2008 Asian Song Festival
This night marked the 2008 Asian Song Festival, held at the World Cup Stadium in Seoul. After the Koreanovela tour that CJ and I went to in the morning, this is where we ended the day. I found out about the said concert from a Filipino newsletter distributed weekly in Hyehwa Catholic Church, where I hear the Sunday mass. It is a free concert that I just had to register myself into at the Philippine embassy a week before the actual event.
The sole Philippine representative is RIVERMAYA, and though I personally am not much of a fan of the band, I sure wanted to see them for the pride of being Filipino. As per information, the band was invited by the festival organizers, and was not really officially delegated by the country. Anyway, we got to the place at around four in the afternoon, two hours before the starting time. There sure were a few Filipino acquaintances met while working on getting our tickets, and it did feel like home seeing and talking to some of them. Other representative countries include Japan, Vietnam, China, Hongkong, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand.
The open stadium was sure housed by the current, biggest pop-freaks of the world— the Korean boyband fans. Most of the audience who stayed in the stadium ring were high school girls in their colored pom-poms and hand lights. There were also high school couples who must’ve taken advantage of the event as a great date, but most of them were in big, friendly fan groups. Now must I say that the boyband hype is so emphasized here in Korea that Rivermaya, as the only alternative band who sang two very well-spoken English songs (“You’ll Be Safe in Here”and “Nice To”), can actually lull most of these Korean fanatics hypnotized by the cute, dancing moves of boy groups like Shinee and SS501. I knew about these Korean groups only at the event as well. I sure can be a good audience who listens, despite being uninterested. And well, these groups' members are your typical cute guys, whom I myself might have a crush on had I been in high school myself.
With all due fairness to Rivermaya, they really sounded good, and I’d like to think they were well-received by the general audience, mostly Koreans at that. While hearing them sing, I wanted to tell everyone how great we were, being the only universally-understood musicians in the event. Prior to their performance, I sure had a hard time rocking only with the tunes of the other Asian songs, without understanding the lyrics. Geez, and the melodies are even too childish pop for me.
Here's my shot on RiverMaya's performance. I'm so sorry, the video was shot in the middle of the entire performance. It's cut off at the start and even at the end. Just notice the audience reception, I really think they did pretty well.
The sole Philippine representative is RIVERMAYA, and though I personally am not much of a fan of the band, I sure wanted to see them for the pride of being Filipino. As per information, the band was invited by the festival organizers, and was not really officially delegated by the country. Anyway, we got to the place at around four in the afternoon, two hours before the starting time. There sure were a few Filipino acquaintances met while working on getting our tickets, and it did feel like home seeing and talking to some of them. Other representative countries include Japan, Vietnam, China, Hongkong, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand.
The open stadium was sure housed by the current, biggest pop-freaks of the world— the Korean boyband fans. Most of the audience who stayed in the stadium ring were high school girls in their colored pom-poms and hand lights. There were also high school couples who must’ve taken advantage of the event as a great date, but most of them were in big, friendly fan groups. Now must I say that the boyband hype is so emphasized here in Korea that Rivermaya, as the only alternative band who sang two very well-spoken English songs (“You’ll Be Safe in Here”and “Nice To”), can actually lull most of these Korean fanatics hypnotized by the cute, dancing moves of boy groups like Shinee and SS501. I knew about these Korean groups only at the event as well. I sure can be a good audience who listens, despite being uninterested. And well, these groups' members are your typical cute guys, whom I myself might have a crush on had I been in high school myself.With all due fairness to Rivermaya, they really sounded good, and I’d like to think they were well-received by the general audience, mostly Koreans at that. While hearing them sing, I wanted to tell everyone how great we were, being the only universally-understood musicians in the event. Prior to their performance, I sure had a hard time rocking only with the tunes of the other Asian songs, without understanding the lyrics. Geez, and the melodies are even too childish pop for me.
Here's my shot on RiverMaya's performance. I'm so sorry, the video was shot in the middle of the entire performance. It's cut off at the start and even at the end. Just notice the audience reception, I really think they did pretty well.
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