Korean singer-songwriter BIBI launched the U.S. leg of her world tour [EVE] last week at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago. Although she’s been making a name for herself since she released her debut single “BINU” in 2019, and has made many festival appearances over the years, this is the first time she’s had the opportunity to put on a show of this magnitude for her international fans.
Her unique voice and refined dance skills were wonderful to witness in person, but the real highlight of the concert was the intricate narrative told through her setlist and individual performances. Earlier this year BIBI released her second full-length album EVE: ROMANCE, a body of work that encapsulates two years’ worth of music and lore through the lens of alter egos and mythology. This tour feels like the perfect conclusion to such an expansive and well-crafted era.
The crowd was immediately submerged in the world BIBI designed. Her alter ego EVE, a beloved vocalist from a bygone era, starts off with her city pop track “Midnight Cruise”. Original EVE, as portrayed throughout the VCRs and various talking segments, had a perfectly manicured persona and a clean image. After the campy and lighthearted introduction to the character, the videos playing on the LED screens took the audience on a dark journey. EVE has ceased to exist, and the government-funded clone that spawns from her (EVE-1) wholly rejects the plans everyone has for her and attempts to carve out an independent life and image. EVE-1 wants her own experiences free from the expectations of others or ties to her former self.
Songs in the second act like “Sugar Rush” and “Meat” contain bolder themes and a darker sound, portraying EVE-1’s autonomy and uniqueness separate from the original EVE, along with following her personal journey as an individual. BIBI winds down a bit for the end of the narrative with acoustic-driven tracks “Bluebird” and “Winter”. Without spoiling the entire show, the journey of EVE-1 is a display of the highs and lows of following your own path (and falling in love while you’re at it).
While the first half of the setlist contains only the new album, the rest of the set was packed full of classics and fan-favorites like “BIBI Vengeance”, “KAZINO”, and “She Got It”. BIBI has such a strong vision as an artist, and immense versatility as a singer, that every era of her career has felt heartfelt and fine-tuned regardless of the genre or sound. She’s an artist that takes her craft seriously, and it reflects in the quality of her work. Her smooth blend of R&B, pop, soul, and electronic elements throughout her discography makes for a fun live show setlist, as well. On top of her captivating performances, she was both genuine and hilarious when interacting with her fans in the crowd.
Even without the thorough explanations BIBI gave throughout the night, it was clear that the tale of EVE was a one-of-a-kind experience invented by someone with a clear vision and the artistic means to make it come to life. While it isn’t uncommon for concerts to be divided into “acts”, include costume changes, and utilize VCR recordings, [EVE] truly felt like an event fit for a theater audience. It wouldn’t be fair to call it a one-woman show, her dancers were highly skilled and wonderful to watch, but watching BIBI flawlessly carry a solo concert for over two hours was awe-inspiring in a way that sticks with you long after you see her perform. Her saccharine vocals, sharp dance moves, bubbly attitude, and incredible storytelling ability makes this tour truly one of a kind.
Don’t miss BIBI’s first world tour [EVE], get tickets here!
