First time seeing SHINee - SWCIII in Argentina
That’s me writing about one of the best days of my life (08/04/2014). When I saw SHINee on stage. When I sang “happy birthday” to Jonghyun.
After almost 4 months, I am finally writing my experience here. Don’t ask why I didn’t do it before.
First, let me say that the whole experience was amazing, yeah, but also a really hard one. I’m Brazilian and I traveled all the way to Buenos Aires to watch the concert. It seemed something crazy to do, but you know, it was my dream. I wanted and needed to do it. Not only because it was a fucking swc and SHINee, but it was also on the day of Jonghyun’s birthday and I wanted to see him and sing happy birthday to him so bad. I am grateful to my parents and friends that supported me, and to my adorable brother who helped me with money. Thank you. I love you all.
Like I said it was not easy. I had to plan everything in less than one month and I had a lot of problems. Problems with my concert ticket, with my flight ticket, with my hostel booking etc. I almost didn’t make it, but I didn’t give up. I couldn’t. In the end everything went well. Thanks God.
So, on April 6 I left my home and traveled to Buenos Aires all alone by myself. I remember I was so afraid of everything, but I was also really happy with a huge smile all over my face. When I arrived there on April 7, I met my friends (who are Brazilians too, but from another state) and we went to the concert’s line. We slept on the line together with a lot of argentine fans. I was tired, yeah, but it was so fun. I can’t speak Spanish, and they couldn’t understand my Portuguese and most of them couldn’t speak English, so it was hard to communicate, but they were still kind to us and helped us a lot. I also met other Brazilian fans there.
We went to the hotel SHINess was staying (not to stalk or anything lmao, just because the hotel was really near the arena) and I couldn’t see them, because they were already inside, but I remember I was so amazed because I was near them. I was so near to my favorite kpop group and my bias.
On April 8, Jonghyun’s birthday, the day of the concert and of course the day I would realize my dream. It was a long and tired day of a long wait, and I was so nervous (klfhjkgfjhkgh) that I can’t even remember it well. But I remember when I listened the rehearsal of Everybody and f u c k.
When we got into the arena, a lot of fans were already there. Still, we were really near the center stage and I could see it perfectly.
Soon the lights went off and everyone screamed.
One thing I didn’t know is that before every international concert in Argentina there is always an opening by a national artist. So before the start of the SWC, a young lady who I had never seen before went on stage and sang some songs. It was nice. I mean, she sang a lot of argentine(?) songs that I don’t know, and also sang Lady Gaga’s Applause. I imagined Key dancing like crazy on backstage, lol.
Anyway, some minutes later, it was finally show time. An opening video showing the members was on the screens and everyone went crazy.
And then, they were there. They were on stage. First I saw Onew, Jonghyun and Minho. Because when they appeared, the three of them quickly went to the center stage dancing Spoiler, right in front of my face. I was so amazed because they were there, so near, and they are so, so, so gorgeous. I can’t even express it. I can’t remember the show perfectly, because it was just too much for me. I remember it as a dream. All I have are scenes and flashes of shiny boys stuck in my mind. I do remember me and my friend hugging though, smiling and almost crying because yeah, it was happening.
I was so distracted by Jonghyun, Minho and Onew on the center stage that at first I didn’t notice Key and Taemin back there, on the main stage. When I noticed though, I forgot everything about the world, about my existence, because I saw Kim Kibum, my sunshine. I kind of slapped my friend’s shoulder and pointed to him. “Look, it’s Key, it’s Key, it’s Key” I screamed like crazy. I didn’t take my eyes of him after that. Soon he went to the center stage to join the other members in the choreography and to me the world could stop right in this moment. Because he was in front of my eyes, with his smooth skin, perfectly stylish hair, determinate gaze, cute scar, high cheekbones, dancing and singing, beautiful like an angel.
Then they performed evil on the center stage, which was really sexy, although they didn’t show up their abs (what a pity). After that, they went with Nightmare and Juliette. Things got a little worse to me after Juliette. Because the crowd was too crazy and people started to push really hard and also beat each other. I was focused on SHINee, but it was hard to ignore what was happening around me, even because it was getting harder and harder to see them well. After all I’m not that tall and people raising their hands with cameras, tablets and cellphones were not helping me in any way. We were also crushed like a sandwich and everything hurted. My feet, my legs, my arms. But you know, it was ok because SHINee was there.
The show was not that different than the others swciii, just a few details. I think the main detail was definitely Jonghyun’s birthday. They talked with us several times. At some time the crowd started to sing happy birthday to Jjong, but it was kind of a mess because some people were singing in Korean, other in English and most of them in Spanish. The guys were like “Uh? What’s happening?”, then the translator said to them that we were singing to Jjong and he thanked us.
I loved everything about the concert and I still can’t decide what was my favorite part. I sang really loud in Lucifer because I had a really high expectation to that. Of course they were awesome. I almost died during Replay because so much feels, and those smiles I saw during Hello will be always dancing in my mind. When they joked singing the Spanish version of Hello, like “hola, hola~” was so cute. I also loved when they sang their ballad songs because oh, they were wearing suits. And oh, their voices are really good to listen. I could prove to my ears and eyes how talented and professional they are.
And also how fun. How can I describe the craziness of Macarena and 3 2 1? I laughed too hard. Jjong like a boss with that sombrero and Key singing Spanish so well made my life. They were excited, and Minho couldn’t stop with the fan service. He blowed kisses, made heart with his hands/arms, pointed to the fans etc. I can’t forget about Jonghyun and Key swinging their asses off during the “And now something different” part of 3 2 1. They (except for Jonghyun) even got off the stage to greet the fans. Lucky of those who were in the first row.
At some point Onew threw a lighstick to the fans, but it went too high and hit a light of the arena. Everyone, especially the members, laughed so hard. He made a cute face “ops….”.
I was not worried about take pictures or record fancams, because well, I couldn’t even move my arm. I also didn’t want to block the vision of those who are behind me. I just took 3 or 4, I think. I was focused on seeing them as much as possible, since I thought I would never have the chance again.
Shelock and Everybody were performed on the main stage and literally everybody were on fire. Taemin is really a master of dance. I was proud and amazed by him.
At some time near the end they brought the birthday cake for Jonghyun and Key started to sing happy birthday in English and we followed him. It was so emotional for me. We all raised posters with “Happy Birthday Jonghyun” written in Korean that were distributed to us in the line before the show. All the members blowed the candies together and Jonghyun thanked us. He also recorded a video of us so he could remember this day in the future.
When they started to sing Colorful, I knew the show was about to end soon. Then I started to cry really hard. Because I love that song and because they were all happy, jumping, singing and smiling. Papers started to fall. Then, the real last song started. Green Rain. I just didn’t want it to end. Someone threw the Brazil's flag on stage. Minho took it.
Before the members went off the stage, Onew said in Minho’s ear that “since he broke the light of the arena, he would leave his heart here with us”, and Minho repeated it to us. So cute.
I don’t remember well, but when the show ended I was a mess of tears, crying really hard. I hugged so many people I have never seen in my life and I heard a lot of people asking me if I was ok, and no, I was not ok. I saw SHINee, I won’t be ok ever again.
And later on that night I went to bed really happy, but also sad because I thought I would never be able to see them again.
I was wrong.
I met them the next day.
And that story, when I met SHINee for the second time, you can read here. *It's in Portuguese*