The quintet idol group B1A4 (Jinyoung, Baro, Sandeul, CNU, Gongchan) successfully opened their first exclusive concert "BABA B1A4" on 8th at Olympic SK Handball Stadium, Seoul, Bangi-dong. Debuting on April 23rd with their EP album "Let's Fly", it's been only a year and 8 months or 596 days (600th day on December 12th) since their debut and it is a remarkable accomplishment.
They lightly passed over 120,000 members in their domestic official fan community and in June this year, they made their official debut in Japan, also gaining popularity. B1A4 proved their potentials as the next generation Hallyu idol. Their first exclusive concert was a fluttering yet, an assignment that they had to finish.
▶Warning: your heart might explode, "Bang! Bang! Be careful of your heart"
The members who confessed "I'm shaking" in their waiting room before going on stage transformed 180 degrees as their show started and exploded with energy. Making the title of "2 year since their debut idol" colorless, they perfectly filled 180 minutes show and properly grabbed the position of the next generation "Performance Idol". It was a concert that clearly showed the reason why you had to visit their concert hall. Rather than greetings, accordingly arranged tracks from their last year album and newest album "Beautiful Target", "Bling Girl" and "In the Air" were performed instead for the concert of B1A4 and their fans. Baro snatched Sandeul's excited "I think my heart might explode because I'm so happy" comment and said, "We can't be the only ones exploding. Don't you guys want to explode too? Bang! Bang! Be careful of your hearts" like an experienced master(?), electrifying 5500 fans who packed the concert venue.
While sitting around the edge of the rotating circular floor in front of the T-shaped stage, the members sang "Chu Chu Chu", eye contacting with fans while their stage rotated 360 degrees. They also showed their serious side by performing "Because of you" and "IF....(If I only had you)" continuously. However, when the video of "1 plus 1 is cutie" played on screen, for the fans who kept calling each member's name saying "Show us!" the members showed their own "cutie" version, presenting the fans with perfect fan service.
Jinyoung said "You shouldn't be like this. We transformed into men from boys.", informing the start of their title track from their latest album "Tried to Walk". Lately, fans occasionally watched their performance of "Tried to Walk" on music shows but seeing their performance at their exclusive concert made the fans feel odd and fresh. The black and white close-ups of the members shown in the giant screen at the sides of the stage added different effects. Their performance of "Only Learned Bad Things" from their debut album followed by their ballad track "This Time is Over" lead the fans to perfectly sing along together.
▶The true stories of the members? Music drama, "If I debut..."
The members who were worrying about the content of their music drama, "We have to show a different side of us to the fans who visit our concert" shown in the video became a reality at their concert venue when the members appeared on stage with benches, streetlight, basketball post and more while standing under the pin-light. The music drama of their members as the lead characters had begun. Sandeul, CNU, Baro and Gongchan were trainees who always failed at auditions while Jinyoung played as an ex-trainee who is now a flower-boy popcorn seller.
Their acting and singing was like a completed scene of a musical. Sandeul who kept on failing the audition because of his looks made the fans more absorbed, increasing the sense of reality because it was Sandeul's first real confession after debuting as a member of B1A4 during an interview.
Throwing away the obvious pattern of solo stages that appear in every concert of group idols, they added freshness through a music drama. Sandeul who lacked confidence and worried because of his looks passionately sang Panic's "Left Handed" in high notes and CNU who was blinded by his excessive baseless confidence performed Wheesung's "With me" with female dancers, making their female fans to scream (?). Baro who broke up with his girlfriend sang "Just the two of us" (Feat. Miss A, Min), a self composed song from their album but he was criticized by Sandeul who said "You are being pathetic".
Even the service track was wildly provided. An unreleased track "I'm burning" was performed by CNU and Baro, captivating their fans with strongly addictive and repetitive chorus "I'm burning~ I'm burning" and Gongchan won the ladies' hearts by performing their unreleased track "Would you like to sing together?" with a choreography using a white umbrella. While standing on the empty stage without the 4 members, Jinyoung who played the popcorn seller said "At one time, I used to be like them too" and perfectly performed his solo track "Be My Girl" (Feat. Brown Eyed Girls, JeA) from their album, completing their well scripted music drama.
▶The meaning of "fans" to B1A4... "Girlfriend" who knows all the charms of the members
Throughout their concert, B1A4 members called their fans as their girlfriends. They notice all their charms, they repeated that their fans are the only and precious ones who they can trust and depend on and said "Today's concert was only possible because of you guys.", conveying their gratitude and also got their fans to promise them as their only love by telling them "You shouldn't flirt with others than us~".
The promise which they made during their past interview, "If we hold our exclusive concert, we will cross-dress and do Girl's Generation's dance" became a reality. Showing off their muscular legs under the skirts of the white Girl's Generation uniform, they reenacted "Genie (Tell me your wish)" but because of their strong principle of "We must keep our promise with our fans" they opened a proud stage.
With mixed performances of "What shall we do?, "So Fine", "Feeling", "Super Sonic" which were hard to see and the stages of their popular songs "Sleep well, good night", "Baby I'm sorry" the concert was reaching its final stage. Before performing their closing song "O.K", the members started tearing while they expressed their thoughts and at the end, they cried because they were unable to keep back the tears. Leader Jinyoung was choking with emotion and tearfully repeated, "I'm happy", "It feels like a dream" and continued, "Do you know how sorry I am because I can only tell you that we are thankful?" conveying his sincerity in words.
The concert hall presented a magnificent sight of yellow-green ocean in the darkness by the pastel apple-lime colored light sticks created for the fans. Even after their performance of the ending song "O.K", B1A4 reappeared on stage by the fans continued shout of "encore" and performed "Only You", "You are my Girl" and successfully completed their first concert since their debut.
Article Credits: enews via nate + glynx @ FLIGHTB1A4.COM
Translation: Mochi Muffins @ FLIGHTB1A4.COM