Kang Daniel brings his stunning 'First Parade' to Toronto
The soloist entertained the crowd for with gorgeous costume changes and impressive moves in an intimate venue
K-pop shows are always a treat to attend no matter the venue, but it’s clear that solo artists have limitations in what they’re able to do.
While many of the most popular K-pop groups tend to perform in arenas and stadiums, the same cannot be said to members who end up pursuing solo activities.
The truth of the matter is, many artists who go solo have to contend with smaller venues when it comes to international audiences. That comes with its own set of challenges, such as lower budgets, less elaborate set designs and smaller stages. Not to mention, they likely don’t have enough songs to cover a full set list.
I say all this because I’ve always been curious to know how artists are able to make the most of what they have on their own.
But recently, I had a chance to check out Kang Daniel at the Toronto Danforth Music Hall. And let me tell you …he REALLY set the bar high when it comes to putting on a great show.
For those unfamiliar with Kang Daniel, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter first rose to fame as the winner of Produce 101’s second season. As a result of winning the reality competition series, he became part of the boy group Wanna One.
Following the end of Wanna One’s activities as a group in 2019, Kang Daniel (born Kang Eui-geon) embarked on a solo career, even creating his own management company Konnect Entertainment.
Since going solo, Kang Daniel has been described as “one of the highest-earning and most significant acts in K-pop”, and those in Korea have described him as the “Nation’s Center.”
My first introduction to Kang Daniel was actually the most recent 2022 Fact Music Awards, where he performed his single “Paranoia.” I was so impressed with the way he commanded the stage with his choreography and visuals. And when it was announced a month later that he would making his way to Toronto on his first world tour, I instantly jumped at the chance at getting a ticket to his show.
I’ve mostly only been to the Danforth Music Hall for intimate rock band shows so it was unclear what to expect for a K-pop concert. And upon arrival last Tuesday, the show got off to a rocky start with a slight delay due to a technical issue.
However, the moment the show started, it was clear the crowd wasn’t super fazed by the issue.
Kang Daniel started the show with great energy, performing hits including “Who U Are”, “Don’t Tell Me” and “Waves.” These are fast paced songs with complex choreography, and he truly did not stop until it was time to address the crowd.
“You are in my first world tour, First Parade. Finally, I’m meeting you in Canada!” he said.
It was during his opening speech that I discovered Kang Daniel (whose name is inspired by a biblical figure) could have very well have been a Canadian.
In an interview with MBC four years ago, Kang Daniel revealed he wanted to run off to Canada because being a K-pop trainee was too difficult. He revealed that his aunt had already lived in Canada and was already in the process of preparing his passport. But alas, the opportunity with Produce 101 came around and Kang Daniel decided to give his idol dreams one last shot.
Years later, it’s clear the decision has paid off. As Kang Daniel told the crowd in Toronto, “But now, I am here to do my solo concert!”
Apart from his back-up dancers, Kang Daniel was alone on the stage for the majority of the show hosting, cracking jokes and speaking in perfect English between dance-heavy performances.
During one of his speeches, he praised Toronto for its delicious Korean barbecue. (“I think the taste is better than Korea!”) He also talked about his desire to watch a Toronto Maple Leafs game, but it was happening at the same time as his concert.
He then drew laughs when he said he heard Toronto was known for its skiing and snowboarding scene, to which the crowd responded with confusion.
“Is it true?” he said.
“Nooo!” the crowd responded with laughs.
Try travelling north for an hour, Kang Daniel. Barrie is where you can hit the slopes…
But alas, Kang Daniel said he would rather spend his free time in Toronto playing League of Legends or Counter Strike.
Fair enough!
Some of the biggest highlights during Kang Daniel’s concert is finally getting to see him perform his hits “Paranoia” and “Nirvana.”
To me, “Paranoia” is his best song to date, in which he reveals his biggest strengths: stage presence and charisma. “Paranoia” is a song about capitalizing on the fear and agony one feels within themselves, and fighting your inner demons. It’s refreshing to see Kang Daniel explore a darker side to himself when I’ve mostly seen him perform in brighter costumes and sets.
“Nirvana” on the other hand, is more upbeat and optimistic. It has a satisfying beat drop and pleasant vocal melody. Plus, the song really allowed Kang Daniel to showcase his dance talent a bit more.
In between sets and costume changes, Kang Daniel even had VCRs play onscreen, showcasing his acting talents. (If you want to see more of his acting, definitely check out the K-drama Rookie Cops!)
The fact that Kang Daniel was able to perform in an intimate venue also allowed for lots of fan service. At one point in the show, he jumped into the crowd to draw a tattoo for a fan. He also signed an album. And during the final moments of his show, he came out wearing a vintage Vince Carter Raptors jersey. He truly did his homework! I am so impressed. Not to mention, he gave 110 per cent the whole show.
If I’m being honest, I went into the Kang Daniel show a casual fan, but left fully getting on board the “Danity Train”.
While I have voiced plenty of frustrations before about the concert-going experience and ticketing, I left the Kang Daniel show with renewed hope that there’s still lots of joy in going to live shows with no big expectations.
I was lucky that tickets to his show were not expensive and fairly easy to obtain, especially when it comes to a K-pop show. And I truly believe that if you are just mildly intrigued by someone’s music and work, it’s totally worth going to a concert by yourself instead of waiting around for someone to come with you.
While I headed to the show alone, I ended up meeting another person in line who was also there by herself. We chilled in the back of the venue and just vibed to the music with no pressure to get as close as possible. And after the show, I got to meet an online friend in real life for the first time. K-pop brings people together! Cheesy, I know!
Thanks Kang Daniel for your boundless energy and talent! I came into your show not knowing what to expect. But I’m glad I left with a happy memory and a great first concert of 2023.
In other news…
HYBE ends takeover battle for SM Entertainment
After weeks of back and forth, HYBE announced over the weekend it has officially discontinued the acquisition process of SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man’s shares.
According to a press release sent by HYBE, the company made the decision after observing that the market has been showing signs of overheating due to competition with both Kakao and Kakao Entertainment.
“The company has also taken into account the potential negative impact on HYBE's shareholder value.”
“In light of recent developments, HYBE discussed the matters with Kakao and reached an agreement to suspend the process of acquiring SM’s management rights. Concurrently, the two companies agreed to cooperate on matters related to their platforms.” Read more on the story here.
BTS’s RM talks about idol worship
It was really fascinating to read a recent interview RM did with the Spanish publication El Pais.
The singer recently visited Milan Fashion Week for the Bottega Veneta show. Amidst his busy schedule, he took some time to speak with media.
During the interview, RM was asked whether the “worship of youth” perfection and “overstraining in K-pop” are Korean cultural traits. Here’s how he answered:
“People in the west just don’t get it. Korea is a country that has been invaded, devastated, torn in two. Just 70 years ago there was nothing. We were getting help from the IMF and the UN. But now, the whole world is looking at Korea. How is that possible, how did that happen? Because people are working fucking hard to improve themselves. You are in France of the UK, countries that have been colonizing others for centuries, and you come to me with “Oh God, you put so much pressure on yourselves, life in Korea is so stressful!” Well, yes. That’s how you get things done. And it’s part of what makes K-pop so appealing. Although of course there are shadows, everything that happens too fast and too intensely has side effects.”
Read the full interview above. Many thanks to all the translators who made this interview accessible for all!
In other news, RM recently collaborated with the singer So!YoOn! on a song called “Smoke Sprite.” Take a listen below:
And what I’m watching:
March couldn’t have come any sooner because I am SO into the final episodes of The Glory, which just came out on Netflix. The tension! The satisfying revenge! I have not finished the show yet so please no spoilers!
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Just love how RM is stating facts 👏
Kangdaniel is so amazing Artist👍👍