Despite anticipation for his grand return, G-Dragon’s concert left many fans disheartened, not because of the weather, but due to a lackluster live performance that fell short of expectations. The artist, once praised as a “trust-and-listen” vocalist, ironically echoed the lyrics of his own song: “Nothing lasts forever.”

In a sharply observed cultural critique by Kuki News on March 30, G-Dragon’s long-awaited return was painted as a spectacle of style over substance, visually dazzling yet vocally disappointing, exposing the growing gap between his iconic status and his present-day stage presence.

Below is the English translation of that article

Title: So Much for “‘”Nothing Lasts Forever”… G-Dragon’s Live Vocals More Shocking Than the 73-Minute Delay

Source of Critique: Kuki News, March 30, 2025

Advertisement Table of ContentsThe Unexpected DelayA Visually Dazzling Entrance That Fell FlatA Surprise Appearance from CLA Long-Overdue ApologyA Medley of Hits and Stunning VisualsVocals Raise ConcernsA Glimmer of Hope for BIGBANG Fans

Although the concert was delayed due to poor weather conditions, what truly fell short was G-Dragon’s live vocal performance. Once considered a trusted live performer, the artist left behind a stage that, ironically, faded even the memories of his past glory, just like the lyrics of his own song, “Nothing lasts forever.”

On March 29, G-Dragon held his “2025 World Tour [Übermensch] in Korea” at the Goyang Sports Complex in Daehwa-dong, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Including the second show on March 30, approximately 60,000 fans attended across the two days.

Earlier, on February 25, G-Dragon had released his third full-length album, “Übermensch,” marking his first album in 11 years and 5 months. The title, meaning “one who transcends,” reflected his ambition to present a stronger, more evolved version of himself.

The concert, sharing the same title as the album, was his third world tour. Drawing from the philosophical concept of Friedrich Nietzsche, the show was said to narrate the transformation into an “Übermensch” through a three-stage story.

The Unexpected Delay

However, the ambitious theme was quickly overshadowed by a rough start. G-Dragon didn’t appear until 7:43 PM, a full 1 hour and 13 minutes after the originally scheduled 6:30 PM start. Although Coupang Play had announced a delayed start time of 7:00 PM due to bad weather, he didn’t take the stage until 43 minutes later.

The audience had to endure the biting cold outdoors without any clear updates. The lack of communication was especially disappointing for an event that marked G-Dragon’s first concert in over 8 years. Galaxy Corporation, his agency, later explained, “Due to strong winds and worsening weather at the venue, the concert was delayed once for safety reasons, which led to an additional 40-minute delay.”

A Visually Dazzling Entrance That Fell Flat

G-Dragon stepped on stage as if nothing had happened, dressed in a red concept outfit, complete with a red tiara and a rose-covered jacket. Fire pillars, fireworks, and dazzling effects accompanied the performance. He opened with pre-release tracks “POWER” and “Home Sweet Home.” During “Home Sweet Home,” BIGBANG members Taeyang and Daesung appeared on screen, drawing cheers from the crowd.

After catching his breath, G-Dragon greeted the audience, “Have you been well?,” “Are you ready to party with Jiyong?”

The crowd roared in response. He added, “I’m actually shy. If you don’t give me your energy, I’ll get sulky and go home, so let’s work together.”

A Surprise Appearance from CL

A familiar face joined him next, CL from 2NE1, a longtime YG labelmate. She performed “R.O.D.” and “The Leaders” with G-Dragon. “R.O.D.” marked their first live performance together, while “The Leaders” was a meaningful throwback to their 2017 tour collaboration.

A Long-Overdue Apology

G-Dragon finally addressed the situation, “It’s so cold, and I’m sorry for starting like this.” He then shared his emotions about being back on stage after so long, “With all the noise going on, I’m sure your hearts may not feel at ease… but I’m thankful to be standing here as a singer, and grateful to see you again because you took the time to be here.”

He jokingly referred to the number 8, his favorite number and birth year (1988), “I don’t know if it’s fate or not, but maybe it’s the curse of 8.”

A Medley of Hits and Stunning Visuals

G-Dragon performed a series of iconic tracks, including “Crayon,” “That XX,” “Butterfly,” “Who You,” “Crooked,” and “Heartbreaker.” Drones lit up the sky with his face and various shapes, creating a stunning spectacle.

The most impressive performance came during “Heartbreaker,” when world-class beatboxer Wing joined him. Wing’s beatboxing matched the energy of a live band, elevating the performance.

GD Not like us?!!😭😭…..#GDRAGON #GDWORLDTOURUEbermensch
pic.twitter.com/sEVsXjAXQF

— 𝓙𝓸𝔂𝓪𝓷𝓪⁷🦋🫧 (@Joyana_armyx) March 29, 2025

Other songs included a remix of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” (reimagined as “Bullshit”) and the high-energy dance track “TOO BAD.” However, the anticipated “arm crane” stage device, meant to elevate G-Dragon midair, was ultimately not used, likely due to weather conditions.

Vocals Raise Concerns

More disappointing than the missed special effects was G-Dragon’s surprisingly poor vocal performance. He sang less than half of most songs, and even those parts were frequently off-pitch. His high notes were rushed and inconsistent. After an intense dance sequence, he confessed, “My legs gave out. I should’ve stretched them, but all I did was blow my nose backstage.”

The joke felt more like a worrisome admission than comic relief, leaving fans concerned rather than amused.

The encore featured tracks like “A Boy,” “This Love,” “One Year Station,” “IBELONGIIU,” and “Untitled, 2014.” Yet fans remarked that the audience singalongs were more harmonious than G-Dragon’s own vocals. It’s even believed that fans sang more of “A Boy” than he did.

A Glimmer of Hope for BIGBANG Fans

Still, there was some good news for VIPs (BIGBANG’s fanbase). G-Dragon teased a project to commemorate BIGBANG’s 20th anniversary in 2025, “We’re turning 20. When you turn 20, you need a coming-of-age ceremony. It might be a little gross, but very 𝓈ℯ𝓍y. I’m planning it.”

Meanwhile, following his Korea concert, G-Dragon will kick off his Asia tour with a two-day performance in Tokyo, Japan on May 10 and 11, before heading to Bulacan (Philippines), Osaka (Japan), Macau (China), Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Jakarta (Indonesia), and Hong Kong, covering eight cities across seven Asian countries.