[TRANS] EXO-M at Modern Music Field Issue #547 Page 004 - From 130221

Rehearsal Time, Lingering Fragrances

In a so-called rehearsal, the sound technicians need to adjust the sound systems and the lightings have to be in concordance with the performers’ positioning. This prior running of the performance sequence is done to ascertain the smooth running of the performance, so that errors during the actual performance can be reduced to a minimum.

After reaching the hotel, I was immediately on the go again, tagging along with the directing crew in their vehicle which was heading straight to the rehearsal venue. It was already dark and Egret Island was shrouded in fog. The boys were in full attendance despite the near freezing temperature. While my photographer and I were going through the schedule with a staff, we heard a low commotion among the female staff members who were trying to contain their excitement, and boyish voices greeting everyone, “Hello! Thank you for your hard work!” When I turned around, all 6 of them were already standing neatly in the shadows to the right of the stage and starting their warm-up routines. During the last photo shoot, which was in their training room, I had noticed that all the boys wear perfumes but this time round we are outdoors and under low temperature, their fragrances still overwhelm me. All the staff members, except me because I have had experienced it before, were mumbling, “They smell so nice......”

The first person I noticed was a ‘nice smelling’ TAO in an odd candy-coloured long-sleeved pullover t-shirt [1] and wearing his baseball cap backwards. He seemed to have lost more weight and his face looked even smaller but his eyes were bright. He was looking randomly around him and flashed a polite smile at me with a nod of head when he saw me ogling at him. I nodded back in response but my heart was full of tears: Was it a month ago? The maknae’s metamorphosis was just at its beginning at the backstage of the awards ceremony but recently, fans were repetitively experiencing ‘instantaneous deaths’ due to his airport fashion and he is getting cheekier every day. T T When did the maknae become so cool? I really can’t wait to see what the future has in store for him... and then I was brought back to reality by the sound of squeaking sneakers.

CHEN and XIUMIN, both wearing hats, were practicing their dance steps. CHEN was wearing a shirt and his long eyelashes were flashing under his thick bangs. XIUMIN was as fluffy as his hair, looking so adorable with his lips parted. All the equipment and the stage were covered with a layer of plastic to prevent from getting damp by the fog. Under the low temperature, water vapour condensed on the surface of the plastic covers… Oh my, be careful boys, it's slippery!

Before I could finish grumbling, I was distracted by a ‘Little Deer’ in white sweatshirt and eyes sparkling in the dark. ‘Little Deer’ was pressing his lips together and swaying his head, restlessly looking all around him. He kept grabbing Lay closer and whispering into his ears and… Oh my! Lay-goon, the neckline of your tank top is so low and you’ve left your jacket unzipped. Is this really better? What’s the use of wearing a mask when your fair and glowing skin on your neck all the way down to your chest is exposed and reflecting the lights in the dark? As it was, Lay continued practicing his dance moves and as he danced, the neckline was gradually slipping lower... I almost held up my hand to stop him and yelled, “Oh my dear friend, this is sub-zero degrees outdoors! Oh my dear friend, quick get properly dressed! Look and compare with KRIS Wu, my friend! Isn’t he looking stylish in a black scarf and grass-green jacket, and feeling warm at the same time?”

‘Scarf Wu’, having an overhead view, constantly swept his eyes over the staff and everyone on the stage, and nodding. After successfully eliciting heaps of blushes and squeals, he went over to the Korean directing crew to discuss the schedule. At work, KRIS Wu speaks Korean with a very special accent which has a slightly lower timbre, earnest yet at ease and always with a smile. In a way, this is a tone that his ‘voice-fans’ will not want to miss and this serious side of him is a fan service for his ‘face-fans’ and ‘back-fans’. Fans should really have a chance to see him speak Korean fluently at work.

It was a deal with restrictions for the fans who were allowed entry to watch the rehearsal. For example, photography was strictly prohibited that evening because the boys were without makeup. Not even the official photographers were allowed to take photos of them; needless to say, fans in the audience who were using cameras with hi-tech telephoto lenses were the most guarded against. As a result, all the fans were ushered from the seats in the first row of the VIP area towards the ordinary area, which was more than 10 meters away from the stage. By that time, after all the waiting, TAO was slightly shivering in his thin clothes.

They were finally going about the stage positioning. The only lights on stage were coming from the steps on the platforms, which were just barely enough for them to find their positions. The introduction of ‘History’ began and I realized, at the instant the boys started flapping their pants, that although I had seen them perform live countless of times, it was the first time I am watching the flapping pants up front (laughs). Even though it was a rehearsal, the boys, with their heads lowered, were no less serious in their energetic and smart movements. The cheers from the audience were no less serious too, for the fan chant was sung in unison even though it was only a rehearsal. My photographer, whom I was discussing with earlier about the so-called popularity and fan support, was mumbling and shaking his head in amazement, blown away by the fan cheers.

During KRIS Wu’s solo, the stylish scarf that he was wearing slowly became loose from the vigorous dance. He tried removing the scarf while dancing to throw to the side of the stage but ended up swinging his arm in circles. Manager-oppa hurried over and took it from him, and KRIS Wu dashed to the front of the stage to smoothly perform his solo. The fans waiting far away instantly exploded into piercing screams. Their cheers mixed with aggressively shouted birthday wishes brought smiles onto the members’ faces. Oh, the girls were really, uhm, loveable. The singing and dancing ended with the start of ‘Into Your World’.

Right up till now, the fortunate ones who got to see ‘Into Your World’ live should feel the same about XIUMIN and TAO. One of them nimble and the other graceful, they were dancing beautifully right before me. I could not take my eyes away from them. It was a pity that manager-oppa called for a stop during the middle of the song, deciding that the boys already had their grasps of the positioning. While the directing crew was talking to manager-oppa and KRIS, LUHAN and TAO kept up with their fan service towards the audience. LUHAN started jogging on the spot as he was getting cold, looking so adorable in the white sweatshirt and fluffy hair. TAO was smiling and waving towards the audience; it might not be visible because of the darkness but this warm-hearted guy never stopped smiling.

Manager-oppa wanted an immediate retreat. However, KRIS Wu went up for a talk, took the microphone from the sound technician and gathered the rest of the members to the front, “See you guys tomorrow! We’re gonna go now!” It was quite a short greeting but he made it all worthwhile for the fans who waited in the cold. The boys started to leave the stage after the greeting. They kept bowing at the directing staff along their exit; each and every bow right-angled at 90-degrees; smiling as they said, “Thank you for your hard work!” Such sweet and lovely boys they are, who made all the hyungs and noonas, who have been working the whole night in the cold weather, smile brightly.

TAO in particular noticed that they had missed the group of official photographers and me, made a turn and bowed deeply towards us who were standing slightly further away from the stage. I was made warm all over by this heart-warming guy and so returned a gesture of politeness. My photographer behind me was really touched by their mannerisms too.

(T/N 1: Tao was wearing a dark red long-sleeved pullover baseball t-shirt with a hot pink right sleeve and a mint green left sleeve.)

(Credit: 精神洁癖随时炸毛的起伏飞 | Translation by: Kelly&Juveina)

Shared by Luhan @ EXOdicted.blogspot.com

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