Guitarist and vocal of CNBLUE, the 4-member band from Korea, Lee Jong Hyun, held a tour of [1st Solo Concert in Japan ~Welcome to SPARKLING NIGHT~] on summer to commemorate the release of his first solo album. As an encore performance of the tour which mobilized about 18000 audiences on 5 performances in Osaka, Nagoya, as well Tokyo, it was held at Tokyo International Forum Hall A on Sunday, December 25th. There were 5000 audiences and it had so much fun, he shouted “I’m not lonely!” (!?) The Christmas special live report is here.
A lively red drape curtain fits perfectly for Christmas season and gorgeous eye-catching stage with a team consists of drums, basses, guitars, keyboards, saxophone, and a group of male and female chorus. Jonghyun as the MC greeted first “Merry Christmas!”, “Thanks for coming everyone, even though it’s Christmas Day. Actually, there weren’t any plans (for me) on Christmas but this live then decided, I thought that I won’t be lonely since there are you guys who waits (for the live). I’m rather happy. Let’s make the best Christmas today” he said. Even the MC is special because it’s a Christmas performance, the set list and overall production (of the live) were also upgraded.
The venue was cheering for excitement when the song begins to play, Jonghyun’s vocal wrapped it all up (the audiences’ cheers). As the heat rising slowly, Jonghyun’s live performance tastily soak up the excitement, the venue was filled with warmth as of Jonghyun’s song has such a healing power.
At the end of the main part, after enthusiastically singing the Korean version of a famous song “I LOVE YOU” by Yutaka Ozaki which had been sung by him since he was 15 years old during high school, a Christmas song medley of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” which added by a jazz arrangement that fits the performance itself was presented, along with “Jingle Bell” and “White Christmas”. A mirrored ball hanging on the stage’s ceiling reflected red and green Christmas color lights and turned the stage like a merry-go-round, when Jonghyun finished singing he said “It’s Christmas, right? Everyone will get angry if I don’t sing (Christmas song) properly” showing his gentle smile.
When it got more powerful during Christmas medley, Jonghyun catch a fun conversation afterwards with “not lonely” as a keyword and the venue heats up. “Today, we’re not lonely! There are people who can sing a song with, together.” By that thought, he said “I want you to sing with me in a huge voice”, trying to urge the audience as usual, “we’re not lonely!”, then made the venue gone loud, “I’m so sorry (for considering everyone as a lonely person). I was wrong” and Jonghyun laughing hard.
Next, during MC part again he said that “Starlit Night” is a favorite song in the final (such as encore), then started to have a Sparta guidance to sing the Chorus. While handing the microphone to fans who were sitting in the front row, “ah, too bad (LOL)”, “barely/just there (girigiri)”, “not yet”. When audience said “terrible”, he responded “Ahahaha, you are yelling at Christmas (LOL) but I guess it will be fine since every of you sing with a big voice”, anyway, audiences were stick with attitude (following the rules on the venue/concert) and it was impressive.
When Jonghyun came out for the encore, he said “the voice is getting smaller” and then the venue called Lee Jonghyun with a “huge voice”. Both Jonghyun and fans were maximizing the possibility of enjoying the live each other, it felt like the strength is surely stronger than the opening one, it was moving.
In response of the claps that didn’t stop even after the band members’ greeting, Jonghyun appeared alone on the stage for a double encore, holding an acoustic guitar. While playing guitar for the first time on that day, he prepared himself and then singing the last song “a.ri.ga.tou”, “this song will be meaningless unless if everyone sings together”. It was like a nostalgia after all.
Heard the “huge voice” of the fans, Jonghyun showed a different and vivid expression when playing guitar, as well with the best smile. On MC part, “It’s hard to do this live alone, but I’m happy because I can sing my songs together, it’s fun. I want to do it little by little every year”, saying his goals. As a guitarist and vocal of CNBLUE, also as a solo artist, what kind of activity will he show next year? It’s the first solo tour of singer Lee Jong Hyun which its charms shine glowingly.
LEE JONG HYUN 1st Solo Concert in Japan Encore Live
～Welcome to SPARKLING NIGHT～
2016.12.25(SUN) ＠Tokyo International Forum Hall A
<SETLIST>
M1 Moonlight Swing
M2 These days
M3 Lucid dream
M4 Call me
M5 Hate you
M6 I just need a..
M7 Blind Love
M8 Smile
M9 Be OK
M10 Pina Colada
M11 Foxy
M12 Show Me More
M13 I LOVE YOU
M14 X’mas MEDLEY
M15 SHINE DROP
M16 Starlit Night
EN.1 Blessed
EN.2 voice
WE.1 a.ri.ga.tou.
P.S.
Not exactly all text from the article translated, just parts that related to the live. Any correction are welcomed 🙂
Trans by alvianashin
Source : KStyle Japan
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