When Suga, the rapper and producer of BTS, announced his solo world tour concert, people were surprised because he is not the main vocalist who is the focus of performances. Suga tours under his alias, Agust D, which he has used since he released his solo album in 2016. "The Suga: Agust D Tour 'D-Day'" started in the US 11 days before he began his tour in Asia. Numerous vlogs and videos have revealed his dynamic and impressive performance, but recordings cannot compare to his live show.
Organised by Live Nation Tero, "Suga: Agust D Tour 'D-Day' In Bangkok" was held at Impact Arena from June 9-11 and concert tickets quickly sold out.
The concert opened with a dramatic video depicting a dark and rainy day. There was a loud bang and Suga, dressed in black, could be seen lying on the floor next to the motorcycle as rain poured down on him. The motorcycle crash portrayed in the video was based on Suga's real-life accident during his trainee days when he worked as a part-time delivery boy. The screen displayed a flashback of his younger days and then, a group of men in black costumes entered carrying Suga and placed him on the stage.
Suga stood up and sang his first song of the evening, Haegeum, which has dual meanings, representing both the Korean traditional musical instrument and liberation from being banned. Haegeum served as an opening message which conveyed to the audience that Suga/Agust D/Min Yoon-gi (his real name), would boldly and openly share his personal reflections, express his thoughts freely and criticise society through 22 songs.
When Suga sang his masterpiece Daechwita, incorporating a Korean traditional musical instrument, the audience enthusiastically bobbed their heads up and down to the beat of the music and sang along with him, especially during the verse, "I'm a king, I'm a boss". The song embeds a sarcastic tone as a response to the haters. It expresses Suga's confidence and ego on his journey to becoming the K-pop king despite facing initial insults and criticism. The energy hyped up as he followed up with two intense rap songs -- Agust D and Give It To Me -- before transitioning into a more laid-back vibe by playing the guitar and singing Trivia Seesaw.
Trivia Seesaw, originally released in BTS's 2018 album Love Yourself: Answer, is known for its upbeat tune and impressive dance routines. However, in the concert, Suga performed a beautiful acoustic version of the song. From the fast and intense rapping at the beginning of his performance, Suga transitioned into a slower and softer flow while delivering SDL, People and People Pt.2. His melodious and powerful voice filled the performance hall and made his fans swoon.
During the three-hour performance, Suga showcased his remarkable musical abilities including rapping, singing, and playing the guitar and piano. Since he had written the songs himself, the audience could truly sense the genuine emotion behind his performance. Despite having a cold and occasionally coughing, the rapper maintained a powerful and steady stage presence throughout the performance. Suga showed that he was skilled in entertaining and connecting with the audience by approaching them from different angles. In addition to his musical abilities, the concert production was impeccably designed, particularly with the exquisite lighting arrangement and the effective sound system.
Suga is an incredible producer who can create captivating songs. During the concert, he played the piano and sang Life Goes On, a meaningful song by BTS released in 2020. Suga was one of the songwriters, but he performed his own unique version at the concert which differed from BTS's rendition. In a tribute to the late Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, the video showed Suga meeting with Ryuichi before performing Snooze, a collaboration featuring Ryuichi and Woosung.
Thai ARMY (the name of BTS's fan club) was a fantastic crowd. They chanted loudly for every song. Suga noticed that and told them that he appreciated their loud cheers. He frequently interacted with the ARMY, using the Thai phrase thoe mun rerd, which means "you are awesome", bringing immense joy to the fans.
In a funny moment before the encore, Suga said there would be a last song and he asked: "Bangkok, are you ready?" The fans kept saying no because they did not want him to leave. The rapper was surprised by their response and he eventually said, "I'm ready", and sang the heartbreaking song Amygdala before exiting the stage.
During the encore, Suga got closer to the audience by stepping down from the stage and walking among the fans in the standing zone. He even sang happy birthday to a lucky fan who held up a sign saying it was her birthday.
To wrap up his concert, the rapper performed the emotional song The Last in which he openly shared his struggle with depression and anxiety. The lyrics narrate how the rapper used to hide his weakness by pretending not to care. He eventually confronted his fears and worries. Suga's willingness to reveal his personal struggles deeply touches fans worldwide and they feel a strong connection to his music. In addition to entertaining, his music also heals struggling listeners. That is why his music holds immense value and is highly appreciated by his fans.
