Sunday, April 7, 2013

JYJ Tokyo Dome Performance Sparks TVXQ Retrospection, 'The Return Of The King?'

Source:kpopstarz.com

JYJ puts on a spectacular performance at Tokyo Dome, invoking all the four seasons and retrospection into the past.

This past Wednesday, JYJ gave the gift of the four seasons to an audience of over 150,000.

On Thursday afternoon, JYJ put on an extraordinary opening for their 2013 concert, 'The Return of the JYJ' at Japan's Tokyo Dome.

The concert offered a stage to display simultaneously each individual member's charms and the band's overall appeal, as well as to witness the quintessential warm devotion between artist and fan.

At the concert, JYJ showcased 14 solo songs as well as 12 group songs, showing their audience both their individual and collective charm. Their first time returning to this venue in three years due to their long break from the music scene, performances were held over three days with each day bringing an audience of 50,000 and a total of up to 150,000 attendees. Surely, these numbers attest to the warm relationship between fan and artist.

When the members introduced themselves, they were met with warm cheers and waves of red from the audience. From the beginning until the end, the fans who were standing continuously chanted 'JYJ.' Surely the group members must have been more than happy to accept the cheers and warm love.

Beginning with 'Breath' and 'Lullaby,' songs from Kim Joon Soo's first solo album 'Tarantallegra,' JYJ kicked off the opening of the concert with a sexy dance choreography using canes to show off their moves.

Kim Jae Joong drove the crowd wild performing songs from his recently released first solo album, 'Y.' The stage was practically brimming with dancers for his performance of 'Only love,' and fans went wild for the performances of 'I,' 'One,' and 'All Alone.'

Telling his Japanese fans that the next song he would sing was originally by an artist he admires, Park Yoo Chun sang a cover of Kim Dong Ryul's, 'An Old Song.' He then performed 'Walking With Her In Spring,' a new single which he himself composed and unveiled for the first time at this concert. The song belongs to the Brit-Pop genre and was meant to show fans gratitude for their long wait. Everything about the lyrics and melody had an air of the vibrancy and renewing qualities of Spring and a feeling of welcoming it, although Park Yoo Chun's own unique warmth was sufficient for that.

The height of the performance was reached with Kim Jae Joong's 'I,' 'Mine,' and Kim Joon Soo's 'Tarantallegra.' The following songs, JYJ's 'In Heaven,' 'The Boy's Letter,' and 'Get out,' showcased the group's perfect harmony and devotion to their fans, all in all leaving one with the energy of a magnificent performance.

In addition, with 'You're' and 'Found You,' JYJ gave fans gifts of signed balls and through a car parade, fans were able to get a step closer to and meet with JYJ.

JYJ grabbed attention with their showcase of several selections sung in Japanese. It had been 4 years since they had performed for their Japanese fans. Park Yoo Chun for his performance of 'Friend,' appeared on center stage sitting at a grand piano, and nearly took fans' breaths away with his passionate singing of the sad tune.

Kim Jae Joong garnered cheers with a performance of a popular anime OST by Nakashima Mika, 'Glamorous Sky,' accompanied by a live band. The song particularly caught attention since its original composer, Hyde, is a figure of living rock history in Japan, and he came for the performance.

The last two performances garnered the most focus and attention, due to the fact that JYJ had selected two pieces with special meaning - Tokunaga Hideaki's 'Rainy Blue' and 'Autumn Leaves.' 'Rainy Blue' has particular importance because it is a song that JYJ sang as both JYJ at Tokyo Dome as well as when they used to perform as TVXQ. JYJ had previously told reporters at a press conference, "We decided we would sing 'Rainy Blue' at Tokyo Dome because the performance would be the first time in four years that the three of us would be together." They further explained, "We thought, 'Let's try returning to our mindset back then.' It's a matter of retrospection and looking back on the past, and the song also holds a lot of dear memories."

The selection of the last performance, 'Autumn Leaves,' also held special meaning, conveying a message similar to the lyrics of the song - 'Our new beginning after the flowers have fallen' - letting everyone know of JYJ's new beginning.

'The Return of the JYJ,' showcasing 26 songs for about 3 hours straight, with eye-catching performances, has certainly shown fans the dedication and hard work that goes into JYJ's fame and reputation.

The concert was also filled with a unique charm of the four seasons: from Park Yoo Chun and his expressions of warmness and Spring on a stage set up in his characteristic sophisticated manner, to Kim Joon Soo using his whole body dancing to radiate his hot summer enthusiasm from the top of the stage, to JYJ and the passing season of 'Autumn Leaves' and hopeful renewal, and even the cool winter charisma of Kim Jae Joong. From Spring to Winter, no one can deny that this differentiated performance is one that could only have been done by JYJ.

The opening and ending images of the performance were of a wind-up clock and clock hand. Although 4 years have passed by, time will continue to flow on - from the performance given today to the performances to be given tomorrow. Although the realities one confronts in the present may be difficult, like their ending song lyrics - 'Our new beginning after the flowers have fallen'- one must first go through ordeals before enjoying the warmth of Spring. The clocks watch JYJ's path to Spring.

With the attendance number for the JYJ concert exceeding the daily maximum capacity of 50,000 with an early sell-out queue, over the three days of the concert, there were about 150,000 attendees. Due to a flood of requests online from over 300,000 fans who weren't able to make the concert in person, the last performance was broadcast live at around 100 theatres throughout Japan.

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