I am KKOTI at CHUU
I love CHUU’s two EPs: Howl and Strawberry Rush. They exude an infectious joy. The song Strawberry Rush and its official music video are the most adorable and happy K-Pop of 2024.
CHUU’s performance at Tacoma’s Pantages Theater July 21st enhanced this vibe. CHUU radiated warmth. Her vocals and dancing were strong. None could deny when she said “I know how to be an idol.” Most audience members knew the words (at least the words in English) and we sang along with smiles on our faces.
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Given the events surrounding K-Pop group Loona’s disbanding, CHUU could rightfully have let bitterness infect her music. Instead, she makes the sweetest sounds and words. Details about Loona are easy to find on the internet; I won’t go into it here. But if you’ve streamed Netflix’s Welcome to Samdal-ri (and you should!) you have a sense for how false claims of bullying can destroy careers in South Korea.
Tacoma has become a K-Pop hotbed. Along with CHUU, two other ex-Loona-member groups will perform at the Pantages Theater in the coming months: ARTMS and Loosemble. I’ll be there. And I’ll sound the Klaxon for (G)I-DLE at the Tacoma Dome in September: it’ll be an event!
