NCT Taeyong Makes Grand Return with “TY TRACK-REMASTERED” Concert After 20-Month Military Service

Taeyong of K-pop group NCT officially returned to the stage with a highly anticipated solo concert titled “TY TRACK-REMASTERED,” following his completion of naval service in December of last year. The concert was held over two days, on the 24th and 25th, at the Ticketlink Live Arena (handball stadium) in Seoul’s Olympic Park.

This concert was conceptualized as a remastering of his first solo concert from 2024, “TY TRACK,” featuring an expanded stage scale, new arrangements, and unreleased songs. Taeyong performed a total of 23 tracks, including unreleased songs such as “Locked and Loaded” and “Skiii,” alongside hits from 2023 and 2024 like “Virtual Insanity,” “Ape,” and “Shalala.”

Notably, most of the songs presented at the concert were composed by Taeyong himself or co-composed with others. Every track except “Misfit,” which was performed by NCT’s sub-unit NCT U in 2020, went through his hands, with even “Misfit” being newly arranged by Taeyong for this concert. This demonstrates Taeyong’s musical range and growth as an artist.

Dressed in a leather jacket and sunglasses, Taeyong delivered powerful vocals and energetic choreography on stage. However, the performance was not solely composed of high-energy moments. He also created moments to reveal his vulnerability.

“Mermaid” is an unreleased ballad composed by Taeyong during his military service, dedicated to his fans. On stage, he explained, “Women actors who wait for their boyfriend in the military are called ‘mermaids,’ and I wrote this song thinking of all of you.” “Ruby” is a mid-tempo pop track dedicated to his deceased dog from 2020.

Additionally, the “404” series, including “404 File Not Found” and “404 Loading,” expresses the emptiness and existential confusion he sometimes feels. During the concert, Taeyong said, “As a human being, I sometimes feel empty. I wanted to express stress and emptiness through music.”

Having completed 20 months of military service, Taeyong is now preparing to fully return with his solo activities. He will start his tour in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the 7th of next month, followed by concerts in Yokohama, Japan, on the 16th and 17th of the same month.