161112 - 샤이니 SHINee - EVERYBODY - SWCVJkt

121116 - 샤이니 SHINee - Replay - SWCVJkt

As with my other k-pop adventures: I didn’t see this coming.

I’ve heard about SHINee (who hasn’t?) from ages ago -- my first encounter was through Ring Ding Dong in a karaoke session with my high school friends where then, I deemed the song annoying and the hairstyle ridiculous, but ended up remembering the entire song for years despite of having only heard it once (so much for a song banned before exams for this very reason) -- but I have never really put attention to them.

It was only after 1of1 did I have great interests in them. I loved the album, the concept, the outfits! Having known that they’re variety legends (or in the internet language: variety kings and such extra idols), I watched their Weekly Idol and got completely hooked to them. Long story short, after a series of impulsiveness and self-justification, I decided to watch their concert and caught up to 9 years worth of music(!!!) within three weeks! I honestly think it’s fated by the k-pop gods that they just had to come to Jakarta when I decided to start liking them.

Telling the news of me going to their concert to my internet friends resulted in an unanimous response: “oh you’ll definitely not regret it. It’s SHINee after all! They will not disappoint.”

And oh boy, they definitely didn’t.

It was a full-throttled, hard crash landing on the pearl aqua ocean. Despite not knowing many of the songs played in the concert, I was able to enjoy the concert thoroughly! Their dancing blew me away, and they sang live (I’ve always thought it’s impossible for someone to dance that strenuously and sing at the same time).

After that fated concert, I went on a full fangirl mode and tried to catch up 9-years worth of activities and music. Obviously a month and a half later I still haven’t finished the daunting task -- yet, I’m already so in love, inspired, and touched by them.

I can only imagine how it must’ve felt for the fans who have been with them since debut days, to see them matured and developed both musically and personally. It’s regretful that I am not able to be part of such fans, but I don’t regret being their fans no matter how late I am into them.

This post is for many more days (hopefully, years!) with SHINee. Cheers and I’ll be rooting for you!