Wonho promoted his new album, “Core” with a mini tour across the U.S. Photo credits to Wonho and Highline Ent.
After the success of ‘Syndrome’– a nearly all English album full of throwback 90’s boyband energy– Wenee (Wonho’s fandom) were excited to see what Wonho’s fourth mini album, ‘Core’, would bring.
Unsurprisingly the title track “Don’t Wake Me Up” was a high energy dance track. Surprisingly, however, it was a heavy EDM energy song that made you feel like you did a full week’s worth of core (no pun intended) workouts in three minutes! The lyrics to the song read like a fever dream he is trying to escape and the dance looks like that is exactly what he is doing!
In true Wonho fashion, the album delivers several very “chill vibe” tracks that you can enjoy the sunshine to. “Answer”, “Test Drive”, “Can’t Get Enough” and “Summer Blue” all make you want to grab a cold drink and sit by the pool or cruise down the beach on a tandem bicycle with someone you love.
One of my personal favorites is the track “Down” which honestly is 100% earworm and will have you chanting “down down down” over and over again! These tracks truly remind us of why we adore Wonho’s song writing ability so much!
Finally we were gifted the vocal debut of Producer and writer, Brother Su. He has written for Monsta X, Shownu X Hyungwon, UNIS, TWS, BTS, Blackpink and many more. This time, in the song “Promises”, we get to hear him sing along side Wonho. This track is not only moving and heartfelt, no doubt written about his new wife, but really shows the love between the two songwriters and artists.
I was fortunate enough to see Wonho live about a month after the release of “Core” and was not disappointed! Wonho and his four backup dancers were able to deliver so much energy and emotion over the course of two hours, that I didn’t even realize he had half the number of people as usual!
Photo credits to Vox.
Wonho performed songs from every album with care, precision and joy. Regularly lighting up with his happiness and love for Wenee as he sang. One of the highlights for me was that he performed the track “Mala” which is unreleased and he has only performed in LATAM prior to this short tour. Along side classics like “Losing You”, “Open Mind” and my new favorite, “Down”, we got a wonderful rendition of “Better Than Me” which warmed my old millennial soul!
Wonho and his dancers interacted with the crowd in Cherokee as if we were the last people in the world and there was only tonight. Fans handed out photocards of the dancers and created their own fandom just for them. And Wonho noticed.
He closed out the show in true Bunny fashion, stripping off his shirt, showing the room exactly what he always works so hard on; his smile and his body. Then proceeded to tease Wenee by fake throwing his shirt onto the crowd and running off stage in a fit of laughter.
Photo credits to Vox.
Post show I did get to meet him, after so many years or being a fan, and tried to make sure he knew we all adored him. He seemed genuinely excited to meet everyone, but also exhausted. I would be too after that performance! Especially in all leather as he was!
If you haven’t taken the time to listen to Wonho, I encourage you to do so! There is never a dull moment as a Wenee!