So, I went to MBC Music Core today. I saw Girl’s Generation sing Genie. I saw SHINee’s Goodbye Stage. I saw Brown Eyed Girls shake their hips to Abracadabra, and I saw MC MONG rock the Indian Boy twice. Oh, and I danced to Genie and Abracadabra on camera – possibly to be shown on MBC next week.
See what I saw in words and pictures under the cut.
BEFORE Music Core
I met with Crystal, and her friend Jess at around midnight on Friday. There was a lot of walking around and waiting, but there were some things of interest.
We Found the YG Building!
You should remember our previous attempt to find the YG Building and remember also that I said that next time I was in the area, I’d definitely find it. Well, we did. It was dark and the building was a complete let-down in terms of it being a total anticlimax, but it was definitely worth it.
Below are some pictures of various messages left by fans on the walls. If you can guess which message I may, or may not have left, then you get a cookie.
Sorry for the picture quality, but it was about 2PM and I was using my Haptic.
We Watched ‘Yes Man’ in a DVD Room
We had to do a great deal of waiting, so we thought it best to do it in a Take 5 DVD Room. We chose Yes Man featuring Jim Carrey. It was a film I had wanted to see, but had missed it at the cinema and had never seen on TV, so I enjoyed it. I should probably have used the opportunity to sleep on the big sofa, but Jim Carrey is far too captivating.
How to Find the MBC Music Core Studio
The Internet needs more accurate information and so here are accurate directions to the MBC Music Core studios.
- Find your way to Jeongbalsan Station (정발산역) on Line 3 on the Seoul Metro.
- Leave the statin via Exit 3.
- You will exit next to a Lotte Department Store and a bridge across the road. Climb the bridge.
- As you’re walking across the bridge, look forwards and a little to your left. You should see a white aerial with a flashing light on top.
- Finding the building is a matter of walking diagonally across the park and through the shopping streets.
- When you find it, you will see the side entrance with access to the car park. Follow the building round to the right.
- You have found the entrance to MBC Music Core. Congratulations!
5 Things You Should Do If You Want to Visit Music Core
Here are 5 Things you should do if you want to get into MBC Music Core.
- Join a fanclub
If you are a member of a fanclub, you are almost guaranteed entry. - Know your idols
Some fanclubs will ask you some questions about your idols, such as height, birthdays and best songs. - Bring some proof
If you bring the latest album or single of the artist you’re there to support, this is additional proof that you’re a fan. - Get their early and get in line
Get to the venue early and get in line. Contact the people at the head of the line (most likely the fanclub leaders) and let them know you’re there. - Take someone who can speak Korean
Having someone who’s able to speak the language and not afraid to ask questions will make your experience a whole lot less stressful. Actually being able to get answers to your questions just makes things easier.
WAITING for MBC Music Core
There was an awful lot of waiting today. We waited at the side. We waited in a queue for tickets. We waited in 4minute’s Fanclub queue. We waited a lot today.
I can offer you a short video of what it was like in the MBC studio building. You can see a lot of floor.
Here are some more pictures of the hall and everyone waiting. Not particularly interesting, but taking pictures during the performances is almost impossible with the security and to be honest, I was too busy enjoying the show.
Yes, that marble floor is as uncomfortable as it looks. Only 3-4 hours of sitting then.
As I mentioned above, I’ll add more pictures to the post once I’ve stolen them from Crystal and Jess.
I feel that I should give a small shoutout to the 4minute girls who got us into the show. We joined their line and failed their fanclub test, but they said they’d get us in anyways. It turned out that not only did we get in, but we got excellent seats right in front of the walkway from one side of the stage to the other. Both Tiffany and Yuri walked past within several feet on two or three occasions.
Alex Dancing to ‘Genie’ and Abracadabra on MBC TV
While we were waiting, there was an MC and a camera guy walking around and interviewing random fans. They were being made to stand up, do the leg flick from Girls’ Generation’s Genie and the hip shaking from Abracadabra by Brown Eyed Girls. I was trying to mind my own business when Crystal told me he was coming over this way.
MC “Hey you, handsome gentleman!”
Alex “Oh God…”
MC “Come and stand up. Do you speak Korean?”
Alex “A little.”
MC “OK. You know Korea number one dance?”
Alex “By 소녀시대?”
MC “Oh! You know! Like this.” *MC does the ‘leg flick’*
Crystal “He knows them very well!”
MC “Good!”
Alex “Show me again.”
MC “Here we go.” *MC does the ‘leg flick’*
Alex “OK, here goes.” *Does the dance*
MC “OK, now one more time!”
Alex “Really? OK.” Dances two more times*
MC “OK! Good! You know this? *Gyrates to ‘Abracadabra’*
Alex “Brown Eyed Girls – ‘Abracadabra’.”
MC “Wow! You know! OK. Now you!”
Alex “Haha. OK.” *Gyrates three times*
MC “You are very good! Now you have to say 소녀시대 is the best!”
Alex *Provides ’sound bite’ three times*
MC “Thank you! Very handsome!”
Alex “Yea, thanks.” *Sits down and hides*
MC *Goes to find another victim*
I certainly don’t expect much from this video that may or may not appear on TV. I’d been up all night, I hadn’t shaved, I had a cold/runny nose and a spot on my nose. Hopefully TV will work it’s magic and have me looking half decent.
EDIT – 090810
Now you can see the video for yourself! Thanks to dancercjai on Twitter for the link.
WATCHING MBC Music Core
We entered as some of the last fans in and 카라 were just finishing up a rehearsal on stage. The studio isn’t particularly big but there is ample room for everyone. We were lead down to the steps behind the VIP Section and had a good view of the stage.
The stage itself seems so much smaller than I expected, and the filming was very busy. People were coming on and off the stage and fixing or moving the set around. Everything seemed as if it could fall apart but they kept everything on time and it flowed nicely. It’s difficult for me to explain what it felt like being in the studio, but I can’t wait to go again.
My memory is pretty sketchy, so I’ll list the performances in order of awesome.
MC몽 – Indian Boy
We actually got to see this performance twice. First was the rehearsal and the second was for live filming. MC몽 really brought it and B.I did a great job as always. The performances were so vibrant and full of fun. Much better than on the album – which incidentally, I now own.
SHINee – Juliet [Remix Ver.]
This was their Good-bye Stage and although the set was hideous, their performance was ‘A’ material. Their lives are so good.
KARA – Wanna
Despite the fact that I have developed a mild crush on Nicole recently, I can honestly say I was pleased to see all the girls. They’re performance of Wanna was hot, despite the first performance being a nasty cover song.
Girl’s Generation – Genie
Only the 소녀시대 Fanclub got to see them perform SORRY SORRY, so I was terribly disappointed. They didn’t even sing live at the end, but nonetheless, I still got to see all eighteen legs.
Brown Eyed Girls – Abracadabra
I had never listened or watched this performance all the way through before but I actually enjoyed it a lot. We saw them perform it twice and both times, I was transfixed. They are incredibly sexy on stage.
FT Island – 바래
I love the song but I didn’t enjoy the performance as much as I thought I would. they were cramped on the left of the stage and there just didn’t seem to be that much energy present.
4minute – Hot Issue [Jungle Mix]
Seeing as we were allowed in as a favor from the 4minute fanclub, we had to give them extra support. The Jungle Remix was nothing more than a short dance break near the end. The performance was just what I’d expected from them. Damn catchy.
SS501 형준 – Hey G
We thought it was the other one. After we realised which one he was, his performance was quite strong and the choreography worked. He definitely knows how to tease the crowd with the female backup dancers.
Drunken Tiger – Monster
Had been pre-recorded and so he was just out with two of his other singers and lip syncing.
Mighty Mouth – 연애특강
The girls behind us kept screaming for 현아 so we couldn’t really hear anything she said. Fine by me.
박혜경 – 하이힐
Sung while the stage was being fiddled with. Her voice was a little high pitched for my liking.
길미 (feat.은지원) – Love Cuts
Not really interested in this song, although she does have a good voice.
tiara – 거짓말
They were lipsynching in the performance they did for the fans and got kicked off before they even finished.
홍진영 – 사랑의 배터리(remix ver.)
Cute song, and cute girl, but I can’t see it winning any awards.
노이즈 – 사랑만사
Had no idea who they were and discovered that the girl was there just for looks.
바다 – MAD
Eugene came along at the end for some spice, but the former S.E.S members couldn’t really bring it.
An Explanation About Pre-Recording
I have received some questions about pre-recording at Music Core. I’m going to try my best to explain how it works so that the rest of the post will make sense.
The fans don’t all enter the studio together until the end. So, during the wait, various fanclubs are taken into the studio to watch their groups rehearse and pre-record some performances. One example from yesterday, would be Girls’ Generation’s performance of SORRY SORRY. It was recorded earlier in the afternoon and I was only able to see it on TV.
The idea is that they can pre-record some sections for the in-between bits during performances and then the singers will perform one more time when ALL the fans are in the studio. Sometimes this is a lip sync, and sometimes this is a real live performance. MC몽 performed live yesterday, while Girls’ Generation were just dancing to the music. Actually, Tiffany and Yuri were still wearing their MC outfits!
AFTER MBC Music Core
I can safely say now that it was definitely worth it, but at the time, I would rather have been sitting at home and doing my usual resting. It was nice to meet Jess for the first time and especially after my blog reputation preceded me. Hopefully I can’t talk to her online later outside of the tired, stressful day that we had.
