Avid fans started queuing up at as early as in the morning at Hisense Arena on the day. I don't see the purpose people pitching a tent to camp outside- there's not a single chance to see the guys. I arrived at 5.00pm, stood at the VIP Reserved Seating row where we even had to wait for 2 over hours in the cold- %^&@#! Strict security- no glow sticks, restricted bag sizes, videos/cameras are to be kept aside in cloak room, small banners, no knives, explosives.etc..what not..as if fans are going to blow up Wanna One in the areana!
Mind you- this is just a KPop gig- not even a big MCG football match. Pfft!
Fan club started distributing out some small banner for everyone to keep as a remembrance. No official merchandise are sold at the venue too.
(How silly! This is a way to make tons of $$, talk about business minded people!)
At last everyone was gathered in the arena waiting for the guys to come out to perform. Some fans were dressed up in weird costumes, carrying official glow sticks..etc, home made banners. Security guards were tight and kept repeating that no video, photography during the concert otherwise the person and phone will be escorted out from the venue. Being obedient, I didn't take out my phone to snap any photos at all. I was around 20 feet from the main round podium..good seat.
The starting of the concert was rather long with various MVs and photos of the members. Each time a members' face appear on the screen, the young fans started screaming ooh...aah! First up was Burn It Up with fireworks shot out from the rear stage heating up the arena. Fans screamed again and waving glow sticks. I sat quietly enjoying the moment. It was then followed by Energetic and Boomerang..etc. There were various solo songs from sub-groups where they performed different genre from their normal thing.
Solo dances performed by Ji Hoon and Woo Jin made everyone screamed. There were ballad songs by Ji Sung-Min Hyun-Sung Woon. Dae Hwi and Seong Woo belted out Lean On Me single. Chit chat sessions among 11 guys were kept short and simple. But the translator was rather annoying with even inaccurate translation from the guys. Weather was cold for the guys heading from Korea which is summer now. Finally Dae Hwi and Daniel communicated with the fans in English with the familiar saying- G'day Mate! Well as you can guess the rest aren't that fluent in English by just repeating thank you, i love you, hope you enjoy tonight...etc. Fans swooned when Seung Woo commented that the night sceneries in Melbourne are beautiful but the Wannables are more beautiful...ah...sweet talk.
Other songs performed including Always (a nice ballad), they came to the round stage closer to the fans standing below, they sang Beautiful, Twilight, some other songs...I really can't remember most of them. As they stood at the round podium, they looked at the VIP seating fans and waved. But the minute they started the triangle formation, everyone knew it was the song that shot them to stardom- Pick Me (λμΌλ) The song was cut short a bit. I must complain that the music director in this arena was rather inefficient in his job! The background music was so loud that I can't even hear most of their voices. At times I noticed some parts were lip sync but some were sung originally. No doubt Jae Hwan is the best vocal among all...he sang well in his solo song.
Honestly, Min Hyun,Jin Young and Dae Hwi were looking so thin and gawdy. I am not sure if this is tiredness or overworked with the non stop gigs. Daniel, Ji Sung, Sung Woon, Jae Hwan and Woo Jin looked chirpier-healthier- sometimes winking at the camera.
Triple Position consisting Daniel, Woo Jin and Jae Hwan with Zico's produced song Kangaroo made everyone jumped around. After all it's Australia- all they can think is Roo Roo. Fans started throwing kangaroo soft toys on stage amusing them. Solo dances continued by Daniel, Lai Kuan Lin, Jin Young and Woo Jin. Ji Sung turned into some music deejay at one point rusting out some party songs to get the crowd going. The security guards continued to be a pest by warning fans not to snap any photos or recording the concert. Still some fans are persistent to do so, some were told off, some were told to get out from the concert- a bit harsh? Yes..I would think so. I understand that performance times might be distracting with flash lights..etc. Look...fans bought those expensive tickets- at least give us a chance to snap some photos during their chit-chat session.
Last song came with the guys performing IPU (I Promised You), waving to the fans happily and bidding farewell. It was a near 3 hour concert. Some fans quickly left. Before they said bye, I managed to snap some photos as it's near end of the concert. Security event guards were a bit relaxed since it's over. Immediately I rushed out as I had to walk another 10 minutes to catch a train- which was packed like sardines with fans coming out from AAMI and MCG concert after a football match. Anyway it ended well, we bid farewell to the guys and hope to see them soon. We just never know what lies in the future when they go on separate ways after this project boy band ends. Good luck to all of them...
Overall, IME Australia has done a lousy job in organising the concert. It's a bloody shame that the tickets were way overpriced resulting smaller turnout with fans buying cheaper tickets getting better seats because some of the arena was covered up with black cloth and curtains. How embarrassing for Wanna One members to notice the arena is not full during the sound check session! Sighs... tragic! for the tour and concert organisers for in AU!
No comments:
Post a Comment