Slice of Life: BTS Love Yourself Speak Yourself Concert

Hello Everyone! Welcome back to another Slice of Life post! As you might know, I’m an avid K-Pop fan and I got the opportunity to get tickets to see BTS live in Chicago for their Love Yourself Speak Yourself Concert. I thought I’d share my concert experiences with you all. Enjoy!

After arriving in Chicago in the early hours of the morning,  my friend Katie and I started off our day with breakfast at Yolk which is a hot spot in the city. I wanted to visit Yolk the last time I went to Chicago, but there was an hour wait. Yolk has a variety of very delicious food and you get a lot on your plate for the price. After fueling up on food, we headed over to Soldier Field to get in the merchandise line.

Even at 8am there was quite a line for merchandise as well as sound check and the BTS studio (a photo booth). It surprisingly took only about two hours to get through the merchandise line, but as soon as we got in line it started to rain. This made standing outside a bit chillier. While waiting in line, we met other fans that shared their K-Pop fan experiences while dancing along to various K-pop songs that they played out of giant speakers. I pre-ordered my shirt ahead of time so I bought a few little things extra. I was afraid they would sell out of everything from all the horror stories I heard from last year’s tour here. This time they were more prepared for the crowds and certain items didn’t sell out until the middle of the day.

In all honesty, I was still in disbelief that I was going to concert. Last year I had tried to buy tickets, they sold out in minutes, and I was absolutely crushed. The ticket buying experience was nerve-wracking, but it well worth it. ff you’re going to buy tickets for any popular concert, make you have help from others buying the tickets. I have been a fan of BTS for about 5 years now and I love how much they have evolved over their career. What stands out to me among other K-Pop groups is their unique artistry, lyrics (such good song-writing skills), and most importantly their honesty and message to love yourself.

Before the concert in the evening, Katie and I traversed through the streets of Chinatown in the rain (it rained almost the whole day). We visited K-pop of Chinatown which has some great variety of K-pop goods as well as a store that sells anime products. After shopping we headed over to Ajoomah’s Apron, a Korean Restaurant about a block away. The restaurant had a sleek modern design with a cozy feel. I wanted to try everything on the menu, but I ended up choosing Bulgogi (seasoned beef) which was delicious.

After heading back to the hotel to drop off our shopping bags, we packed up our stuff and got ready to go Soldier Field. Once inside the stadium, we hiked up to the 300s section where our seats were. Luckily the seats were dry, but the stadium was still damp from the all-day rain plus the wind started to pick up since the venue is off the river. It got so cold by the time night fell during the concert. I had hand warmers in my pockets and kept moving to keep warm.

Despite the cold, I had a great time! There were an overall high-energy vibe in the crowd and everyone was singing and dancing along with all the songs. I loved hearing my old favorites as well as songs from the new album Persona. The stage itself was massive and I love the various set changes to match each performance.

My favorite part was seeing BTS performance Anpanman while singing on top of a bouncy house. They also took a lot of time to really connect with and interact with the audience hoping that “we didn’t catch a cold”. They kept joking about Chicago weather through the whole concert saying “Welcome to BTS’s first winter concert!” The show ended with a beautiful display of fireworks!

After the concert, my friend and I went to karaoke with a group of BTS fans even though our voices were pretty much shot. I had a fun time at the concert and seeing them live was a memorable experience. They hinted at touring again next year so I hope I can see them live again!

Do you like going to concerts? Which was the last concert you attended? What was one of the most memorable concerts you went to?