The news of The Dream Show 3 tour dates thrilled me, especially since it meant they would be spending two nights in Singapore!
I learnt this while I was enjoying lunch in the office during my internship. Overjoyed, I quickly messaged my best friend, a fellow NCTzen, to share the excitement. We couldn’t believe we would get to see NCT Dream again after a whole year!
NCT Dream, known as 7Dream by their fans, is a seven-member group consisting of Mark Lee, Huang Renjun, Lee Jeno, Lee Haechan, Na Jaemin, Zhong Chenle, and Park Jisung.
Last year, they held a one-night-only concert in Singapore for their previous tour, The Dream Show 2. It was incredibly challenging to get tickets, but during Mark’s ending speech, he promised they would return with a two-night concert the following year. True to his word, those two nights became the most unforgettable experiences of my life.
The Great Ticket Challenge
This year’s ticketing process was a significant improvement compared to last year.
Several changes made a difference, from a new organizer to the introduction of pre-sales and even VIP tickets. As a dedicated fan, I didn’t want to risk missing out on my desired seats, so my best friend and I signed up for the NCTzen DREAM Membership pre-sale on Weverse (a fan-community app for interacting with your favourite artists and getting exclusive content and privileges). This membership, costing an additional $30, granted us early access to tickets, and we were determined to secure our places.
Just minutes before the ticketing began, I searched for tips to increase my chances of success on the often-dreaded Ticketmaster platform. Fortunately, I found a post on Lemon8 from an avid concert goer who suggested that queue numbers tend to be better on a tablet. I decided to give it a try, and it worked – I had the best queue number out of all my friends!
Within 10 minutes of joining the queue, I successfully secured our tickets. As soon as the payment was processed and the tickets that cost $520 per person for both nights were confirmed, I excitedly texted my best friend and our ordinary Thursday instantly transformed into a day of pure joy. We couldn’t wait to finally see NCT Dream perform again!
Countdown to Concert Day
Two months before the concert, SM Entertainment, the group’s management company, announced that one of their members, Renjun, would be on hiatus due to health concerns and symptoms of anxiety. He was advised to get sufficient rest and would not participate in any activities, including the concert.
This news saddened many fans, including myself, as we were eager to see all seven members perform together after having only six members at last year’s show in Singapore. Nonetheless, Renjun’s health and safety are paramount, and we know he would miss us as much as we miss him.
The pre-concert preparation is an equally exciting experience, especially for K-Pop events. From planning outfits and decorating lightsticks to collecting freebies from other fans at the venue, these activities build the anticipation towards seeing 7Dream live.
Since I attended both nights of the concert, I opted for a seating ticket on the first day and a standing ticket on the second day.
On the first day, I could take my time and soak in the atmosphere before heading into the stadium. The show started at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. The entry process was quick and convenient, taking only about five to 10 minutes before we were comfortably seated.
For the standing section, we queued from 2 p.m., this required a bit more urgency as we wanted to maintain our queue positions and ensure we entered the stadium promptly.
Although finding a good spot and queuing for the standing pen was more challenging, it was absolutely worth it!
Showtime!
At 6 p.m., as the volume of the music intensified, a sea of neo-pearl champagne light filled the stadium, emanating from everyone’s Neobong, NCT’s very own iconic green lightstick.
The show kicked off with a bang as they opened with BOX, a track from their latest album, DREAMSCAPE. The stadium erupted with screams and cheers as soon as their faces appeared on the screen and as they took the stage. I was awestruck by their stunning visuals and couldn’t believe they were right there in front of me.
I thoroughly enjoyed the concert’s setlist, which featured a variety of B-sides in addition to their popular title tracks and hit songs. B-sides refer to the songs that are on their albums but not the main singles.
Among my favorites were Never Goodbye and Tangerine Love. Having only seen brief snippets of the concert on TikTok beforehand, I was amazed by the intricate use of graphics and props.
One particularly memorable moment was when a bicycle was brought on stage, and Mark enthusiastically rode it, much to the delight of the audience.
The concert spanned two hours and featured more fan-favourites such as Yoghurt Shake, Hello Future, and Candy. I was particularly captivated by their voices, especially Chenle’s. His soft and mellow tone has always been enchanting, and I could listen to him sing for hours. The clarity of their voices was remarkable, with minimal backtracking and mostly pure vocals.
During their ‘ments’ (talking segments between songs where artists speak to their fans), the members expressed their deep appreciation for our energy, stating that seeing us enjoy the show made their performance even more enjoyable.
Jisung humorously mentioned that they liked us more than chilli crab, which is a huge compliment given NCT’s fondness for the dish! They also delighted the crowd by using some Singlish phrases, such as “Steady la!” on stage. Mark teased that the group is currently working on a full-length album, which is definitely something to anticipate. Importantly, the boys shared a common promise that they will return next year with Renjun, as 7Dream.
Finally, the concert concluded with the final song, Like We Just Met, one of my personal favorites. Although I felt a pang of sadness as the event came to an end, I am hopeful that The Dream Show 4 next year will feature all seven members of 7Dream.
My excitement to see them live again has never been higher!
NCT Dream is the only group I would spend hundreds of dollars to see, and I am eagerly anticipating their return to Singapore to do it all over again!
Personally, I preferred standing over sitting, as it allowed me to see them with my own eyes rather than through a screen. It was surreal to see them up close! Listening to their music will always transport me back to those dazzling two nights. I’m glad they are getting a month off to rest before embarking on the European leg of their tour.
My rating for this concert exceeds the scale; no other concert can top this one for me!
