So...I lied...this isn't short at all!
My First Fan Report
(You & Jin U.S. 2010.06.19)
The First Show~
Yesterday night was one of the most memorable days ever, forever ingrained in my heart. XD I mean, seeing Jin...a real live Jin before my eyes. I'm still....I can't believe it actually happened...that I actually saw him sing live!
After finding the hotel, and walking over to LA Live, we pretty much circled Nokia Theater to realize that...we were in the wrong place. We found one of those guys in red suits and asked him where it was. :/ Stupid me...forgetting it was Club Nokia, and not Nokia Theater. :/ Anyways, the guy asks me who it's for, and I'm like "Akanishi Jin". And he directs us to Club Nokia. Yes, and when walking over, I realized, I probably should've said "Jin Akanishi". :/ It's not my fault I'm used to saying it the other way around. XD
I was actually on the patio outside of the restaurant under Club Nokia at around 2:30-ish? My dad figured we needed lunch, or dinner or whatever. :/ And I just wasn't really all that hungry. But, nonetheless, we at something. And, all these people kept passing us by...I think people really started to think we were Japanese after all! XD
So, officially, I arrived at Club Nokia around 3:30. There were so many Japanese people! Here I thought I was going to a concert in LA, right? But ends up...I didn't realize that so many Japanese people lived in LA either...:/ On the other hand, being early did mean I did see Sky Hoffman standing outside by the entrance when I got up there. I should've taken a shot of him. But that might've been awkward. XD But, that's surely some sort of plus, I'm sure. XD
mm...what else? I saw a sign for media being set up, and I can admit, I was a little confused about what it was really for. But, for press right? XD And then someone in line was stupid enough to ask what the table was for. "Um...I guess media?" is what the staff answered. XD There was lots of Chinese people there too...seriously. I do wonder though, if it really was worth waking up at 3:30AM to take a plane down here though. :/ Oh yes! And in line, I saw a girl at the front of the line holding like a plush turtle that was in a clear plastic bag. I pointed it out, and like laughed. ^^" Someone's trying to push Akame, ne? XD
No cameras were allowed...and they told people that they'd literally take people out of the theater if they saw them taking a shot of Jin. Yes, that's what happens when you're a Johnny's~ I met someone in line too~ Well, a girl who flew in from Louisiana that morning also. XD So, we pretty much ended up in the line together, and kept each other company. :D I love you~ XD If it wasn't for you, I think...I'd probably have not enjoyed the live as much as I did. It's all...so much more fun to kyaa~ with somebody that feels the same as you. ^^"
(NOTE: I'm sorry if you're in the picture and you didn't want to be. :/ Just wanted a picture before I went in. XD)
So, once we finally got through getting our bags checked, and going through a metal detector, we got showed in which way to go. And, we got directed to the table that was selling You & Jin's only merchandise. Sadly, it was the pamphlet, the same one they were selling for Jin's live in Tokyo. XD But, it was cool nonetheless~ $38 is a bit much though, I can admit. :/ I just really wanted something from my first concert anyways. So, I bought it without thinking. I'll read it later when I get time. XD Ah yes...and somewhere during the time I waited to get in, some Japanese people told others to go downstairs for something. And then a whole bunch of foreigners...I don't know how else to be nice and say white people. :/ sorry. XD Anyways, one of them randomly says, "OMG! They say Jin's down there!" And like everyone except me and the friend I made run down the escalators to go, and I heard someone shout, "OMG!!! Jin sighting!" Apparently, they must've misunderstood. :/ I think the Japanese people were just talking about the will call stand downstairs. XD
So, me and the friend I'd met were both sitting in balcony, but she ended up finding me in my seat (because I was a bit closer to the stage), because it was still an hour till the concert was supposed to start. ^^" So, we just kept talking, till people started filling up my aisle. Next thing you know, we ended up sitting next to each other the whole concert. XD But, no..when we got there it was soooo empty! I was so worried! But it ended up really full! Whoever said it was like...2000 people was right! Seriously, soooo full~! My friend almost got kicked out of the seat she was sitting in. :/
The show was supposed to start at 6...and I can admit. Anyways...it started out with a video showing Jin at LA Live. And I remember most the part when the camera's on the Katsuya restaurant a little away from Club Nokia and he's like, "I'm gonna have my concert here." :D He was like walking up and down all over the venue at Club Nokia. ^^" It was cute...and awkward especially when people started searching for where he was standing in the video, compared to where they were standing at that moment. XD Oh yes. I admit. I was disappointed with the size of the screens!! They're so tiny compared to the ones in Japan..at least from what I can see of fancams anyways. :/
I wasn't very happy with the whole...opening acts they showed. :/ It took a while till it got to Jin on-stage. Like, some dance crew from America's Got Talent started...this Dominic guy who apparently wrote two of Jin's songs sang two songs...and yes. Joey Tee~! How did no one know who he was!? I remember the days when I'd be watching SC and be like, who's this random kid that's always dancing..but doesn't sing? Is he a Johnny's? I don't really get it. :/ But OMG! We thought he disappeared, but here he is, right in LA! And apparently, he's only 16 now! He's still crazy at dancing...haha
After wards, there was another video...like..a continuation of the whole CM...the audition one that is. Yes~ Jin was in that video! They totally just cut him out of the CM! XD Jin's decision making of dancers is hilarious, as is him practicing his dancing with Sky Hoffman. ^^" Him messing up, is cute after all~ When Jin finally came on stage, it was maybe...6:45? Almost 7? I'm sure it's pretty normal. And I should've trusted my sister when she told me there'd probably be opening acts, and an intermission. XD
So, yes...I laughed, because my first statement was, "I wonder if he cut his hair or not...since he'd been debating it." Of course, he hadn't after all. xD It started out with a whole buncha instruments at the center of the stage. The music box version of 'Eternal' was played. Lots of robotic dancing. XD And...OMG! he's actually really good at drums~!! Then, he introduces the live I guess..."Los Angeles. June 19th, 3010". ^^" Well, it was cute~ Though I admit, a lot of the engrish he'd said with the random techno-y voicing was really hard to hear. :/ I kinda wish he had subtitles for everything on screen. XD
It all started with 'Christmas Morning'. I heard the group of crazy fangirls behind me shout, "Jin! It's summer!" At first, I admit. I hated the song when I heard the rips~! But the lyrics are actually really pretty. Like...almost any of the songs I initially disliked, I ended up really liking. I blame the fact of actually seeing him in person...live, compared to listening to horrible fan recordings. ^^" Though I think it was just a horribly named song...moreso than it being a bad song. ^^" ...well, that is, if you can stand hearing Jin singing really high~!!
Then, it was 'Bass Go Boom'. It's probably one of my favorites of the new songs. :/ Okay, I lied. I liked all the new songs. Clapping till my hands hurt...seemed to be a very common thing throughout the concert. XD It's the song from the audition CM. :D Hmm..I wonder if that's the one I laughed at...because the name 'Akanishi' was in the lyrics. XD ...uh, the first one I think. ^^" 'Wonder' was cool, because I actually sang along. XD I loved how I was able to actually see the Crystal Kay PV in the background too. :/ I just don't remember if it had the shimmering 'ft. Crystal Kay' in the background or not. :/ I forgot to pay attention. XD
'I.N.P.' was one of those songs I was like...this is ridiculous when I'd heard the rips. But...it's quite addicting I think. :D Like...you'll go in a trance? Oh yes! And I totally laughed when there was a sign in the background that read, "International Partny." XD Like, all parts of the song have like a motion...i.e. "It's a party clap your hands clap your hands clap your hands" = clap your hands. "It's a party spend them dollars spend them dollars spend them dollars" = was like brushing your hands waving 'no' across each other, one on top of the other? Or at least I think it was. And then "it's a party grab a girl grab a girl grab a girl" was like...random. XD I don't know.
Then, it was 'Adjust the Love'. I'd liked that song beforehand too. :D When 'A Page' started playing, these like neon green boards that move around the stage. And when 'Love Juice' played, I'm sure the whole place went wild! It was kind of weird when Jin seemed to be sitting on stage drinking something, and these two dancers that were girls, sit beside him, and like...look like they're flirting with him. ^^" I bet...it was probably just something to let Jin take a breather. So, while this was going on, there was a whole buncha dancers center stage. So, when Jin realized there wasn't really enough cheering, he decided to say words, or like...start clapping or something, and people'd copy him. XD
Admittably, next was 'Paparats' which I didn't like it at all when I first heard either! XD But..it was good nonetheless. Then, it was 'Hey Girl'..which was actually a lot better than I thought it'd be. :D Though I still can't believe Ryo was the one that wrote it with Jin. XD I just laugh because I don't see it as very...Ryo-like at all. So yes...after this song, Jin goes to the bar, and so do his dancers one by one. And there's a live video from the bar right outside the balcony, where Jin and his dancers are, including a huge crowd of fangirls watching him up close. Like seriously, how did I not freakin' know!?
Jin sadly, didn't have much of an MC, which I admit, completely disappointing. All he really said was him wanting to order "vodka, and 'love juice'. XD And the MCs were making like jokes about 'love juice', and that during the intermission, people should come out to the bar to get some 'love juice'. XD And all I could hear from the rest, because inside there was way too much kyaa~ing, was the MC saying "Whatcha want to say to your fans?"
Jin: I love you guys!
So, then it was the intermission. After 15 minutes, the dancers were introduced. There was like...what? 10 dancers? I was totally into the 2nd half...minus maybe the dancing part. :/ I was little disappointed actually cuz I wasn't sure what the point of it was. XD But...whatever, it was still pretty cool. There was what...like, pop dance, screen dance, lock dance, hip hop dance, world dance. Screen dance...which was literally Jin wearing like white painting clothes, and getting hit with different colored lights. Yes. Hearts in their chests thumping...and going on fire~ was cool~!! XD Of course...buckets on their heads covering them in paint...and like Jin's imaged head on him and two other dancers was quite cute. XD
And I remember world dance the most...because I'm guessing...he was probably told that he'd have to show some Japanese flavor or something. It was freaky I admit. Like...the girl dancers came out in yukata across the stage, and these boards came out with yukatas hanging on it. Oh yes. kabuki masks changing was cool. ^^" I'm assuming he was probably told he had to do it. It was cool though...I think...would've been cooler if he could fly in the air or something. :/ But it's probably too small a venue to do that, ne?
Then Jin walked down the steps wearing a red robe. Just imagine...Jin looked like was giving birth to people that looked like him...in red robes. XD Those were my friend's words, not mine. So, when he and all his little robed people were all scattered around the stage, the light's finally shown on him, once he takes off the robe.
After all the dancing, Jin finally sings again~! XD Yes. I admit, I was getting a little bored with all the dancing. :/ I wanted to hear Jin sing after all. It was 'Yellow Gold', one of his new songs. His dancers came out literally wearing yellow gold. XD Then, it was my favorite of all his old songs, 'My MP3'. This song made me totally go back to jumping and being high-tensioned~ XD It was that good.
The final song was 'Tipsy Love' which...I was really looking forward to. It was one of the songs on the new CM after all~ :D Sometimes I'm amazed to see what kind of lyrics he'll write next. And these ones were just pure love! I'll listen to it over and over till I get sick of it. Cuz, it's stuck in my head...because he kept wanting us to sing along. At the end of the song, he kicked the random balloon globe thing that had been on stage, and like laughed.
For a concert, I think he sang very few songs. It felt like...the majority of the show wasn't even him singing. But the parts that were...were extremely memorable. It's probably the best and only concert I'll ever go to..unless I'm lucky and really get into HKU. Then...I'll think of investing in a FC membership...and maybe take trips back and forth if I can make enough. XD
Girls behind us were crazy, and had tried to get Jin to come out for another go...an encore. But...yeah, I figured...honestly, after 3 minutes, and he's not coming...obviously, there's no encore. So, I told my friend I'd head out, and she came with. We were like the first to leave the venue. When I finally got to finding my dad who was waiting for me outside...he told me that apparently while waiting for me, he'd seen a guy with three other girls. He was wearing a hat and a hoodie over top. Therefore, I equate that to him seeing Jin leave with 3 of his dancers that were girls. Oh yes...apparently, he was wearing a cap...like probably like his Buiby one...or something. My dad didn't get a picture. :/ But, he said he was surprised that no one outside was even attempting to take pictures. So...while all those fangirls inside were waiting for an encore, he'd already slipped out the doors~
And so, meeting someone randomly in line was a total plus. It made me have so much more fun! And the girl who actually had a seat next to me was from Toront, and I talked to her for a bit too. ^^" They both made my first experience alone so much more fun~ XD The only thing I found disappointing, was that there really wasn't much of an MC. I was hoping that Jin would speak more english...or something. :/ But maybe MCs aren't common at regular concerts? I don't know. This is my first one after all.
If I said, 'do you love me?'
Would you say, 'Ye-oh'?
If I said, 'do you need me?'
Would you say, 'Ye-oh'?
I'll keep you dry when the rain falls
'Cause I've never been so enthralled
Don't know how
And I don't need nothing else~
Baby love, can't imagine
It's like magic, I found this love
Baby love, can't get closer
'Cause you're the closest, baby
Baby love, I got a question
Did I mention
Is this real, or are we drinking the love?
You got me tipsy, baby~~~
I re-watched the CM, and I can tell you right now. Jin achieved what he wanted for sure. Though I don't understand at all what you meant by the 300 dancers. I only saw 10 tops. XD Overall, the new songs were awesome. Lots of great music...a lot of fun...and a lot of sexiness. :D
EDIT: I thought I'd have to lock this. because of the links. :/ I was stupid and realized, I could just take off the downloads I posted. XD So, I won't be re-posting those downloads under any circumstances. Sorry~