the Girls' Generation member for making excessive demands when preparing for shows is fueling debates over who is to blame. Prior to SM Entertainment's 30th-anniversary concert 'SMTown Live 2025 in Seoul' held Jan. 11-12, Taeyeon expressed frustration on fandom platform, Bubble, over her agency's poor communication and lack of collaboration in preparing for the event. After the singer's complaint gained attention online, an SM Entertainment employee refuted the accusation, arguing that everyone in the company was working hard to successfully hold the concert, but that Taeyeon was only thinking about herself. 'I am not only exhausted but filled with anger. Everyone is working themselves to the bone ahead of the concert, and she just posts a single Bubble message and that's it? There's so much to say while looking at all the messy articles,' the employee, who verified their identity as a staff member at SM Entertainment, wrote on the online community, Blind. 'If you're a senior artist, act like one. If you've been around long enough, think a little more before you speak.' Taeyeon eventually withdrew from SM Entertainment's anniversary concert. A similar problem occurred April 17, when SM Entertainment announced via its official Japanese website that Taeyeon's April 19-20 concerts at Tokyo's Ariake Arena had been canceled, just two days before the shows. The agency cited delays in equipment delivery from Jakarta, Indonesia, where Taeyeon's previous show was held, as the reason for the cancellation. 'After repeated discussions with related parties and exploring all possible options, we determined that it would be difficult to hold the concert in a fully prepared state and decided to cancel the event,' the company said in a statement. However, the controversy grew as the cancellation notice was posted only on SM Entertainment's official Japanese website, and concerns were raised over the significant financial losses suffered by the fans who had planned to attend the concert from outside Japan. Taeyeon, again, shared her feelings through Bubble, saying, 'When the news of the Japan concert cancellation was delivered, I was so worried about Sone (Girls' Generation fandom) and felt so heartbroken that I didn't know what to say.' 'I hate everything about this situation, and I am sorry to Sone. It feels as if my concert, which was created through everyone's efforts and anticipation, disappeared and was stolen in an instant. I don't know how to express this feeling of emptiness and helplessness,' she added. A longtime fan of SM Entertainment also criticized the agency, saying it had made an inexcusable mistake in handling the event. 'It is unbelievable that a concert was canceled because the equipment did not arrive. Preparing the necessary equipment on time is a basic requirement. Even a one-person agency would not make such a mistake,' a 30-something fan said on condition of anonymity. A week later, Taeyeon also shared a statement from her global fan union on her social media account that urged SM Entertainment to take a series of actions in response to the controversy. The statement called on the agency to identify the party responsible for the incident and to take appropriate disciplinary measures against SM Entertainment's Center 1 division and related officials. Center 1 is responsible for the management of four artists, including Girls' Generation, BoA and aespa. In 2023, SM Entertainment announced its production center system as one of the main elements of the SM 3.0 strategy that seeks to diversify artist management with multiple production centers instead of being managed by a single individual production team, previously led by the company founder, Lee Soo-man. Fans also demanded that SM Entertainment issue an official apology and statement through Taeyeon's official channel. The union further requested that the company prepare substantial compensation measures for fans affected by the cancellation of the Japanese concerts and disclose the details transparently.
Korea Herald
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Taeyeon shares fan statement demanding accountability for Tokyo concert cancellation
K-pop singer shows support for fans amid controversy surrounding 'The Tense' tour in Japan Girls' Generation's Taeyeon has shared a public statement released by her global fan alliance on Instagram, addressing the cancellation of her "The Tense" concert in Tokyo. Taeyeon had originally been scheduled to perform "The Tense" concerts on Saturday and Sunday at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. However, the shows were abruptly canceled after essential equipment failed to arrive in time, and local alternatives proved difficult to secure. Fans were shocked and dismayed by the sudden announcement on April 17, which came just two days before the scheduled performances. SM Entertainment noted that they were considering possible replacement shows, but that did little to quell fan frustration. In response, the global fan alliance issued a formal statement demanding a clear and immediate resolution from SM Entertainment. The statement demanded the agency to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the mishandling of the concert, issue an official apology through Taeyeon's official channels, provide clear and transparent compensation plans for fans affected by the cancellation, take measures to prevent similar incidents during the rest of "The Tense" tour and to announce a concrete plan to replace the canceled concerts. Shortly after the cancellation, Taeyeon expressed her deep frustration and sorrow via the fan communication platform Bubble. 'I hate this situation so much, and I'm truly sorry to my fans,' she wrote. 'My concert, which was built on everyone's efforts and anticipation, was taken away in an instant and it feels like it had been stolen. I don't even know how to describe the emptiness and disappointment I feel,' she added.
The Star
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Flying solo: J-Hope, Taeyeon and more K-pop stars to perform in Singapore without their groups
SINGAPORE: Once known only as part of a South Korean boy band or girl group, several K-pop stars have been venturing out on their own in a big way and are slated to make their way to Singapore soon. There will be no bandmates to harmonise with or steal the limelight when these five singers take the stage here. The Straits Times looks at how J-Hope from BTS, Taeyeon from Girls' Generation, G-Dragon from BigBang, and Kai and Doh Kyung-soo (D.O.) from Exo manage to shine in and out of their units. 1. J-Hope (from BTS) Fresh from being discharged from military service in October 2024, the singer-songwriter and record producer wasted no time in announcing his first solo world tour, Hope On The Stage, in January. Through it, the 31-year-old aims to express his artistic vision and showcase his versatility. The tour started in Seoul in February, and has travelled to several cities in the United States, as well as the Philippines and Japan. He will play two sold-out nights at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on April 26 and 27. The tour is in support of J-Hope's debut studio album, the hip-hop-influenced Jack In The Box (2022), as well as his EP, Hope On The Street Vol. 1 (2024). According to video clips from other stops, it will likely open with the fiery number What If... (2002), where he is bathed in red light. The set list is expected to include most of the tracks from Jack In The Box and all of Hope On The Street Vol. 1. J-Hope last performed in Singapore in 2019 alongside the other six members of BTS at the National Stadium, during the septet's Love Yourself world tour. In the group: BTS' resident prankster has a sunny demeanour that makes others smile. Despite his mischievous side, J-Hope's stage name comes from his desire to represent a sense of hope to fans. As a soloist: He was the first BTS member to enter the Billboard Hot 100 solo, when his single Chicken Noodle Soup debuted at No. 81 in 2019. In 2022, J-Hope made history as the first South Korean artiste to headline the main stage at a major American music festival, when he closed Lollapalooza in Chicago. In early April, his track Mona Lisa topped Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart. He will also hold an exhibition highlighting his solo music career in Seoul from May 30 to June 22, featuring stage props and outfits. 2. Taeyeon (from Girls' Generation) Less than two years after her last concerts at the venue in August 2023, Taeyeon will return to the Singapore Indoor Stadium on May 3 and 4 with The Tense tour. The singer has consistently been popular here, having also performed solo in 2020 and 2019. The upcoming shows are in support of her two EPs To. X (2023) and Letter To Myself (2024), and celebrate her 10th anniversary as a soloist. The tour kicked off in Seoul in March and has taken in Taipei, Macau, Jakarta and Pasay in the Philippines. One outfit she is expected to don is a regal white get-up resembling a Greek goddess', complete with a gold leaf headpiece. She is also likely to belt out tracks such as Fabulous (2023) and I (2015). Among her newer material, the most successful track has been the R&B number To. X, about a break-up with a controlling partner. It peaked at No. 2 on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart, and won the Digital Bonsang (Best Digital Song) award at South Korea's Golden Disc Awards in January. In 2024, the 36-year-old collaborated with British musician Sam Smith on the duet version of the latter's ballad I'm Not The Only One (2014), with Taeyeon singing in both Korean and English, and Smith in English. According to recent reports, her April 19 and 20 concerts in Japan were cancelled just two days before the first show due to delays in equipment delivery. But the organiser of her Singapore concerts has said her shows here will not be affected. In the group: Fans first got to know Taeyeon as the leader and main vocalist of girl group Girls' Generation, which currently has eight members. Girls' Generation's (from left) Hyoyeon, Seohyun, Yoona, Taeyeon, Sooyoung, Tiffany and Sunny performing at the opening concert of the inaugural Busan One Asia Festival held at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on 1 October 2016. As the eldest member, she has been described as the group's Beyonce, who was considered the face of American girl group Destiny's Child before becoming one of the music world's most successful female artistes. As a soloist: Launching her solo career in 2015 allowed Taeyeon to explore a more mature sound, like pop-rock in her debut single I and jazz and R&B in the mid-tempo number Rain (2016). She has been lauded for her ability to convey deep emotions, such as pain and regret, through her voice, with South Korean composer Yoo Young-seok once saying she sings as expressively as 'a woman who has been divorced seven times'. She has released three studio albums – My Voice (2017), Purpose (2019) and INVU (2022) – to date. Book it/Taeyeon Concert – The Tense In Singapore Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk When: May 3 and 4, 5pm Admission: $178 to $298 via Ticketmaster (go to or call 6018-7645) 3. Kai (from Exo) South Korean singer Kai is from K-pop boy band SM ENTERTAINMENT The members of third-generation boy band Exo have enjoyed immense popularity in Singapore, with at least three of their nine current members – Lay, Baekhyun and D.O. – having held solo performances here. Kai is set to join this list with his first solo concert here at The Star Theatre on June 21, part of his Kaion world tour. It commences in Seoul in May and will stop by Kuala Lumpur, Macau and Jakarta. He has said in interviews that his concerts might include a medley of Exo songs, and the shows will be a good opportunity for him to give back to his fans. He reportedly said: 'I am using the concert as an excuse to see fans around the world.' The 31-year-old previously performed at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in 2019 with the rest of his bandmates, during which he sang the sultry solo number Confession (2020). In the group: Much of Exo's music blends pop, hip-hop, R&B and electronic dance music, with big beats, rap and dance segments. The versatile Kai excels in all these and has been described as a perfect embodiment of Exo's identity and its 'centre'. As a soloist: In November 2020, Kai struck out on his own with a self-titled R&B-inflected EP. The choreography featured in the song Mmmh's music video went viral, with tens of thousands of users attempting the dance challenge on TikTok. It became his biggest hit, with more than 195 million plays on Spotify. The EP also earned him Best Male Artist (Overseas) and People's Choice Award (Overseas) at the Asian Pop Music Awards in 2021. Kai has since dropped three more EPs: Peaches (2021), Rover (2023) and Wait On Me, which was released on April 21. The latter is his first offering since he was discharged from military service in February, after serving from 2023. He told American publication The Hollywood Reporter that the track Adult Swim was very meaningful. 'I think this actually shows my mindset throughout those two years.' Book it/2025 Kai Solo Concert Tour Kaion In Singapore Where: The Star Theatre, 04-01 The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green When: June 21, 5.30pm Admission: $148 to $288 via Ticketmaster (go to or call 6018-7645) 4. Doh Kyung-soo (from Exo) He is known as D.O. when performing with the rest of Exo. But as a solo artiste, he goes by his birth name Doh Kyung-soo. After holding his first solo fan concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in August 2024, during which he performed tracks such as Mars (2024) and Simple Joys (2024), the 32-year-old will return to the Republic on Aug 23. The announcement was made on April 11, although details of the venue and ticketing are not yet available. The Singapore show is part of an Asian concert tour titled Do It!, which will kick off in Seoul in July and travel to Taipei, Jakarta and Manila, among other stops. In the group: One of Exo's main vocalists, the quiet, shy and clean-cut member cooks for the rest and nags them when their dorm rooms are untidy. As a soloist: Of his three solo EPs – Empathy (2021), Expectation (2023) and Blossom (2024) – the first has been the most successful, having topped South Korea's Gaon Album Chart. Two of its tracks, I'm Gonna Love You (played more than 100 million times on Spotify) and Rose, are among his more popular numbers. 5. G-Dragon (from BigBang) BigBang's Taeyang and Daesung were part of the line-up of the inaugural Yuewen Music Festival Singapore in December 2024, so it is about time the group's third and final member follows suit. Often dubbed the 'King of K-pop', G-Dragon last performed here at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in 2017, as part of his Act III: M.O.T.T.E world tour. More recently, he 'appeared' in a video tribute flashed on the Jumbotron screens during K-pop girl group 2NE1's concert in December at the same venue. G-Dragon is set to take on the bigger Padang Stage as a headlining music act of the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2025 on Oct 3. His third studio album, Ubermensch, was released in February. Given that it is his first full-length solo project in more than 11 years, his set is expected to be among 2025's biggest comeback concerts. G-Dragon's Ubermensch world tour, which began in March in South Korea, marks his return to touring after eight years. It is slated to stop in Tokyo, Osaka, Macau and Taipei in the coming months. In the group: Apart from being BigBang's leader and rapper, the glamorous and androgynous star is considered the band's most fashionable member, rocking every accessory from scarves to jewellery. His sartorial choices have sparked fashion trends, and he has gained the moniker of 'iguana idol' because of his frequent hair colour changes. As a soloist: With two EPs – One Of A Kind (2012) and Kwon Ji Yong (2017) – as well as three studio albums – Heartbreaker (2009), Coup d'Etat (2013) and Ubermensch – under his belt, he is generally considered BigBang's most successful breakout. Heartbreaker was crowned Album of the Year at the Mnet Asian Music Awards and Melon Music Awards that year. In 2024, lifestyle publication Prestige Online labelled him the member with the highest net worth, at about US$60 million (S$79 million). Book it/G-Dragon at the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2025 Where: Padang Stage, Zone 4, Marina Bay Street Circuit When: Oct 3, timing to be confirmed Admission: Single-day Zone 4 walkabout tickets for Oct 3 are available at $148 via - The Straits Times/ANN
