WJSN’s Dayoung Shines Solo: What Makes ‘What’s a Girl to Do’ a Must-See Performance?

Immortal Songs’ Dayoung / Photo: KBS2 screenshot

[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won] Dayoung of WJSN demonstrated her solo potential with an unmistakable stage presence.

Dayoung appeared on Part 1 of KBS2’s Immortal Songs — the Yoon Il-sang special — which aired on the 11th.

Making her first solo appearance on the show, Dayoung kept the conversation lively with bright energy and positive charm. On stage she leaned into a hip, contemporary vibe and delivered a performance that showcased her range as a solo artist.

In a pre-show interview in the waiting room, Dayoung introduced her new single “What’s a Girl to Do,” released on the 7th, and previewed a signature move that uses a hooded zip-up as choreography. Asked about her diet, she said she lost 1 kg per month, totaling 12 kg — about 2.2 lb per month and roughly 26.5 lb overall — and recommended making gradual changes to eating habits to balance health and weight management.

For her Immortal Songs set, Dayoung selected Kim Gun-mo’s classic “The Bird That Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” She said the show is a favorite of her parents, who rarely travel from their native Jeju to Seoul but flew in to watch this time. Seeing the song title, she decided to adopt a playful persona she called “Ppeokguk Girl” and prepared cuckoo-inspired choreography, hoping to leave the audience thinking, “Who is that Ppeokguk Girl?”

Dayoung’s reimagining of “The Bird That Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” moved briskly through varied arrangements with no dull moments. Despite demanding choreography, she maintained steady breath control and hit clean high notes, delivering a solid live vocal. The trendy rearrangement and quirky choreography complemented one another, and a hat-driven dance break flipped the song’s mood and heightened engagement, leaving a strong impression.

Watching from the waiting room, Im Han-byul praised Dayoung’s relentless drive, noting that after a decade in the industry she could have become complacent but instead continues to take risks. BB Girls’ Minyoung and Mighty Mouth’s Shorry reacted with equal enthusiasm, calling the performance “so hot” and joking they “want to run away” because it was so strong. Composer Yoon Il-sang heaped praise on the set, saying, “If ‘The Bird That Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ had played at Coachella, this is the kind of stage I imagine. It was really trendy — a perfect score performance.”

Dayoung released her second digital single “What’s a Girl to Do” on the 7th and is actively promoting the title track. Through various broadcasts and content, she’s been presenting the song’s charms across platforms and winning fans domestically and internationally.

Meanwhile, Dayoung is scheduled to perform on Inkigayo at 3:20 p.m. on the 12th.

[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won ent@stoo.com]
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