Tarantallegra World Tour 2012 In Brazil

September has been a very warm month in Sao Paulo, with strong sunlight, low moisture and no rain. Even the desert weather didn’t stop XIA’ fans from standing in line on Saturday September, 8th, even sleeping there for two nights before the show. The anticipation was high in the disorganized line to the box office, where fans could take their tickets. The lucky ones stood at the entrance of Espaço Victory in the middle of the evening, able to listen to the entire sound check (with no sight of disharmony) that, at 9 p.m., would delight many people.

The fans were allowed to enter at 8 p.m and, little by little, the VIPs started to pack from the gate to where the sound engineers stood. Tension, anticipation and anxiety were high, with occasional yells of “Junsu”, “saranghe” ("I love you") or even incomprehensible shrieks. Many came from afar just to look closely and verify for themselves that XIA’s perfect voice was real. Tatiana, who is crazy about Xiahtic and has the CDs since the beginning of the singer’s career, came from Curitiba to hear the voice that has enthralled her so much since TVXQ.

Everyone screamed at the minimal signs of shifting on stage. While fans were entering, the sound was tested with reprises of Tarantallegra and Uncommited MVs, which even with errors on the screen and in the sound, further heated up the mood for 9 p.m., the beginning of the Brazilian leg of Tarantallegra World Tour 2012. What one could see on the screen was a video that showcased Junsu wrapped by a white cloth, in the midst of water, like he was waking up. He took the stage with four more dancers, all of them with silver staffs in hands, fire rising from the edge of the stage. Breath woke up the crowd, which started to enjoy every minute of that remarkable show.

Alone on the stage, XIA brought the 4th track of his album Tarantallegra to life, No Gain. In a dotty performance, alone for a first moment and with a sky full of constellations behind him, the singer was followed by the crowd, who sang and danced along as if doing the show together with him. It was here that Junsu started to grace his fans with broad grins, which became common throughout the performance, a display that he felt comfortable and was enjoying that moment with the Brazilian fans.

After this came one of the three MCs of the night. XIA addressed the crowd accompanied by a translator. “Good evening, Brazil. I’m XIA. At last I'm meeting you, I've waited so long for this moment. This is the second time I'm visiting Brazil and it’s my first time in Sao Paulo, which is a very beautiful city.” The singer appeared surprised to learn that fans knew he'd come to the country another time and continued. “I’m very happy to be here. Please, wait until the last moment and you’ll have a lot of surprises. Let’s keep up with the next song.” He wasn’t kidding; Surprise was a good word to describe the performances that followed.

Soon a batch of dance and sensual tracks came, ending with one of XIA's most beautiful songs. These started with Lullaby, which had Junsu blindfolded by two female dancers in the center of the stage, then proceeded through the Korean version of Intoxication, with its hypnotic and sensual dance. Next was Set Me Free, in which everyone jumped and danced, captive by the rhythm and perfect synch of the dancers and Junsu. The fans were then able to relax a little for a video showing footage of the tour along with scenes of Tarantallegra’s MV and its making-of. However, the singer’s return to the stage brought one of the most touching performances of the night, You’re so beautiful, which took away the breath of the fans once again and brought tears to their eyes.

Many words describe this show and the exchange between fans and XIA. Sensuality, hypnotism, moving. The singer managed to be sensual and romantic at the same time, in his dance as much as in his voice. His gumption on stage was a show of its own, as he walked throughout the stage like he was at home, looking at each and every fan all the time. Junsu’ hips had a life of their own, ever move seeming to be a different one, mesmerizing the audience. Not only his hips but also his arms, hands, everything trained. His voice went from low to high with seeming ease, and expressed the right amount of emotion to seduce or just to touch. Then there were the special effects that were spread through the performance: lighting effects, fire at the edge of the stage (which heated up the people just ahead on the VIP), smokescreen, lights, shredded paper and bubbles.

“Are you having fun?" he asked. "I’m having a blast. I’ve always liked Brazil. You all know that I love soccer. Since I was little I've watched the games, and Brazil always won. I didn’t have the opportunity to get to know Amazônia, but I would like to the next time. From now on, it’s the moment to fulfill your dreams. I’ll fulfill three wishes.” At that, all the audience screamed, each of them with a personal request. One asked him to come back more times, extending an iPad and asking for a photo, which XIA fulfilled right away, with no hesitation, very friendly. Other fans asked him to call Jaejoong. He laughed and said that his friend was probably sleeping at that time. He was also asked to samba but he said he didn’t know how to do it, so, he performed one of the most funny and cute moments of the show: the long-awaited “Angel Face”.

Two ballads came after: Even Though You Already Know, in which XIA was seated to sing, with a background of the Brazilian flag received from the audience; and I Turn Around & Around, which he stood to sing. The singer, in his white coat, walked again over the entire stage and in the chorus extended his microphone so the audience could sing, while they waved their arms from side to side among bubbles. Next it was time for the dancers to perform. With an excited and catchy rhythm, each of them showed a little of their skills to the crowd and was duly cheered by them. The interlude even had the outstanding presence of a little part of Gangnam Style’s choreography from PSY, as well as the remix of JYJ’s Be My Girl, which the fans followed enthusiastically.

One of the “might be” surprises which XIA referred to really caught the fans' attention. In a unique moment, at times alone and at other times followed by his dancers in one song, XIA showed three outstanding vocal performances of two musicals he starred in: The Last Dance from “Elizabeth”, and I am, I am Music and Why Don’t You Love Me from “Mozart”. Not only his vocal ability, full of complicated vibratos and well set sharp notes, but also his acting on stage was received warmly by the surprised audience, who didn’t feel embarrassed and sang along.

Even leaving the stage, the singer didn’t abandon the crowd. In a very beautiful moment, parts of all his shows during the tour were shown on the screen as I Can Soar was played, emphasizing that now he was in Brazil. The stage dimmed, and a red chair was placed at the back, on the highest part of the stage so that everyone could see. The crowd screamed in anticipation, because that was the moment for the debut song of XIA’s solo album, Tarantallegra. Permeated by visual effects, with an extremely demanding dance and without losing a second to breathe, the singer made sure to convey the song’s message by singing it in English. At the end, even in the dark, it was possible to see both dancers and Junsu himself trying to get their wind back after the stunning performance.

Fever followed, demanding all of his prowess and stamina, which didn’t seem to end. With meticulous choreography and perfect highs, XIA continued to walk across the stage showing no sign of fatigue. In specific moments, the songs as they were in the CD didn’t seem to be enough for him and a lot of impromptu came up, sometimes using the audience’s voice as a support; at first shy, but then completely out in the open. After everyone left the stage again, the fans were awarded with his newest single, Uncommited, and its MV; they sang it until the end, unstoppable. Soon it was XIA himself that was on stage performing the song. Letting the crowd sing the final parts, XIA was free to do the back vocals and let his voice shine. Visibly pleased, he waved and left just to come back again and talk with the fans one last time.

“Thanks, I love you! Did you have fun? I also had a blast. You are full of energy. I think it was you that gave me strength to keep on until now. Today is the first time I've performed in Brazil officially. Thank you for your warm welcome. You sure gave me a memory I’ll never forget. I promise I’ll visit Brazil more often. When I said I was going to perform in Brazil, many people asked me if I had fans here. And I was really astonished with your welcome at the airport. I came all loose and lazy, not expecting to find so many people there.” In this moment he laughed at the crowd’s frenzy, more than happy that their reception pleased the artist. Sometimes, XIA yelled at the microphone, mimicking the audience. “It may not be fitting, singing a slow song to you right now, but I wrote this song when I was waiting to find someone special and I Iike it a lot. I don’t know if I’ll manage, but I hope I can pass my emotions to you.”

I don't like love started with piano and XIA, focused in the midst of fog, sang the keys, at first low, then evolving to highs notes at the chorus. Throughout the performance, he gave himself to his music, thrilled and jamming, his feelings grabbing up the fans who couldn’t hold their tears in and cried. The Three Covered in Dew, another slow song, was sung by everyone, while shredded paper flew all over the place. Singing with a musing feeling, XIA most of the time sang slowly, as if listening to the crowd singing to him. The end of the song received a new meaning live, not only because of the jamming sessions, but because of the “saranghe” screams to the microphone extended by Junsu.

Then dancers entered wearing white tour T-shirts, while the song was finishing, announcing the inevitable. Their waves, as well as XIA’s indicated that the show was coming to its end. The crowd waved back, not wanting to let XIA leave. The encore brought another surprise already announced at the other shows of the tour. Fallen Leaves, usually sung by the trio JYJ, this times was only performed by Junsu, its composer. Doing his two bandmates' parts, he finished the song perfectly with his famous high note.

It was a show of full exchange from beginning to end. Although he entered the stage a little shy, the audience showed him perfectly how to behave during his performance, letting him get comfortable enough to explore his voice range, to dance without shyness and to feel thrilled. It was a beautiful show for all there to remember.

Setlist:

01. Breath
02. No Gain
- MC -
03. Lullaby
04. Intoxication (Korean ver.)
05. Set Me Free
06. You're so beautiful
- MC -
07. Even Though You Already Know
08. I Turn Around & Around
- Solo dos dançarinos -
09. The Last Dance (Musical Elizabeth)
10. I am, I am Music (Musical Mozart)
11. Why Don't You Love Me (Musical Mozart)
12. Tarantallegra (English Ver.)
13. Fever
14. Uncommitted
- MC -
15. I Don't Like Love
16. The Tree Covered in Dew

Encore:
17. Fallen Leaves