First off, Tayku has PnuemoniaT_T. I had been trying to contact her the past few days and fially went to her house today. She’s sick in bed and has no strength to get up and post on here. I guess that only leaves me.
On to the real news… Seo Taiji(My god of everything that is sexy) had a concert. I really wish I had been there. It sounded like a lot of fun. I’m a really big fan of his. I’ve heard everything he has ever put out. Oh, by the way, he has a new mv out. T’ik T’ak. He’s just too… Forget that thought.
About his recent concert…
As if to persuade the audience that his moniker, “The President of Culture,” isn’t an overstatement, Seo Tai-ji lit up Seoul World Cup Stadium on an unseasonably chilly night Saturday.
Fusing two seemingly antithetical genres, the 36-year-old rock star and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra created an epic sound that shook the stadium.
The grandiosity of the 65-piece orchestra, led by England’s Tolga Kashif, paired with Seo’s music was not only seamless, but the infusion was so perfect that there will likely be fans who cannot fathom listening to his music in its original form again.
The performance was a blending of violins, violas, cellos, oboes, trumpets, kettle drums, chimes and even a harp, all of which was accentuated by the thrashing sounds of metal from Seo’s camp.
A comparison to Metallica’s concert with the San Francisco Symphony in 1999 is inevitable, but the difference here is that Metallica’s devastating metal sound chewed and consumed the orchestra they performed with through a bombardment of ripping guitar riffs and Lars Ulrich’s obnoxious drumming.
Seo and Kashif, on the other hand, seem to have focused more on how they could blend the best characteristics of classical arrangements which would complement Seo’s eclectic hard rock. It proved a success on all fronts.
The show kicked off with a laboriously long intro featuring a repetitious laser show on the Jumbo-Tron that was more like a Windows Media screensaver.
Just when it got to the point of slight annoyance, the giant screen slowly split down the center to reveal the man of the hour.
The stadium roared with chants and cheers as the “president” arrived.
By the end of “Take 2,” the fans were warmed up and ready to have their engine revved.
It was Seo’s third song, “FM Business,” that triggered seismic activity in the stadium. From there, it was everything goes and the 30,000 fans never let up.
Seo easily fluctuated between a delicate voice that created an initial calm and a rage-fueled vocal that entranced the audience, such as his 1993 hit, “Swamp of Death.”
Just before performing his newest single, “Moai,” he asked, “Tonight, I would like to bring you with me on a journey. Would you like me to take you there?”
Because of his reclusive reputation, this figurative invitation made the crowd go wild.
What followed was a more serene orchestral version of his newest anthemic single that was perhaps a bit too downbeat, given that it’s supposed to be an uplifting song.
Regardless, the blending of the Philharmonic Orchestra created an almost otherworldly atmosphere accompanied by abstract animation on the Jumbo-Tron that was most likely Seo’s intention. It worked.
Near the halfway point, Seo decided to do a bit of market research – with irony, of course. He asked the audience their age range. As it turned out, most were career men and women, along with quite a few college students. There were even high school and middle school students, which was a testament to the appeal his music has had for more than 15 years. He reinvents himself with each record.
Standing out from the rest of the set was the performance of “T’ik T’ak Fantasia” and “Classroom Philosophy,” which incorporated the 60-member Paju City Choir that enhanced the grandiose theme of the concert.
“Classroom Philosophy” was preceded by a short scathing commentary by Seo on the conditions of the Korean education system.
“I feel really bad for our youngsters to have to go through such a horrific educational system here in Korea. Nothing’s changed since the release of this song and it saddens me,” Seo said before bulldozing through the tune with chaotic fervor.
Signaling the coming end of the show, Seo obligingly introduced his band before tipping his hat to the conductor Kashif.
“I am truly grateful to The Royal Philharmonic and The Paju City Choir for enduring months of rehearsals in preparation for this concert,” Seo said.
“And, last but not least, please give the man who lost many hours of sleep to make all of this happen applause – Tolga Kashif everybody.”
With Seo’s career-defining first hit, “I Know,” The Great 2008 Seo Tai-ji Symphony came to an end, leaving the fans wanting more. That’s the best time to exit the stage for a man who has been one of most influential figures in contemporary Korean music.
By Song Woong-ki2008.09.29
I really wanted to go! Taiji! I have yet to see him in concert… I’m always out of the countryT_T
Hope everyone can like his music^^ If you happened to have been there… please leave a message. I wonder if Dongmin and Jungin went. Have a good day^^
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