BIGBANG LIVE

Hello!

Today I must create a post that I’ve been very excited to write about for about the past two years of my life. This, of course, refers to the BIGBANG Alive Galaxy Tour that was indicated to stop in London - leaving all European fans astonished, excited and determined when dates were released for Wembley Arena back in October. 

After Saturday 15th December sold out in a couple of minutes, many distraught fans, including myself, were delighted to see another tour date added for Friday 14th.

We flew over to London early that Friday morning and casually wandered around Oxford Street and Covent Gardens - London looked so pretty and festive. Everywhere was packed as shoppers attempted to conquer Christmas shopping. Our hotel was situated directly beside Wembley Stadium so it was fun to point out who was going to the concert.

After queuing for a very long time, we finally got in and found our seats - music videos played on the big screens which fired-up the audience as we waited. We also bought light-sticks, as Emma and I had learnt from our mistakes at EXO! You need a light-stick at a K-Pop concert.

At 7pm, the curtain fell, revealing the members in their Alive pods. For the duration of Tonight I think I was in a state of shock, following that, I screamed for the entire 3 hours.

Setlist

From someone who knows all their songs, the setlist played was perfect - with a selection of classics How Gee and Number 1, from previous hits Stupid Liar and Haru Haru to their latest work including Blue, Bad Boy and, of course, Fantastic Baby. These tracks sounded different than the original songs but were PERFECTLY remixed for live performance.

The members had their solo stage too. Notably, G-Dragon performed his latest work from One Of A Kind album and Seungri appeared with a very impressive Victorian British accent and a gun.
In between the set, Taeyang, Seungri and Daesung kept the crowd entertained - rapping, beatboxing, teaching us Fantastic Baby choreography and winding each other up. My heart nearly broke as they left the stage, but returned for an encore and performed 4 more songs, including Heaven, which is one of my all-time favourites!

Special mention to the acoustic version of Haru Haru - where T.O.P ACTUALLY SANG. Tonight and Hands Up were definitely my favourite performances of the night, although every song performed was spectacular.

Stage

The set looked incredible - not just a stage at the very front, but one which extended right into the middle of the arena with the audience surrounding around the edge. We had seated tickets, but we could see everything perfectly. A band played above the stage on an individual platform. The boys made the most of this stage, moving up and around so all the fans in the arena had a chance to see them up close. During the encore the some of the members walked down towards the audience, shook their hands and took gifts. TOP took a giant lollipop and reindeer antlers and brought them on-stage!

The Members

They looked amazing - with a wide selection of costume changes between stages. Daesung’s hair was grey but wow it looked so good - he’s such a cutie on stage. Seungri was a character and made the most of every opportunity to practice as much English as possible but it was hilarious. G-Dragon was G-Dragon really, wearing a different outfit every time I managed to look at him. Taeyang ripped through a couple of vests, as expected, fans went crazy at all the nakeyness - not me though, as my eyes were fixated on TOP! Who looked absolutely gorgeous without revealing any flesh at all. Even Kerri acknowledged his beauty, and that’s saying something. The majority of photos that were taken were close-ups of him - I regret nothing!

My Thoughts

Where do I begin? I’ve never seen my ultimate favourite band before, so for about 90% of the show I was a hysterical mess. I knew it was going to be great, but I didn’t realise it would be so SO outstanding. It was worth every minute, every penny, even losing my voice for the following day. It was faultless - and I’m not being biased here because they are my favourites. Despite traveling for 14 hours from Korea, they put on a phenomenal performance and I adore them for such dedication. 

Many thanks to Emma and Kerri for making this trip a trip to remember and a perfect way to start the Christmas holidays!

Stay Fantastic Baby,

Claudia xo

LADYBOYS!

"Think Fantasy, think feathers, think fantastic!"

Right, you may think I’ve gone mad firstly to the fact that I’m blogging at 1.30am (which may mean the English grammar is atrocious, sorry) and secondly, to the wacky title I’ve given this post!

Well today has been one of the most erratic but best days of 2010: and trust me, I’ve had so many good days: but this is close to topping it. It would be more sensible to blog about Gaga, but it’s gonna have to wait another time because this performance is so fresh in my mind.

So, has anyone heard of the Ladyboys? Gosh it sounds so weird typing it. It’s basically transvestite Thai men who travel around the world performing as women. It so happens that tonight ‘The Lady Boys of Bangkok’ were performing in Belfast and I went to see it. ‘Why?’ I hear you ask. And no, my adoration with Asians wasn’t taking a step too far. My Uncle got free tickets from work and since we were all down in Victoria Square shopping, he phoned us asking if we wanted to go.

Of course, when I first heard about it, I was a bit iffy. Like, these were foreign guys dressed as girls, it just sounded really really really disturbing and tacky. Like the cheap crap acts you saw on holiday in the hotel. Then he said many of his workmates said it was unreal, so we might as well, right? So after we went out for tea we headed over to Custom House Square.

The place was packed. It was then that I got to read through the leaflet about it. It said “Fantasy and Feathers is performed by 16 of the world’s most beautiful show-girls (who just happen to be men) it’s the glamourous fun filled show everyone is talking about!” and “One of the most fabulous cabaret shows I have ever seen!” We had the very front seat too! When the curtains opened I was struck with awe: we were so close! I was a little bit frightened at first, you were afraid to make eye contact incase they winked or something! So I took many photos...which might help me explain it a bit better before my brain turns to mush.

This was just a random decoration I took a photo of when I came in.

The show has begun! This is the second song, I can't remember the title of it. But LOOK at the guy on the right- seriously he was gorgeous. And that girl there? SHE'S A MAN WTF. And yeah, I KNOW they are all men: you would too if you had my view of the stage. O_O

First attempt at taking a photo of the oh-so-attractive male dancer. Fail. Well..it's his chest. Maybe not a fail. The stage smelt funny: like a sweet smell. We thought it was like perfume or body spray they put on to hide the sweatiness. Whatever it was, I have become so addicted to it while everyone else hated it. It's on my clothes and coat and I hope it doesn't go away!

This guy's skills were wicked! He had a bathtub below him and he swung right above us! His muscles were so big!

Here he is again. Doing some stretches. He eventually got in the bath, but soaked us all below.

Yes. A man. Gosh, I can't get that into my head.

They done this X-Factor/Britain's Got Talent act. It was very funny. There was a midget who played Simon. Tough little guy.

They also included some acts too: Jedward! This was again the super cute guy- he soaked me with the water pistol!! haha! Cheeky!

One of the guys being Susan Boyle. It was hilarious when medical people came in and took her away in a strait jacket!

Also a Cheryl Cole act.

This was at the interval. You could go up and get your photo taken with them. I managed to catch a picture in-between. The one on the far right was definitely the most beautiful. (What am I saying??!?)

Woman in feathers.

This one sang 'Barbie Girl' She switched sides of her body when it was Ken's lines- very amusing indeed.

So much Gaga recently! An excellent rendition of 'Poker Face.' Dance moves were flawless.

This was Grease! Sorry, I couldn't help taking photos of these guys when they were just so so close to me! *attempts to stretch arm closer*

Oh! How I love this photo! I just set it as my wallpaper because it's such good quality. It's Grease again. That cutie at the end makes me melt.

If the show couldn't get ANY better, they also mimed 'Summer of '69' and look who their front man was?! *takes 100 more photos*

Random drummer guy. Nobody in the show sung or played at all. They mimed everything. It worked though.

All you single ladies, put your hands up!

This guy was a great Michael Jackson impersonator. It said on the background "This Isn't It" It surely was not.

He performed 3 songs: This was during 'Beat It' Some of the guys banged their chests together! My gay radar didn't function well tonight because I just couldn't decide if they were or not.

This was at the end when all the cast came on stage for the encore.

And I sneaked this little photo hehehe.

So anyway, by looking at that, it looks like the most perverted, disgusting, unethical thing I've ever been to, and yes, it probably was. But it was a fantastic evening and I loved it. So please don't shun me! It was an experience that shouldn't be missed! They are performing until Saturday 20th November, I highly recommend that you go to see it. (And take me again too!!)

- Claudia