Stray Kids just became the first K-pop group to ever headline Rock in Rio. On September 11, they closed the festival's opening night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in front of a reported 100,000 fans. Here's when it happened, everything they played, and the one moment that hit hardest.
When and Where It Happened
Stray Kids played the Palco Mundo (Main Stage) at Parque Olímpico in Rio de Janeiro on September 11. They went on close to midnight and played for around 100 minutes.
This was the first time in Rock in Rio's 41-year history that a K-pop act has headlined the festival. Rock in Rio even let fans bring lightsticks into the venue for the first time ever, just for this show.
The Full Setlist
Stray Kids played 22 songs, then came back out for a four-song encore. Here's the entire set, in order:
- SKZ Anthem (intro)
- TOPLINE
- S-Class
- Bounce Back
- MANIAC
- DOMINO
- Thunderous
- DIVINE
- God's Menu
- Walkin On Water
- Chk Chk Boom
- LALALALA (rock version)
- Social Path (Korean version)
- This & That (remix)
- Side Effects (remix)
- Do It (festival version)
- Ceremony (karma version)
- Stray Kids
- After You
- RUN IT
- MIROH
Encore:
- This & That (festival version)
- Ai Se Eu Te Pego ("If I Catch You," a cover of the Brazilian hit by Michel Teló, sung by Bang Chan)
- Chk Chk Boom (reprise)
- Hall of Fame (a surprise pick — they hadn't played this one live in a long time)
The Moment That Hit Hardest: MIROH
A few songs got huge reactions. Fans sang "God's Menu" so loud it drowned out the group at points. The surprise encore of "Hall of Fame" got an emotional response since they hadn't performed it live in years. But the biggest single moment was "MIROH." Reports from the show describe the ground shaking as the crowd jumped together and chanted along. It closed out the main set right before the encore, and it's the moment most people are still talking about.
Here's the official music video for "MIROH," so you can hear what had 100,000 people losing it:
Stray Kids' official music video for "MIROH," the song that closed their main set at Rock in Rio.
Other Moments Worth Knowing About
- Bang Chan spoke Portuguese to the crowd, saying "saudade" (a word for missing someone) and "vocês são os melhores" ("you are the best"), and that he couldn't see where the crowd ended.
- Felix danced the "Passinho do Jamal," a Brazilian dance move, and it went viral online right after the show.
- I.N was visibly emotional throughout the performance, according to people who were there.
- The stage had an extended T-shaped runway, so the group could get closer to the crowd.
Why This Is a Big Deal
Rock in Rio has been running since 1985, and Stray Kids is the first K-pop act to ever headline it. This year's other headliners include Calvin Harris, Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, and Elton John, so playing the same stage as those names says a lot about how big K-pop has gotten worldwide.
This show was part of Stray Kids' "Stray City" tour through Latin America. They're playing Buenos Aires next on September 16 and 17, then Mexico City on September 25 and 26.
VibeSynced Particles for the Energy
Want to feel like you're in that crowd? Tap one of these to jump into the app with that particle already going.
- Galaxy — a huge, cinematic particle vortex that matches a 100,000-person crowd moment.
- Vortex — a fast, spinning particle tunnel for high-energy songs like "MIROH."
- Waves — rolling particle waves that match a crowd singing along together.
Set the mood for K-pop history on VibeSynced
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