The success and popularity of JYJ has once again proven itself, as seen in the number of fans that gathered before the group’s recent Los Angeles concert. The concert took place on Friday, May 27, and lasted from 8PM to 10PM at the Nokia Theatre.
A pre-concert fan meetup was originally planned by DBSK fansite DBSKnights, but was cancelled due to lack of space to accommodate the estimated 300+ attendees. Another DBSK fansite, fuckyeahtohoshinki, saved the meetup by moving it to Nokia Plaza. There, fans began to gather at 2PM, enthusiastically introducing themselves to each other.
As the hours passed, fans took pictures, made new friends, got hyped up for the concert, and even did flashmobs! A number of fansites also gave away bracelets, light sticks and signs for Cassies to use during the concert. A red ocean slowly formed as more fans trickled in while decked out in DBSK merchandise. By 7PM, the meetup had swelled to over 250 people.
According to the official Facebook event for JYJ’s concert, “JYJ’s concert tour will create an unimaginable experience and compelling atmosphere that fans from all over the world and of all ages can enjoy. Their fans will finally get a chance to witness JYJ’s grandeur debut in the U.S and Canada.”
Such a claim held true as fans from Hawaii, China and even England flew in to see the singers perform. Audience members ranged from teens to aunties, as well as a number of avid fanboys. Junsu’s father, JYJ’s friends John Egg, and previous MC of the JYJ showcase Shane Yoon also showed up to show their support. John Egg stopped by the meetup to take a few pictures, exciting the surprised fans.
Four aunties from four different nationalities (America, Taiwan, Japan and Korea) drew a great amount of attention as they showed off their DBSK pride. Lily, Ayumi, Christin and Lindsey had met at the Las Vegas and Los Angeles JYJ showcases, and become friends since then. They wore matching black boas to show their connection to one another.
They had discovered JYJ through websites like Youtube and Wikipedia. One of the ladies often visited a Korean drama recap site, where she discovered Yoochun’s “Sungkyunkwan Scandal.” She saw that “Yoochun and his group” was often referenced, so she googled DBSK and discovered a “huge amount of information” on them. Through Wikipedia, she read about the Mirotic lyrics controversy, which led her to YouTube, where she watched the Mirotic music video. At that point, she was sold.
When asked who their favorite member was, many replied, “Jaejoong!” with a familiar dreamy look on their face. But one aunty admitted that she liked Changmin because he is “good-looking and funny.”
Despite their older age, the women’s enthusiasm matched many of the younger fans there. Christen even confessed that she had gone to all three JYJ showcases and two JYJ concerts.
The four ladies showed their burning dedication with their message to JYJ. “Always Keep the Faith! We will fight for you. Don’t give up.”
Are you impressed by the amount of support JYJ’s fans are showing?
So I was really determined to see JYJ at their hotel before the concert since I had missed my chance during the showcase in November. Plus it would be my last chance since idk when they’ll come back again. It’s so hard to find out where they are since fans don’t usually announce it to everyone, which is understandable though. LUCKILY on Wednesday someone told me on twitter that JYJ were spotted at the JW Marriott. Even though I wasn’t 100% positive it was the hotel, since I hadn’t heard it from an actual fan who saw, I decided to go anyways and really hoped it was true!
Alright, so I had arrived a little before 6am at the hotel alone. I know, really early XD But my only ride was for my dad to drop be off before work since he works in LA anyways. Of course it was pretty empty at that time, so I found a seat with a good view of the guest room elevators^^
And so the waiting began~ Btw, the hotel staff never said anything to me. I was surprised cuz I sat there pretty much the whole day LOL. Alright so 3-4 hours went by, I was so hungry cuz all I had for breakfast was a granola bar ToT But I DID NOT want to take my eyes off the elevator! I tweeted and texted ppl a bit, that passed just a little time haha. I wished there was free wifi cuz that would have occupied me more, but I had my music I had also prepared in my mind what I wanted to say in Japanese since I knew a little. Around this time I was starting to think maybe it wasn’t the hotel cuz I felt like I had been waiting forever already (9am was still pretty early though lol). I was still hoping really bad though!
BUT THEN!!!
At 10am, two people came from the elevators. First thing I noticed was the light brown hair! Then I realized it was JUNSU!!!OMG IT’S REALLY JUNSU!! MY HEART WAS BEATING SO FAST! I immediately threw my stuff in my bag and quickly went over to Junsu! I was like “Omg Junsu!” and he smiled happily and said “Hi!” I wish you guys could have seen that! He was SO CUTE! I saw his eyes through his glasses! I had EYE CONTACT. I was about to get out my “The Beginning” album I brought but realized I left it at the table! DDD: So I thought Okay, I should just ask for a hug right now! So I said “Junsu, can I get a hug?” But of course he didn’t understand me. He was ADORABLY CONFUSED and just smiled. They continued walking towards the small cafe-like place in the hotel and I went back to my table to pick up my album. Omg I was shaking of excitement! I saw Junsu and the guy waiting in line and I went over to wait right outside of it. THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS WAS THAT I WAS THE ONLY FAN THERE AT THIS TIME!
Junsu was just playing or something on his iPad. I waited until he wasn’t busy to ask for his autograph. I was kinda hiding too cuz I didn’t want him to see me cuz I’ll feel like a creep…maybe I am? LOL. So he finally sat down while the guy ordered their coffee and stuff and he was still on his iPad.
So I went up to him and asked “Junsu, can you sign please?” and handed over my album. He smiled and took it and started to sign it. He asked “What’s your name?” but I didn’t understand him at first, not cuz of his English but cuz I was busy trying to get my camera out to record it. So I was like “Oh! My name? It’s Larissa” and spelled it out for him. I managed to record him signing and handing it back over to me I said “Thank you! I hope you have fun!” (I planned to say this in Japanese but I totally BLANKED OUT LOL) Then I set my camera on the table and tried asking again for a hug again “Can I get a hug?” But he was still confused so I asked again “Can I get a hug?” and gestured with my hand this time and he finally understood and gave me a hug and said “Ok ok” It was just a one arm hug, since he was sitting but OMG I WAS SO HAPPY I GOT A HUG FROM JUNSU! I said “Thank you so much!” and walked back to my seat. The thought of asking for a picture with him DID cross my mind for a sec, but I felt like I asked for enough already and didn’t want to bother him. Go back to your iPad, Junsu haha ^o^ Omg & when I talked to him my voice became kinda girly XDD What had you done to me, Junsu??!! LOL!
Anyways, I could have sat closer so I could see him better but I didn’t wanna do that haha. I really don’t like to be creepy, but I wanted to record him so I just went back to my original seat farther away and recorded a little. My friend Ana called at that time so I was spazzing on the phone with her, “I’M LOOKING AT JUNSU RIGHT NOW!!” LMAO! You should have seen how shaky I was, my voice all shaky too XDD It felt kinda like when it’s freezing and you’re like burrr! Lol! So as I was talking on the phone, I saw Junsu & the guys walk back towards the elevators with their coffee and breakfast (?). I recorded him walking by^^ He actually went to the valet parking elevators so he had left D: (I found out later he went Disneyland! hahaha!) I didn’t see him anymore after that (
Here’s my personally signed album!
So after about an hour I calmed down a bit after texting & tweeting to my friends XD I was back to waiting at my spot. Let me try to quickly get to the Jaejoong part! I had also been waiting for a friend from twitter to come, but she didn’t end up going until the evening. My friend Julie came over around 12-1pm to wait too and I finally got a chance to quickly grab some food and Starbucks close by while she watched XD I WAS STARVING! TOT I think I slept for a few minutes too. A couple hours went by and Julie had to leave. I had been sleepy for couple hours already, but I had to stay alert! :O I was thinking If one of them comes out soon (Well, it’d have to be JJ since Chun was still in Korea), I’ll definitely wake up! ><
THEN AT 3:30PM!!
I saw two people come out from the elevators, but I had paid attention to the wrong guy at first! Hmm who’s that guy? Ah nevermind, it’s no one… But then I saw the guy walking beside him! They were walking towards the front entrance to leave. I was like Wait! That beanie! Those jeans! THAT STYLE!! Could it be…??!! So I got up to get a closer look, cuz I was still unsure. Then I saw his hair color and a bit of his face! (But he was wearing sunglasses). OMG!! JAEJOONG??! IT IS HIM!! But he left too quick and I realized it too slow so I didn’t have a chance to go up to him!! DDDX Plus there had been 2 fans sitting on the couches by the entrance earlier, but I guess they left. So I thought the girl sitting there now was one of them and was thinking Why isn’t she getting up and going up to him?? It’s Jaejoong! But I realized she was just a regular guest LOL. I couldn’t even record or take a pic cuz I was busy wondering if it was really Jaejoong Dx I just saw him leave in a white car (which I was told was probably Mrs. Egg’s car).
After that, I was REALLY alert and awake. I went to get a better seat of the entrance, since they were both out now, they’ll come back through the entrance. Sadly I didn’t see them again ( (Yoochun hadn’t arrived in LA, so there was no way to see him then. But I saw him in the car after the concert, except he left and there was a big crowd of fans)
I left the hotel at 6pm, wished I could have stayed longer, but I was happy with what I got!^^ I also met 2 other cassies who there I think a couple hours before I left.
Sorry if this was too long! D: Thanks if you read all this! It was the first time I ever got to see any of them outside of a concert really close! Ahh Junsu was so cute and good looking! (I did see how good looking JYJ were at the Showcase last year cuz I was at the floor, but this was different!) I loved the eye contact so much! Junsu smiling and looking right at you is just….gaaah! X3 He’s such an angel and he was soo sweet! I’ll always remember this day! <333
The third stop of JYJ (Jaejoong, Yoochun, Junsu)’s World Tour in the U.S and Canada was held at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Although the concert wasn’t scheduled to start til 8PM, fans started entering the venue at 7PM. While the lower seating sections were mostly sold out, the view of the balcony was disappointing as many seats were left unoccupied. Regardless, the highly anticipated concert saw thousands of dedicated fans who traveled hundreds of miles to see the trio in flesh-and-blood. There were even fans who came from as far as Canada, claiming they did not get enough of the three stars at the concert’s first stop in Vancouver. The concert started 15 minutes later than planned, but fans displayed no sign of impatience as they excitedly chattered with one another while waiting.
At 8:15 PM (PST), the once dark stadium transformed into a roaring red ocean at the trigger of the music for “Empty“, the hit track from their global album “The Beginning.” The trio successfully hyped up the audience right from the beginning with the upbeat song, and executed the choreography perfectly in see through boxes. Junsu’s mesmerizing pelvic thrusts during the chorus was probably the best part of the performance. The music then transitioned into their self-composed and written songs, “I.D.S(I Deal Scenario)” and “Nine“. Right into the second song, the members were already sweating bullets, giving 110% of their energy into the performances.
JYJ then took a short break to interact with the fans. Yoochun, being the most fluent in English, lead the conversation by he asking the audience, “How’s everyone feeling?!” which was met with even louder screams from the crowd, if that was even possible. The boys then continued feeding into the extreme energies of the audience as they performed to “Pierrot” and then following up with a slow-paced track composed by Rodney Jerkins, “Be My Girl“, which displayed the sexy side of JYJ. The audience was greeted with a video showing footages from the photoshoot for their album, “The Beginning”, before the trio came out in new outfits for “Be the One” and “Ayyy Girl“. Yoochun kicked off the first solo performance of the night with “I Love You“, and caused screams of jealousy from his fans when he got a little more than intimate with his all female dancers.
Next up was a short ear piercing drum performance that sent a rush of excitement through the crowd, followed by the boys’ appearance which set the stage on fire, literally, for “Mission“. Junsu then showcased his strong vocal abilities with his solo, “I Can Soar,” while Jaejoong rounded up the solo performances afterwards with, “I Still Love You.” Again, both performances were met with all female dancers, causing more jealousy among the fans.
The dancers then came on to the stage to perform a special dance for the audience, buying time for JYJ to change outfits for their next song, “Chajatta(Found You).” As it was for their previous showcase in Los Angeles, the song was definitely a crowd pleaser. For the next two ballad songs, “Fallen Leaves” and “Boy’s Letter,” the trio sung their hearts out to the crowd. Their breathtaking voices blaring from the speakers was so overwhelming that fans halted their cheering and just listened in awe while trying to stop their tears from falling.
Changing the mood of the show, the music transitioned into a fun and upbeat remix of “Be My Girl”. Before the show had started, videos of the tutorial for the dance was played to encourage fans to dance during the song. Although the fans were not able to completely grasp the whole dance, they all tried their best and gave JYJ a fun flashmob to watch. The boys then departed from the stage, creating a feeling of emptiness in the room. Fans desperately began chanting “JYJ” over and over again for the next 5 minutes before JYJ reappeared to a remix of “Empty” that blasted from the speakers, but still couldn’t overpower the loud and clear fanchants from the crowd.
Afterwards, the trio left once again, acting as if the show had ended. Feeling their happiness being depleted, the fans started chanting “JYJ” even louder than before. Hearing the fans’ prayers, JYJ came out for the last song of the night, “In Heaven“. The beautiful melody accompanied by the breathtaking voices of the three members was the perfect song to end an unforgettable night.
I have witnessed JYJ live once before during their showcase in Los Angeles, but this concert easily topped it as one of the best events of my life. Words cannot describe this concert justice, it’s just something you have to be present for to understand how unbelievably amazing it really is. Seeing fans of both genders, and all ages, and ethnicity come together for the concert has made me realize that music is truly a universal language. While exiting the stadium, I overheard a conversation between two middle-age American men who regarded the concert as “absolutely amazing.” and I couldn’t agree with them more.
I had also prepared in my mind what I wanted to say in Japanese since I knew a little. Around this time I was starting to think maybe it wasn’t the hotel cuz I felt like I had been waiting forever already (9am was still pretty early though lol). I was still hoping really bad though!
( (Yoochun hadn’t arrived in LA, so there was no way to see him then. But I saw him in the car after the concert, except he left and there was a big crowd of fans)
