Five Ways that BIBI that Charmed New York City and Her Top BIBI-isms

Photos provided by FeelGhoodMusic

If there’s a singer that should be on your radar, it’s BIBI. Though there are amazing singers in the K-Pop sphere, BIBI (aka Kim Hyoungseo) under FeelGhoodMusic, the company of legendary Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae who first discovered her music on Soundcloud, embraces the genre with a sense of irreverence towards some of the boundaries of what is considered permissible in K-Pop. Packaged in a figure that goes from sexy to flirty to dangerous, she retains an irresistible charm that can make any straight girl question her status. Frankly, she’s the lollipop with the sour center that makes the whole sweet experience all so much tastier, and in the iconic Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 10, we all got a taste that just made us all just want more. Following are five ways that BIBI took over New York City and effortlessly made every person in the packed venue fall for her. Also, our top ten BIBI-isms from the night that had us laughing and smiling throughout.

BIBI’s candor—and her honest reactions—hits to the core of her magnetism and charm. This was one show where the ments were as engaging as the performances. When she noted that she was thrilled to be performing in Radio City Music Hall because she had seen that Dave Chappell had performed there, we were a bit perplexed, but the revelation that she had learned most of her English from stand-up comedy made so much sense as she was hilarious. Promising to curb her language, though how anyone can curse so charmingly is beyond comprehension, led to laughter and her cadence, expression and delivery drew everyone into her world. If she wanted to move from singing and acting to stand-up, there’s no doubt she would succeed there as well.

One of the highlights was when she ran around the venue during “City Love,” picking one audience member to join her onstage. Picking a 20-year-old Brooklynite, Harrison, who she called Heresy as even she admitted at one point, “R and L are so hard to pronounce,” something that most native Koreans would agree with. She was hilarious as she questioned his legal age status, asking, “Did you bring your ID, can I see it?....But you’re not allowed to drink, huh.” Harrison’s older brother, who had introduced BIBI’s music to the lucky fan, was told, “Oh! I’m sorry brother. Your little brother got luckier.” And was he lucky. BIBI’s lapdance to “Best Lover” was met with more laughter than sensuality and when the final gift was made out to the brother instead of Harrison, the whole venue was laughing.

There are few concerts that really follow a narrative and for a bit over the first half of this show, BIBI did, and did it well. The story traces her character EVE, who was the character that formed the basis of her latest album EVE: ROMANCE released last month. Opening with “Midnight Cruise,” BIBI is dressed in a school uniform as the city flashes behind her. Embodying her character EVE, a popular singer of the time, she continues with “Hangang Gonwon” and the cute “Scott and Zelda,” telling a narrative of youthful romance and continuing the sweetness with “Bam Yang Gang.” The show would take a turn after BIBI accomplished probably the fastest wardrobe change in concert history. School girl star is replaced with a sexy two piece for “Burn it (featuring DEAN).” Following would be the controversial VCR of EVE, expertly acted out by BIBI as the youthful star who goes down a self-destructive path before her cloning. BIBI herself explained it as, “EVE-1 is a clone of EVE. They look the same, they sound the same, but they think very differently. So seven songs of the album are written by EVE and seven songs are written by EVE-1.” EVE-1 is more cynical and her journey begins after “Pygma Girl,” “Sugar Rush,” and “Hongdae R&B.” With a stronger will to live, the songs overall by EVE-1 are stronger. BIBI explained best the reasoning behind the concept in one of her ments:

<quote> Thank you so much for watching this disturbing video. What I wanted to say through this video, this album, this concert, is that I want everyone to be everyone, yourself. You live your life, everyone is expecting something from you, I have to be a good kid, I have to be a good student, I have to get a job, you know, that’s what makes me a better person. Later I have to be a good dad, a good mom and kids expect from someone and somebody. You do it for love, but sometimes you forget you have to love yourself and I hope you get to know yourself and love yourself, this is corny man. This is corny, but I think it’s a good message. </quote>

The sexy side of BIBI is HOT. Simply stated, she’s not afraid to show off her sensuality, as well as her confidence in her sexuality. During the show the sensual side popped out in EVE’s journey, but it would be in EVE-1’s set with “Real Man” and “Meat” where all the sweetness is wiped away. With backup dancers in tow, the stage was as hot as it could get as BIBI commanded the room with her sensual voice and rapping. Outside of the EVE storyline, “BIBI Vengeance” commanded the room and the strength of the song with her dancing and performance proved her powerhouse all around capabilities as a performer. But her sexiness wasn’t always overt. Sometimes playful, like the scene with the BIBI fan Harrison, or with “She Got it” where she sings about cigarettes and condoms.

If anyone is sugar and spice, or rather that sour lollipop that I mentioned earlier, it’s BIBI. As she said herself, “Since my debut, I’ve done a lot of songs. Different genres, different moods, basically I was anything.” And from this show and the range of music from the sweet “Bam Yang Gang,” to the sexy “Meat,” to the fun “Fedexx Girl,” and “Bumpa” showcased her range. But when things slowed down at the end of the EVE cycle, it was with lovely ballads of hope that really brought the lovely husky tones of BIBI’s voice to the forefront. WIth clever English translations along the side of the screens, dressed in white with angelic wings, she followed with the ballad “Winter,” and she was ethereal. No longer overtly strong and dynamic, it was with a quiet, delicate strength that she closed the book of EVE.

BIBI noted that the crowd at Radio City was one of the largest solo venues she had performed to this day. With a large crowd who hung on every word and tune, it was clear that her name, which she said was not as well known in Korea, at least until “Bam Yang Gang” was widely received, and that she felt welcomed in the city of lights. We look forward to her return. Her tour continues to the west coast until the end of the month, so those who have yet to see her should not hesitate to be charmed off your socks by this multi-talented performer. To end off on a fun note, look below for our top BIBI-isms of the night. The words that made us laugh and smile and which calls to life her candid spirit and humor.

TOP TEN BIBI-isms from Radio City Music Hall.

Thank you so much for cheering a singer who made a second full length album because …everybody doesn’t. 

Do you know what Bam Yang Gang means? Red bean paste jelly with chestnuts….It’s sweet and good and causes your diabetes. 

Thank you for allowing me to drink. When I get nervous I drink a lot of water. I seriously have a drinking problem, who doesn’t. 

There’s minors man…If I’m cancelled, you give me food. Feed me. 

Don’t call me K-Pop, I’m just kidding, I love K-Pop and think I am K-Pop too. Okay, humanity.

I have to change my outfit again because my A&R has OCD.

I love you and it’s a bigger love you’re giving me. You guys are 5000 people and I’m one person.

Harrison, Heresy? I love you Heresy. How old are you?  20?  If you’re lying right now, I have to go to jail.

I’m a conservative individual, I’m a virgin….April fools.

My fake hair is just bothering me so much!