Lights dimmed, signalling ELF (Everlasting Friends-Super Junior fandom name) to turn on their light sticks. A galaxy of blue stars twinkled all over the arena. I waved my first Super Junior cheering wand in unison with the rest to the bonus track of "Don't Don" album called "Song For You." The flat LED bulb that shaped of the Super Show 8's red and blue logo flashed a glowing blue light. Minutes later, a VCR was played on a gigantic screen to introduce nine worldwide-beloved, multitalented, dorky men. Shortly, booming sounds of a kick drum followed by rhythmic clapping echoed from speakers. The screen then split into half and was automatically pulled as doors, revealing Super Junior. They were dressed in white dress shirts, red belts, and black pants. As they sang one of their latest songs, "The Crown," the heat that was swirling indoors and stress as an adult and foreign worker in Japan evaporated from my body. We all stood up, waved our light sticks to the beat, and sang along.
It is my first Super Show ever. I'm impressed by everything this concert has offered. The members wore clean-cut suits and casual outfits. They danced from intense choreography to chilling on a square-shaped lifting stage, which was located in the middle of the concert space. They swoon us with their handsomeness and would switch to silly faces and playful pranks.
The stage was shaped in a geometric 8 figure. It is not just the eighth Super Show, but the number eight also looks like the infinity symbol. That's how the theme of the world tour "Infinite time" came to being because Super Junior wants to show us that our loving idol-fan relationship is infinite. It takes 10 solid years for every member of Super Junior to be a whole group (well kinda...two members are absent) after completing their compulsory military service. And so, our amazing, sweet, thoughtful senior artists decide to surprise us fans with nostalgic songs, creative song arrangement, and engaging communication.
*Photos taken by me and watermark added by me. (Michele Hii~Twitter account @MichHiiELF)
The stage was shaped in a geometric 8 figure. It is not just the eighth Super Show, but the number eight also looks like the infinity symbol. That's how the theme of the world tour "Infinite time" came to being because Super Junior wants to show us that our loving idol-fan relationship is infinite. It takes 10 solid years for every member of Super Junior to be a whole group (well kinda...two members are absent) after completing their compulsory military service. And so, our amazing, sweet, thoughtful senior artists decide to surprise us fans with nostalgic songs, creative song arrangement, and engaging communication.
Some of my favourite moments from the concert are:
- Kyuhyun, my ultimate bias, did the dance break instead of Eunhyuk in the 2011 global hit "Mr. Simple." I'm so happy that the members gave Kyuhyun the spotlight in that performance.
- More solo dance parts for the members, including Shindong, Donghae, Eunhyuk, Kyuhyun, Ryeowook, and Yesung. I love that everyone in the group has a role for themselves to show off their skills. That's what I call multitalented, all-rounded, Hallyu kings!
- What would it be like if there are new SJ sub-units back in the day?
- Siwon and Leeteuk
Accompanied by several backup dancers, this unexpectedly harmonious duo performed an entirely new song entitled "I Need My Hairspray." This English line is the start of the chorus. They used hairsprays as props, and the screens were lit up with colourful splatters of spray paint. The song itself sounded funky, and I really hope that they will release it as an official track in their next album.
- KRY dance trio
The holy trinity of Super Junior has improved their dancing skills tremendously after being in the dance group for so many years! SJ is, of course, not only a vocal group but also a dance group and a variety show group. They're a group that can do anything. And so when these three main vocalists had their solo dance, I was stunned that I nearly dropped my light stick. Yesung's sharp moves got my wig snatched. Kyuhyun's my bae, smooth dance, had me falling more in love with him.
Ryeowook, especially, slightly wrecked my bias list with his sexy, fluid moves. He's like the Korean version of Lady Gaga! Hot damn!
- D&E&S (Donghae, Eunhyuk, and Shindong)
I am pretty sure this song sounded familiar. It's not an official track, but it's performed in D&E's "The D&E" tour. And so since Shindong directed the seductive but hilarious VCR for this song back then, the dynamic duo decided to let him dance alongside them in Super Show 8. And boy, it was awesome! I hope that they will release this song as an official track as well, even though I don't know the freaking title. XD
- Little details that stood out, such as gestures, special effects, and visual animation.
- Almost cried when "Somebody New" was sung. The idols wore casual outfits, and they were smiling from ear to ear as they sat together on stage. I was delighted seeing them together.
- Creative twists in song arrangement: Siwon held one hand in front of him and curled it as if he's cranking the volume of the music. He "adjusted" the volume low and high that caused the sound operator to obey his command. That's dope! Another creative detail is the special effects/ visual animation displayed on the screens. Whoever created the filters did a fantastic job. The filters vary from blurry, smoky greyscale on shirtless Donghae to neon lyrics on Siwon and Leeteuk during their performance of "I Need A Hairspray." Super Show 8 is an upgrade indeed! They also did a hip hop rendition of Super Junior T's Rokugo! Like...WHAT???? GENIUS!!!! RapKyu led the first few lines, and he killed it! They sat on the stage's stairs, and Shindong did an outstretched "Ahhh!" in the middle of his verse. That was too funny to resist! I would like to see the full audio of this!
- Having a good time with Super Junior. I learned how to wave my light stick in different angles and rhythms just by observing the fans around me, such as moving it up and down, left and right, and to the middle. They all seemed to be very familiar with the wand-waving patterns. So I copied them until I'm familiar with the light stick "choreography" in seconds. Each SJ member also stood at corners of the large stage, and we followed them waving the light sticks to the songs "Bambina" and "Wow! Wow! Wow!". I probably have to start rehearsing the light stick moves to these two songs, because I want to attend to more Super Junior concerts in Japan soon. I even get to say the fan chants together with the others, which makes me feel involved in the audience.
My best moment in this magical night is doing the waves in the pearl sapphire ocean. At the near end of the 3-hours concert, the front rows went "Whoooo!" and glided their light sticks in a fluid motion. It then transmitted up to the higher rows. Instantly, I swayed mine together with the rest sitting at my row. My dream of making waves in this beautiful blue world has finally come true. We did it a couple more times until Eunhyuk's voice echoed through the hall, "I say, Wow Wow! You say, Wow!" We repeated saying "Wow" a few times, and the boys returned with an energetic performance of the song "Wow! Wow! Wow!". This song represents Super Show in Japan so well, and I couldn't be happier to sing along together with everyone. The concert ended with "Too Many Beautiful Girls." And I was sad that time flew by that the show had to come to an end.
Why I want to treasure this moment forever:
- Fans of different ages, from teens to middle-aged, gathered in Saitama Super Arena. And I've met four of my online friends in person. I've made new friends, and I feel accepted by the community. They even gave me little gifts, and I felt so welcomed and touched by their sweetness and kindness. We may come from different backgrounds and countries, but we share one thing in common, and that is we love Super Junior.
- The whole world should watch Super Junior LIVE!
- Being in the pearl sapphire blue ocean is in my bucket list, and it's finally fulfilled! It felt surreal and magical to eventually become a part of the pearl sapphire ocean. I'm surrounded and empowered by Super Junior's fandom colour, Pearl Sapphire Blue.
- The idol-fan relationship both Super Junior and Everlasting Friends share is indeed a special bond. And I hope our love for this phenomenal group will remain enchanted in bright blue stars and be spread to the future of Korean pop music.
We're Everlasting Friends! Urineun ELF! Super Junior, I love you so so so so so so much! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
