On a Tuesday evening at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, South-Korean artist BIBI commanded the stage, embarking on her first world tour [EVE]. BIBI has described herself as a storyteller first, and the production showcased that excellently. Watching BIBI live demonstrated that her live vocals surpass those of her recordings, as they cannot fully capture her sheer power and earnestness.

Act I: Who is EVE?

The first act focuses on a fictional character referenced in her sophomore album named Eve, a celebrity personality in the 1980s. Through the first songs and VCRs, the audience learns more about Eve and of her sweet facade masking her jaded outlook. Act 1 is seductive and charming, similar to Eve’s persona, but the VCR clips reveal a darker story. We get to see more of that in the next Act!

Act II: Who is EVE-1?

Act 2 focuses on another character from BIBI’s latest album named Eve-1, a genetic clone of Eve created by the government in 2044. She is more brash and hot tempered, but honest. Act 2 mirrors act 1 in structure, but this time Eve-1 is trying to distinguish herself from Eve and forge her own path. The songs of the second act are more cynical at first, but as the story unfolds, they slowly become more open and vulnerable, as does Eve-1 by the end of the VCRs.

Act III: Who is BIBI?

After the conclusion of the Eve saga, BIBI showcases the star that she is by performing some of her most popular tracks. During this act, BIBI is more candid and interactive with the audience. An example of this is when for “City Love,” she chaotically rushes through the aisles in search of an audience member to take on stage with her. This special individual was then privy to a special performance as she entices them with a rendition of “Best Lover.” She also performed an unreleased track during her encore, something that her fans are looking forward to her publishing soon.

Throughout the show, BIBI injects the seriousness of the story she has crafted with some levity, revealing tidbits of behind-the-scenes stories of some songs. One thing that was said off the cuff but stuck was that sometimes people get confused with her image, as her discography explores different tones, imagery, and styles. While her ability to embody different concepts may throw some people off, most people find it fascinating how fluidly BIBI explores a variety of stories and ideas.

Through all of her stories, though, there is a common thread that strings them together: above all, she comes across as endearing and sincere in her storytelling.

Written by Rachel Bui