SF9 Turns Franklin Music Hall into a Love-Filled Fantasy

Date: 11/04/2025

I went to LOVE DAWN 2025 SF9 LIVE FANTASY #5 in Philadelphia, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it for three days straight.

I’ve been listening to SF9 since ninth grade, and this concert was my first time ever seeing them live. They did not disappoint. The show took place at Franklin Music Hall. Doors opened at 6 PM, and the concert ran from 7 to 9, which was earlier than most shows I’ve attended. They kicked off the night with “LOVE RACE,” and the second they walked out, my mind went blank. It was such a powerful opening, and their burgundy outfits looked incredible under the lights. They followed with “RPM” and “Now or Never.”

I’ll admit, I was a little frustrated that “Now or Never” came so early in the set. I was in the photo pit trying to capture shots, so I didn’t get the chance to really take it in. That song means a lot to me since it was my first comeback as a FANTASY. On the bright side, I can say Chani’s solo dance happened just five feet away from me.

FANTASY, their fandom, was so loud from the very beginning. The crowd was cheering, singing, and hyping the boys up every chance they got. The energy in the room was so full of love, and you could feel the genuine connection between SF9 and their fans. Even during the ments (stage talking), when the group paused to talk, the fans stayed just as loud and supportive.

Inseong took on the role of their “official English speaker,” and he was hilarious. I haven’t kept up with SF9 closely in the past few years, so I forgot how funny he is. Both Inseong and Jaeyoon kept cracking jokes throughout the night and honestly deserve an award for it. Their English was so fluent that they barely needed a translator. At one point, Inseong even caught a small mistranslation and corrected it himself.

One of my favorite moments was when Jaeyoon talked about visiting the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. It connects South Jersey with Philly, and as a local who crosses it all the time, it was funny to hear him treat it like a major tourist spot. Even Chani called it a “very famous bridge,” which made everyone laugh.

The solo stages were another major highlight. Youngbin performed pH-1’s “Nerdy Love,” followed by Inseong singing The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face.” Jaeyoon’s cover of Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” was a perfect choice, and Hwiyoung closed the solo set with “Back to Friends” by sombr. His performance was so good that I’m still thinking about it days later.

Another thing I have to mention is how stable and powerful their live vocals were. I was genuinely shocked. At one point, I even took out my earplugs just to make sure I was hearing it right. The backtrack was so low it was basically nonexistent, and their live singing carried the entire show. It stood out even more during the encore when they performed “Mamma Mia!” completely live with no backing vocals. They were dancing and jumping all over the stage, yet their voices stayed flawless. Jaeyoon hit his high note like it was effortless.

Walking out of the venue that night, I felt like my ninth-grade self would have been proud. Seeing SF9 live reminded me why I fell in love with their music in the first place. It wasn’t just a concert. It was nostalgia, connection, and pure happiness all at once.