The Chapters of Wendy on Her W:EALIVE Tour
This past week, an unexpected cold front swept into the D.C. area, but Wendy of Red Velvet was sure to bring the warmth. As the final stop of her W:EALIVE tour, Washington D.C. had the honor of welcoming her to the nation’s capital for the very first time.
The name W:EALIVE, a word she created from a blend of her own name and the phrase “we are alive,” reflects her desire to breathe, feel deeply, and become “one” with her audience. Each tour stop represents a new chapter in her story, and in D.C., Wendy closed this chapter with an unforgettable sense of connection, energy, and emotion that cut straight through the cold.
Like the chapters of a book, the concert unfolded in segments, each one highlighting a different aspect of Wendy’s emotions, experiences, and memories. These were the moments that have shaped who she is, and she invited the audience to step into each one with her. Before the show began, the playlist filling the venue served as a personal introduction (like the preface) songs she loves and chose intentionally, giving access into her world.
The opening chapter centered on the feeling of being alive. Wendy launched into a set of energetic tracks, featuring “Hate²” “Queen Of the Party” and an a capella version of “Fireproof.”
At one point, she asked the crowd one thing the nation’s capital is known for. The audience agreed: cherry blossoms. Their answer transitioned the concert into its next chapter, one inspired by the same joy and lightness she feels when witnessing cherry blossoms in full bloom.
The following section shifted into something much more intimate, centering on her emotions. It wasn’t just about her personal experiences, but about a universal narrative many of us share: heartbreak, self-reflection, the desire to grow, and the search for something deeper. This chapter featured songs like “Why Can’t You Love Me?,”“Chapter You,” “His Car Isn’t Yours,” and “Vermilion.” Wendy shared that sometimes it’s hard to find the right words to express what you’re feeling, and that music often says it better than she ever could.The crowd seemed to resonate with her words as flashlights lit up the venue and everyone swayed along.
For many people, a defining moment in life is the decision to step out and do something different, as an outsider, that moment arrived with Wendy’s 2021 solo debut, “Like Water.” She performed the track alongside “When This Rain Stops” and “Believe,” creating a reflective, almost cinematic experience. It felt as though we were looking back with her, revisiting the moment she turned a page and began writing her story as a solo artist. In a way, turning that page led directly to the moment we were all experiencing together that night.
As we neared the final chapters of D.C.’s story, Wendy offered brief glimpses into other parts of her journey. After her OST medley, she transitioned into the familiarity of Red Velvet’s “Light Me Up,” reminding us of the many musical moments that have shaped her path.
It felt like that moment near the end of a book when you slow down, reflect, and look back on everything you’ve read. How each chapter has built on the last, and how the story has shaped who you are by the time you reach the final page. That same feeling carried into the closing chapter of the concert, highlighted by “Wish You Hell,” “Sunkiss,” “Best Friend,” and “The Road.” Each song tied together the emotions of the night, leaving us with a sense of warmth, and the anticipation of whatever chapter she writes next.
It was clear that this final stop of the W:EALIVE tour was more than just a performance but a celebration of growth and the shared moments that connect us. Wendy didn’t just walk us through her story–she invited us to feel it with her, chapter by chapter, emotion by emotion. And as she took her final bow in Washington D.C., it wasn’t an ending but the beginning of a new chapter still waiting to be written.