What's Happening In Indonesia: SMTOWN Live World Tour III, Jakarta, September 22, 2012

I never thought I could manage to go to watch this concert. My saving has been running low, even reaching its lowest point in a year. I have already tanked my money for Big Bang concert. So when the news about SM Town would be held in Jakarta at any time soon, I and my friend were reeling:  How the heck we are able to collect that much amount of money in that short of time, close to just one month for exact? That time I realized it is not our beloved K pop as awhole that has sort of MO to announce, to begin selling tickets and then to hold a concert with a short period of time in between. YG can, JYP can, CJS can, Cube can do that, why SM cannot??  I can see who the culprit is.

I didn’t know what happened that day, September 22, 2012, something came and hijacked my rational mind, I just packed my bag, put my sneakers on, drew money from my bank account, and went to the concert venue, without too much thought whether there was still any ticket left or not. It also left people (my ahem mom and ahem dad included) questioning reason behind my action. To tell the truth, small part of it, because I love live performance, I love the energy emitted from it. But the main reason was that I didn’t quite anticipate this SMTown concert since the last concert from SME (yeah you may guess :P) left me….*smirk* cold. I didn’t really care if I didn’t get any ticket after all. But eh the world kindly provided many ways to spend your money away. Pfft.   

 

Yes, I got the ticket. So there I was in Gelora Bung Karno stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia. I slid my body through the closed entrance door, since concert had already started since few minutes ago. It was free sitting section and all seats had been occupied. But I didn’t need seat to dance my butt off, no? So I just placed my body in any free space that I redeemed fit for me to dance the night off. Once the free space was secured, I started to tune in into the music, feel the crowd, move my body, jump on my feet, and raise my hands to the air…but wait why my movement didn’t feel right, I thought. Gosh the audio, audio, audio!! Darn it.

So Glora Bung Karno is an open stadium with capacity around 100.000 seats. Half of its sitting section was closed, only half of it that was used for the concert. The main stage was placed near the front of closed section. There was one small stage and one stage with fountain around it near the open section. A runaway stage was there between the main stage and additional stages and branch out to right and left at its middle section. The main speakers were placed near main stage and the additional stages. And oopsie sound didn’t come out from those two speakers at the same time. So what happening was that my body was simply reacted to those two different sounds, it was confused about which sound to follow. =_=

The concert continued and the audio system got better. Though almost all through the concert, I couldn’t hear the vocalists’ voice because too louder background music. T.T. Come on I want to hear how earlicious Onew’s vocal is. Or did you do this on purpose SME? So, I couldn’t even decide whether your idols lip-synch or not. Psst. Maybe next time you can turn off the camera too, if you plan to do it so? Kh. When I thought the moment finally came, I would hear Onew’s vocal, they so intentionally did it so, and they toned down the background music till the music went to almost like a whisper at the back. So weird. I gave up on this!  

Let’s move on to the idols’ performance. At time I was just arrived, Kangta had given his performance. I know Kangta, but I have no clue about his music. It sounds like ordinary SME product though, so dance away! Next, we watched Amber, Key, and Kris covered “Like A G6” by Far East Movement. And wow Kris, even from afar, he looked fabulous. Noona fan scream! 

F(x) came with their Pinocchio or err this is the only F(x)’s song that I recognized beside Electric Shock. They got to perform Oops with Super Junior later. And duet formations attack! Changmin and Kyuhyun sang Bruno Mars’ Just The way You Are, Eunhyeok and Donghae sang Oppa Has Risen, and Jung sisters sang Kathy Perry’s California Gurls *half rolling eyes*. Then Exo K & M’s turn came to show their things. I don’t know why they only gave Exo two songs (of course MAMA and History, what else) to perform. Really SM, I’ve been anxious waiting their next project. It has been a looooong time, as you know B.A.P had two comeback mini albums already, and Exo had zero. But Boy, I don’t know how you did it SM, fishing all those beautiful young boys into one group. *drooling from distance* 

Following were our Hallyu Wave’s princesses, SNSD a.k.a Girls’ Generation. They are pretty, nuff said. Behind them was my SM bias group, SHINee (YaY). Once again I want to say: Darn you, Audio! I could barely hear their voices. When they sang Ring Ding Dong, I could only jump, up and down, shouting: Elastic! Elastic! Elastic! Elastic! Elastic!!! Like a crazy girl, I am in a commercial campaign for anti-aging cream contains collagen. Well, I probably needed one for what I saw next. Dude, Jonghyun up on stage, shirtless, writhing and squirming  :D…….. Absome….

 

 After the most anticipated act of the night (you can see from the sea of sapphire blue light stick filled the stadium) Super Junior. They sang Superman, A-cha, Bonamana, Don-Don, S.P.Y, and Free, Sexy, Single. This time they brought their two Super Junior M members, Zhoumin and Henry. Super Junior M performed their Perfection song. Thanks for the last Super Junior concert in Jakarta, now I can name all Super Junior members and point out which one is who. Yay! Isn’t Donghae just pretty pretty? Should I watch Sonic & The Hedgehog? Man, Siwon, where’s your abs?? Jonghyun alone is not enough.

Two Gods From The East, DBSK, gave their all for Maximum while they tried to Keep Head Down, in the making of Rising Sun. I know that the remaining two members, Changmin and U-Know, are the two tower of DBSK. But I didn’t realize, live they looked not only tall, but big and manly. When they were dancing, twisting, and bumping against each other, just the two of them, while their back-up dancers were not so prominent, unlike in the MV, I couldn’t resist my dirty mind that went wild, so (E)miROTIC. Peep……

The new sub-unit of SNSD, TTS (TaeTiSeo) also get their time to shine singing their Twinkle-Twinkle, before we moved to see SM best dancers. First was Tao of Exo-M and Victoria of F(x) did some martial art. And then 7 dancers from SME, U-know, Eunhyeok, Taemin, Hyeoyeon, Yoona, Yuri, and Kai joining forces, they danced the night away. And BoA knocked off everyone else, danced like nobody business, like hoot! On heels!  Yes, I’m lost on BoA’s music discography too, like I’m to Kangta and F(x). I only knew her latest single Only Me and Hurricane Venus. Honestly, till that time, I’d never listened to Hurricane Venus from start to finish, but how could I miss the song with its super catchy lyric: Electric, Super Sonic, Manic, Bionic, Energic

SNSD came back and brought us near to the end of the 3,5 hours, so did Super Junior and SHINee. Super Junior was for Sorry Sorry and SHINee was for Sherlock. SNSD really got down to the audience this time with the moving stages. And finally we reached the end of the concert. All of SM Town inhabitants came out to stage to sing a song Hope (yes I cheat from other site for that ha ha). They bid their goodbye and bowed on their way out. Balloons and Firework filled the air to say goodbye too.  

Comment:

Believe me or not, my favorite performance in the night was coming from SNSD. Not that they are amazing performer that they blew my mind away with their live performance for they blatantly lip-sync some part of the songs (Really how long they need to be in the business to bestow us with believable lip-sync?). But now I understand why they are so popular across Asia. I think the keys are on their easy –to-listen, catchy songs, easy-to-follow dance, and easy-on-the-eyes, pretty faces. It was really fun to get down to the concert, to sing and to dance together with other fangirls. Thanks for that I felt way younger back from the concert. 

SM Town is good chance to gain more fan base for SME (not like they are ever lack of) by introducing their idols to audience who have SM-esque taste of music, but are not yet exposed to some of the acts. That’s a lot easier task than to gain fan base from new audience, with limited exposure to SME music or K pop, with you-can-only-guess taste of music. How a good idea it was to Bring The Boys Out for U.S audience in general. 

Well for me, though the concert didn’t send me to euphoric state like a good concert (according to me) usually gives me. I didn’t feel like I want my money back :D Perhaps more than to the idols, themselves, I become more appreciate toward all the people behind the stage of SM Town. They are who create and produce all those catchy as hell songs for these idols, who have made them choreography, who choose the newest and up-dated designer cloths, who promote them, and who have built great stage in every concert and made great show possible. 

This left me to wonder why the last SM concert did not give me satisfaction. Thinking about it, perhaps it was because I kept bringing the same old standard perspective I used to apply to regular concert to idol concert. They are like a different species to begin with. I supposedly cannot judge the quality of idol concert solely from idol’s performance alone, can I? 

I feel like my perspective toward idol slightly changes with the time and my experience. I got some revelation that going to idol concert is almost like going to a musical. The only difference is the roles being played in idol concert are extended to off stage. Siwon plays Siwon, Onew plays Onew, Yoona plays Yoona, Amber plays Amber. This is also the reason why we cannot separate idols with their management company in Korean idol system. They are inseparable, one cannot exist without the other. So be nice to each other Buddy 

So Yes, I did enjoy the concert. Nothing make me feel so much younger than screaming, shouting, singing, dancing, jumping together with energizer hormone driven teenage fangirls like nothing else matter. So is this the secret behind my Korean sonsaengnim’s look than much younger than her real age?? Just going to a concert, not plastic surgery needed? Aha, bring it on the fountain of youth, lemme taste it. Ha ha ha. See you at the next Hallyu concert!!

SNSD (소녀시대): Kissing You    

[Lyric, Romanization, Translation]

뚜뚜루 루뚜뚜뚜 Kissing you baby~~

Ttu Ttu Ru Ru Ttu Ttu Ttu Kissing you baby…

뚜뚜루 루뚜뚜뚜 Loving you baby~~

Ttu Ttu Ru Ru Ttu Ttu Ttu Kissing you baby…

장난스런 너의 키스에 기분이 좋아

Jangnanseureon neo-e kisseu-e gibuni joa,

I feel happy with your playful kiss

귀엽게 새침한 표정 지어도

Kwiyeopge saechiman, phyoseong jieodo

As well as your a cute and play hard to get look

어느 샌가 나는 숙녀처럼

Eoneu saenga naneun soknyeocheoreom,

Without knowingly, I become like a lady

내 입술은 사근사근 그대 이름 부르죠

Nae ibseureun sageun sageun geudae ireum bureujyo

My lips call out your name amiably

그대와 발을 맞추며 걷고,

Geudaewa bareul matchumyeo geotgo,

While adjusting steps, I walk together with you

너의 두 손을 잡고

Neo-e du soneul jabgo,

Hold your hands

니 어깨에 기대어 말하고 싶어

Ni eokkae-e gidae-eo malhago sipheo

Lean on your shoulder and want to tell you

"고마워 사랑해 행복만 줄게요" Kissing you oh my love

“Gomawo saranghae haengbokman julgeyo” Kissing you oh my love

“Thank you for loving me, I’ll be happy if only for this” Kissing you oh my love

내일은 따스한 햇살 속에

Naeireun ttaseuhan haesal soge

Tomorrow, under warm sunlight

너는 내 옆에 누워

Neoneun nae yeophe nuwo,

You lay beside me

사랑의 노랠 불러주며 웃어줘

Sarange noreal bulleojumyeo useojwo

Smile, when I sing you a love song

달콤한 "사랑해" 기분 좋은 한마디

Dalkhomhan “saranghae” gibun joun hanmadi

Sweet heart “I love you”, feel happy to say

뚜뚜루 루뚜뚜뚜 Kissing you baby~~

Ttu Ttu Ru Ru Ttu Ttu Ttu Kissing you baby…

뚜뚜루 루뚜뚜뚜 Loving you baby~~

Ttu Ttu Ru Ru Ttu Ttu Ttu Kissing you baby…

눈을 감고 너의 입술에 키스를 하면

Nunul gamgo neo-e ibseure kiseureul hamyeon,

I close my eyes when I kiss your lips

내 볼은 핑크빛 물이 들어도

Nae boreun phingkheubit muri deurodo

My cheeks even turn red

내 마음은 이미 넘어가고

Nae maeumeun imi neomeogago,

My heart already skips a beat

내 가슴엔 두근두근 심장소리 들리죠

Nae gaseumen dugeun dugeun samjang sori deullijyo

My chest throbs, do you hear that?

그대와 발을 맞추며 걷고,

Geudaewa bareul matchumyeo geotgo,

While adjusting steps, I walk together with you

너의 두 손을 잡고

Neo-e du soneul jabgo,

Hold your hands

니 어깨에 기대어 말하고 싶어

Ni eokkae-e gidae-eo malhago sipheo

Lean on your shoulder and want to tell you

"고마워 사랑해 행복만 줄게요" Kissing you oh my love

“Gomawo saranghae haengbokman julgeyo” Kissing you oh my love

“Thank you for loving me, I’ll be happy if only for this” Kissing you oh my love

내일은 따스한 햇살 속에

Naeireun ttaseuhan haesal soge,

Tomorrow, under warm sunlight

너는 내 옆에 누워

Neoneun nae yeophe nuwo,

You lay beside me

사랑의 노랠 불러주며 웃어줘

Sarange noreal bulleojumyeo useojwo

Smile, when I sing you a love song

달콤한 "사랑해" 기분 좋은 한마디

Dalkhomhan “saranghae” gibun joun hanmadi

Sweetheart “I love you”, feel happy to say

사랑해 사랑해

Sarangae, sarangae

I love you, I love you

너만을 사랑해 하늘만큼

Neomaneul sarangae haneul mankheum,

You’re the only one that I love as much as heaven

언제나 행복하게 환한 웃음 줄게

Eonjena haengbokhage hwanan useum julke

I’ll always make you feel happy and smile brightly

너만의 소중한 여자친굴 약속해

Neomane sojunghan yeoja chingul yaksokhae

Promise you, a dearest girlfriend

너는 내 옆에 있고,

Neoneun nae yeophe itgo,

There are you at my side

나의 두 눈에 있고,

Nae du nune itgo,

There are you at my sight

너의 품안엔 항상 내가 있을게

Neo-e phumanen hangsang, naega isseulke

At your embrace, I will always be

그대와 발을 맞추며 걷고,

Geudaewa bareul matchumyeo geotgo,

While adjusting step, I walk together with you

너의 두 손을 잡고

Neo-e du soneul jabgo,

Hold your hands

니 어깨에 기대어 말하고 싶어

Ni eokkae-e gidae-eo malhago sipheo

Lean on your shoulder and want to tell you

"고마워 사랑해 행복만 줄게요" Kissing you oh my love

“Gomawo saranghae haengbokman julgeyo” Kissing you oh my love

“Thank you for loving me, I’ll be happy if only for this” Kissing you oh my love

내일은 따스한 햇살 속에

Naeireun ttaseuhan haesal soge,

Tomorrow, under warm sunlight

너는 내 옆에 누워

Neoneun nae yeophe nuwo,

You lay at my side

사랑의 노랠 불러주며 웃어줘

Sarange noreal bulleojumyeo useojwo

Smile, when I sing you a love song

달콤한 "사랑해" 기분 좋은 한마디

Dalkhomhan “saranghae” gibun joun hanmadi

Sweetheart “I love you”, feel happy to say

달콤한 "사랑해"

Dalkhoman “sarangae”

Sweetheart “I love you”

기분 좋은 "사랑해" 한마디

Gibun joun  “sarangae” hanmadi

Feel happy to say “I love you”

Swear the only time I feel grateful not understanding Korean that well is when I translate a song from SME idols. Their songs are just.... *run out of words*

Thanks To:
SMTOWN for the video