IU: Epic Finale in LA – A Night of Unforgettable Performances

IU’s concert at the Kia Forum on August 2, 2024, was the finale to her first world tour “HEREH”. IU showcased her all around talent and connection with her fans. There were touching scenes and unique elements that made the concert unforgettable. Before the show began, fans were told to make sure to grab the gift left on their seats and to not have their phones/cameras out.

Part 1: HYPNOTIC

With child dancers accompanying her, IU performed the opening song of the event while wearing a stunning red dress and headphones. An immersive and engaging experience was created with the lyrics shown on the screen. This includes romanized versions and fan chants underlined in strong pink letters. In English, IU gave a brief introduction to the tour and herself. She talked about how excited she was about the grand finale and mentioned that the young dancers in the “Holssi” performance were also from Los Angeles. Her affectionate term for her Los Angeles admirers was “eLAna.” She also revealed that the gifts left at each seat were from her mother which made it even more special.

At the beginning of the show, when IU sang songs like “Ah Puh” and “Bbibbi,” the chants from the crowd got louder and more animated. She encouraged the audience to maintain their enthusiasm level while jokingly acknowledging the high decibel level. A “magic spell” promised an even greater second act and invited the audience to consider the beginning of the show like a rehearsal.

Part 2: ENERGETIC

In the second act, it began with a child, fog, and sound effects were added to the stage to create a tragic situation. The next song, “Celebrity,” was performed while dressed casually. IU called her fans her superstars and celebrities. She suggested that “eLAna” should be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She engaged in conversation with the crowd, offering a lucky coin to a fan and a rose to a dedicated dancer following her performance of “Coin” and “Blueming”.

After this part was complete, she surprised the fans yet again by suggesting to take a photo with them. Normally this is done at the end or towards the end of the concert so this was very early! Even more shocking was that she took not just one photo in the center, but also took a photo with the right and left side to insure more fans had a chance to take the photo with her.

Part 3: ROMANTIC

A video montage of fans and behind-the-scenes footage opened part three. This was followed by IU introducing her band during “Havana.” She led the crowd in chant during “Meaning of You,” creating an enjoyable feeling of community. During the section, IU performed “Strawberry Moon” and a heartfelt rendition of “Through the Night,” to the accompaniment of the fans’ singing.

Part 4: ECSTATIC

In the fourth segment, IU showed off her acting in a VCR for “Dream Shopper”. This was before returning to the stage with “Shopper”. She gave a reflection on her trip and expressed her sincere gratitude to her fans for their steadfast support during the tour. The section featured strong performances of “Above the Time” and “You&I,” with the latter receiving the biggest cheers of the evening. IU acknowledged her concerns about the tour while giving her fans credit for her self-assurance and happiness. IU wrote and rehearsed her script over and over as it was in English and she wanted it to be special for her American fans.

“Because of you, I can stand here and be truly happy today.”

Encore: HEROIC and EN-ENCORE

A interesting VCR that showed IU lighting a candle with “32” before blowing it out and everything turning dark. IU returned dressed in sparkling black apparel and opened the first part of the encore. She honored and thanked Patti Kim by dedicating “Shh…” to her. “Twenty-Three” and “Holssi” kept the enthusiasm up! When IU and her band spontaneously performed songs that fans had requested, such as “Friday” and “Lullaby”, the tension rose again.

As the concert neared its end, IU performed one of her more well know tracks, “Good Day”. She then asked the audience to choose between a ballad or a dance song, ultimately delivering both. The finale included “Hold My Hand,” a song IU composed when she was younger, and “Lilac.” She concluded with “Palette,” marking the end of an unforgettable night and an epic tour finale.

Photo Credit: EDAM Entertainment