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| yna@yna.co.kr 2024-04-04 09:05:21
SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- "Doing what I love, and receiving such enthusiastic cheers, I feel like I made a great decision in choosing the profession of a singer."
Amidst the comfortable mid-low range of his voice, which gently enveloped the cozy interior, dazzling lights emanated from above and below. The live band's accompaniment and captivating performances of the dancers held the audience's gaze, resembling watching a musical unfold.
On the stage, a curtain covered the entire backdrop, on which nostalgic snowflakes were portrayed through visual effects. It was as if the lyrics of "Old Love," singing "Gwanghwamun Street covered in white snow / White snow keeps rising high into the sky," came to life.
This was at the "2024 Theatre Lee Moon-sae" Seoul concert held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul's Jongno-gu on the 3rd. The Seoul concert, which took place over three days including this day and the 5th and 6th, saw all 3,000 seats per performance sold out.
" Theatre Lee Moon-sae" is a branded performance that Lee Moon-sae has been presenting once every two years since 2015, featuring new song selections and concepts. This marks the fourth season of the event.
Compared to two years ago when it was held at the outdoor stage of Seoul Olympic Park Grass Square under the title "Theatre Lee Moon-sae in the Park," this concert at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, known as the "heart of the domestic performance scene," exuded a more urban and sophisticated atmosphere.
Lee Moon-sae made use of the advantages of the indoor theater, captivating the audience with captivating lighting, performances, and versatile vocals. He entertained 3,000 audience members on weekday evenings.
He remarked, "It's like a miracle to have this many people gather on a weekday evening," as he interacted not only with the audience on the first floor but also those on the second and third floors. He showcased meticulous stage manners, even calling out the name of a audience member sitting in the farthest seat on the third floor and engaging in direct communication with them.
However, the biggest "impact" of Lee Moon-sae's concert lies in his hit songs that transcend generations and eras. Hit after hit, even those who aren't necessarily fans couldn't help but marvel upon hearing just the first few lines.
Lee Moon-sae jokingly said, "Many audience members are said to be surprised three times when they watch my performances." He continued, "First, they say, 'Wow, Lee Moon-sae is cooler than I thought.' Second, it's surprising to see many audience members in their 20s and 30s. And third, they're astonished by how many of my songs they actually know."
His self-praise may sound like a jest, but it rings true given his steady stream of hit songs over the past few decades. As songs like "Early Morning Discount," "A Little Girl," which takes people back to the time when they were excitedly wearing school uniforms, "Gwanghwamun Love Song," heard again on the streets of Gwanghwamun, and "In the Rain," reminiscent of the drizzling spring rain, flowed out, the audience momentarily forgot their daily lives and immersed themselves in memories.
With so many representative songs, it's common for desired songs to be missing from the setlist. To appease disappointed fans, Lee Moon-sae spontaneously sang snippets of songs like "With You Forever" and "Only Her Laughter" from his new album. He also briefly played the remake of the immensely popular "Love Always Runs Away," saying "This is a Lee Moon-sae song," eliciting cheers from the audience.
Lee Moon-sae particularly devoted himself to providing visual entertainment as well, either playing the guitar himself like a rock star or smoothly executing choreography with dancers, rivaling K-pop stars. Though the songs from the 1980s and 1990s may never change, his determination to always offer something new in front of the audience was evident.
In "Flying Through the Deep Night," he unfolded the universe, including the solar system and galaxies, while in "I Still Don't Know," he depicted someone's life from childhood to old age, evoking deep emotions through visual effects.
Lee Moon-sae also previewed a pre-release song from his new album titled "Warm is Better than Hot." With a smile, he said, "I sang one of the songs that will be included in my upcoming album. The future of this song depends on all of you."
"We've all forgotten about the emotions deep within us as we've been living our lives in a rush. Through this performance, those emotions are coming back to life within us. I believe you all had an amazing experience tonight."
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]