Stray Kids: Music, a song from a movie and a passion for Rio

Stray Kids is one of those groups that never seems to lose momentum. With each new album, each performance, and each interaction with fans, they keep proving why they’re at the heart of the global K-pop wave.

The eight-member group, Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N, has been steadily building a massive international following. During their recent stop in Brazil for the dominATE World Tour, something truly special happened: a quiet, emotional moment that fans are still talking about, and that has everything to do with Rio.

A group that writes its own rules

Since debuting in 2018, Stray Kids has done things their own way. Instead of following a formula, they leaned into raw creativity, with the 3RACHA unit (Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han) taking the lead in producing and writing most of their music. That honesty shines through in their songs, which talk about real things: feeling lost, trying to find your place, fighting your doubts, and also celebrating who you are.

Albums like ODDINARY, NOEASY, ROCK-STAR, and 5-STAR aren’t just full of hits; they’re packed with emotion, intensity, and a sound that’s completely theirs. That’s why they’ve made waves everywhere, from topping the Billboard 200 to winning Best Global Group at the 2023 MTV VMAs. And that’s also why fans connect with them on such a deep level.

A moment in Brazil that no one expected

The Latin American leg of their dominATE tour brought them to Brazil in early April 2025, and the excitement was huge. Three shows, one in Rio de Janeiro and two in São Paulo, sold out fast, with fans waiting months (if not years) to see them live. But beyond the music and the stage lights, it was something simple that ended up stealing hearts.

On a quiet day in Rio, Felix visited the top of Corcovado, the iconic mountain where the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooks the city. In an Instagram story that quickly went viral, he shared a short clip: standing in the breeze, looking out over the city, he gently whistled Fly Love, a soft, heartfelt track from the 2011 animated film Rio.

There was no flashy edit. No caption. Just Felix, the city, and the song. But that tiny moment hit fans hard, especially those who grew up with the movie, or who call Rio home. It felt like a thank-you. A love letter. A moment of quiet wonder.

Felix and the language of feeling

Felix has always had a gentle presence, especially off-stage. He’s warm, thoughtful, and often connects with fans in unexpected ways. But something about that story, that soft whistle, that view, made it different. It wasn’t staged or planned. It just felt real.

The song choice wasn’t random either. Fly Love is about freedom, connection, and being moved by beauty. And watching Felix stand in that exact place, letting the melody float into the air, gave fans a sense that he really saw Rio, not just as a tourist destination, but as something alive and meaningful.

The joy that went both ways

And it wasn’t just Felix. Other members of the team, dancers, staff, were clearly soaking up the city too. Social media lit up with fun posts in Portuguese, dancing videos on the streets, and emojis in green and yellow. It was the kind of natural joy that no PR campaign can create.

Meanwhile, Brazilian STAYs gave it everything. From fan projects and welcome banners to handmade gifts and chants that shook the stadiums, they created a wave of love that couldn’t be ignored. For many fans, this wasn’t just another concert, it was a moment they’d waited their whole lives for. And for the group, it was clear that it left a mark.

What comes next

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After Brazil, Stray Kids continue their tour through Latin America, with stops in Lima on April 7 and Mexico City on April 10. Then it’s back to Asia for more shows in Singapore, Bangkok, Manila, and eventually Osaka, where the tour is expected to wrap in July 2025.

But wherever they go next, it’s safe to say that Rio will stay with them. Not just because of the shows, or the beaches, or the food, but because of a small, perfect moment when a boy from Australia stood in the wind and let a movie song say everything he was feeling.

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