Like a Tree
Last Saturday, I finally got to fulfill my long wish of seeing SHINee live!
I've loved them for about five years now, and missed out when they first came here because it was a really limited event (not to mention Taemin was out with H1N1). I really promised that the next time they came, I would definitely watch, and I got my chance with the KPop Republic event at Araneta.
The idea that I was actually going to go and see them live didn't sink in until that morning when I saw Key's Instagram picture on the plane and I ended up crying a little because I was so happy. I went to meet lovenaught, alabapoy, sm16 and Maia at Gateway where we ate dinner, stocked up on drinks and got each other hyped up before the event.
We got Upper Box seats, and I'm glad they were cushy and comfortable! We took our seats at least an hour before the event started, so there was plenty of time to wait for the vendors to go by (we bought glowsticks, and mine's actually still alive), watch videos (the stadium kept screaming each time the hello messages played), take pictures (NAMAN) and watch the place fill up.
Finally, the hosts for the night, Christian Bautista and Jinri Park, came out. It was actually kind of embarrassing because they did the Gangnam Style and had some poor girls do it one by one too, LOL. I think Jinri should have sang "Feel the Spark", I would have totally sang it along with her. Anyway, that was basically their role for the entire evening. Oh, and Christian Bautista wore this green jacket that made him look like Mamoru of Sailor Moon, rofl.
The opening act was this duo called Crispi Crunch with Soomin of Aprilkiss. They were actually pretty good and did a great job at setting the high energy mood of the audience. Someone actually had a fansign for them and that was neat! They could speak English, so that helped out a lot with communicating with the audience, and there was a lot of good rapport.
Then Dal Shabet came out, and though honestly most of the audience was there for the next two acts, everyone was game enough to cheer them on. I'm not a big enough fan to know their songs, honestly, but their performances were nice. I think the highlight was when they performed a dance that involved them parting their skirts to reveal the shorts underneath. They did a good job, though I wish their mics were better, poor girls.
THEN EXO-K CAME ALONG AND THE WHOLE STADIUM STOOD UP AND SCREAMED. I couldn't help but stand and scream too. I was really shocked by how much people were screaming, how much my heart was pounding, how hard I had to catch my breath to scream some more. I wish we were closer so we could have had a closer view of them, but they were lovely. I really wish all twelve of them were there, though. They were adorable and clearly adored the Filipino fans and did their best to communicate even though there was no translator (omg D.O.'s judging face I swear).
I was glad that even though I didn't memorize the fanchants and stuff like I told myself I would, I was still able to sing along and chant along a bit and enjoy everything. I even got so excited at one point that my glowstick flew out of my hand - thankfully not too far away, just the row in front of us, and the girls in front were kind enough to hand it back. Man, that was embarrassing.
If I recall correctly, they sang, "Wolf", "History", "XOXO", "365" (ngl only really started appreciating this song after they performed it live), and, of course, "Growl". "Wolf" was amazing to see live, you could see all the formations and the wolf-inspired choreography (including the notorious peeing canine move).
"History" was a surprise, I actually forgot I knew it and how much I liked it until I found myself singing along. I think they did some MC, and it involved singing "Hawak Kamay" which was super cheesy but everyone was too happy to care. "XOXO", I feel like I should have practiced this one more to join in the fanchants! But it was a nice change of pace for the kids, getting to sit down. "365" was great fun, and they got to do a lot of fanservice here. The announcement of the last song felt like it came all too soon, but seeing "Growl" live was amazing enough to make you forget that. It really is one of my favorite EXO songs.
and then the moment of truth when IT WAS SHINEE'S TURN OMFG
There was this whole thing with a screen and I felt like it ate up quite some time, not to mention the screen looked weird and distorted their faces funnily from where we were. We got a glimpse of them walking onstage to their positions and I really started screaming there, getting excited that they were finally there and we were finally breathing the same air.
The first song was "Dream Girl", and as expected, Minho wasn't there, which kind of dampened the mood a bit because I really wanted to see them all together. However, SHINee was so good that it didn't feel like there was someone missing, and everyone supported each other so well in the way that people who really know each other do. I was in such a state of ecstasy that I forgot to do the fanchant, but Papi wasn't there anyway so. :( The lights were dark during Taemin's first line, aaaah! But the rest of it was pretty much flawless, yes. I love this song so much I can't
I actually forgot if the MC came before or after "Stranger", but they did their intro and the crowd went crazy (as if they weren't already). There were a few lines by each of them, and Taemin looks gorgeous with black hair as I will never stop gushing about (though he looks gorgeous all the time). Jonghyun was still in top form with his singing like his high notes are seriously no joke and his guns are for real. Onew was so so so beautiful like it was crazy every time the camera focused on his face and he smiled so happily and widely he was gorgeous. And Key was amazing, Key really was a highlight, I loved his shorts look and how he discarded his jacket later on (which Jonghyun picked up for him lol) and he looks so so damn gorgeous with black hair
Key was very crucial as he was basically the one who could communicate most effectively with the audience since everyone was sans a translator (Jinri wtf were you doing during this time). He apologized for Minho not being there, but he promised (and I'm holding this to my heart forever) that they'd be back, all five of them, sooner or later, and the audience erupted into a massive cheer.
"Stranger" was pretty fun, though I kept singing the Japanese version in my head, hahaha. Key was totally working overtime doing Minho's rap parts. I was happy to hear Taemin singing live ahihi my baby has grown so much. "Beautiful" was also great, the audience had great fun going AREUMDAWOOOOOOOOOOO and it showcased everyone's birits, haha.
Oh my gosh though when they performed "Lucifer", I could have cried. I screamed so much because I love that song so much and I'm so so glad I was able to do the fanchant like I'd always dreamed. So many things I love about this song. So powerful! I regret not seeing the line step from front uhu and they didn't perform the full version with Onew's extra birit but Jonghyun flawless and everyone was amazing
And then Key announced that it was the last song and you could virtually feel the entire stadium's disappointment. I think they were disappointed, too, I think they were trying to appease the fans' sadness, but from the serious look on Jonghyun's face as he fiddled with his earpiece, I think they were being told to hurry along. As such, the last song started out with a sense of dread, a desire for things to never end.
But the song was "Why So Serious" and you can't really stay too somber with such a song, haha! It was super fun, I think the boys poured all their spirit and desire to connect with the fans in this song. I got to see Taemin's actual butt wiggle and I was so happy I screamed and I could have cried because he really, really felt that we were sad and he did his best to cheer us up. There was a cute part with Jongtae dancing back to back (not to mention earlier Jongyu and Taekey DAMN IT MINHO MY 2MIN REPRESENTATION) and everything was super fun
a-and when they got to the end with the bow, all four of them did a perfect ninety-degree bow. You could really feel their sincerity, and I really think they wanted to stay more. I wanted them to stay more. I wanted them to stay.
Dream Concert 2014 was announced for May, though, so that's something I'll save up for. I really hope SHINee will be there-is that too much to hope for?-and that SM Town Manila 2014 will happen. KPop Republic really ended with a cliffhanger feeling, but I also feel as if it were a temperature check. Hopefully this will convince them that the Philippines is worth investing in.
Next time, please please please let me see my boys all together. Until then, I'll keep waiting like the tree Taemin called us, always patiently waiting for their return.
I've loved them for about five years now, and missed out when they first came here because it was a really limited event (not to mention Taemin was out with H1N1). I really promised that the next time they came, I would definitely watch, and I got my chance with the KPop Republic event at Araneta.
The idea that I was actually going to go and see them live didn't sink in until that morning when I saw Key's Instagram picture on the plane and I ended up crying a little because I was so happy. I went to meet lovenaught, alabapoy, sm16 and Maia at Gateway where we ate dinner, stocked up on drinks and got each other hyped up before the event.
We got Upper Box seats, and I'm glad they were cushy and comfortable! We took our seats at least an hour before the event started, so there was plenty of time to wait for the vendors to go by (we bought glowsticks, and mine's actually still alive), watch videos (the stadium kept screaming each time the hello messages played), take pictures (NAMAN) and watch the place fill up.
Finally, the hosts for the night, Christian Bautista and Jinri Park, came out. It was actually kind of embarrassing because they did the Gangnam Style and had some poor girls do it one by one too, LOL. I think Jinri should have sang "Feel the Spark", I would have totally sang it along with her. Anyway, that was basically their role for the entire evening. Oh, and Christian Bautista wore this green jacket that made him look like Mamoru of Sailor Moon, rofl.
The opening act was this duo called Crispi Crunch with Soomin of Aprilkiss. They were actually pretty good and did a great job at setting the high energy mood of the audience. Someone actually had a fansign for them and that was neat! They could speak English, so that helped out a lot with communicating with the audience, and there was a lot of good rapport.
Then Dal Shabet came out, and though honestly most of the audience was there for the next two acts, everyone was game enough to cheer them on. I'm not a big enough fan to know their songs, honestly, but their performances were nice. I think the highlight was when they performed a dance that involved them parting their skirts to reveal the shorts underneath. They did a good job, though I wish their mics were better, poor girls.
THEN EXO-K CAME ALONG AND THE WHOLE STADIUM STOOD UP AND SCREAMED. I couldn't help but stand and scream too. I was really shocked by how much people were screaming, how much my heart was pounding, how hard I had to catch my breath to scream some more. I wish we were closer so we could have had a closer view of them, but they were lovely. I really wish all twelve of them were there, though. They were adorable and clearly adored the Filipino fans and did their best to communicate even though there was no translator (omg D.O.'s judging face I swear).
I was glad that even though I didn't memorize the fanchants and stuff like I told myself I would, I was still able to sing along and chant along a bit and enjoy everything. I even got so excited at one point that my glowstick flew out of my hand - thankfully not too far away, just the row in front of us, and the girls in front were kind enough to hand it back. Man, that was embarrassing.
If I recall correctly, they sang, "Wolf", "History", "XOXO", "365" (ngl only really started appreciating this song after they performed it live), and, of course, "Growl". "Wolf" was amazing to see live, you could see all the formations and the wolf-inspired choreography (including the notorious peeing canine move).
"History" was a surprise, I actually forgot I knew it and how much I liked it until I found myself singing along. I think they did some MC, and it involved singing "Hawak Kamay" which was super cheesy but everyone was too happy to care. "XOXO", I feel like I should have practiced this one more to join in the fanchants! But it was a nice change of pace for the kids, getting to sit down. "365" was great fun, and they got to do a lot of fanservice here. The announcement of the last song felt like it came all too soon, but seeing "Growl" live was amazing enough to make you forget that. It really is one of my favorite EXO songs.
and then the moment of truth when IT WAS SHINEE'S TURN OMFG
There was this whole thing with a screen and I felt like it ate up quite some time, not to mention the screen looked weird and distorted their faces funnily from where we were. We got a glimpse of them walking onstage to their positions and I really started screaming there, getting excited that they were finally there and we were finally breathing the same air.
The first song was "Dream Girl", and as expected, Minho wasn't there, which kind of dampened the mood a bit because I really wanted to see them all together. However, SHINee was so good that it didn't feel like there was someone missing, and everyone supported each other so well in the way that people who really know each other do. I was in such a state of ecstasy that I forgot to do the fanchant, but Papi wasn't there anyway so. :( The lights were dark during Taemin's first line, aaaah! But the rest of it was pretty much flawless, yes. I love this song so much I can't
I actually forgot if the MC came before or after "Stranger", but they did their intro and the crowd went crazy (as if they weren't already). There were a few lines by each of them, and Taemin looks gorgeous with black hair as I will never stop gushing about (though he looks gorgeous all the time). Jonghyun was still in top form with his singing like his high notes are seriously no joke and his guns are for real. Onew was so so so beautiful like it was crazy every time the camera focused on his face and he smiled so happily and widely he was gorgeous. And Key was amazing, Key really was a highlight, I loved his shorts look and how he discarded his jacket later on (which Jonghyun picked up for him lol) and he looks so so damn gorgeous with black hair
Key was very crucial as he was basically the one who could communicate most effectively with the audience since everyone was sans a translator (Jinri wtf were you doing during this time). He apologized for Minho not being there, but he promised (and I'm holding this to my heart forever) that they'd be back, all five of them, sooner or later, and the audience erupted into a massive cheer.
"Stranger" was pretty fun, though I kept singing the Japanese version in my head, hahaha. Key was totally working overtime doing Minho's rap parts. I was happy to hear Taemin singing live ahihi my baby has grown so much. "Beautiful" was also great, the audience had great fun going AREUMDAWOOOOOOOOOOO and it showcased everyone's birits, haha.
Oh my gosh though when they performed "Lucifer", I could have cried. I screamed so much because I love that song so much and I'm so so glad I was able to do the fanchant like I'd always dreamed. So many things I love about this song. So powerful! I regret not seeing the line step from front uhu and they didn't perform the full version with Onew's extra birit but Jonghyun flawless and everyone was amazing
And then Key announced that it was the last song and you could virtually feel the entire stadium's disappointment. I think they were disappointed, too, I think they were trying to appease the fans' sadness, but from the serious look on Jonghyun's face as he fiddled with his earpiece, I think they were being told to hurry along. As such, the last song started out with a sense of dread, a desire for things to never end.
But the song was "Why So Serious" and you can't really stay too somber with such a song, haha! It was super fun, I think the boys poured all their spirit and desire to connect with the fans in this song. I got to see Taemin's actual butt wiggle and I was so happy I screamed and I could have cried because he really, really felt that we were sad and he did his best to cheer us up. There was a cute part with Jongtae dancing back to back (not to mention earlier Jongyu and Taekey DAMN IT MINHO MY 2MIN REPRESENTATION) and everything was super fun
a-and when they got to the end with the bow, all four of them did a perfect ninety-degree bow. You could really feel their sincerity, and I really think they wanted to stay more. I wanted them to stay more. I wanted them to stay.
Dream Concert 2014 was announced for May, though, so that's something I'll save up for. I really hope SHINee will be there-is that too much to hope for?-and that SM Town Manila 2014 will happen. KPop Republic really ended with a cliffhanger feeling, but I also feel as if it were a temperature check. Hopefully this will convince them that the Philippines is worth investing in.
Next time, please please please let me see my boys all together. Until then, I'll keep waiting like the tree Taemin called us, always patiently waiting for their return.