Reliving the Moment with Music
CNBLUE Can’t Stop Tour in Manila September 19, 2014
What’s a worthy catch without a fair share of challenges along the way.
CNBLUE is rarely one of the “idol bands” in Korea and their music at the same time their looks are good, dubbing them to be a “flower boyband”. But for their album “Can’t Stop” it was especially good, for me at least. The melody of the songs and with enough research understanding the lyrics too, they were way better than what they have released so far. And coincidentally about a couple of weeks before I decided to buy the concert ticket, I watched one of their comeback show where they showcased all the songs in the album and for the longest time I have never seen them performed like that. I am not an avid CNBLUE fan so I am not updated with all of their activities and I do not really monitor them, but from what I have seen their stage performance vastly improved. They were not just playing their instruments and singing as the usual, but they make it somewhat special, and their energy is undeniably amazing. At that point, I had the desire to watch them live. I have a friend who I know is a BOICE - the band’s fan club name, I told her my interest to watch the concert. As expected, I made a firm decision to watch the show. We met one weekend, she offered to accompany me in buying the ticket. It was somewhat a sort of catching up also for us since we haven’t seen each other for a long time.
The day before the concert, it was raining really hard and according to the news, there is a tropical storm which gives Metro Manila a signal number. I was staying positive until the next day, believing that it would not be a big of a problem for the concert the next day. I woke up with the rain still pouring really hard, I was on leave from work but it turns out even office work is suspended due to the typhoon. Now a more challenging part comes, seeking my parents’ approval. Even before I told them, I knew they would not agree with me going to a concert with a weather like that. I had to think through for myself then, I paid for a VIP position and I have a friend waiting, on the other side I have my parents whom I know is just concern for me. I had to weigh the situation and come to a decision that if the rain is still pouring hard at four in the afternoon, I would abide my parents and stay. The concert is at eight in the evening, and my friend and I agreed to meet as early as three in the afternoon, then we can go straight to the concert venue. This time the venue is really far from where I resided which adds to my parents’ worries. Minutes before four, finally the rain started to subside, I was already dressed so I go straight to my parents assuring them that I will be alright, then they helped me catch a cab. All is well, from the time I parted our house, to meeting my friend to finally arriving at the concert venue, the weather was quiet. A few minutes after arriving at the venue,the rain started to pour really hard again - call these as answered prayers.
It was the second “solo” K-pop artist concert I have been into, I kind of expected almost the same environment when I attended the Super Show. Maybe it was the rain that is why not everybody which has a ticket on their pocket was able to come, also maybe because its a different venue too - this was way more organize, and maybe because they’re a band, the culture of the fans is somewhat more calm and steady. It was not too much of a hassle this time around coming into the line and entering the concert stadium since all VIP sections are seated. You do not have to worry if you do not get a nice area since all of the position on the floor is guaranteed. Me and my friend are seated apart since we purchased the tickets at a different time. It was also a first for me, watching a concert with nobody around me I know. Sharing a little trivia though, while waiting for the concert to start, I was going through my twitter feed since it was also the kick-off of Super Show 6 in Korea, what a coincidence right.
Finally, the lights went off, the show is about to start. Most people on my section stood up and went to the aisle to get closer to the stage. I hesitated for a moment since guards might come and advise them to go back to their seats, and I have a large bag with me. When I observed everybody is enjoying in their own world and no one is stopping the fans from going to the aisle, I tried it myself. I got a better look at the members and it was so close I can get good shots and take great video performances. I have friends who are not there who will be thrilled to have a copy of my takes. Certainly it was different hearing and seeing them live. They do even more at concerts than what I have seen them do on shows. The way they play their own instrument is truly outstanding, like those instruments are part of their body. Their gestures onstage are very natural yet very cool. I have a bias on the drummer, so I was really paying attention on to his drumstick trick. There were particular songs on the concert that I am actually anticipating to see them perform, one of them is “Cold Love” from their “Can’t Stop” album, this song has a strong impact melody wise, also the meaning of the song if looked into the lyrics is giving a really heavy emotion, so I wanted to see them perform this. Their stage presence while performing this song is very emotional couple that with their husky vocals. Another segment which I really wanted to see live is the re-arranged version of their songs “Coffee Shop” and “I’m Sorry”, which was designed to be sung consecutively making it seemed like just one song. If you are not a fan of theirs and you want to know what they can do as band and as performers, you got to check them out performing this. It was full of energy, and the way it was re-arranged is really made for a spectacular performance if you have heard the original song arrangement. It was an explosive stage not just because of the stage props but the members themselves, they were oozing with charisma performing these particular songs, their movements on stage is like their dancing but they are not, but still appears to be true rock stars. Yonghwa belted out an amazing growl during an ad-lib - he doesn’t do this normally, Jonghyun who was very awkward before onstage now releasing those rock star stage manners but manage to stick to who he is as calm and deep. On the other hand, Jungshin who celebrated his birthday too as expected is very playful onstage, and Minhyuk which ended the songs with an amazing drumstick roll on his fingers and hitting every part of the drum set like there’s no tomorrow. Before their encore stage, I just love how they interpreted their song “Like A Child” with all the confetti falling down. This song has a feel good vibe in it but at the same time very inspirational. Going to their encore, I am already satisfied though the concert just gone through for two hours only - Super Junior kind of spoil me with a four-hour show. Nonetheless, it was an experience to fully enjoy their music, from the looks of it they are really passionate when it comes to music. They expressed their gratitude to us since despite the storm we were there to see them, they even said a sentence in Filipino with the “bagyo” word in it.
Aftereffect of the show as the usual, while eating dinner with my friend we were already checking through our shots. There was no rain after the concert so we did go home safely, worries aside. I spent the night on her place since it was nearer and it was safer that going home alone.
From the concerts I have gone to, there was always a fair share of a challenging encounter with any matter. This time it was out of my control, but prayers really do work. This was the last concert for my year 2014 and it was definitely a memorable one. This show was a reliving moment for me, to truly enjoy music even though they sang them in a different language it was never really a hindrance, there are a lot of translators over the web. But what is incredible in this experience is getting pass through who is the artist - it still contributes, but just having a moment with the music.
