The thunderous ones have arrived! Stray Kids brought their 5-Star vibes and unbridled power to the 2023 MTV VMAs stage on Tuesday night with a roaring performance of "S-Class."
For their VMAs debut and the U.S. broadcast premiere of their latest single, the Billboard chart-toppers pulled out all the stops inside the Prudential Center — and the pyrotechnics. Surrounded by dancers, Stray Kids utilized every inch of the stage and delivered an unbridled performance fitting for the track's hyper-confident lyrics: "energy stands out, audience is immersed." The octet remixed the dance break (courtesy of 3RACHA no less), and a bit of social media-savvy camera work made Changbin and Han's rap-heavy second verse and their zesty two-step choreography even more engaging.
Don't take our word for it, take Taylor Swift's.
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True to their word, Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin (sporting a new undercut), Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N lit up every corner of the venue with their explosive energy. It's no surprise then they took home the Moon Person for Best K-pop for "S-Class" — their first-ever VMA nomination and win — at this year's show (though, Stray Kids themselves were very surprised).
With three consecutive no. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart and a sold-out U.S. arena tour that wrapped at Los Angeles's BMO Stadium this past April, Stray Kids' star continues to rise internationally, where they boast Spotify streams in the billions — yes, with a b. Currently, the group is in the middle of their 5-Star dome tour, which will take them to cities across Asia and beyond. Later this month, they'll take the stage on the iconic Great Lawn in Central Park at the 2023 Global Citizen Festival alongside acts like Ms. Lauryn Hill, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Jung Kook, bringing them one step closer to the “Hall of Fame.”
Prior to their VMAs performance, leader Bang Chan told Pre-Show host Nessa that they were most looking forward to seeing Video of the Year nominee Olivia Rodrigo. An introduction wouldn't be such a bad idea. Like Rodrigo, Stray Kids pour their messy, unfiltered thoughts and emotions into their music, which they also write and compose themselves. And they're also not afraid to have a little self-aware fun while they're at it.
Here's hoping the Kids put their charms to the test and spilled their guts to the "vampire" singer — or at least made prolonged eye contact from across the room.
