[theqoo] JENNIE, GIVEN HARSH CRITIQUES FROM FOREIGN MEDIA AT LOLLAPALOOZA “LACKING VOCALS, AUDIENCE WALKED AWAY”

On August 1 (local time), the Chicago Sun-Times published a review of Jennie’s performance at Lollapalooza Chicago. Jennie had previously appeared as a headliner at the major U.S. music festival.

The newspaper wrote that, unlike her performances with BLACKPINK as a full group, Jennie appeared to struggle to command such a large stage on her own. She performed on the festival’s main stage at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, becoming the first female K-pop solo artist to headline the event.

The Chicago Sun-Times praised Jennie’s performances of signature songs such as “Mantra,” “ExtraL,” and “Like Jennie,” saying she proved she deserved the headlining spot. The review noted that her powerful choreography and stage production helped her presence shine in the latter half of the set.

However, the publication was less favorable toward the opening portion of the performance. It argued that the elaborate stage setup and large number of dancers overwhelmed Jennie, while an unbalanced sound mix made her vocals sound flat. The review was especially critical of her performance of “Dracula” with Kevin Parker, claiming that her live vocals and the backing track failed to blend together, making it sound “like a lavishly produced karaoke performance.”

The article also criticized the heavy inclusion of unreleased songs. Jennie performed lesser-known tracks such as “Heaven,” “Lock It Down,” and “Sweet Tooth.” According to the review, while fans near the front responded enthusiastically, casual attendees gradually lost interest, with some leaving during the set. It added that Jennie’s performance, which overlapped with Olivia Dean’s set, was relatively short and relied too heavily on unreleased material, weakening its overall impact.

Similar criticism also appeared among some viewers of the online livestream, who pointed to noticeable differences between the recorded backing track and Jennie’s live voice. Comments mentioned gaps in her singing, timing mismatches between the vocals and backing track, signs of fatigue, and audience members leaving during the performance.

On the other hand, many people who attended the performance in person shared positive reactions. They praised the stage production and Jennie’s ability to engage the crowd, with several saying her vocals were much clearer live than they appeared on the livestream.

By making history as the first female K-pop solo artist to headline Lollapalooza Chicago, Jennie achieved a significant milestone, while also leaving open questions about carrying a major festival stage as a solo performer.