This is what I went to today at Osaka Jo Hall. My first ever paid concert. =P and it's none other than the super J/K-pop sensation who just turned 20 - BoA!!!

I got my ticket from auction at a price cheaper than original. (Went through quite a bit of trouble to save this little money cos funds tranfer in Japan is so complicated!) Anyway, my seat was not bad - row 40 in the Arena, and a centralised one. Could see BoA pretty well, albeit a little far.

Somehow, when the concert started and BoA appeared as a butterfly, flying down with wire, and later singing the song "Valenti", I felt very touched. For about 5 years, I've been liking BoA and watching her videos online, but it had never occurred to me that I would be able to see her live concert someday. After all, BoA very rarely goes to Singapore. So this time, I am really happy to be able to attend her live performance!


outside the concert hall
Here are some of my most memorable bits from the concert:
- Superb stage effects, lightings and videos. I especially like the part when BoA danced and interacted with a pre-recorded dance video of herself on the big screen.
- "Rock with You" really raised the tension with some hot dancing on a raised stage.
- "Dakishimeru" also brought the spirits high with a sudden explosion in between.
- During band introduction, I was very impressed with the pianist Yossy.
- During dancers introduction, I was totally mesmerized by Yuka's sexy moves.
- Encore performance was all an act. After some waiting following the apparent last song, we finally saw BoA appeared on the big screen, dressed in casual wear and seemingly walking out of the concert hall. But when the doors opened, she actually entered the hall again from the side door!
- After the very very last song, there was a long drumroll and a loud "Chiang!" which was supposed to end the concert with a bang. However, BoA didn't catch the beat on time and so she kept asking "本当にこれでいいの？" (Is this really ok?). I couldn't tell whether this part was also planned or really an accident, but a staff went on stage to talk to BoA and they actually re-did the drumroll part again!

About the crowd...
- As soon as the starting of the concert was announced, everybody stood up from their seats, even the people in the stand. Nobody sits down in a live concert, I realised. =P
- In one of the songs, shiny strips of paper were fired out as confetti, and one of them landed nicely into my right hand. I immediately dismissed it as rubbish and threw it away. But later, I found that other people were actually eagerly collecting these strips of paper for souvenirs!
- Overall, the crowd was pretty well-behaved and in fact, a little quiet I think. It wasn't those super high-tension crowd that dance or shout along with the music. I would really love to help raise the atmosphere a bit if not for the fact that I was alone.


concert tix & pamphlets received
Lastly, if you haven't heard BoA's songs, here are some of my recommendations!
- 七色の明日 ~Brand New Beat~ Super cherry song that never fails to make me swing along with it!
- Winter Love ~ so so so sad that I almost teared while hearing it live
- Sweet Impact ~ BoA's latest single which is due to released next week. another catchy dance song!

I wanna catch more concerts next time!