This past weekend Global Citizen Festival returned to Central Park, New York City bringing the storm, literally. Fans lined up hours, even nights before to catch a glimpse of their favorite acts (cough Jungkook and 3RACHA cough) at the Festival to defend the planet and defeat poverty. The star studded lineup included Anitta, Conan Gray, 3RACHA, Sofia Carson, Jungkook, Ms Lauryn Hill and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Megan Thee Stallion was announced to perform and later dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. While I did not camp out among the rat infested streets of New York the night before I did attend the event; after suffering a painful ankle injury just weeks prior when I fell down the stairs checking my phone after BTS’ V went live on Weverse I suited up with my rain poncho and my ankle brace and trekked out for Jungkook and 3RACHA. Wearing single use plastic bags and toting printed paper tickets 60,000 people gathered to talk about climate change and saving the planet. Kicking off the event was Anitta, who incredibly twerked her way through her set. She donned a Brazilian flag halter top singing 'Envolver' and 'Funk Rave'. Conan Gray followed, not twerking of course, but he was sporting a beautifully rhinestoned and tasseled red and black biker jacket. As performers and presenters passed, even though I couldn’t feel my fingers, I could definitely feel my blood pressure spiking as I braced myself to see not only Changbin and Han but Daddy Chan and THE Jeon Jungkook. While Seungmin was not in the building as the originally scheduled Stray Kids could not attend the Festival as a unit due to a minor car accident amongst several members we were still lucky enough to get a chance to see 3RACHA, made up of the members and producers Changbin, Han and Bang Chan. (Wishing the members involved a speedy and safe recovery) As the anticipation for 3RACHA grew, I could see the many wet faces in the crowd, was it tears of excitement or rain? We’ll never know.
Soon 3RACHA appeared on stage one by one rapping their namesake song '3RACHA' and the crowd literally erupted with screams. I, myself, about lost my damn mind when Bang Chan announced they would be singing 'Heyday', which can be found on the compilation album Street Man Fighter Original Vol.4, for the dance competition show Street Man Fighter as well as among my top played tracks on Spotify.
Their stylist crushed it in giving the three a more laid back appearance as the trio wore loose fitting outfits with a grunge feel. All three members sported gloves, both Hans and Changbins labeled “Stay”, the name given to their fan base, and the year “2018” , the year they debuted. Special shout out to Bang Chan in pink.
The trio then closed out their set with a three member version of 'Topline', a track off their latest album 5 Star. 5 Star features other bangers such as 'Super Bowl', 'Item' and it’s first single 'S-Class'.
Next on the lineup was Sofia Carson who came out wearing a stunning off white half gown half cape, singing her song 'Come Back Home' from the Netflix Film Purple Hearts. Jungkook had to be next, right? Sporting a haircut that could send me into a coma, Jungkook enters the stage as the first notes of 'Euphoria' play. I fumbled to breathe as I heard 'Euphoria' live for the first time and I noticed the rest of the crowd right there with me as everyone paid close attention silently as he began to sing. While he wasn’t flying through the air he was commanding the stage using every inch of it to see and be seen by every Army in the audience. Not only can this Golden Maknae command the audience but the weather; the only time it stopped raining all day was during his set as his presence gave us a break from the cold rain.
Following 'Euphoria' Jungkook performed 'Still With You', his first time performing the song live after releasing it on Spotify earlier this year. While we all knew he was going to sing his latest Billboard number one single 'Seven' I don’t think any of us could have prepared ourselves to witness it. I still can’t talk about it. In what could be labeled the cutest moment of his set, Jungkook took out his in ears when he struggled to understand what the crowd was saying, only to find out the crowd was barking at him. When catching on he proceeded to bark right back. The idol finished out his set with a BTS medley of 'Permission to Dance', 'Butter' and 'Dynamite' only to find me trying not to cry as Suga's rap in 'Butter' made an appearance. Ending with a smile and a heart over the head to Army, Jungkook finished up his set and annihilated my existence.
Once he exited the stage, the screens in Central Park flashed a teaser trailer for his upcoming single '3D' featuring Jack Harlow, which will drop on September 29th. This man then had the audacity to drop promo photos via Weverse, a platform in which fans can interact with members and receive content, as well as a description of the upcoming song which describes itself as “a more mature side of Jungkook” Excuse me, how much mature can we get after 'Seven', Jungkook?! I wish I could say the following performers were great, however I did leave after Jungkooks set, along with half of the crowd. No shade to Ms Lauryn Hill as she is an absolute legend, but the sinking realization that I could no longer move or feel my limbs after releasing all my adrenaline during 3RACHA and JK it was time for me to bounce. Covered in rain, mud and shame for how how much joy these men bring me I left Global Citizen feeling elated. Would I do it again? For 3RACHA and Jungkook? Absolutely. Final thoughts: I have ascended.
Cover photo credit to Kevin Mazur at gettyimages
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