Distance makes the heart grow fonder, indeed.
It was CNBLUE’s first show in Singapore in 7 years, and they did not disappoint, putting on an electrifying show that lasted 3.5 hours and felt like a music festival.
Guitarist-main vocalist Jung Yong Hwa, bassist-lead vocalist Lee Jung Shin and drummer-lead vocalist Kang Min Hyuk excited fans with their amazing live band performances and witty banter throughout the show. It was obvious that they really enjoyed themselves, by the way they couldn’t stop smiling throughout the entire night, brightening the stage with their positive energy.
Here are some of the reasons why the audience might take a longer time to overcome the post-concert blues from the 2024 CNBLUE LIVE ‘CNBLUENTITY IN SINGAPORE show.
CNBLUE showed what a pop rock band with 15 years of experience can do
BOICEs were treated to an evening of non-stop live band music which is no mean feat for a show that was running for over 3 hours. Alongside their trusty bandmates guitarist YOUNG and pianist Klozer, CNBLUE demonstrated their confidence in their skills through the way they played each note in a carefree, almost nonchalant manner.
The setlist was planned such that each song blended into the next seamlessly and the atmosphere was burning with so much passion that night that the quintet even agreed to perform a second encore session because they didn’t want to stop playing.
It was exhilarating watching Min Hyuk play the drums as he executed every beat with great technique while grooving along to the music with the constant head-banging, showing how immersed he was in the music.
Jung Shin has, in recent years, stepped up to take on more vocal parts in the band, and he looked extremely charismatic singing while playing his bass so smoothly, almost as if his fingers were moving to muscle memory.
Needless to say, Yong Hwa’s stage presence and vocals were out of this world. Despite jumping all around the stage, his vocals remained stable throughout, not even losing his voice while screaming like a rockstar during hits like I’m A Loner, You’re So Fine, Coffee Shop.
Dynamics between CNBLUE & BOICE
The saying “it takes two hands to clap” is probably the most suitable phrase to describe CNBLUE’s relationship with BOICEs. CNBLUE and BOICE’s energy fed off each other during the entire concert as BOICEs sang along to almost all of their songs. The cheers and fanchats during singalong anthems like LOVE, Intuition, Love Light, You’re So Fine, In My Head, I’m Sorry, Can’t Stop, LOVE GIRL, were exceptionally loud.
The 7 years apart most likely got the CNBLUE members so emotional that they expressed how much they longed for this reunion and Yong Hwa couldn’t stop repeating Singapore throughout the show, even adding it to his lyrics. Should we say he is obsessed with Singapore?
The constant cheers and screams from the crowd evidently gave Yong Hwa an adrenaline rush that unleashed the rockstar in him.
Not to forget, the special fanlight project prepared by one of the Singapore BOICE fanbase lit up the dark stadium during Love Light. Yong Hwa even got fans to do a ‘wave’ with their lights several times before he was satisfied with the results.
CNBLUE in Singapore = Pure Happiness
CNBLUE looked visibly overjoyed and overwhelmed to be performing for the audience at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, their eyes shimmering brightly whenever they appeared on screen. The members were full of life and couldn’t stop showing their affection for the crowd whenever they had a chance to speak. Yong Hwa also kept running around the stage throughout the entire show like a child with too much energy and excitement.
CNBLUE also clearly raised the bar for overseas acts trying to add Singlish phrases during their Singapore shows. Aside from using the usual filler word “lah”, the members also used phrases such as “you’re so cantik” “you’re not tired yet, hor?”, “steady lah” and “swee lah” . Jungshin even joked that maybe Singapore inspired Yong Hwa to write the lyrics for Can’t Stop with the verses in the song ending with lah (라).
The members’ sibling-like behaviour might be something BOICEs are familiar with but their attempts to be playful and cheeky somehow ended up involving the stage interpreter. At one point, CNBLUE sang some song lyrics to express themselves and the way the interpreter sang the translation left the members shocked but amused. Yong Hwa took the chance to rap a line from Can’t Stop and was left impressed when the interpreter rapped his line in English, much to the cheers of the audience.
The 2024 CNBLUE LIVE ‘CNBLUENTITY IN SINGAPORE show was a much needed avenue for CNBLUE and BOICEs to reconnect, bringing everyone some healing and positive vibes.
A special thanks to UnUsUal Entertainment for the media invite!
Text By: Wan Ling | Photos By: UnUsUal Entertainment
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