Stars struck

posted onThursday, May 30, 2013 by Huimin

Finally settled down some stuff and have time to do this post. Last week was a really hectic but exciting and wonderful week.

At the end of last month, Amuse announced that flumpool, WEAVER and SID will be coming to Singapore for Music Matters Live! Mentally screaming in class when I saw the news. But I felt unsettle cause they kept saying that the Beer Market performance is invite-only and WEAVER will only be performing there. Some weeks past and they announced that the Beer Market is open to public, and that flumpool will be having a mini showcase for fans who buy the Singapore version of experience album. J-Live Asia even put up the arrival flight schedule on their Facebook page.



21 May, Tuesday (flumpool's arrival)
I rushed to airport straight after school and only reached at 5:15pm. Because Li Yin was already there, I manage to get the front row and have a nice view of their luggage belt. They finally came out around 5:45, but couldn't spot them at first until I saw Seiji; everyone else was wearing black! They waited at the luggage belt for quite long, and Kazuki went to the toilet before they came out so extension looking/waving time. 
While waiting for them to exit Li Yin, Eliza and I keep commenting about how Kazuki really slimmed down a lot and how Genki is still using his phone.
flumpool waiting at the luggage belt.

Ryuta was the first to exit. Tried asking for his signature but he rejected. But then he offered out his hand, instant remedy to the rejection, quickly grab his hand and said thank you. His smile was great despite him wearing a mask.
 The distance we were from them!

That's not me in the photo but Ryuta's smile is just~~
(Photo credit to Li Yin)
 
While setting down from our emotional high, I realized that all I remembered was "Ryuta, Ryuta and Ryuta" I didn't pay attention to Genki even though I was walking next to him. and I have no impression of Seiji.... WHAT WAS I DOING. Felt so guilty that I was only looking at Ryuta but I'm Ryuta bias and I only have one pair of eyes, so what can I do...

Li Yin, Eliza and I decided that we will repay Genki and Seiji during their performance.



22 May, Wednesday (WEAVER and SID's arrival)
Reached T2 around 4:30pm. Unlike the day before, barriers were put up (2bands coming, so 2 times the amount of fans)
Spot Sugi and Becchan!

At first, I was standing at the barriers area but saw them coming out and ran forward while Mango helped me secure my place. They were waiting at the luggage belt for quite long too and Becchan when to the toilet, so yay~ extension looking/waving time. Kept waving to them with this Indonesia fan girl. They noticed us and shyly waved back!!!! When they were walking towards the exit, I faster run back to my previous location
WEAVER stopped in front of the door before exiting, I think the guards were discussing with them about the exit route. 
(Photos taken by Venna)

Becchan was the first to exit. He accepted gifts from some fans standing at the front and start shaking hands with the fans. Got to shake his hand when he walk past me! 
After Becchan I was looking for the next member to shake hand with and saw Ohkkun so I reach my hand towards him but as I was reaching out, other person grabbed my hand and for that mere second I was thinking "Who? Why he suddenly grab my hand! Shotaaa" then I realize it was Sugi! He looked and me and smiled. When he was about to let go, I finally came back to sense and squeezed his hand! Next shook hand with Shota briefly then he walk past me le.

Turned to Venna and Mango and keep bouncing on the spot and repeating "I touched them! I shook their hands! I shook hands with them! Sugi grabbed my hand! Omg, they so shuai"
 Me shaking hand with Becchan!

 Sugi was wearing all black + black cap, no wonder my eyes just zoom past him

Sugi holding onto my hand~

Next was SID coming out but I rushed outside with the Indonesia fangirl to see WEAVER instead. It was such a great decision. But because they blocked the immediate door that led to outside, I told her to run to the other exit. AND WE SAW THEM, THEY SAW US. Even posed for our camera! For quite a long time, or so it felt, it was just us. So we were just 我看你,你看我+ all the smiling~ Hahaha, but I think they were a bit shock to see us out there.
 Sugi and Becchan posing for me!

 Becchan so cute can!

Then Venna and Mango came running out and Venna helped me take photo with them!! They posed for it!!! Ahhhh, and they looked so amused!
 My photo with WEAVER!
After taking the photo, Sugi will do a thumb up to us!

It was only awhile later that the other fangirls came out. And it was just like overwhelm of fanservice! Sugi was blocked from my view because he moved to the back seat...but Ohkkun and Becchan kept posing for us, especially Becchan! The bus didn't move for quite long. Just looking at them got me tearing slightly. Venna had to keep telling me not to cry.
 Ahhh, Ohkkun stealing my heart right here!!!

Finally, a photo of Sugi!

The staff took photo of us with them! And after that Ohkkun and Becchan took out their phone and took photo of us too! I tried to get Ohkkun's attention by imitating how he pose with his spectacles and he noticed! He even took photo of me and laughed!! Nearly die a happy fangirl on the spot.
Photos taken by the staff!



23 May, Thursday (Music Matters Live + Beer Market)
Soooo only slept at 1:30, cause I felt too excited to sleep. Woke up at 6:30 for school, so tempted to sleep in...but I had Business Accounting test.
School ended 1 hour earlier, so I figured that I could sleep for 1hour before going over. Don't think I could last long in my condition. Ended up sleeping 30mins longer =.=

Reached the fountain before 6pm and had my dinner there. It was so hard to sallow down my food cause my stomach felt so tight from the excitement. The whole event got delayed for 30min and we had to go through 4 bands before flumpool.

There was suppose to be 5 bands before but I guess they didn't want to delay it any later since they still have Beer Market performance after that. The interval in between each band was super long, lots of sound check.
I was quite back behind, lots of tall people standing in front.
It didn't help when their friends started cutting lines to join them later on...

With Mango!

Whenever flumpool and SID's PV played on the screen, everyone would get really excited. While waiting for flumpool's staff to do sound check, we were singing along with their Akashi PV playing on the screen.
The interval before flumpool's performance!

Set list@fountain stage:
1.Kakusei identity
2. Touch
3. Hana ni Nare
4. OAOA
5. Answer

Flumpool started with Kakusei identity. Went super high and started jumping up and down. Ryuta throw his guitar pick in my direction after Touch but it went too far back for me to catch...was so tempted to swim through the crowd to get it.

After Hana ni Nare, Ryuta did this cheering thing where he divides us into segments (right side, left sides, female, and males) and keep making us scream. "Right! Left! Ladies! Gentlemen! Singapore!"
Genki!
The best shot I could take from my distance.

At the end of Answer, Ryuta threw his guitar pick again! AND THIS TIME I FREAKING GOT IT. It flew behind me and I quickly turn did a 180 degree turn, squat and reach out my hand! This girl wanted to step onto my hand D:<
(if you watch the recording by MML, you can see my penlight instantly disappear and my head bouncing up and down after that)
 Ryuta's guitar pick which he kissed before throwing

Left straight for Beer Market after flumpool's performance (once again, sorry SID) and saw Siew Kim! So shocked to see her there, didn't know that she still like flumpool!
Sadly, Mango and Venna couldn't enter Beer Market cause they're underage.

The seats that we reserved were super awesome! Just next to the waiting area and in direct view of the stage! No heads or hands to block us. And it was literary just next to the path that they have to walk through to get to the waiting area. The only down thing was that we had to knee on the sofa throughout the whole performance.
 With Yi Wen, waiting for the soundcheck to be done.

 A rough outline of how the place looked like

THIS IS HOW CLOSE WE WERE TO THE WAITING AREA


WEAVER was the first to perform. While waiting for them to arrive, we were talking to this 2 guys who asked us some question on J-pop, why we aren't into K-pop etc... One of the guy told the other that flumpool was damn cool at the fountain performance and he should check them out. While chatting halfway, I saw WEAVER entering and just ended the conversation there.

Becchan held my hand while trying to walk through the narrow pathway~ High-fived with Ohkkun and  held Sugi's hand for quite long. (I gripped his hand again!)
WEAVER doing their sound-check


WEAVER@Beer Market set list:
1. Tokidoki Sekai
2. Lace (English version)
3. Special medley (66番目の汽車に乗って, 2次元銀河, Hard to say I love you)
4. Shall we dance


Their performance was so awesome! Lots of eyes-contact to our side! Also, WEAVER's English improved a lot, seriously a lot.
Sugi doing the "ok" sign to Ohkkun and us

Sugi started by greeting us, "Hello, Singapore! Sorry for the wait! We are WEAVER! Are you ready?! 1, 2, 3, 4!"
Ohkkun waving to our side!

Tokidoki Sekai was the opening song and it got our tension really high.
Ohkkun getting us more hype up at the beginning for Tokidoki Sekai!

Sugi: "Hello! Hello, Singapore! Very hot. This is our third performance here and we appreciate you for giving us such a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful opportunity. Thank you! We are Japanese Piano Trio Band, and we haven't sang any language expect for Japanese so...we decided to changed our lyrics of our old song, called "Lace", because we want you to understand what we sing. Check this out" 
^^^^yes, all these said in English by Sugi!!!! It was later reveal that Becchan was the one who translated the song! 

At the start of Lace, Sugi's piano solo, there was like these er...ear-precising sound thingy? The sound keep going off and when it went really bad Sugi stopped and went "Oh!!" Haha, when he wanted to continue, he pressed the wrong key and went "Wao!" Practice a bit of running notes before saying"thanks for waiting".
When Lace ended, Sugi fanned himself with his hands and said "It is too hot"
 When the sounds went really bad

"Wao!"

Ohkkun told us a bit about their history: "Are you enjoying?! Are you enjoying?! As you can see, we are the Piano Trio Band... and actually Yuji, vocal on piano, used to play the guitar. As the other members leave the unit, we have this formation. Yuji and I composed all song, and Toru, on drums, write all lyrics. He wrote lots of fantastic songs!" (ALL IN ENGLISH)

Becchan: "Thank you! Hello! I write lyrics about the song and play drum, and also all song lyrics in Japanese. But now, I am writing lots of English song. Because I like more people to listen to our music. It will be great for us if you like that. But, but today, first of all, I will like you to enjoy the sound of the Piano Trio band. Okay, right?"

Ohkkun: "Yes, you are right, yes, that's right... we will like you to experience our songs as much as possible, so we made a special medley for today's show. Please enjoy our whfiw....ah sorry. Please enjoy...(didn't manage to catch what he said)... I won't be singing it. Please next song, yes, but, ah listen to next song please."

So, they started they special medley which consist of the chorus from 66番目の汽車に乗って, 2次元銀河 and Hard to say I love you.
Couldn't contain my scream after Sugi sang "Hard to say I love you". Everyone sang along after that! The whole medley was just so beautiful~
Straight after it end, Ohkkun played a bass solo and then Becchan and Sugi joined it with snare drum and piano. This then lead to other er..medley sort-of-thing?
Sugi "playing" the piano with his back facing it

Sugi: "Thank you, I am so happy, thank you very much. (then he said something about language and culture, and how it bring us together). we make songs for everyone in the world. Please invite your country if you like our music today. Thanks for coming, thank you very much!"

Thought that they were going to end in just like that. NEXT SONG WAS SHALL WE DANCE. Super happy when I heard the first few notes of the song! The chorus is super fun to sing along with.

The exit order was Ohkkun, Sugi, Beccha, Ohkkun, omg, held for damn long and is held together with Li Hui's and Yi Wen's hand. After that, high five with him then Sugi and Becchan. More like high-five then grip. XD
Becchan ended it off energetically! 




Next was flumpool. The setlist was similar as fountain stage performance. Nevertheless, it was tons of fun. When they were making their way to the waiting area, we didn't really get to high-five with them. Probably due to the narrow pathway and the staff rushing them in?
 flumpool doing their soundcheck

  
 The led in from soundcheck to Kakusei Identity!


Flumpool@Beer Market set list:
1. Kakusei Identity
2. Because I Am
3. Hana ni Nare
4. Answer
5. Akashi


Genki getting us hype up!

Can easily guess what song they're singing base on Ryuta's pose!

Screenshot from video taken by Li Hui, I was one person away from her.

 RYUTA'S SALUTE TO US!!!

I swear Ryuta kept looking our way! Then Genki did this like biting action. Last song was Akashi which I sang along with them. Such a beautiful song, so happy that they sang it!
ALL THE LOOKING TO OUR SIDE!!!

Tried to show Ryuta his pick when they exit but he didn't see, so I missed out the chance to high five with him and Genki(who was before Ryuta). But at least I mange to do it with Seiji and Kazuki!
Ending off their performance.



Lastly, SID. But the whole thing was so delayed that their performance only started near 3am. THEY SANG USO!!! It was so awesome at the start cause you can hear everyone singing along. Mao had the crowd going wild when he strip and sing at the same time. Aki threw guitar pick like free one. Had an encore.
Mao stripping while singing.


SID@Beer Market set list:
1. Mascara
2. Monokuro no Kiss
3. Uso
4. V.I.P
[Encore]Binetsu

Just Mao letting the fangirls touch him as they like.

The whole thing only ended at 3:45am and our keens were dying. Did a survey for barks while waiting for taxi. Cab home with Li Yin and Elene. Reach home around 4, bath at 5, slept at don't know what time and wake up at 9:30.



24 May, Friday (flumpool "experience" showcase + J's arrival + flumpool, WEAVER, SID's departure) 
^yes, it was a very long and happening day.

Reached shanghai dolly around 1030am. Really grateful to Li Yin and Elene because they queued at 7; we were the first few in line. Bought subway to eat and just chitchat to pass the time. After all the false alarm and looking out for white van, at 12pm, flumpool arrived and entered through the back door.
Waiting outside of Shanghai Dolly.

At 2:30pm, we were given the lucky draw paper. Finally at 3:30pm, we were allowed to enter! Rushed straight to the stage and were on the second row but still super close to the stage. Stood at the (our) left side of the stage. Meaning we were in between Genki and Ryuta, with good view of Seiji. Our way of repaying back Genki and Seiji while still being Ryuta bias. (After everything, I realize I've lack of Kazuki)

Since the showcase was organized by YES93.3FM, we guessed that they will have a host to start it off.  And out guess were right. Ivy reminded us about the rules which include no photography and videography, and also no touching.
The distance we were away from the stage!

Tried taking a group photo there


Totally went crazy when flumpool came out. Ryuta started warming us up. Managed to highfive Genki when he walked nearer us(Er...the rule of no touching totally flew out from my head). And I managed touch Ryuta during one of the song.(you tell me how to resist when he is SO near us!)
Ryuta~~~!
(All photos relating to the showcase is from YES93.3FM facebook)


Set list:
1. Kakusei Identity
2. Touch
3. Because I Am
4. Answer
5. Akashi
Encore: OAOA

It was just a mini showcase, and pretty much the song they sang at both fountain and Beer Marker. Thought that they'll sing additional songs from experience album :(
Nevertheless, compared to the previous 2 performance, this showcase was the best. The sound quality, the distance, the atmosphere, everything! Especially the atmosphere cause everyone around you is there for flumpool!


Before Answer(I think), Ryuta did the cheering thing that he did during the fountain performance. But this time, there was only like 3 males, and they were standing at the first row. Ryuta was like "So few!", then high-fived them.

Everyone sang along for Akashi from the start and Ryuta stood away from the mic to let us continue for almost the whole song. But he did help in-between the song.

Chanted for encore and we got it! When they came back I got to high five with Seiji! Ryuta started the MC by saying "You guys are hot!", and proceed to take off his blazer. During the MC, Kazuki was finally standing on our side! Ryuta had some difficulties understanding the question and tried really hard to answer in English. Until he gave up and asked whether he can asnwer in Japanese.

Ryuta"Er...I, er...can I answer in Japanese?"
Us:"はい!!"
Ryuta:"あの。。。"
^this got everyone laughing

But there was this point where he really wanted to say his answer in English and bend down to the Japanese girl in front of my row, asking her how to say it.
Ryuta said something about how wonderful it is that we can connect through music and that they will come back again(I was tearing already) and want us to go over Japan for their concert. He then asked us if we will go over and we were all "YEAHHH!!"
Quite sad that Kazuki is not in this photo :(

After OAOA, there was another MC. Ivy asked Ryuta for his favorite moment and he said it was during Akashi where everyone sang along.
Kazuki finally spoke and he started with flying kisses followed by "I LOVE SINGAPORE! ...英語はこれしか言えない" and proceed to speak in Japanese.
Kazuki said that he lost 3kg after coming to Singapore and is 5kg from his ideal weight. He then suck in his face and said that is how he will look like the next time we see him.

Lastly, the lucky draw began. Ryuta was the first to pick and he said "I can't read" and then they gathered together to figure out how to read the name. Didn't get chosen but it was cute watching them try to read off the small paper. The last lucky draw was also done by Ryuta and he picked up a handful of papers saying he want everyone to have it. ;___; 
Found this photo on Instagram.
Someone secretly took a photo during the showcase :x


After drinking our free drink, we went out to the back door to wait for them. Promised the guards that we will behave ourselves and not move forward so that they won't form a human chain. But when more fangirls gathered, they lost their trust in us...
Genki(see, using his phone again!), Ryuta and Kazuki.

Genki and Genki-lookalike-staff
Keep getting cheated by him!

The video that I took captured quite a nice shot of Genki!




 
Rushed to airport to meet AWAVE and wait for J's arrival.
With Li Hui, waiting for train to the airport.

While waiting for J at the arrival gate, I got the most devastating news from Li Yin. Flumpool took the earlier flight and went inside the departure hall already. And lots of fans got their signature. Felt super depress after hearing about it... I WAS JUST ONE LEVEL APART!!!!

Sigh.... tried to put the sad news aside and continue to wait for J. Felt so much better and so happy when we finally saw her!!!!
Anyway, when we were waiting, this Japanese lady asked us who we were waiting for with this look of happiness in her eyes XD Okay la, can't blame her. 13girls at the arrival gate, wearing shirt with Arashi prince logo, あげぽよ☆WAVE and AMNOS-coloured rainbow printed on it + carrying Beautiful World tote bag.
Went T3 to have dinner(more like gobbled down the food in 10mins) and rushed back to T2 to wait for WEAVER.
 JJAMIEEEEEE

 Jamie's photo of us.
Totally looks like we're waiting for idol.

Finally a group photo with all 13 of AWAVE!


 

The bus that they took when they arrive, came first but it was just the staff. Next bus that came was SID's staff.

Lucky another fangirl told me that WEAVER already reach and is in the black van ahead.
Turns out really to be them. Walked side by side with them when they exit all the way to the check in area. When they were checking in, Sugi posed for our camera and kindly stayed in that pose because we asked him to wait for a while.

Here is some photo of Mao because he is looking into my camera!

While Ohkkun was being drag by their staff to check in. I finally called out for him and showed him his spectacles pose.
Me "おっくん、おっくん"
Him*turn and look at me*
Me"これ"*did spec pose*
He laughed and did back the pose!! He then proceed to take out his phone to take photo of us!
Screenshot from video taken by Li Hui
OHKKUN POINTING TO ME BEFORE TAKING THE PHOTO
SUGI LOOKING AT MY SIDE TOO!!! AHHHHHH

When they finished checking in, they walked towards us and started giving handshake and autograph. Decided to target Ohkkun because most of the fans were crowding around Sugi and Becchan.

Gathered the courage to ask Ohkkun for a photo when he was signing his autograph for me(which then the other fangirls saw and start asking too). He said something like "ah, sign and take photo? But it is hard to sign without a table" But still pose for the camera! So 優しい~

 

Went  to Sugi and asked for a photograph
Me"杉くん" (I said it quite softly.)
Him*turn and look at me*
Me"写っっ真撮っって.." (Haven't finish my sentence)
Him"okay!"
But he turned back to attend to the fangirls in front of him and I was quite worried but after he was done with them. He walked over to me!!!!!!!! Tried asking for Becchan too but didn't have enough time. D;


Walked with them to the departure gate. Kept looking at Sugi and Ohkkun. Sugi looked and smiled at me. Was waking just right beside Becchan. I look at him and he reach out his hand and I grabbed which he looked a bit taken back. Then I realized that he wanted to pat my head!WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH MY MIND
My distance away from Ohkkun and Sugi!
Becchan was just beside me!

After they entered, I started hyperventilating and radiating a lot of heat.
 The final wave ;___;
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