By Zelenny Lozano / Pink B
“Are you ready?” Solar asked the arena full of enthusiastic Moomoos (the term of endearment for K-pop group MAMAMOO’s fans) who cheered enthusiastically in response. “All right, let’s go!” she continued, and the lights went dark as the first notes of the next song began to play.
MAMAMOO is a 4-piece K-pop girl group that debuted in 2014 and is currently celebrating their twelfth anniversary with the 4WARD Era with a U.S. tour. This era serves as an official reunion for members Solar, Moon Byul, Whee In, and Hwa Sa who have all focused on solo projects in recent years. They stopped at the HEB Center in Cedar Park, Texas as part of their tour last week.
As a huge fan of pop music and novice (but committed) K-pop fan, the concert was the perfect opportunity for a crash course in all things MAMAMOO. I was excited to witness the live performances they’re known for. And while I’ve played tracks like “HIP” and “Dingga” on my show Pink Beats, I wasn’t as familiar with their legacy as a group.
Once I dove into their discography, I noticed that the main element that separates MAMAMOO from other K-pop groups is their genre-blending musical style. Rather than solely focusing on electronic-infused pop with rap elements, they also add R&B, jazz, and retro-inspired sounds to their catalog. This versatility, paired with their vocal strength and dynamic performance abilities, makes them a powerhouse music group.
Their vocal prowess was indisputable the night I saw them perform. All members delivered beautiful, stable live vocals, but MAMAMOO’s official leader, Solar, was a particular standout. She effortlessly belted through songs like “Decalcomanie”, “I Miss You”, and her own solo song “Blues”. The group’s twelve years of experience was evident in their confidence and ease on stage, from the simple choreography to showcasing their command of live singing while still managing to interact with the audience in engaging ways.
Adding to their confident charm, MAMAMOO brought a sense of humor to the stage without compromising the quality of the performance. I thought lead rapper Moon Byul was the funniest. Joking via the English interpreter that the audience’s knees were precious, she asked them to sit down during a talking segment. Byul also expressed that she wanted to learn a few “dad jokes” while touring stateside.
The show’s first interlude was an animated video of cute cartoon versions of the members attending “Fairy Trot School”, learning the basics of popstardom. The video ended with the group emerging on stage in colorful sequined blazers to perform a trot-inspired version of their song “Taller Than You”. This is a very silly song where the members brag about being tall despite their actual average height. English lyrics on-screen helped those not fluent in Korean follow along. When they finished, Solar briefly explained that this performance was inspired by the trot genre. Korean Trot or Ppongjjak is a pop genre that emerged during the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 1920s, blending Korean folk music with Enka, jazz, and Western classical music.
MAMAMOO’s minimal stage for the 4WARD Tour consisted of a large central screen that displayed song-specific visuals behind the group, and two side screens that enlarged the live performers. A group of six dancers joined the idols on stage during high-energy songs like “HIP”, “AYA”, and the grand encore finale, “Um Oh Ah Yeh”. The show’s second interlude was a video compilation of the members playing silly variety show games which felt like they were playing random Youtube videos for friends late into the night.
Several costume changes transpired during the interludes. The group started in all-white, lacy outfits, transitioning into light denim with red lace, then changed into studded, burgundy leather outfits with a small hairstyle upgrade for Whee In and Solar that took their rockstar energy to the next level. For the encore, they donned merch items–and Hwa Sa topped it all off with some local flare with a Buc-ees hat.
In order to showcase their individual endeavors, each idol performed a solo song. Hwa Sa kicked it off with her euphoric, 80s-inspired track “So Cute”. Whee In and Moon Byul both performed angsty, rock-inspired solos, “The Symphony of Fxxkboys” and “Hertz”, respectively. I appreciated Whee In’s freedom to be more alternative than I’m used to seeing in the K-pop industry. She has plenty of visible tattoos and was flashing her middle finger during her solo song (presumably at the “fxxkboys” that inspired the track). Solar closed out the solos segment with the sultry ballad “Blues”, showing off her stellar vocals with beautiful runs.
Multiple times throughout the night, the idols ventured into the audience to interact with their most loyal fans. They shared the mic, took photos, high-fived, and hugged the lucky Moomoos along the barricades. Hwa Sa’s comfort and ease with the audience really stood out in these segments and showed why she’s a fan-favorite. The group also made an effort to address the audience, and gave us a dance tutorial during the song “Baton Touch”. The most hardcore Moomoos waved the group’s branded lightsticks, designed to resemble a radish (“moo” means radish in Korean).
Overall, I was very impressed by MAMAMOO’s live performance. Their quality of singing and rapping made up for the more minimal stage and choreography. I appreciated their ability to play in so many different genres while maintaining a pop music core. MAMAMOO’s latest single “4 Flowers” is a softer, optimistic pop song, with an accompanying music video that features the group spending time frolicking in nature. This is a departure from the maximalist production and visuals of the mid-2010s. In 2014, they debuted their brand with “Mr. Ambiguous”, which included a mustache motif on their finger as they held it over their faces (a trend that was all the rage in the early days of Instagram and Tumblr). In “4 Flowers”, they’ve grown into stripped-back visuals that reflect the authenticity that audiences desire in the 2020s. Their evolution reflects pop culture trends, but their immense talent always shines through and anchors the group into a clear identity.
Their mastery of their craft was evident throughout this concert. And as a thirty-something, it was refreshing to see them give a peak performance in a youth-driven industry. I’m right around their age and it was inspiring to witness their talent and confidence on stage. After my crash course in all things MAMAMOO, I think I can confidently say I am a Moomoo now–with a Solar bias!
