[FAN ACCOUNT] 171124-25 New York Uaena that flew to Hong Kong to see IU (Palette in HK)
It was one of those crazy decisions and coming from a family that doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving, it didn’t take me that long to decide to go. Flying 30 hours round trip to see IU? Why not?
11/24/17 – Friday (IU arrival + Press Conference at Windsor House)
Anyways, fast forward to arriving to Hong Kong airport, I was arriving the same day as IU. Except my flight arrives at 7am and hers at 12pm. I dropped off my luggage at my hotel and then went straight back to the airport afterwards.
When I arrived, there were about 30 fans waiting already. I knew I wasn’t waiting at the wrong place. Everyone had their cameras and gifts ready. I was ready… well or so I thought I was ready. A fan I know from Hong Kong told me to be careful because it is quite dangerous with having fans at the airport and a celebrity walking by (also considering what has happened before). Anyways, the LOEN security guy comes out to check the situation and then a while later, a bunch of Hong Kong airport security stands in the area to block off fans. And there, IU finally comes out. It was hectic trying to take pictures, with a bunch of fans all surrounding her, as well as about 50 fans and 20 people protecting IU. Finally, she got in the van that took her and everyone dispersed.
I went back to my hotel to check in and it was about only 2pm when I decided to head back out to the venue thinking that it wasn’t going to be that bad. I arrived just before 3pm and there were already a row of fans waiting. Some with mini ladders and chairs.. I thought wow.. these fans are insane..
I stood there waiting for 3 hours until IU finally came out! There was a Cantonese translator there translating and some questions were asking about how she felt about working with Lee Sung Gyun and about the variety show she was in. IU tried to say some phrases of Cantonese and asked how to say certain things. It was super cute. Another question asked if there were going to be any guests and that there will be someone that she hasn’t met yet (suggesting that it is most likely a Hong Kong artist). The highlight was definitely at the end when she was asked if she was going to do any acting in Hong Kong and she answered in Cantonese (with the help of the translator) saying that if everyone wants that she can make it happen. Wow I thought, if she would actually go to Hong Kong to work on a drama, that would be insane and amazing for Hong Kong fans. Anyways in the end, we all gave a “hwaiting” for IU for tomorrow’s concert and left. I was excited for the next day.
11/25/17 Concert Day (IU’s ‘Palette’ in Hong Kong at Asia-World Expo)
Finally, the day I was waiting for is here! Word got out that there will be metal detectors and that photography and video recording is strictly not allowed. I had my regular point and shoot camera that I wanted to bring as well as my DSLR. I spoke to a few people and convinced myself not to bring anything in case they take it away or not allow me. I didn’t want to get kicked out from a concert I flew 8000 miles to see. This would be the first concert that I wouldn’t have my camera but that’s alright. I should really enjoy it through my eyes and not through a lens. I sat in row K seat 88 which meant I was all the way on the side of the stage and it wasn’t the best view since it was not in the middle. Around 8:15 the concert finally started.
My personal highlights of the concert:
IU opens up with dlwlrma, red queen, and the red shoes. It was an amazing opening, she actually disappears after performing The Red Shoes like usually does. A lot of the Hong Kong fans seems to know the lyrics to all the songs as they sung along to Leon (myungsoo parts) as well as The Shower.
After every few songs that she performs, she would bend down, and drink her water with a straw saying “yum dom shui sin” meaning “lets drink water first” in Cantonese. I found that so adorable.
She talks at the beginning about how since the concert name is “Palette” she will show different Palettes of herself with the types of song she’s going to sing as well as the outfits. She changed several times.
White (pale color), Red, Green , Black with a black cap, Sparkly dress, Red/Black with jeans (from my memory.. I think that was the outfits)
I was fanchanting along my section where no one seemed to know any of the lyrics, I was singing and fan chatting to all the songs while at some points, I got some stares but it’s alright. I’m supposed to enjoy myself at a concert!
She had a little chat with us and right before performing ‘Every End of the Day’ she started to talk about how the next song she was about to perform, she hopes we know the song since it’s been a while. I’ve expressed so many times that I wanted to see her perform this live and I’m happy I got to because the dance is so cheerful.
One point the concert, she also announced that from now on, she will call all Hong Kong Uaenas “Hongaenas” I felt out of place since I wasn’t a Hong Kong Uaena but that’s fine.
Finally the part of the concert when her guest comes out! She starts singing to “can’t love you anymore” When Oh Hyuk’s part came, Khalil Fong makes his appearance. After the song there’s an introduction as well as a small conversation about Hong Kong. Khalil Fong talks a bit about pineapple bun and hong kong milk tea. Khalil Fong said that he’ll treat IU and that they can write a song together. IU said that if Khalil Fong ever has a concert in Korea, feel free to contact her for assistance! Khalil Fong performs a song on his own and then leaves the stage.
IU comes out and performs Merry Christmas in Advance and rightfully so, she says because it’s almost Christmas time. What a perfect gift!
I couldn’t wait for Friday because I’ve always wanted to be her concert and be in the crowd to sing Friday. It was amazing, she pointed the mic to us when it was Jang Yijeong’s parts.
So she stops and asks us if we want photo time. Of course we scream “YES” and she fixes her hair and asks if everything is okay.. lol she walks to the other side of the stage first and then to my side.
This was one of the peak moments. I don’t remember exactly when but she performs ‘You Know” Rock version and walks around the sides of the aisles and back onto the stage. I felt super fortunate at this point because I happen to be on the side seats I was able to see IU up close and got a tap on the hands as she was passing by! Tried to record but was focusing on her with my eyes rather than my phone!
SEE Video Here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17T6YM6pjTFITzvcSNl4Wl0GE9mWGNsT_Sg/view
So ‘Palette’ was next and a video slide of never before seen photos plays in the back video. It was hard to see them so I had to go look at videos afterwards. She sings the whole song on her own including her version of the rap. Towards the end of the part, she also points the mic to us to sing along. I sing along:
“I like it, I'm twenty five
날 좋아하는 거 알아
I got this, I'm truly fine
이제 조금 알 것 같아 날”
Haha IU also mentions that no matter how much she prepares for her concerts and her fans, she always loses to us. “mui qi doh shu bei dai ga” she repeats it in Cantonese from the translator. She also tells us to scream “encore encore” if we want her to come back out. She said she won’t come out if we don’t!
Next she goes on to sing Good Day and this will be the first time I’m going to hear the 3 octave note live. The last time I watched IU perform Good Day at KCON, she didn’t sing it because she usually never does anymore out of her own solo concerts. IU is REALLY “REAL DAEBAK A-I-YU” After the end of ‘Good Day’ she exits the stage as if it’s the “end” of the concert.
Everyone starts to scream ‘ENCORE ENCORE ENCORE, and IU IU IU!’ We all raise out green finger lights that represents fireflies that was prepared on our chairs before. She finally comes out in a shiny dress and sings ‘Through the Night’ She then goes on to say that the last song is for all of us. As she sings “Dear Name” towards the end, names appear on the screen. I tried to look for mine but the angle was so bad I couldn’t see it. She exits the stage and then comes out to perform ‘Autumn Morning’ in a more casual red shirt, black vest over it, and jeans.
Here’s the REAL surprise! She starts to sing “Through the Night” in Cantonese. I was so shocked. She definitely practiced really well or she had the Cantonese tones pretty nice for someone that doesn’t know it. To know the lyrics as well is not easy. The lyrics are pretty well written I have to say as well.
She sang ‘Heart’ next and we all sang along as she pointed the mic to us. It’s a very relaxing song to sing and very fun. You could hear all the Hongaenas singing along. Afterwards, she asked all of us what song we would like to request and she ended up singing the Cantonese Song “Hei Tip Gai” or AKA Wedding Invitation Card Street. She said she hasn’t practiced it in a long time so we shouldn’t have high expectations for it.
She ends with ‘Meaning of You’ I knew she was eventually going to sing this. Well.. more like I was hoping she would. So I could sing along haha.. As you all realize now, I like singing along with IU. She dragged the ending part several times and I knew she wanted to drag it as long as she could but because of the venue, she couldn’t do more songs or else she said she would. She was worried that we wouldn’t be able to get home on time. And there it was… the end. An amazing 3.5 hour concert.
Another impressive thing is that most of her concert, she spoke English. Though there were certain points where she needed a translator, I would say about 95% of the time she spoke all English. Impressed! I can’t wait to see a concert of hers in Korea. My only disappointment is that she didn’t perform Raindrop but that’s alright!