2012 Asia Tour Cri Show II in Seoul (July 7, 2012)

Disclaimer: this is in no way an accurate details of the show.  I wrote it as I remembered it, according to my impression… and since it’s been some time, some details might not be exactly right. Pardon please =P  All the pics are from media as we’re forbidden to take pics in the show ^^

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This is without a doubt one of my favorite shows in my eel’s history.  And without a doubt the best cri show to date in my experience ^^ (just a little bit under the World Cup Lounge H in my ranking of his shows that I attended… ^O^)

I was very lucky this time. My friend helped me to get the ground floor ticket in Y zone against all odds, for which I’m very very thankful, considering how hard it was to get tickets for this show.  But it was beyond my wildest imagination that she actually exchanged her ticket with mine and gave me the X2 zone, 2nd row instead… O.O

Looking at the venue setup, it’s also obvious how much thought Sukkie put in planning the stage formation.  He made sure that no matter where you’re seated, you would be able to see him closely at least once during the show ^^

I tried not to give too much of the play by play of the show since it’s the first one and many haven’t seen it yet. But still, beware of the coming spoiler… ^^;;

When I found my seat, the screens were already playing Planet Dream vids, along with Gotta Getcha MV and Crazy Crazy Crazy MV in sequence.  The show started about 7:10 I think… didn’t check the time when the light started to dim and the audience screamed to the instrumental song of Abracadabra. The dancers then all came out and prepared us for the show to come.

When the song came to an end, in the middle, there’s a figure wearing purple coat with top hat with feathers and feather staff and then the intro of 200 miles started.  It was really awesome!  When I saw the poster for Cri Show before, it looked really weird.  It gave off vampire or pirate vibe with the long unkempt hair.  But seeing the getup in person was a whole other thing.  He looked wonderful.  Instead of wiry messy hair, his hair looked so smooth.  Even the hat and the staff didn’t look out of place.  And although it kinda distracted him from his singing, it’s funny how Sukkie kept holding the hat to keep it in place kkkk =P After the song ended, he said “welcome to the magic world” but he kinda choked in the last sentence… LOL… and afterward he just took off the hat n be done with it kkkkk

It wouldn’t be fair to call this show a concert or a musical or a fan meeting. Because for me it’s even more than all combined. It’s a showcase of the Jang Keun Suk: a singer, an entertainer, an actor, master planner, also the master of his fans.  His wit and brilliance were all shown without holding anything back. Yes, it was that great of a show ^o^

When he said he’s working for the video for the Cri Show on the flight to Beijing, I was wondering what kind of video he planned that he had to prepare it more than a month before the show.  And watching the result, that hard work and preparation really paid off!!  The story board on the background screen was super fantastic!  It sewed everything together: the performance, the songs, the theme.  We were shown how he invited us to his magical world playground.  After the first 3 songs, he went backstage and we were shown a guy in white following a butterfly in the woods.  And that guy really appeared on the stage.  A prince-ly guy with soft wavy hair and dreamy eyes.  He sang Stay. Then while sitting on the bench, he sang Rain.  Walking to the middle stage surrounded by all the excited screams, he was really an eel prince ^^ He sat on the bench again on the middle stage and kept on singing, while a sheet of water pouring down… it really transported me to his tranquil world.  Really awesome!

But the most awesome of all and the one impressed me the most came after this.  While Sukkie once again disappeared from the stage, on the screen, the white Prince finally came face to face with his dark side in a mirror… Try as I might, I can’t find a word to describe what I saw.  Sukkie as an actor caught my attention in the first place and this time it’s no difference.  The look in his eyes, both as the prince and again as his dark side totally transfixed me.  I worried for the Prince as he fought, while the smirk n the look of his evil side gave me goosebumps.  The dark side finally won and banished the Prince.  Then the song Crazy Crazy Crazy started and Sukkie was lifted back to the stage in a black outfit, befitted the dark side of him.  Gone was the prince-ly feel and we were brought to this darker world.

But the dark world didn’t last long.  This dark side was sent back to where it came from, and the Prince finally came back.  He walked into a magical playground and saw a little kid (I assumed his childhood self) playing alone in front of it.  He embraced the little guy with a wistful smile on his face and seemed to be in peace with himself.  Sukkie came back to the main stage (I think singing Hello Hello?).  Then he sat on the bench and talked a little bit about his plan and dream.  He said he would have a European tour and American tour, and he would also go to Oceania (Hawaii).  Most of what he said was too fast n heavy for my dismal Korean ability ^^;;  Then a staff came to the stage and gave him a guitar.  He said something about “Love Rain (sarangbi)” and almost made me squeal because I thought he’s gonna sing the song.  Instead, he sang my favorite song, the song that he wrote himself: In My Dream ^O^ I was beside myself as I saw him so close in front of me.  As he sang the song, I could see clearly every nuance on his face and how much emotion he put in the song ♥o♥

The next time he came on stage, he was wearing this getup.  Ummm, usually I wouldn’t mention this… really… =P but I found the pants so very distracting, at the very least… it was soooo tight like a second skin!! O.O and when he moved his hips according to the song, omo… I couldn’t concentrate… much? LOL =P  And then he had to sway his body with I Will Promise You and have a little dance with Oh My Darling in this getup ^^;;;

Oh, one funny thing was when they released the confetti while he was singing… some pieces of paper went into his mouth! LOLLLL his face was so funny when he had to spit them out and sputtered kkkkk but hey, also gave us a chance to see that he didn’t lipsync ^^

Remember when I said he made sure that everybody could see him clearly?  This was one of those instances.  He was lifted up so the 3rd floor audience could see him more clearly.  From my view, I could only see his backside.  But it also afforded me to see how the beam shook when it lifted up.  And I know he’s scared of falling, so I knew how much this took its toll on him.  As the beam shook, he grabbed the railings tight but he kept on singing and once again earned my respect ~♥

The encore this time was Gotta Getcha… and it really hammered at me how complete duo Lounge H actually is.  One less person made it somehow lacking energy… good thing BB made a surprise appearance for the 2nd encore: Shake It.  Then the show was over… I saw Gunsama and MJ clapping on stage far right as Sukkie ran to that side and patted him on his back.  Then the light was on and we were shown clips of his preparation of this show… cute hardworking Keun Suk ^^

Oh, forgot to mention one thing… I got the towel that he threw! LOL… I had to leap for it and defended it when someone tried to snatch it from my hand.  But I got it!  My lovely fragrant souvenir kkkkkk ^O^

Really pains me that I wouldn’t be able to go to Yokohama and Shanghai… hope I can watch at least one more cri show this year ^^