The moment the lights dimmed, you could feel it — this wasn’t just a gig. It was something more. The Rose didn’t just walk out on stage at Indigo at The O2, London; they brought the whole WRLD with them. From the first note, it felt like we were all part of something big, something soft, something healing. For an hour and a half, nothing else existed — just four guys, thousands of fans, and a room full of feelings too big to name.
The Rose: A WRLD of Love at the Indigo at The O2, London
Held at Indigo at The O2, The Rose’s “Once Upon A WRLD Tour” London stop was packed, glowing, and touched with just the right amount of magic. The UK weather — usually about as reliable as a soggy crisp packet — surprised us all with sunshine and blue skies.
Black Roses (that’s the fandom) turned up early, hearts full and friendship bracelets in hand. They came from everywhere — Ireland, Saudi Arabia (hi, Sarah!), Brazil, and small towns across the UK. I met Thomas, who turned 10 that day and got a “Happy Birthday” serenade from the band at soundcheck. And I danced beside a woman turning 60, who radiated the same joy. Different ages, same energy. One band.
As a Dreamer VIP, I got to attend soundcheck, where I stood shoulder to shoulder with strangers who became instant friends. Special shoutout to Remi, Katey, Emily, and Parishaa — whose fan chant energy could probably power the National Grid.
Bed on Stage? It Happened. It Healed Us.
Let’s talk staging.
Halfway through the set, the lights dimmed, the curtains pulled back — and suddenly, we were in a soft-lit dreamscape. A literal bed appeared on stage, part of an intricately designed Kabuki-style set that looked like a cross between K-indie theatre and a Tumblr fever dream.
The boys didn’t just perform around it — they played on it.
Taegyom — apparently the actual owner of the bed — lounged casually like it was Sunday morning. Dojoon reclined like he was checking fan DMs (he wasn’t). Woosung, ever the chaotic older brother, told Dojoon he should not lie down in it, pausing just long enough to embarrass Taegyom, Hajoon shakes his head and Dojoon jump out of it with the most surprised expression on his face.
Woosung, with perfect comedic timing, teased everyone that they’d just been jumping on it with their shoes on (and not for other reasons, of course!).
The crowd exploded. So did the band.
It was chaotic, intimate, and oddly poetic.
It felt like we were right there in the old dorm room where they wrote these songs — and honestly, it hit deep.
The Setlist: Just the Highlights (Or I’ll Cry Again)
The Rose performed 23 songs during their London show, but these are the ones that hit hardest:
- She’s in the Rain – The second it started, the room cracked open. It felt like heartbreak, therapy, and a K-drama ending all at once.
- Lifeline – Stunning live. You could feel everyone holding their breath.
- Back to Me – The moment. From quiet anticipation to full-on collective scream.
- Eclipse – Haunting. Emotional. Everyone froze. The room just… shifted.
- Cosmo – Bittersweet joy. Dance-cry anthem of the night.
- O – The closer. Tender, reflective, and quietly perfect. No one wanted to leave.
Live, the WRLD album hits different. It’s not chasing trends or noise. It’s raw and emotional — like a playlist you accidentally discovered but instantly needed.
And if you didn’t know, The Rose started out heavily inspired by British rock — think The Beatles, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, even a touch of Radiohead. That DNA is still there, but now it’s fused with Korean ballad soul, alt-pop rhythm, and Gen Z-level honesty.
Each act of the show had its own emotional arc:
From Ticket to the Sky and Childhood starting like a hopeful journal entry, to Back to Me and Alive crashing into us like a mental health gut-check, and the devastating trio of Sorry, Eclipse, and Beauty and the Beast — this show didn’t hold back.
And we didn’t want it to.
Black Roses Energy
The post-show group photo moment? Quick — but unforgettable.
Watching my new friends — Remi, Katey, Emily, and Parishaa — meet their idols was like watching someone touch a dream. Glittery cheeks, trembling hands, and the kind of smiles you screenshot in your brain forever.
This is what The Rose does.
They don’t just sing songs.
They create safe spaces.
For 90 minutes, everyone in that room felt understood. That’s what you remember. That’s what matters.
Next Time… Maybe They’ll Email Back?
During our photo op, I told Woosung that I’ve interviewed prime ministers — but not them.
Let’s get one thing out of the way:
I’ve been accredited to cover, interview, and shake hands with world leaders — prime ministers, even royals. I’ve reported from film festivals and fashion weeks across three continents.
But getting press access to The Rose’s Once Upon A WRLD Tour in London?
I… got ghosted. No response.
Not a “yes,” not a “no.” Just full radio silence from the inbox.
And yet — I still went. I still screamed. I still cried.
And I walked out with a story that practically wrote itself.
Because when it comes to The Rose, credentials don’t matter.
Feelings do.
He laughed.
Mission accomplished.
So, boys — if you’re reading this:
I didn’t get the press pass. I didn’t get the interview.
But I got the music. I got the moment.
And I got a story even better than the one I planned.
Still… maybe next time, you’ll hit “reply”? 🥲
Woosung, Dojoon, Taegyom, and Hajoon — I Rose you too.
Filed from London for KpopPost by Maggie Arandela Romano — slightly ghosted, fully healed, and now officially part of the WRLD.
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