A Decade of Harmony: Twice at the Kia Forum

The arena hummed. Under the cavernous roof of Inglewood’s Kia Forum on Wednesday, Jan. 21, the air held that particular, prickly tension of a shared secret. Nine women stood at the precipice of a four-night residency, their presence a testament to a decade of relentless, rhythmic architecture. To the uninitiated, the landscape of South Korean pop might seem a monolith dominated by a singular boy band, yet the reality is a far more complex tapestry of ambition and endurance.

The Luminescence of the Once

A shimmering tide of Candybongs rose. These light sticks, synchronized by wireless signals, transformed the darkness into a pulsing, neon nervous system that mirrored the heartbeat of the crowd. Precision is paramount. This stop on the This Is For World Tour marks a significant milestone, celebrating ten years of collective history across thirty-five North American arena dates. It is a curious thing to witness the evolution of a group that has transitioned from the intimate stages of 2019 to the sprawling magnitude of Banc of California Stadium, only to return to the Forum with the seasoned grace of masters. A decade of sweat, sequins, and synchronized steps. The exhaustion of the road often remains invisible, tucked behind the impeccable geometry of their choreography.

Crossover and Cinematic Acclaim

The boundary between stage and screen has blurred. During the set, a particular resonance filled the room as three members performed a track featured in the Netflix sensation KPop Demon Hunters. News of the film’s Oscar nominations for Best Animated Film and Best Original Song had only just broken the following day, Jan. 22, adding a layer of prestigious weight to the evening’s proceedings. It is a strange alchemy when a subculture finally dissolves into the mainstream. The mainstreaming of a movement once considered niche. The performance of "This Is For" served as a declarative opening, a girl-power anthem that demanded recognition for the overlooked. Chaeyoung’s voice, steady and sharp, cut through the symphonic cheers to deliver a message of solidarity to those who have been "done wrong."

The Architecture of a Performance

Voices merged into a single, crystalline harmony. The setlist functioned as a chronological bridge, weaving new selections from the 2025 albums This Is For and Ten: The Story Goes On with the nostalgic echoes of their debut years. There is an inherent confusion in the passage of time during such a marathon career—how the girls who began as trainees have become the icons who now command the Inglewood skyline. The sheer physical demand of maintaining such a high-velocity career is staggering. The weight of expectation. They carry the hopes of a global fandom, known as Once, with a lightness that belies the gravity of their industry. It was not merely a concert; it was a fortification of a legacy that shows no signs of fracturing.

Additional Reads

• The Evolution of the Candybong: How Fan-Light Technology Revolutionized Concert Experiences
• From Seoul to SoFi: A History of K-Pop’s Expansion in Southern California
• The Making of 'KPop Demon Hunters': Inside the Oscar-Nominated Animated Feature
• Ten Years of Twice: A Deep Dive into the Discography of a Global Powerhouse