Taiwanese boy band F4 delighted fans during a surprise reunion at the Mayday concert held at the Taipei Arena on March 2, 2024. The quartet’s performance of their iconic ballad “Meteor Rain” stirred nostalgia among the audience, with approximately 40,000 concertgoers joining in the sing-along.
“Meteor Rain,” the theme song from the 2001 television drama “Meteor Garden,” propelled F4 to stardom. The series, which was based on the Japanese manga “Boys Over Flowers,” captivated millions across Asia and helped popularize the “idol drama” genre. Featuring actress Barbie Hsu, who tragically passed away from pneumonia in February, the story follows a working-class girl who encounters four wealthy and arrogant boys, collectively known as the F4, short for “Flower 4.”
The success of “Meteor Garden” led to multiple adaptations across Asia, including Japan’s “Hana Yori Dango” in 2005, South Korea’s “Boys Over Flowers” in 2009, China’s “Meteor Garden” in 2008, and Thailand’s “F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers” in 2021.
F4, which originally disbanded in 2009, reunited for a one-off performance in 2013 during the Spring Festival Gala on China’s Jiangsu TV network. The band members, Jerry Yan, Vanness Wu, Vic Chou, and Ken Chu, have continued to pursue solo careers in the entertainment industry, each now in their 40s.
During the concert, Mayday’s frontman, Ashin (real name Chen Hsin-hung), expressed the challenges involved in coordinating the reunion. “Everyone overcame a lot of obstacles to make this picture a reality,” he stated.
F4 also performed alongside Mayday on their song “The Song of Laughter and Forgetting.” Following the performance, Yan expressed gratitude towards Mayday for facilitating the reunion, stating, “This is something I could not have imagined would happen again in my lifetime. It’s also made us reminisce about our youth.” His bandmate Wu added, “I am very grateful to everyone who are here to share a beautiful evening with us.”
Fans reacted with overwhelming enthusiasm, many calling for F4 to hold their own concert. Comments flooded social media, with one user on X exclaiming, “OMG!! Thank you Mayday!! My childhood is alive. It’s crazy seeing [F4] perform again.” Another fan remarked, “Are you crying already… because we are! Hello to the inner child in you jumping up and down because #F4 just reunited! Tour soon? We hope!”
In a recent report by Taiwan’s Mirror Media, there are indications that F4 may hold a concert next year to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their debut. As of now, this information remains unverified by the artists or their representatives.
The reunion has ignited excitement among fans, marking a significant moment not only for F4 but for the many who have cherished their music over the years.