#05.06.13

Fanaccount by LAV 5th June Osaka Dome.

 I now fully understand a lot of “incidences” in previous fan accounts  now that I’ve gone to my 1st ever “DOME” tour.

 Previously, my fangirling persona was only limited to 1st being an avid “bystander” fan, buying their CD/DVD or some odds & ends  plus some novelties associated with TVXQ/Tohoshinki. Then it progressed to my 1st EVER LIVE concert by the boys in their on going Korean “CATCH ME” concerts.

 While Catch Me is undoubtedly attractive in it’s “personal setting”, “you can actually see the boys up close”, I was fascinated at the already superior level of showmanship by our boys once I started to attend the Catch Me tours in earnest. BUT what truly surprised me was the TIME Concert I just attended was in a different class altogether from several persepective.

 The intense, consummate high standard skills of singing & dancing by our boys were to be expected & these 2  always never ever disappointed us fans in what they can delivered from a skill point of view  & left the rest to the production team, the sound system & also the special effects!

 And THIS is where lies the difference….

 The production, special effects, live band, the size of the venue & since it’s held in Japan (considering that 90% or more will be Japanese attending), the mindset of the fans, is what collectively continues to “magnetize”  & induces  fans to flock in & continually  attend concert after concert, flying from state to state, crying over “lost lottery chances”  to…. inevitably  contribute to the number that made TOHOSHINKI the 1st Korean artist to have the largest number of attendees once they complete the entire tour come 18th August!

 My odyssey for the concert today started from the time I was emailed that 2 tickets have become available for me & that my 1st concert would start today as opposed to tomorrow!

 I started off from my hotel at 4.30 pm heading to the DOME (it’s 5-10 mins away by foot) to 1st meet up with the seller of the tickets together with the intermediary for this  purchase who is  a  twitter contact of Fenn’s… (lol..Fenn, I owe u one!!)

 The sweet thing (didn’t look anything pass 18yrs old!), even gave me a small present for buying the tickets from her…

 They were 2nd floor tickets BUT it never once bothered me as the excitement of “going to A DOME” concert  could hardly dampen the high spirits I was in!

 Security was tight & bags were checked (I can’t fathom how  those photos came out  XD). There were security ppl everywhere & even demanding that hand phones be put away.

 Fully settled & without too much fanfare the concert started about 15 mins after 6 pm.

 As you can see my poorly highlighted (sorry, I can’t seem to draw a straight line XD!) pic of the stage, it’s divided into 4 sections & parts of stage 1 can be moved to  become part of stage 4.

 A part of Stage 3 can be elevated up & revolve like a “steel bar”.

 There will be 5 vids(I think) altogether & if I’m not wrong, they form the storyline & are part of the theme & namesake of this tour “TIME”. 

 The way the vids “string” the concert from Fated to Catch Me, make sense since the boys start as  “warriors/time travellers” of a different dimension, being  “cast out/time travelled into different periods”.  They fight, save each other, going through some missions & ending with  the decisive Catch Me, leaves me thinking if they have come full cycle in the TIME travel…

 I’m forgiving their stylists for now, since the theme of their concert is geared towards the imagined what “clothes for the future” MAY look like. And their “futuristic clothes, defined by those sometimes tacky & neon glaring outifts”  seem to suit the demand for being ‘suitably eye catching’!

 Opening & 1st vid (It’s really weird but like on ‘auto button’, everyone stood upç I did too so as to not look ‘left out’ lol (I also felt like the times when I attended them church weddings & when the marriage tune “here comes the bride plays, we all stand up?)

 YH & CM were fighting with some “space suit” men & when the when YH tossed what I think is the “time travel” capsul… FATED started playing.

 2 capsules were lowered & behold…. Our finely  ‘all white & decked with capes.. capes were  longer than superman’s), touched down on the 1st stage ie the highest stage… (refer to red arrow, if you are lost at this time..STAGE 1).

 Once they got off the “ultra modern” horse carriage… ooops…! Capsules,  they took a few steps & very soon got rid of those capes.

 The crowd  went crazy from the start of the vid already… sorry forgot to mention that through out the concert, I think form my sheer “provincial Jap tour syndrome”, coz I was impressed how those  fans were actually “syncing” their light stick wave to the rhythm of each song!!!

 Here’s how it goes:

move wrist up & down for normal songs & keep up with the rhythm

jiggle wrist vigorously to replace clapping since it’s difficult trying to clap when u have a light stick in one hand… (my neighbour, had 5 indi light sticks in one hand & 1 T light stick in the other, so she will jiggle both wrist! The other neighbour had a T lightstick & a YH fan, so the jiggle works fine for her too..)

  After the “power packed” Fated, Android & Superstar & IDK the boys progressed to Still, Duet & One More Thing..

 IDK was special since the effects of the “LED shoji screen” gives a mysterious feel to that song like some sort of magic “I’m here BUT  can’t tell if it’s a projected image or I’m really dancing behind that screen”.

 My legs got tired after the 1st song BUT I most certainly wasn’t gonna be lame & sit since all around me were like no where near having their bums back to their seats.. sigh…

 At the end of my beloved OMT… YH & CM lifted their hand &  pointed their index finger to the sky… ok the top of the DOME… hmmm…. Lucky it wasn’t the 3rd finger…XD

 2nd Vid

 Continuing the story from vid 1..the boys are is some symbolic space ship, really trying to gain control of a tense “going haywire” situation… Looks like they were pressing every available button & suddenly, they “free fall”, spiralling through some futuristic looking building.

 CM falls faster & was able to catch hold of a ledge & saw YH heading straight into 3 pcs of objects sticking out one after the other.

 CM blasts at each of those objects paving way for YH to fall right into his arms… oh sorry… CM caught YH by the hand. Chessy scene..lol

 Well.. cheesy scene ends when YH’s hand slipped off & he freefalls again …back into the space ship  & Y3K starts…

 First time hearing it live & I’m loving Y3K more now.  The choreo was not too vigorous BUT  it’s “mechanically tight”  enough to gives the impression of a very regimental period they are going through & it’s fascinating to watch.

 I KNOW came out with a new change of clothes & the boys were sitting in the 1st Stage collapsible stairway.

 Yunho started Heart, Mind & Soul at the 2nd stage. He was beautiful! There was so much emotions in his voice & I was moved by how clear & smooth his voice was.

 Changmin began from the right side of stage 3 & they walked towards the centre of the stage, passing each other while singing as both headed to the 2 respective ends of stage 3.

 That revolving stage 3 was elevated & when it turned, everyone had a chance to catch YH & CM singing this song.

 I couldn’t understand Japanese but it seems the boys were having some jokes & since fans laugh… I laughed along  XD

 At this point,  during the talk time,  fans sat down… thank goodness already  lol…

 The end of the talk was the premise for RTT where YH taught us how to make the hand gestures for RTT..  YH did it slow motion &  It’s a rather silly “slow mo”  movement..BUT all of us tried it…

 *clench fist,  while saying Rat tat tat, make 2 circles with that hand & 3x  knocking gestures with said clenced fist….when saying boom boom boom… lol.. *

 Yunho is seriously cute & is in “one of his many elements” here…

 Vid 3

 It’s like an idyllic life Yh & CM are leading BUT once they get a call, they transform into this “futuristic” outfit & head out….

 And Yh’s 2nd element here… his solo, the “sex on legs”!

  BLINK was performed on 4th stage & was drawn back to stage 3. It’s then elevated.  A “light saber” showcase was seen during a bridge for this song. And yes… Blink still sounds like BRINK…

 Vid 4

 Both is a mission to rescue a girl BUT CM got the wrong girl. The real girl was discovered dead by YH & he spots CM rescuing the “wrong girl” He gives chase , just in time to see the imposter pointing a gun at CM.

 YH opened fire & the bullet wheezes past CM’s head straight into the imposter.  Cheesy ending with CM giving cheesy smile to YH lol…

 The vid leads straight to survivor & this song had the most pyrotechnics display…

 One Piece is where they start throwing the balls & YH’s car passed right in front of me… sigh ..... lol ok  in front but with a distance of close to 50 m…

 Both paid special care to those in wheelchairs & it was so heartwarming to see the boys make special effort for them to get hold of a ball!

 If the car already moved, they made sure, to throw the balls to the ground attendance & in turn the balls are given to those in wheelchairs.

 Aitakute: This song surely brought the “house down” lol..it was delivered by the 2 in great finesse… dancing in their cars while being pushed around the premium area.

 Yh acting  cute & doing all manner of “silly funny” dance move… he did 3 times whistling..

  1st time expression: satisfied

2nd time: stuck his tongue  out

3rd was at the end of song

 5th Vid

This one is a “mish & mash of special effects leading to Catch Me. The special effects for this song is the most intense as it’s all bout lighting. And the different lighting directed at the boys & dancers really  brought out the essence of the choreo.

 At some parts, I could only see the movements without the faces. Truly enjoyable!

 At the end, YH said “MINNA..ARIGATOU!”

 KYHD must truly be the most epic song & the most “synchronized gestures/fanchant”. Everyone seems to know as I noticed,  whether in Korean or Japanese,

  when KYHD is sung: hand with light stick is out in front & lower  down  hand as the words are said!

WAE… put hand in front & gesture once like how harry potter uses a wand...XD

 The fans are very much like a RED OCEAN equalizer!!!  

 After CM goes off to change, Yh started talking & did a half playful handstand. The crowd was estactic.

 While it’s CM’s turn, Yh ran back to backstage to change.  It’s rather funny as at one part, CM “snickered like a girl” & everyone laughed.

 OCEAN was next. The tribal chant…all of us did it & on the big screen..it was KARAOKE TIME.. the lyrics were flashed out so all could follow.<== lol ok..I couldn't...

 When SKY came on, YH half skipped & half ran happily to his car..CM was walking & taking his time.

 YH reached his car 1st & it started moving 1st. CM’s car was a tad later.

 For WE ARE, YH did so many of his signature  “wild head shake”! & made us say we T 2 x….

 In Summer Dream, YH did a successful Back Flip..so happy he did it well!

 At the end of We ARE, I heard YH say “I JUST CAN’T”?? & WENT INTO A FRENZY LEAVING CM to cheer the crowd on.

Last for IN OUR TIME, the Karaoke part came on as well & those who knew sang BUT for me..it’s lalalalala. This was on Stage 3 revolving to show our boys to the fans!

 Thanking & bowing time.

 ^^ ok folks..I wrote a fanaccount now so that I dont have to tomorrow...LOL...

 and I had a really good TIME!

 * When boys came out with TS..my sis looked at mine & stared at the boys, used her binoculars & turned to me.. "how come yours is differnt..the boys' got those shiny shiny bits.. where's yours?"... <== duh...the boys are obviously specially made...XD