If screams of excitement are any indication of holiday spirit, The Forum in Inglewood was feeling very merry and bright Friday night, Nov. 30, during 102.7 KIIS FM and iHeartRadio’s annual Jingle Ball. What better way to kick off the winter season than by gathering some of the world’s most popular musicians in one place?
The concert featured performances by artists ranging from one of 2018’s breakout stars, Bazzi, singer of viral sensation “Mine” and “Beautiful” featuring Camilla Cabello, to hip-hop sensation Cardi B who is the first female rapper to have three No. 1 hits on Billboard Hot 100.
The full lineup boasted Cardi B, Shawn Mendes, Calvin Harris, Camila Cabello, Khalid with special guest Normani, Dua Lipa, G-Eazy, Alessia Cara, Bazzi, Bebe Rexha and Monsta X.
Shawn Mendes performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Khalid perform at KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Sound
The gallery will resume inseconds
Alessia Cara performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Camila Cabello performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Bebe Rexha performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
G-Eazy performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Calvin Harris performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Monsta X performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
JoJo Wright speaks while holding a sign onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Cardi B performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Shawn Mendes (L) and Khalid perform onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Normani (L) and Khalid perform onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Patty Rodriguez (L) and Tanya Rad speak onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Cardi B performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Ryan Seacrest speaks onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Bazzi performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Bebe Rexha performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Monsta X performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Bazzi performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Cardi B performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
IOffset (L) and Cardi B perform onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Normani (L) and Khalid perform onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
A contest winner (L) and Jesse Lozano speak onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Camila Cabello performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Marc E. Bassy (L) and G-Eazy perform onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Anthony Russo performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Normani performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Camila Cabello (C) performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Bazzi performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Dua Lipa performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Dua Lipa performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Cardi B performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2018 Presented by Capital One at The Forum on November 30, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Jingle Ball is everything the year has led up to if you’ve spent any time within earshot of pop music. And while it would be easy to write off the show as a night of fluffy, fleeting entertainment, for the past several years, this radio station holiday concert has proved to be an important and meaningful event, especially for its youngest attendees.
The rapid-fire presentation of multiple artists is a test of relevancy — for audience members, who quickly assess how well they’ve kept up with trends, and for the artists, whose very inclusion points to success.
In case you missed the show and are itching for a recap before you can watch the live broadcast on T.V., here are five things that happened at the Los Angeles Jingle Ball in 2018.
1. International boy band Monsta X made history as the first K-pop act to ever perform on the main stage and the hype is real.
Performing first as part of the Jingle Ball Village pre-show that took place on a small stage outside The Forum, the seven-member Korean boy band helped inspire the crowd to quickly move inside the venue for its repeat performance.
Following short sets by Bebe Rehxa and Bazzi, Monsta X entered the stage to a roar of applause that proves the group is poised to conquer the American music industry. If the live audience wasn’t loud enough, Twitter was also flooded with support from the Monbebe fan club.
The performance of its latest single “Shoot Out,” which was released in English earlier this month, was met with thunderous excitement as the artists executed the explosive and synchronized choreography they are known for.
2. Shawn Mendes made all the girls cry and for good reason.
If ever there was a reason to crown a pop prince, Mendes would be the guy. Opening with “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back” and moving through a set list that included “Lost In Japan,” “Stitches,” a Kings of Leon cover, and “Treat You Better,” Mendes wooed the audience with his earnest romanticism and undeniable talent.
Mendes also brought out fellow Jingle Ball performer Khalid for their duet “Youth” off Mendes’ self-titled third album. As a final blow to the fluttering hearts in the room, Mendes shared that he felt like “the luckiest guy on planet Earth” before closing with “In My Blood.”
3. Camila Cabello knows how to make an entrance.
In what was easily the most dramatic performance of the evening, Cabello showed off her chops as a singer, belting a series of pop songs on a fog-filled stage. “Never Be The Same,” “Bad Things,” “Consequences” and a surprise cover of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” led up to the more energetic finale song “Havana” that everyone was waiting for.
Songs aside, Cabello was definitely in the holiday spirit telling the audience, “I’ve made it a point at every Jingle Ball to look like a different Christmas ornament. Did I succeed? Do I look like a shiny black ornament?” For the record, she did.
4. 20-year-old Khalid moves around the stage like a seasoned pro.
Of all the acts to take the Jingle Ball stage this year, it was Khalid who looked the most natural and relaxed. Not to mention he was clearly living his best life and having a good time and that’s really what it’s all about, right?
Kicking things off with “Young Dumb & Broke,” Khalid impressed with easy vocals and high energy. He routinely joined in with his back up dancers grooving right along and never missing a beat. The singer brought out Normani (of Fifth Harmony) for their recent duet “Love Lies” and finished with the certified quadruple platinum hit “Location.”
5. Cardi B is the Christmas closer we didn’t know we needed.
Nothing says “Happy holidays” like a stunningly fierce mob of women dressed in gold fringe, right? Especially when they are led by arguably the “it” woman of hip-hop for 2018. Cardi B took to the stage with the loudest cheer of the night and quickly sprinted through a packed set list that included “Drip,” “Money Bag,” “Money,” “Ring,” “I Like It,” “Bickenhead,” “Finesse” and “Bartier Cardi.”
