Minty Gal

With the amount of time spent home due to the pandemic, I’m sure I’m not alone in saying I have dove head first into my hobbies as well as discovering new ones. I spent much of my alone time catching up on reading but like everyone else, I found myself spending more time on YouTube than I typically do. After watching countless videos, I stumbled into the world of K-Pop.

I remember it distinctively, I went from watching a documentary on mental health in South Korea to learning about my favorite K-Pop boy group, Monsta X. I was instantly intrigued by the hair, makeup, and outfits that were tailored to the specific concepts that represent the albums. After watching countless music videos, I knew for certain I became a stan. As a New York native, K-Pop was something I was never introduced to. It is all about Hip-Hop music, especially where I’m from in the Bronx. K-pop was a breath of fresh air, a combination of many things I love captured in 4-minute music videos. The glamour, beauty, and experimental fashion drew me in like a magnet and I know I needed to be closer to the action. 

Fast forward to this past June, in which I had the pleasure to see them live during their U.S tour. After years of it being postponed due to the pandemic, I wasn’t sure if the show would go on, or if the fans would have the same excitement after waiting for 2 years. I was wrong about both: the show definitely went on and the excitement could be felt while waiting online for our tickets to get scanned. The energy in the room felt like nothing I’d felt before. The creative merch the girls created themselves, the elaborate outfits that adorned those who knew their favorite idol could ever see. It was that serious. 

At the end of it all, it was the amount of love and acceptance in the air. The crowd was diverse, lively, and relieved. Relieved that the idols have made it to the U.S safely and gave us a show we will never forget. Relieved our long-awaited expectations were blown out of the water and in turn, Monsta X looked relieved to deliver what they worked so hard to show. They appreciate and love their fans. I’m not sure if it’s the glow from all the lightsticks, but the unconditional love could be felt in the nosebleeds. If that’s not enough, it was a damn good time. Find yourself a K-Pop group you love, get the gear and join the movement.