DAY6 10th Anniversary Tour ‘The Decade’ in Kuala Lumpur
Welcome to the Show, indeed. South Korean pop-rock band DAY6 took to the stages of KL’s Axiata Arena for a three-hour musical spectacle last Saturday, delivering track after track from a decade-long discography for their 10th Anniversary Tour in Malaysia.
Evident from the ear-splitting cheers and impressively flawless sing-alongs by Malaysian My Day, or fans of DAY6, there was not a soul in the stadium who wouldn’t welcome the trip down memory lane that the night had to offer.
A triumphant celebration of a decade of music with fans
Despite its theme, nostalgia isn’t the only thing that defines DAY6’s concert in Malaysia.
In the midst of Axiata Arena, quietly electric with excitement, the instantly recognisable cymbals and opening piano riffs of Time of Our Life began playing.
Image credit: JYP Entertainment, Live Nation Malaysia, Qistina Haazree
The crowd erupted in synced cheers with the appearance of the members on stage: Young K at the forefront with the bass, guitar, and vocals; Sungjin looking and sounding every bit the rockstar on his guitar and with his gorgeously gritty vocals; pianist and vocalist Wonpil all smiles while hammering away on the keyboard; and maknae Dowoon nodding to the heart-pounding rhythm of his drums.
Image credit: JYP Entertainment, Live Nation Malaysia, Qistina Haazree
Strumming, playing, and singing with easy confidence, the members pulsed with palpable energy. More than merely reciting past hits, they stirred renewed anticipation for what’s more to come.
The first stretch of songs leaned towards optimism and propulsive melodies.
“I promise you this much, I’m going to give it my all” – the track Welcome to the Show was a highlight of the first half of the show. Young K’s voice settled comfortably in the chorus with a knowing warmth that promised a good night ahead.
Image credit: JYP Entertainment, Live Nation Malaysia, Qistina Haazree
Having studied in Canada during his schooling days, Young K took charge of the banter with the audience in English, prodding his members with questions to stimulate conversation. They responded sportingly and wittily brought out laughter from fans with their endearing attempts to speak English and local Malay phrases.
“Can you see us well?” Young K asked the audience seated at the upper tier of the venue. “Sikit sikit?”
Wonpil humorously misheard him, asking, “Shaky shaky?”, looking genuinely puzzled. The crowd was highly amused.
The boys also mischievously probed fans to remember that it had only been a little over a year since they were last in KL for their Forever Young tour in October 2024, and the audience roared eagerly in reply: a year or shorter, they wouldn’t miss a DAY6 concert for the world.
Image credit: JYP Entertainment, Live Nation Malaysia, Qistina Haazree
As the opening rush settled, the members moved to the extended stage, much to fans’ delight. The concert simmered into the next segment – unquestionably, the one fans were not-so-discreetly waiting for. It was time for sad boi DAY6, also the cue for fans to start singing and crying.
DAY6’s melancholic singles with resonating themes were undeniably what drew the most dramatic reactions from the audience. They serenaded the audience with the timely existentialism of Zombie, the unbelievably and cathartically soulful You Were Beautiful, the unbearable heartbreak of Letting Go, and the soul-wrenching I Smile.
When it came to their performance of Hurt Road during a song request segment, fans left DAY6 completely in awe, singing with their full chests in unison to the Korean lyrics – all unplanned, yet the lyrics and pitch were nailed down to the tee.
Hard-hitting anthems dominated the next stretch of the show. Songs such as Love Me or Leave Me, Shoot Me, and Sweet Chaos had the members going ham on the instruments and vocal belts, specifically drummer Dowoon whose charmingly boyish demeanour transformed impressively into a possessed viciousness as he unleashed chaos in rapid bursts.
Image credit: JYP Entertainment, Live Nation Malaysia, Qistina Haazree
The fierce tracks had the members needing to take a breather, during which Young K humoured the crowd by sharing his experience of indulging in some nasi lemak and durians before the concert. Wonpil was the chattiest, rattling on about Malaysian My Day’s impressive singing. Sungjin was bashful with witty teases aimed at his members and the fans, and Dowoon charming with his animated satoori speak, or Korean regional dialect.
And then the band was straight back to the music, as if they hadn’t already been playing at full throttle.
Even when DAY6 left the stage to prepare for the encore, the energy didn’t drop as the crowd sang along to snippets of songs with lyrics displayed on the screen.
As Dowoon said, “Last, but not really last”. Sure enough, the members appeared on stage once again with another fan-favourite and a classic: the bitter anthem of Congratulations. Next came Dream Bus and Inside Out, which were tracks off DAY6’s most recent album The Decade, as well as Somehow and Freely, which had fans all feral on their feet.
Image credit: JYP Entertainment, Live Nation Malaysia, Qistina Haazree
“For this very last song, let’s sing our worries away, give it all you’ve got, and BE happy!” Sung Jin yelled out to the audience before the band dove into the infectiously promising Best Part. The song had the whole venue jumping and dancing to the melody, while confetti showered down and light band-bearing hands pointed up towards the sky.
DAY6 holds an electrifying concert in Malaysia
Image credit: JYP Entertainment, Live Nation Malaysia, Qistina Haazree
With a total of 31 songs performed in one spectacular night, it’s an understatement to say that the crowd at DAY6’s concert in Malaysia was spoiled with a show of absolute good music and pure talent.
Despite the show’s intensity and lengthy setlist, there was never a sense of fatigue from DAY6 or the fans. They performed with professionalism and emotion, showcasing pure talent and impressive energy with their instruments. It’s no small task, but DAY6 did it with stunning naturalness.
My Day will attest to the fact that the lyricism in DAY6’s songs is as vital as the rest of the musical components, if not, the key aspect that makes their music truly shine. And we’ve got Young K to thank for his healing prose.
Image credit: JYP Entertainment, Live Nation Malaysia, Qistina Haazree
“You guys look like the ocean reflecting the sunset”, Young K remarked during the concert in Malaysia, acknowledging local fans’ creativity in turning their flashlights orange-gold. “Sunsets are brief, and then there’s darkness. Which is scary, isn’t it? I hope you all remember, when you’re going through dark times in your lives, of these golden lights, and know that you aren’t alone”.
Within a stadium filled with thousands of people, loud and crowded, the hearts and faces of fans glowed to the lyrics of Marathon – “Don’t you run, run, run, you’ve already had it tough. It’s okay to take it slow”. It felt like the least lonely place in the world.
Cover image adapted from: JYP Entertainment, Live Nation Malaysia, Qistina Haazree