On December 31st, 2017 at the MBC Gayo Dajejeon, VIXX performed a special remix version of their track, “Shangri-La.” The song was originally released on May 15, 2017 as the title song for their EP, Shangri-La. This is the first time this song has been performed since the promotional period ended in June 2017.
The performance at MBC was such a huge success that VIXX was invited to perform again at Music Core on January 6th. What was it about this particular performance that resonated with the audience so much? The six member group has always been known to be visual, conceptual, and dance kings, so what made this performance different?
Let's take a closer look.
Stylewise, “Shangri-La” is a modern, future bass track incorporating elements of dubstep and electro-pop. Interestingly, listeners can also hear a traditional Korean string instrument, the gayageum, included in the backing track. The inclusion of this instrument marks the conscious choice to incorporate traditional Asian elements into the song. This theme is carried through in the stage and choreography as well.
The name of the song, “Shangri-La,” is derived from the book, Lost Horizon. It is described as being an earthly paradise, a sanctuary located somewhere in the Himalayan mountains, where happiness is endless and wisdom abounds.
By naming their song after a conceptual paradise, VIXX also announces their intent to weave the fantastical and mysterious into their performance. The song lyrics speak about a lover with whom they are so captivated, their very presence transports them to a magical land with ‘gorgeously blossoming flowers’ and where even ‘unripe peaches taste sweet.’ A veritable Shangri-La.
From the MV to the live stage, they seamlessly incorporate this idea of a less-than earthly place. That, paired with a dedication to traditional Asian cultural elements, leads to a stage unlike any other.
I equate the captivation of this stage to the use of props and visuals more than anything else. There are three separate items that I will be discussing - clothing & accessories, the scarves, and the fans. I will be focusing on VIXX’s MBC Gayo stage only, although some images used may be from their January 6th Music Bank performance. Things to keep in mind while reading is that VIXX is striving to create an ethereal, fantasy world through their performance. In this way, the stage should be a little bit alluring and mysterious.
First up: the costumes.
The importance of clothing in dance performance is pretty high up there. The costumes make the dance, so to speak. They are the visual element that the audience first sees and probably one of the most memorable aspects of a stage. Their purpose is to both highlight a dancer’s body and compliment their movements.
There are appropriate costumes for dance styles as well. You wouldn’t put a ballet dancer in an oversized sweater and baggy pants, because it hides their long lines and covers the precise alignment of their bodies that they’ve worked years to perfect.
A costume is more than just a shimmery object that grabs people’s attentions. It is also a piece of the choreography itself and often helps to tell the story of the piece. In “Shangri-La,” VIXX is wearing calf-length black robes, with wide sleeves. They look similar to a yukuta, which is a Japanese summer robe, or even a kimono. They also bear a resemblance to the outwear for Korean traditional hanbok clothing. The styling of the robes definitely draw influence from ancient cultural garments.
The outer robes are also printed on the bottom with flower images in a greyish white. They are layered over a second all-white robe. Underneath, they are wearing black pants, a black wrap tunic top which is belted with a long white piece of fabric. The belt is tied around their waist with the excess fabric hanging to their knees. To complete the ensemble, they wore black high top sneakers with a white sole.
By keeping the palette strictly to a black and white color scheme, the costumes alone heighten the drama of the stage. Don’t black and white movies always feel so much more dramatic than ones in color? It is a classic move to provide a muted background, so that other things can stand out.
The fabric and cut of their clothing is also very important. Another group may not be able to pull of these outfits as well as VIXX. As one of the tallest groups in Kpop, a near floor length robe makes them appear statuesque. It could easily have the opposite effect on a smaller person.
The gauzy fabric of the outer robes are very light as well and moves quite quickly. The choice of material makes small movements, like raising an arm, have a ripple effect as the clothes tend to flow about on their accord.
It creates a wave like organic motion and brings to mind the way your clothes may move in the wind or how the ocean waves ripple.
The same effect is also found with the belt. The long white fabric is only eye catching for its brightness. It especially stands out during the dance break of "Shangri-La" as the stage darkens.
It also draws attention to the performers’ bodies. Just like ballet dancers, the audience notices the slim waistlines and long lines of their bodies because of that bright cut of cloth. The long, trailing end also brings more movement to the choreography, outside of the dancers’ motions. It's also worth mentioning that there is a certain masculine seductive quality of a long hanging belt between their legs.
Never overlook costume choices because they are always made with intent.
The next prop I'd like to discuss is the red scarves.
In the first part of this performance, VIXX danced to an instrumental song called “The Wind of Starlight.” The theme of the 2017 MBC Gayo was 'The Fan.' Since Starlight is their fandom name, this song can be interpreted as an ode to their fans, who propel them along in their career. They use long red silks as props only in this section, throwing them away at the end as they transition to “Shangri-La.”
VIXX uses the fabric as an extension of the dance, similar to the costumes. The use of the scarves differs in that the members can choreograph their movements. Most of the motions are sweeping and large, which makes the scarves the focus.
They also use them in innovative ways. At one point, the members literally hold the scarves in their mouths as they dance, not because their hands aren’t free, but to convey aggression and intensity, with an animalistic bite on the fabric.
This, in addition to the broad, sweeping choreography, as well as the color, tells us a little about what purpose the scarves serve. There may be many meanings, but in my mind, the scarves relate, in some way, to passion. It could be a passion for their music, or maybe for their fans, but either way the scarves are in no way subtle. They are bold, noticeable, and sometimes uncontrollable.
Now, the key prop used in this piece - the fans.
The fans are brought out for the “Shangri-La Remix” performance. I believe the members were hiding them in their sleeves and simply slid them down into their palms as they began the song.
Here is another example of Asian culture colliding with western music. Fan dances are widespread across Asia, with each country adding their own twist or style. Because VIXX is a Korean group, I chose to focus on Korean fan dances, also known as buchaechum, and their influence on VIXX's performance. I am sure there are elements drawn from other countries' fan dances, however I chose the dance native to their country.
In buchaechum, fans are symbols of protection and prosperity. Here is an immediate connection with the concept of Shangri-La. As a paradise, it is a place free of evil and where residents are said to enjoy unending wealth. The symbolism of the fans ties in nicely to this tale.
Traditional fan dances, not only in Korea, are usually performed by females, which is another reason why I love that VIXX chose to incorporate the prop. By using a ‘gendered’ prop, the group cuts ties with what is expected from a masculine performance. To be honest, K-pop is very good at blurring gender lines, at least from a Western society viewpoint. In an industry that promotes beauty over everything, both men and women use all tools available to them - skincare routines, makeup, hair removal - to appear as beautiful as possible. As these six men wield the fans with grace and precision, sometimes with almost weapon like actions, they re-invent a traditional cultural dance into a more modern version.
The way VIXX uses the fans also deviates from traditional buchaechum. Buchaechum dancers hold two fans, one in each hand, and move delicately around the stage, making and breaking various formations. VIXX rarely comes together in a still formation, and instead dance individually with the fans, in a variety of ways.
We see it used as directional indicators, as when N controls the motions of the rest of the group.
Sometimes it's an accent to a lyric or a movement, as when Leo double taps his shoulder.
Other times it's an expression of emotion. Ravi gets the most aggressive with his, waving it forcefully and snapping it open and close.
And of course, it's an object of seduction. N was particularly good at this, hiding and revealing his face in a teasing fashion.
Speaking of, this performance showcased the members' stage presences extremely well. I was drawn in not only by their dancing, but also by their energy. Every calculated choice for this stage enhanced the overall performance. Aside from what we've already discussed, the members' makeup was stunning. With so much focus on the eyes, particularly when using the fans to shield their faces, the choice to wear bright red eyeshadow was perfect. Against their black outfits and black hair, the red eye make-up further enhances the ethereal, alluring vibe of the members.
We see the elements of nature being once again drawn into the piece, as the members wielded the fans as if moving through water or like a tree blowing in the wind.
Creating images of nature is also a huge part of buchaechum. Using the fans in dance moves that evoke imagery of waves, flowers, butterflies, etc is very common in traditional fan dances, so it’s no surprise VIXX also does so during their stage.
These props also have an added bonus - they make noise. They are heavy, so when snapped open, they crack. VIXX used this to their advantage, filling silences with the punctuation of the fans. It’s attention-grabbing and a perfect accent to the song. The loud crack of the fans grounded and focused the audience back on the choreography.
Speaking of which, all of these elements combined are only meant to be the backdrops to the actual choreography of the dance. It is primarily a hip-hop piece, although they include a number of motions that are modern or contemporary influenced. The hardest part of the choreography is controlling the fans. Hongbin stated in a FUSE interview from August, that in order for the members to get comfortable with the fans, they would carry them everywhere, even outside of dance practice. This certainly shows on stage as they don’t seem to have any slip ups with the fans. VIXX is also well known for being very competent dancers, so the whole dance was performed with ease.
The group was able to handle multiple props, hit every dance move while wearing long, loose clothing and still have enough energy left over to deliver that high caliber stage presence. It's admirable to say the least.
Overall, what would be a relatively standard work of choreography is transformed into beautiful, organic, and powerful stage when combined with the styling of the group, as well as the thoughtful inclusion of props. The fervor over VIXX’s "Shangri-La" stage is understandable. They presented a performance that was unlike any other in Kpop. They stayed true to their concept of fantasy and mysticism, while also weaving in Asian cultural traditions in their choreography and dress, all performed to a future bass contemporary track. They take their performances seriously and added some gravitas and history to their stage.
VIXX has been around for almost six years now. But somehow it feels like they're just getting started.