TWICE Light It Up For Their First Time in Toronto

Since their debut in 2015, TWICE have been an unstoppable force! With three #1 Billboard albums and now five world tours, they have proven their popularity. They celebrate their most recent record breaking album “READY TO BE” with a North American tour. The iconic nonet K-pop group, TWICE, arrived in Canada for the first time! TWICE is comprised of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu. The group performed two sold out shows in Toronto with their opening night on July 2, 2023. Despite the gloomy weather that day, TWICE brought their own sunshine onto the stage with them.

Scotiabank Arena was buzzing with excitement the moment doors opened. Fans were lined up to take photos with banners of each member. Also, the merchandise lines inside and outside seemed never ending. Fans from all over filled the 19,800 seats in anticipation for TWICE’s Canadian concert debut.

Lights On!

A platform at the back of the stage slowly began to lower. This revealed the members who were displayed in individual close ups as silhouettes onto the screens above. Screams further erupt once lights shine down onto each member. The group opens with “SET ME FREE”! Cheers are loud from the beginning and the crowd does not miss a beat once the group jumps into “CAN’T STOP ME”.

TWICE take a moment to introduce themselves. Jihyo, the group’s leader, is excited to talk about the group’s second time in Canada. She said it’s because their music video for “LIKEY” was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia. Dahyun, who earned barking from the audience once the camera was on her, described the meaning behind “READY TO BE”, that TWICE is “ready to show you who we are”. The girls did just that with their charisma to everyone in attendance that night.

Solo Stages

For the first time since they began touring years ago, each member showcased their individual musical style. Twice did this with covers or solo songs! Beginning with Dahyun on a grand piano covering Colbie Caillat‘s “Try”. Then Tzuyu’s Michael Jackson-esque dance number to “Done For Me” by Charlie Puth ft. Kehlani. Sana changes the atmosphere with sultry choreography covering “New Rules” by Dua Lipa. Of course, Momo’s jaw dropping pole dancing to Beyoncé’s “MOVE” excited the fans. Screams from the crowd continue when Mina is showered in dollar bills during her cover of “7 Rings” by Ariana Grande.

A live band is introduced for the first time in the show for “Feel Special” and continued to add a special twist to “CRY FOR ME”, “FANCY” and “THE FEELS”. The last set of solo performances begin with Chaeyeong’s soothing “My Guitar”, Jihyo performing her unreleased song “Nightmare”, Jeongyeon stunning the crowd in a hot pink outfit for LIZZO’s “Juice” and Nayeon with the quintessential “POP!”

TWICE regroups on the stage to perform a mashup of some of their big hits back to back. They performed:

• YES or YES
• What Is Love?
• CHEER UP
• LIKEY
• KNOCK KNOCK
• SCIENTIST
• Heart Shaker

Before announcing the last song “Talk That Talk”.

Encore

Fans sit down once the members have gone behind the stage. But as soon as “READY TO BE ONCE” appears on the screen – TWICE’s concert staple – fans immediately jump back up. They start dancing in their seats while cameras move to various locations throughout the arena for each song. As if you hadn’t felt it before in the last two hours, the joy during these 20 minutes of fans dancing and striving to get their seatmates on the big screen is immense. TWICE not only know how to put on an unforgettable performance, but their fans also make sure to keep the party going thanks to their contagious energy!

The members come out shortly after wearing their tour merch performing “When We Were Kids”, where each member is shown alongside their childhood photos. They continue with “STUPID LOVE” before a wheel is brought onto the stage listing 9 songs written by each member, the first song that is spun on the wheel is “LIKE OOH-AAH”. The girls interact with fans, taking handmade signs, roses and dollar bills designed with each of the members’ names. A few of the girls were strutting around the stage with their signs held high, others taking pictures with fans or receiving more gifts.

Encore: The Wheel Continues Spinning

Jihyo reads each song off the wheel and surveys the crowd for cheers, she notes that “SIGNAL” and “Celebrate” are getting the most reaction. When Jihyo spun for the next song, it initially looked like “ICON” would be the winner, but she quickly moved the wheel onto “Celebrate”! It’s their first time performing “Celebrate” on this tour, making the last song for the night much more special. Jeongyeon and Chaeyoung missed the ending pose for Celebrate, which the rest of the girls notice and all look over to find the missing two, who were waving and interacting with fans around the stage.

The members make their way to exit the stage until Dahyun pops back out just before the screen fades to black and fans begin barking for the umpteenth time that night. She basks in the chant and makes the motion of her heart beating out of her chest before waving goodbye and officially ending TWICE’s first night in Toronto.

Review by: concertswithsaba

Photos by: JYPE Twitter