Destiny: Music Bank heats up Paris

The European K-pop season of 2012 kick-started with a wonderful kaboom of fans’ screams that had the Palais Omnisports of Bercy trembling! The Music Bank in Paris was a greatly entertaining experience for all who participated, even though they weren’t as many as one would have expected. More than a few seats were left empty throughout the whole performance, but while lacking perhaps a bit in number the k-poppers present were a friendly crowd full of explosive passion.

The concert venue, that could hold about 15000 guests, started filling up at about 6p.m., when the first excited fangirls and fanboys stepped through its gates.

People with tickets for the pit had begun lining up since as early as 5a.m. the morning of the 8th, despite the piercing cold and thirteen hours of waiting ahead.

While the gates to the event were opened, the Music Bank press conference was being held in a large white room with a few seats, lots of cameras and writers and a tableful of idols. Each group participating in this special foreign edition of the KBS music program had one representative there to answer any questions, which turned out to be only questions in French or Korean. Kevin from U-Kiss, Hyorin from Sistar, JiHyun from 4minute, JongHyun from SHINee, JunHo from 2PM, SoYeon from T-ara, GiKwang from Beast and Tiffany from SNSD were present, as well as Mr. JinKuk Jun from KBS and Mr. Clotaire Buche from Caramba Spectacles, an organization that had a key role in the realization of Music Bank in Paris.

A few questions were asked and answered, about the absence of SHINee leader Onew due to a lightly sprained ankle and SNSD’s future plans, that include mainly promoting in the United States. When asked about the differences in preparing a live stage in their home-country and abroad, 2PM Junho answered pointing out the less thorough practices, due to the lack of time, the preparation of special stages and the challenge and honor that performing in Europe is for them, not only as entertainers, but as ambassadors for Korean culture as well. Kevin Woo also underlined the excitement of performing for foreign audiences and the excellent occasion that events like the Music Bank are for K-groups to meet their international fans. Both, of course, ended their observations by thanking their supporters for allowing them to finally come to Europe. The press conference ended with a brief photoshoot of the stars of the Music Bank, who then went on to prepare for the nearing show.

Almost all fans had taken their spots half an hour before the Music Bank was due to start, when music videos of all performing groups, except for Sistar, were aired on the stadium screens (the first of a few technical mishaps). Lights turned off at 8 p.m. and, after a brief introduction by the night’s MCs, amongst which was also birthday girl SooYoung from Girls Generation, all the idols welcomed European K-poppers to the show by singing a French song, “Aux Champs Elysees”.

U-Kiss was the first group up and they grandly started off the night of fun. The seven members were focused and in great shape, they quickly fired up the audience with Neverland’s powerful choreography and beatsy rythm. They also performed Man Man Ha Ni and had the fans screaming “hey” according to the song’s lyrics. Definitely one of the most enjoyable lives of the night, thanks to both the members’ skills and the great lightwork.

Sistar was up next, with a lively enstaging of “How dare you” and “Ma Boy”, “So Cool” had everyone singing along and I cannot but praise these four young women’s stage presence. While they might not have as many supporters as other girl idols, they definitely gained new ones during the concert with their bright smiles and positive attitude, both on stage and during the conference.

A special dance stage featuring Bora from Sistar, HyoYeon from SNSD, SoHyun from 4minute and Hyomin from T-ara followed and then it was 4minutes’s turn. “Heart to Heart” and “Mirror Mirror” were faultlessly executed, even though the show they put up could have been a little more energetic. Another special stage had Sistar’s HyoRin and U-Kiss’ SooHyun singing in English.

When SHINee was announced by the MCs, the whole stadium was screaming for them, “SHINee! SHINee! SHINee!” was all that one could hear, then the stage lights turned on and one of the most awaited performances of the night started. Asking around before the beginning of Music Bank, they turned out to be the ones that made most tickets sell. A huge amount of SHINee World were present at the event, looking forward to a passionate performance like the many the five young men have shown before. This time, however, they weren’t as shining as usual. The absence of their leader was heavily felt and while the members made no big mistakes, the stage in its whole was slightly lacking in… something. Perhaps sleep and rest on Minho’s, Key’s, Jonghyun’s and Taemin’s side? Still, everyone enjoyed their presence in Paris and was thankful for their hard work.

After a twenty minutes break, the Music Bank went on with a special stage performed by the winners of the K-pop dance cover contests and T-ara, who danced to “Roly Poly” together.

The highlight of the evening was 2PM’s energetic performance. The seven members’ strong stage presence and charisma set the crowd on fire, everyone was singing along during “10 out of 10″ and swaying their lightsticks to the rythm of the music. During “Hands Up” not a single person was left sitting in their seat, unmoved by the young men on stage who kept on asking for more noise (which, by the way, they definitely got).

SHINee wasn’t the only group missing a member, since T-ara had to perform without EunJung, who had injured her knee. She was, however, present at the Music Bank and made a quick appearence on stage, which was highly appreciated by fans. T-ara’s first song choice was “Why are you being like this?”, followed by their latest hit “Lovey Dovey”.

Another lovely special stage was then presented to European fans, a cover of Extreme’s “More than words” by SHINee’s Taemin, U-kiss’ Kevin, 2PM’s Junsu and Beast’s HyunSeung, who was soon back on stage with his whole group. Beast delighted the audience with a smooth enstaging of “Fiction” and then went on to sing “Beautiful”, while Girls Generation was last in the line-up.

No problems occurred during “Mr.Taxi”, but microphone trouble got in the way of an otherwise great live of “The Boys”. The girls sure were fired up on the night of the 8th!

The Music Bank was succesfully wrapped up with a goodbye stage by all performing artists to the sound of “Bounce with me”.