Over the weekend, BLACKPINK brought their record-smashing BLACKPINK WORLD TOUR <DEADLINE> to Citi Field in Queens, New York — and to say the girls lit up the iconic stadium would be a massive understatement.
Not only did ROSÉ, JENNIE, JISOO, and LISA become the first-ever K-pop act to headline (and sell out!) Citi Field, but they also gave a masterclass in global pop stardom that had every seat filled, every light stick waving, and every fan screaming the lyrics at the top of their lungs.
For Celeb Secrets, it was not only our first time seeing BLACKPINK live — it was our first-ever K-pop stadium show. And let’s just say… we get the hype now. Actually, we might just be Blinks.
After some apart as a group to pursue massive solo careers — JENNIE, ROSÉ, LISA, and JISOO reunited stronger, sharper, and more united than ever, forging them into the legends they are now and years to come. There was no opener. No warm-up. Just the sound of anticipation buzzing through a sea of black and pink outfits, glowing light sticks, and fans repping their biases with pride. The lights dimmed at 8:10 p.m., and the screen lit up with the <DEADLINE> intro — a cinematic prelude to the chaos that was about to unfold.
Opening with “Kill This Love,” BLACKPINK wasted no time reminding everyone why they’re the blueprint. They powered through bangers like “Pink Venom,” “How You Like That,” and “Playing With Fire” with precision, flair, and charisma — their chemistry as a group hitting harder than ever. The choreography was sharp. The energy was high. The crowd? Completely unhinged — in the best way. The girls ended Act 1 with “Shut Down,” complete with a fire interlude that also featured a dance break, “Crazy Over You” and “Typa Girl.”
The show was split into five jaw-dropping acts, with each member commanding the stage in their own solo spotlight before coming together again for iconic OT4 moments that sent fans into a frenzy. To kick off Act 2, JISOO stunned with her hauntingly beautiful “earthquake” and “Your Love” while LISA owned the stage with “Thunder” and “FXCK UP THE WORLD,” throwing in her solo staples “LALISA” and “Money” to remind everyone why she’s that girl. Her stage command is unreal. It’s LISA’s world and we’re just living in it.
Act 3 brought the “Pretty Savage” energy, with ROSÉ introducing the live band who emerged from behind massive LED panels. The instrumentation elevated songs like “Don’t Know What to Do,” “Whistle,” “Stay,” and “Lovesick Girls,” turning the show into a rock-pop hybrid that felt fresh and fierce. This portion of the show wasn’t just about singing the hits — it was about redefining what a K-pop stadium show should be. It deserved a standing ovation — and they got one from the 40,000+ fans in attendance.
Act 4 showcased more solo accolades, with this one being from JENNIE and ROSÉ. To kick things off, JENNIE delivered fierce attitude and fashion by performing “Mantra” and “like JENNIE,” oozing that signature confidence we can’t get enough of. Her swagger is absolutely untouchable and her big boss energy reminded us why she’s a trendsetter across music and pop culture.
To no surprise, ROSÉ melted our hearts from the moment it was time for her to take the stage for her solo moment. But before performing her song “two years” for the first time on the <DEADLINE> stage, she casually took a bite out of a slice of Joe’s Pizza, because that’s what you must do when performing in New York. She then shared a heartfelt moment with the large crowd while explaining the meaning behind the song and key moments from co-writing it, giving fans an inside look of what it’s really about. Her set also included “toxic till the end” and the cheeky “APT.,” showcasing her dreamy voice and emotional pull. Her time in the spotlight was raw, real and pure ROSÉ magic.
Despite the killer solos (and let’s be real, they slayed), the night was at its most magical when the girls came back together. Whether it was “Boombayah,” “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” or the encore performance of “JUMP” (now sitting comfortably at No.1 on the Billboard Global 200), there was something euphoric about watching all four members — OT4 forever — command the stage as one when they ended their set with the tour debut of JISOO’s “earthquake” as a group.
It was filled with emotional highs, like when LISA, ROSÉ, and JISOO tried to lift JENNIE during a spontaneous moment on stage, laughing as they nearly toppled over. It was chaotic, adorable, and peak BLACKPINK, reminding us that underneath all the glitz and glam, LISA, ROSÉ, JISOO and JENNIE are just four girls in their late 20s and early 30s having the time of their lives.
The <DEADLINE> Tour is not just a show — it’s a statement. Sure, some of the interludes were a tad long, and we wish they strayed from the script to talk more directly with the crowd. But none of that overshadowed the pure excellence of what they delivered on stage. The 27-song set list is a celebration of everything they’ve built, everything they’ve become, and everything they still have to give. They’re sisters, soulmates and stage queens, and the world will never be the same.
ICYMI: BLACKPINK’s performance comes just days after “JUMP” broke records yet again, hitting No.1 on both Billboard’s Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts — their third and fourth No.1s respectively. With over 123 million streams in a single week, it’s the biggest streaming debut by a female artist this year. They’re also making history on YouTube, Spotify, and the UK charts, continuing to be the most globally dominant K-pop girl group of all time. And based on what we saw at Citi Field? That title is well earned.
As the girls continue their world domination with shows in Paris, Milan, London, and beyond, we’ll be here, waving our light stick, counting the days until we can scream “BLACKPINK IN YOUR AREA!” again. If you’re not a Blink yet, one night on the <DEADLINE> tour will change that.
