It’s hard to top my March 26 Shinhwa concert fanaccount but if you’re still interested... here’s what I did on March 27. It’s not as funny though. :(
I stayed up late writing my fanaccount of the March 26 concert so it took a toll on me the next day. We had to hustle and change guesthouses plus there was the 9AM Easter Sunday mass that we couldn’t miss since that was the only English mass in Myeongdong Cathedral that day.
Anyway, since I would be going alone to the Shinhwa concert in the afternoon, I made sure my mother got to do something touristy before I would leave her. We decided to go to Namsan tower that was just across our new guest house. While waiting for the cable car, my 65-year old mother opened up the topic of Shinhwa. She asked if there was a website that she could go to and read about Shinhwa. I told her I’ll give it to her later.
So anyway, I tell her more about Shinhwa in a manner that she can digest the info. Without prompting, she suddenly assures me that my bias is really.... okay.
“He’s really very pretty,” she pats my back.
Moooooooom, that’s not.... *sigh* ..... saying Jung Pilgyo is pretty doesn’t really make me feel better!
Then she wondered out loud if Madonna had a concert, do people from other countries also fly in just to see her? “I don’t know,” I told her but I was told later that some do (like when she held a concert in Manila, Philippines, there were non-Pinoys who flew in just to watch her perform).
She continued by complaining that she wished Shinhwa spoke some English during the MENT.
“They know how to speak English, right? And they know that they have foreign fans attending? Can’t they address their foreign fans with some English sentences?”
Um... yeah, mom, it would be nice if they did that. They do that sometimes, especially in their overseas concerts but well... they’re in Korea... so....um... you know...
I asked her why Minwoo reminded her of Jackie Chan and she said it’s the hairstyle and the eyes.
“When was the last time you saw Jackie Chan?” I asked her.
“..............late 1980s.... early 1990s.......?” she replied tentatively.
On the bright side, Jackie Chan is always smiling so I think it’s a good thing to be reminded of Jackie Chan. Everybody loves Jackie Chan.
By the time we got down from Namsan Tower, she already memorized all six members’ names... Eric, Andy, Junjin, H-hyesung, Dongwan, Jack- no, no, Minwoo...
Around 2PM, I had to leave my mother at the guest house while I head for the concert grounds. I had no internet connection on my phone and I was supposed to meet with Junnie at a designated place. However, when I got off the train, I really needed to pee. The line for the women’s toilet (at the station) was long but I knew it would be longer at the concert grounds itself. So... I’m so sorry I was late, Junnie. Fortunately, with Ate Nikki’s help, we were able to meet briefly. I felt sorry I didn’t prepare anything while I accepted Junnie’s token. Next time.
Anyway, I met Pia from ShinPhil aside from Ate Nikki. I met LinLin as well. I know I met other people but this ahjumma is so old I cannot remember... plus I am just... well... I just suck at interpersonal communication...... :(((
Oh, enough with the emo-ing............
CONCERT
My seat was in the nosebleed section but still not that bad (there aren’t really any bad seats there IMO). Since I was just on my own, I felt a bit self-conscious. On my right and in front of me were Korean fans (they came in pairs). The two seats on my left were empty but right after them were seated a young couple (I think they spoke Chinese). I was the odd girl out :((((
It became worse when concert started because the Korean fans around me did not do the fanchants. I mean like... wae??? I became even MORE self-conscious shouting SHINHWA SAN and then singing along with my atrocious Korean pronunciation. Oh waeeeeeee? Luckily, the girlfriend on my left was quite enthusiastic waving and shouting and singing and dancing along so I took comfort in that. The boyfriend just sat there while we were standing and jumping. Sometimes he stands to take pictures of the concert and his girlfriend but he was clearly NOT a fan.
I learned not to watch the large screen so that I wouldn’t miss the interactions between the members however far they were from me. I only watched the screen when they sing ballads and stay stationary.
Andy -- I felt he sang with more confidence this day compared to Saturday. And goodness gracious, Lee Sunho, you captivated me once again! Haaaaaayyyy.... Andy is so dashing! He’s like a prince. My heart was in danger of going out to him... but don’t worry, Andy... I will protect you from myself.... noona will behave.
Junjin -- I really loved his dance solo performance. So powerful! Truly Junjin! I felt like swooning and be the damsel in distress just so that strong and mighty Jinnie will come to my rescue. Seeing the VCR for the second time, Jinnie still made me laugh... he is just too damn funny! (The VCR also shows that you really can’t watch just one day of the Shinhwa concert, you have to watch both days. The VCR changed on the second day and you’d miss the added fun if you hadn’t seen the first VCR.)
Hyesung -- What can I say Mr. Jung? Do you know how much I wanted your hoodie to fly to my hands? Your performance was flawless as ever... exactly what can be expected from perfectionist Pilgyo. Gosh, I really wished Eric took off your shirt... but I guess Eric knew not to test the fury of Pilgyo.
Dongwan -- I can’t help but feel frustrated when the camera leaves him just as he sings the high notes! Ugh! There are the usual songs where the camera focuses on him but there are others where the focus would shift to Minwoo or to Hyesung just when Dongwan really belts it out. And I get so frustrated. I wish they’d keep that style where two camera views are shown on screen because I want the world to kneel and bow before Dongwan’s singing ability bwahahahahaha (okay, that’s taking it too far I guess).
Minwoo -- Dear Lord and Mr. and Mrs. Lee, thank you for creating Minwoo. Thank you for giving him the genes resulting in his perfect jawline and aristocratic nose. Thank you, dear personal trainer, for keeping him in shape so we can worship his deliciously firm abs. And lastly, thank you, Minwoo for being you.
Eric -- Oh, dear... I really like to keep leadernim at a distance. I prefer to respect him for all the things he has done for Shinhwa rather than fall for his charms but deeeeeeeeyyyyyymmm....... why must he be so........ ugh! Why must he be so........... mesmerizing, dazzling, bewitching, fascinating? Why must he rap like........... that? And why must he look like.............. oh gosh *knees buckling* I don’t need to complete my sentences because you understand me so completely, right? *sigh*
Before the concert ended, the girls on my right left. Whut??? Are you really fans? Why are you leaving??? The concert is not over!!! I learned later on that they left so they could get prime spots at the barricade where the Shinhwa members would exit from the venue. *kneels* I’m not worthy
Now with two empty seats on each side of me, I began to let go.... like.... really let go. I even used my lightstick as my microphone and screamed the lyrics of Brand New into it. I danced like I had no more fucks to give. XDDD
It was so nice not to have people behind me. It was so nice I had that wiggle room to dance. I could feel the boyfriend’s eyes on me and I knew he was probably wondering if an evil spirit had overtaken my body because I started out really sane... swaying and waving my lightstick like a normal overexcited fangirl. I turned on my swaaaaag when Shooting Star came on and then I channeled all my angst with Yo! I felt so..... manly! XDDDDDDD
This is sweaty me taking a selfie ^_^
Outside the venue, I must have been still high because look! Another selfie!
I looked for the members’ exit and attempted to be a paparazzi.... LOL! It was even worse when I watched Hedwig because then at least I had a picture of Dongwan’s finger. This time, all I have is a blurry picture of Young Hee’s back (left).
“Hi, Young Hee-ssi!”
I didn’t want the night to end yet so I crashed the dinner plans of LinLin and Pia, who graciously adopted me. With all the nearby restaurants closing, we ended up eating at McDonald’s in Myeongdong. There were two other SHCJs there and I’m really sorry I was too embarrassed/shy to ask for your names.
I got back to the guest house a few minutes just before midnight and was expecting my mother to be asleep. I was half-afraid she got lost or something. She was still awake. I told her I really enjoyed the concert and then I asked how she spent the rest of the day without me. She said her boots really hurt so she wore flipflops and socks....... to Shinsegae. Shinsegae is a department store that houses luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Tiffany..... my mom went there.... in her flipflops and black socks.... #facepalm
Dear Shinsegae, thank you for your understanding.
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........... the day after we got back to our own country, my mother sent me an email thanking me for inviting her to go to Seoul with me. She said she really had a good time despite our aching feet and one minor misunderstanding that we had. P.S. Can I please give her the link to the website about Shinhwa? She would like to learn more about them.
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