G-Dragon made his U.S. festival comeback at Head in the Clouds 2025 on May 31, headlining Day 1 of 88rising’s 10th anniversary event at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The performance marked his first U.S. appearance in eight years and featured a surprise onstage reunion with CL.
The flagship festival, organized by 88rising in partnership with Goldenvoice, featured major acts such as 2NE1, Dean, DPR Ian, Rich Brian, and Higher Brothers over the two-day weekend. G-Dragon’s solo set was one of the most anticipated moments of the event.
G-Dragon opened the 65-minute performance with “Power,” stepping out in a royal blue coat embroidered with a lion. He performed 11 songs in total, blending fan favorites like “One of a Kind” and “Crayon” with new material from his 2024 album Übermensch, including “Too Bad,” “DRAMA,” and “Take Me.”
The set featured self-aware visual nods to global pop culture. During “Bullshit,” he replicated key choreography from Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Super Bowl performance, including the viral walk. For the final number “Too Bad,” he added a dance break using a segment of Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky”, with stage screens flashing pink and purple lyrics in sync with the beat.
The show’s peak came when G-Dragon brought out CL mid-set for a fiery reunion performance of their 2009 track “The Leaders.” CL followed with “The Baddest Female” before G-Dragon returned to close out the night.
The performance was G-Dragon’s first in the U.S. since his 2017 “Act III, M.O.T.T.E” world tour. The mix of music, visuals, and viral references underscored why he remains a defining figure in Korean pop — and a global icon shaping the future of festival performance.
BY YOONJAE JUNG [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]
