Hi everyone. It's been a while since I've shared a fanaccount. I wanted to share my thoughts about the concert I attended last night. It was a heck of an emotional rollercoaster for me. I think I should briefly talk about my history as a shawol. I've been a shawol since 2010, and I have seen SHINee many times but I've only seen them as a full group twice in SMTOWN and SWC V. Onew has been my ultimate bias for pretty much all of my shawol life (Key was my initial bias for the first few months until I saw Onew's smile in Hello when it was released( but these past several years, I've honestly become more of an OT5 stan while just liking Onew a liiiitle bit more than everyone else.

Going into this concert I knew I'd cry as it had not only been so long since I last saw them as a group live, but because it would only be the 3 of them on stage. I was, at the same time, excited and interested to see how the 3 would handle all of these songs. I also went into the concert blind, so I had no idea what the setlist was except for possibly Picasso being performed. (Which they didn't, and I was really sad lol) I love everyone's solo work, so I was really excited to hear what they would do.

My thoughts are going to be scattered, but I will say right off the bat I was a little disappointed. If I'm just overthinking things, feel free to let me know in the comments. I don't know about the overall reactions so far to SWC VI in Japan, specifically. Also, that lightstick app they force you to download.. I learned it the hard way that you NEED it. Although I live in Japan, I have an American phone and mine won't let me easily switch between countries and I couldn't use my lightstick AT ALL unless I connected to the app. So my lightstick did not work until the very very end when they deactivated the app. It was ok since I was looking through my binoculars for the most part... but now when I was tearing up, which was often. LOL

I'd like the start with the bad first.

I really felt the empty stage with not only Jonghyun, but now Onew not being there. (When they did Everybody and Good Evening, for examples.) There's always talk that even though Jonghyun is gone, it still feels like he's present in their current songs because they all inherited his singing technique, which I totally agree with. But it's different with Onew, especially with his distinct voice. I really felt his presence missing. Both as a leader and his voice.

Throughout almost the whole concert, I got this feeling they weren't feeling it and didn't want to be doing this concert. Don't get me wrong, their dancing was pretty much flawless as usual, and their singing was solid, but I just didn't feel like they were enjoying themselves. It gave me vibes of, we're doing this because we have to and it's our job. Only for certain songs I noticed they were into it. I noticed Minho was trying his best to hype up the venue but it wasn't working very well. It doesn't help that I think the audience this time was rather quiet.

They were very responsive during the talking segments, though. Actually, SHINee was, as usual, really funny, but since the beginning I felt something a little off with Key. Taemin, as usual, was being silly and cute, you know, him being him, but I noticed that Key was more "done" with his antics from the beginning, and as the concert went on, I wondered if Key was not in a good mood? I felt his snarkiness/sassiness was amped up last night and I was a little surprised by him. He's a bit... too much of a open book sometimes, haha.

I'll give an example. At the end of the concert, after they performed HARD, Minho yelled "Were we cool?!" And Key laughed at him and looked a big embarrassed and said in a tone that what he asked was embarrassing/cringey and what is he, a narcissist? I was really shocked at that because he didn't say it in a joking tone at all. Also, I noticed that Key got most of the big notes and I felt that he and Taemin split between Onew and Jonghyun's lines pretty evenly, with Key getting more of Onew's lines. And he nailed them! But he was definitely struggling through the concert. I forgot which song it was, but I remember he attempted one of Onew's high notes, and he couldn't do it and cut it short almost immediately. Their singing wasn't the best this concert. I know they must have been really tired especially from the previous night.

Also, at the end, when they were saying their goodbyes, Taemin said time went by really fast. But when it was Key's turn he flat out disagreed with him and said that time did NOT go by fast and he didn't seem thrilled. Which for me, confirmed he didn't enjoy himself and didn't want to be there. I'd really like to hear from other shawols what they thought of this concert last night if there are any in this sub that did.

As for the good now!

Taemin's brain was broken last night and it was hilarious. He was messing up over his words in Japanese and stuttered a lot and it was really funny and cute.

I was thrilled to hear Minho's contagious laugh. I'm talking about that laugh he did like in Road to SHINee. LOL I laughed so hard hearing him like that.

Speaking of Minho, wow, some of his lines- my jaw dropped. I just saw him for his fanmeeting earlier this year and I still can't believe how much he has improved. I'm sorry I can't remember, but he did do a high note at one point and he did it so well!

Also, with Taemin, he continues to be amazing with belting notes. I love when he belts. You can really feel the emotions in his voice.

Also... when they changed into THOSE outfits and performed Body Rhythm... Minho is a menace to society. This man knows what he is doing and he was driving me crazy the whole concert LMAO At one point he smirked and again, my jaw dropped to the ground. The audacity of this man LOL

And yes he did flash his abs at one point. And flexed his biceps. Twice.

One of their segments, they talked about how they've been singing songs that are really old and nostalgic and a bit emotional... And they started getting into their old Japanese ballads, and at one point, shawols were shouting some different ballads for them to sing on stage and Key exclaimed after hearing them mention Moon River Waltz that he loves that song and it's his favorite... BUT HE COULDN'T REMEMBER HOW IT GOES LOL The members laughed so hard at him. And this was when I really got to see what shawols have a reputation for, which is singing really well. Everyone started singing different ballads to help them remember the lyrics because they had forgotten so many of them LOL At one point Taemin mixed up a song with Kimi ga Iru Sekai and Key called him out on it and it was hilarious LOL And Taemin and Minho argued over if one of their group songs was called Moon Drop or Raindrop lmao

But yeah it was really sweet but funny. MRW is one of my most favorite Japanese songs by them, so I was very emotional hearing them sing a little of it. A shawol requested 1000 years ~Always by your side~ and that was amazing hearing them do that. They did a lot! I absolutely love their ballads, so I was an emotional wreck the whole time.

Also, at one point, Minho started imitating Jonghyun when he does a high note and putting his write on the temple of his head and Taemin started copying him, too, and they and Key laughed together. I cried a little seeing that.

I teared up many times but had to hold back my tears so I could still keep watching them through my binoculars LOL I expected to be a sobbing mess, but I didn't. There were so many songs on this setlist I was like, ThIS WASN'T ON MY BINGO CARD LOL (I died when they did Selene 6.23, LLO, Dream Girl and Kind for some examples.) I was so sad they didn't do 10x, Picasso, and a few others.

Also, Taemin basically spoiled and said he will have 6 new songs in his next album and that it'll be a mini album. (I've been swamped at my new job so I haven't been able to keep up with lives, so if he's spoiled all of this already let me know!)

I will skip to the very end, when Minho basically whispers in Taemin's ear to tell everyone that we are their hope. But Taemin added an extra line, saying "You are mine" which everyone screamed to in response... and Minho and him decide to fight over who's who LOL And they get Key to do it, who clearly didn't want to lmao and they joked around and bid farewell.

Overall, I'm glad I went but this concert was definitely not what I expected. I applied for Tokyo Dome because as a shawol I feel that I need to be there for them like they've been for me my whole life. I really think Onew will be able to join them for TD. I hope I get tickets! Seeing them all together in a Japanese concert is what's on my bucketlist so I'm praying!

Anyways, oh man, this was so long but I KNOW I missed so much I just can't remember anything else right now. I'd really like to hear everyone's thoughts. I can elaborate on more thoughts if anyone asks. I love SHINee to death. They have always been my rock and one of the few constants in my life. I hope no one things I'm hating on them in this post. I'm also typing this at half past 6AM and only having slept 4 hours last night, and again 4 tonight too. I'm going to try to go back to sleep now. Til next time!