Non-Army’s Who Watched BTS j-hope in Concert at Lollapalooza Had This to Say About His Performance

When BTS’s j-hope took the stage as a headliner at Lollapalooza, music fans from all backgrounds gathered to witness the historic moment. While his dedicated fanbase, ARMY, anticipated an electrifying performance, what truly stood out was the reaction of festivalgoers who had never experienced his music before. Many non-ARMYs who stumbled upon his set were left in awe, walking away with a newfound appreciation for the K-pop superstar. Here’s what they had to say about his performance.

One of the most talked-about aspects of j-hope’s performance was his undeniable stage presence. People who had never watched him live before were astonished by his energy, confidence, and ability to command the massive crowd. Unlike some artists who rely heavily on backing tracks, j-hope delivered live vocals while executing intricate choreography, proving that he is a seasoned performer. Even skeptics admitted that his control over the stage made for a mesmerizing experience.

“Up to the 1st intermission was pretty dope. Intermission beats were great. But I wish the stream showed more of the videoboard with the lyrics when they showed. I mean the 2nd half kinda felt like a drag cause I guess the novelty of korean rap wore off and it just started to all sound the same. But more is an amazing song, so fresh”

“We walked over from Green Day and I was impressed with the crowd, the hype, and his talent but it just wasn’t my thing so headed back to Green Day. Respect for the fan base though, was cool to see.“

“Rock/Pop fan here, my top 5 fave bands atm are Foo Fighters, NIN, Metallica, Weezer, and QOTSA. Knowing that, you’d think I would go to Green Day, but I had feeling it would be a repeat performance of Hella Mega, Shaky Knees, and Innings Fest. (I was right) Instead I went to j-hope since it would be a rare opportunity to see something very different, K-pop! It was an incredible performance and I was stunned by the crowd interaction. I even found myself headbanging to some of the songs too! It was a great way to end the festival weekend, and I can safely say that “I get it.” It was definitely a stand out performance for me and it’s having me rethink my top 5 for this year…”

“I hadn’t heard a single song of his solo stuff and had only heard BTS’s English hits + Fake Love before. Really wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but the sound of the first half of the set was definitely not it. I was really pleasantly surprised, and not to say that I expected not to like it or anything. But those first few songs caught my attention right away and the set held it for pretty much the entire time through Dynamite. And even past Dynamite, I was still enjoying it – those just were less my cup of tea. But all in all, I think he killed it. I was really impressed with his stage presence and ended up really enjoying several tracks. I shazamed and added More and Equal Sign to my playlists, but I’ll definitely check out the rest of his Jack in the Box album as it seems like the first half sound was more representative of that project than his older stuff. FWIW, I don’t listen to a lot of artists whose lyrics are in different languages, but the ones that I do (ROSALÍA in particular among others) never feel hard to understand musically or emotionally. The songs speak for themselves and looking up the translations to understand more is almost like an extra layer of the experience rather than any kind of hindrance of enjoyment. That’s the vibe I got with J-Hope. Will definitely be checking him out more, I’m glad I tuned in!”

“I watched like 25% Green Day 75% J Hope. Not really a fan of pop rock aside from the first 2 Weezer Albums but also never heard K-Pop. Tbh I wouldn’t listen to K-Pop on my own but the shows the people do for K-Pop are insane. Thought J Hope did pretty damn good and would like to see more K pop and other languages at Lolla just like Coachella. Edit: forgot to add, the orb lights are cool af. Would like to see non k pop groups do that also. I think I saw a vid of Coldplay doing it with wristbands”

“I watched the stream and I was impressed. The set up looked cool and his backing band was solid. I thought his voice was a little quiet at times but a few of the songs were legitimate bangers. I loved how into the performance the crowd was and how loud they were plus the light sticks looked really cool.”

“I was very impressed. Very memorable performance. The army’s presence and dedication made it even better. One of the best sets of the weekend. And I’m not a k-pop fan.”

Many non-ARMYs who were initially unfamiliar with j-hope’s music were surprised by the variety of sounds incorporated into his set. His setlist seamlessly blended hip-hop, rock, EDM, and pop, making it accessible to a broad audience. Unlike the generic pop sound that some skeptics associated with K-pop, j-hope’s music carried a distinct style with unique beats and powerful lyrical delivery. Despite performing primarily in Korean, j-hope’s charisma and passion were more than enough to engage the crowd. Music has always been a universal language, and he proved that great artistry doesn’t require fluency in the lyrics to be appreciated.

Some festival attendees admitted they had been hesitant about listening to music in a language they didn’t understand. However, after watching j-hope’s performance, many realized that the emotional depth of his delivery made the language barrier irrelevant.

Beyond his technical skills, j-hope’s ability to connect with the audience was another major highlight. Even those who had never heard his songs before found themselves drawn into his energy, responding to his cues and engaging with the performance. Unlike some artists who simply run through a setlist, j-hope actively engaged with the crowd, making them feel like an integral part of the experience. His ability to make even the most casual listener feel involved is a testament to his strength as an entertainer.

“Just got back from the show. I knew there was such a band as BTS but never heard their music. I went to J-Hope just for the novelty and see what the fuss was about. I was super impressed, a really awesome production. Apparently he played new solo stuff first, and that was really impressive music, not k-pop at all, very edgy and experimental. And he is an amazing performer, dancer, showman. Also, the fans were so into it. I was expecting mostly Korean fans, but I was surrounded by white, black, Mexican, and Asians, and almost everyone seemed to know all of the words to every song. And the handheld lights were awesome.”

“HE KILLED IT. I went in with an open mind but soon realized his music is right up my alley in terms of what I like. I was dancing the whole time and being surrounded by such dedicated fans made the whole experience really wholesome! He brought the heat – I hope other US festivals follow suit and see K Pop acts bring the heat (and money)”

“Didn’t catch any of J Hope’s set except for the last song, but quick shout out to the Army for being homies. My sister is a huge Djo fan and the people camping the barricades had no problem letting her get to the front to see Djo up close. Army was super in to all of the acts too, they weren’t just sitting on the ground waiting for J Hope during Djo or Charli XCX, they were getting hype and into it even if they didn’t know/care for them”

“Closing a festival is REALLY hard because the crowd is super tired on the last day and already seen a lot great performance. I am not a K-pop fan but wow what a closing performance that was. Great decision by Lolla.”

“I was impressed. Saw the last 15 minutes. He puts on a show. It’s not my thing but I get why people like him. The crowd was going wild also”

“Watched it on stream, not familiar beforehand at all. Great stage presence, the music was fun, crowd was loving it. Visuals were pretty cool and all the choreo added a nice element. Super entertaining set imo. I would not be surprised to see more K-pop headliners at US festivals going forward.”

“I LOVED IT!!! He was so energetic and cool… Ima definitely tune in to some more of he’s music🫶🏽”

“It’s not my type of music but he got the crowd into it and was a good performer. I was shocked at how quiet they had the Budlight stage compared to every other stage. Overall I wouldn’t go see him at his own concert. That said, I like that Lolla is expanding into different genres and exposing more people to different types of music. It was cool to have a chance to see it and say I did it”

“It’s not my style but he fucking brought the heat, that show was awesome. Ps I watched that one on Hulu. Loved it either way”

“After seeing that performance, he’s more of a rapper than I originally gave him credit for. Also as an artist, incredibly experimental. I’m glad his solo discography is wildly different than the BTS catalog. In the world of K-pop they’re “idol rappers”, but you can tell he actually embodies hip hop. The open 15-20 min were fun but it got repetitive quickly. Natural performer, he’s undeniably talented. Solid show but I really don’t understand that hype to keep it a hundred. Edit: I think he added so much to the lineup because he gave its a Lolla exclusive performance. All the other headliners are touring and playing other festivals. J-hope first solo show ever gave Lolla something special. Also this obviously opens the door for future kpop groups to get booked. It Coachella can, Lolla can too”

For many, j-hope’s Lollapalooza set shattered preconceived notions about K-pop. Some festival attendees admitted they had dismissed K-pop as overly manufactured or lacking artistic depth. However, after witnessing j-hope’s performance, they found themselves rethinking their assumptions. His ability to bring raw intensity and artistry to the stage challenged the misconceptions that many non-ARMYs had about the genre.

By the time j-hope wrapped up his set, it was clear that he had left an indelible mark on the audience. The cheers were deafening, and even those who had arrived out of curiosity found themselves dancing, singing along, and feeling the energy of the performance. While ARMYs already knew the extent of j-hope’s talent, his Lollapalooza set served as a revelation to many first-time listeners. The performance not only showcased his artistry but also introduced him to an entirely new audience who left the festival as newfound fans.

j-hope’s Lollapalooza performance was more than just a concert—it was a statement. It proved that music, when performed with passion and authenticity, can transcend barriers and reach people from all walks of life. For non-ARMYs, his set was an unforgettable introduction to his artistry, shattering expectations and leaving them wanting more.

“My husband and my daughter were in the audience. They have always been way more army than me. Which is kind of funny cuz my husband just retired from the military last year after 22 years. I know they were in the front and I hope they had a great time. J hope is always been my favorite because he started off as a street dancer. Tonight he was amazing! He embraces and embodies every genre. There was a little bit of Latin, a lot of hip hop, some of the K-pop. I am more of a fan than ever!”

“My friend dragged me into it and I had listened to some of the new album songs before coming. He has good music honestly. He’s a pro-performer and it did drag a little before chicken noodle soup. My ears hurt from all the girls screaming and the bass lol”

“I watched on stream so the audio was a little iffy with how loud the crowd was. I assumed he was going to be good and I wasn’t sure what to expect but we really enjoyed it. Thought he looked very natural up there. I really don’t understand all the hype, but we had a fun time watching him.”

“I went to Green Day and left after Boulevard of Broken Dreams and went to J-Hope for 20-25 mins. I thought he was an incredible performer and the crowd was energizing with Army bombs. I didn’t enjoy it as much because I couldn’t understand the lyrics. I ended the final night at Polo & Pan and called it a day.”

“Honestly I’m a big J-Hope fan and am really impressed by this latest album so I was kind of disappointed in his Lolla set. It seemed like he really prepared everything except himself. Like others said, he seemed kind of tired and low energy which was really unexpected. I know he’s used to having six other people but he knew that this was his one (or at least, first) opportunity to play solo before a whole western crowd. I just don’t understand what happened. The visuals were great as usual but his performance was kind of okay, It worries me. Although I hope I am the only one who feels this way.”