Check them out below or on my YouTube channel!!
Anyway, as some of you might know, last year, 2012 I went back to Korea again!! This time to take part in the 'MBC 대학가요제/ MBC College musicians festival' which turned out to be one of the BEST experiences of my life!! I know I left it a bit late to do a blog about it, but hey!! Better late than never is what they tell me ;)
I might forget some parts :S, so I'll just try to talk about the more interesting parts :P.
So, I found out about this festival by a message I was sent via twitter and to my blog by Nadia, who was in charge of the getting in touch with all the internationals.
After if-ing and but-ing I finally decided to go for it and felt it would be a good opportunity to show case the song I had written in Korean.
I sent the required document, which was a video of me singing my song, the application form and the mp3 of my song to the MBC email address Nadia had provided me with and after a nail biting wait, I was passed through to perform at the festival. I felt so happy.
Now, before I left for Korea it became a very stressful and busy time for me. My dad and I would work late into the night to create and send in music scores and sheets for my songs, create and send them the individual instruments and vocal parts, get pictures of me sent to them ASAP, get every thing they requested done and ALSO get my visa sorted. I almost called it quits in the middle of it all of this because of how much I had to get done in such a short space of time I didn't think I could do it. Especially since not everything was running smoothly and things kept changing. But thanks to my Mum and my Dad who helped with literally EVERYTHING (I love my mummy and daddy :3) it all came together very nicely!
Once everything was finally (almost) sorted it was time to fly out to Korea :D. I flew on my own for the FIRST TIME EVER!! 'Twas exciting :3
On arrival, I was greeted at the airport by a camera man and a lady holding a plaque that said "Welcome, Cherelle" :') and taken to the MBC dream centre building where I finally met Nadia after the many times I had spoke to her on the phone and through Kakaotalk during the organising processes! Oh yeah and the SKYPE interview :D (남우 언니 보고싶어용 ㅠㅠ)
I also met the French band, YAA that day too! :D they were all sleeping in the dressing room when I arrived xD
The MBC building is mega cool, I saw park myungsoo just randomly walking around in the corridors of the building. I think he was there for filming or something.
Anyway, the next day we had a small show case prior to the actually show it was kind of a dress rehearsal/ show case. I got to meet all of the Korean contestants for the first time! (They were all so nice! I miss them so much!!!)
They were soooooooooooo good!! I loved ALL of their songs, like literally ALL!
After having my makeup done (I had to do my own hair >__<) the stylist chose out different dresses for me to wear, but I ended up wearing the black one, since I didn't really like the other ones she picked out. Since my shoe size is none existent in Korea :( I smartly brought my own heels :D
Then it was time for the showcase to start.
It was only THEN I realised how nerve-racking it would be singing a song I wrote myself in Korean in front of a Korean audience. I remember standing at the door by the stage, as I had my in-ear adjusted and seeing a few eyes peering at me curiously. (since this showcase stage wasn't that big, the door were you entered the stage was easily visible by the audience) and then my stomach literally felt like it was doing somersaults. I was sooo nervous.
My nerves calmed down when I got up onto the stage and the audience kindly cheered for me. I even heard a girl at the back shout "와 너무 예쁘지? (isn't she pretty? (Sorry if I don't translate everything right ^^; ))" AhahaHA lol!!!!
That performance went well!! Thank goodness!
This trip I stayed in a Hanok for the whole time!! :D it was amazing experience.
I stayed in an a Hanok before during the Kpop word festival, but we only got to stay one night, so I really got to EXPERIENCE it this time. The awkward bathroom and all xD but it was all good!!
Monique, from America, arrived the day after the show case and we ended up sharing a room ^^
(I miss you Monique!! XD ahaha)
Next, We had a studio session with a famous music producer 황찬희/Hwang chan hee, to re-record the vocals for the MBC대학가요제 album. I was feeling so drained, since I was still jet lagged, and it started to get difficult to record, but I still managed to get every lead and harmony done.
The Hanok owner planned for us to try on a hanbok. I loved it so much! and then we got to made kimchi. We even got to eat the kimchi straight away :D lol
MBC organised for us to spend the next day around seoul with Kwanghee from ze:a. He arrived at the Hanok with a camera crew all cheerful. He is such a happy person OMG! XD We did a small recording session before leaving the Hanok to go to a really expensive restaurant O.o, MBC apparently wanted us all to experience the best Korean food in Seoul. After we left the restaurant Kwanghee ended up having to leave quickly because people started to crowd around to much, but I was surprised because no one was screaming, they just walked behind and took pictures. Korean fans are a lot different I think a lot more pulled back and reserved.
We then visited the Palace (this was my second time visiting here now) and the camera crew got some footage of us wondering around the palace and stuff :P
Then we ended up meeting with Kwanghee again. He apologised for having to leave earlier and said how he missed us xD lol he so cute! We went to namsan tower where we all took the cable cart (I totally started sing "almost paradise" BBF xD) the view was absolutely gorgeous especially since it was night by the time we got there.
(Everyone!! You must go to namsan tower at night and ride the cable cart if you go to/ you are in Korea !! )
Anyway, after doing some more filming with kwanghee. He taught us "소리 질러/ scream" to use on stage :D and said goodbye :( he kept saying how he didn't want to leave us lol xD
We then went to a theatre to watch a dance/ play, something to do with cooking >_< I kinda kept dozing off. Not because it wasn't good, but because I was super tired! Lool.
The day before the actual show we had repeated rehearsals to tests out the real stage, sound, lighting, LED screening and other technical stuff xD
But I must admit, since I had been waking up really early for the past few days to attend all these prepared activities. I was exhausted.
This rehearsal day went on right into midnight. I think I had run my song maybe 3 or 4 times by then so all I wanted to do was SLEEP!
That night we joined the coach with Korean contestants this time, instead of getting in the usual van that usually took YAA, Monique and I around and we stayed in the same place the korean contestants stayed for the night.
So, the next day was finally the BIG performance. We got woken up really early and taken back on the same coach back to the MBC Dream Centre. I ended up sleeping on the coach because I only had 4 or 5 hours sleep, since rehearsals went on so long the day before.
They took everyone out to eat for breakfast, I remember I sat with the band PASSA for breakfast haha :) (이소원 을 말해봐! ^^ <3 ㅋㅋㅋ)
Anyway, we had more rehearsals and they tested out my background LED screen and it was pink, like I requested when Nadia asked what colour I wanted (yes, I like pink :3), but when I finally saw it, it was WAY TOO bright of a pink xD, but I think they this was just temporary and later on they had changed it to what you see in the video of my performance. I couldn't believe they even had all my lyrics up on it too!!
I got to sit and watch sistar rehears as well since I was allowed to just walk wherever without any problems. (I tried to get a 'fancam' but my camera failed me... "
Later on it was time for me to go into hair and makeup again (excluding my hair xD) and then to wardrobe and changed into my dress. And then it was a long wait for the show to start and for my performance. Boy was i nervous! And the fact I was so tired wasn't even helping! I tried to get some sleep in the dressing room, but fail.. So I just gave up and hang around with everyone.
Oh yeah!! Also, I went into the bathroom and as I was leaving Dasom from sistar was about to come in, but she stopped at the door because someone was saying something to her and so I stopped too because she was kind of in the way (LOL) and when she turned to continue walking in, she almost bumped into me and then she bowed and said 안녕하세요! (Hello!) so I did the same lool!
I'll skip straight to the stage now :P.
I was on straight after 하상규 오빠/Ha Sanggyu Oppa ^^
But the thing is I had to come down a flight of stairs before my performance and walk up towards Suzy and another guy, who would then interview me before I sang. Now, the stairs start off up and they lower to reveal me standing behind it. That is all good and well, but I had to be on standby on a terrifyingly high platform, without a hand rail, waiting for these stairs to come down (did I mention I was also wearing heels? Dx)
So when the stairs finally came down, it was almost like I could not wait to get down theses stairs and I almost accidentally stepped onto it before it was fully down xD I remember hear Suzi say "careful!" In English as she saw me clumsily trying to make my way onto this stairs. >___<
I managed to get down the stairs without making the title of my song a reality (I fell for you) lol
And after I did the prior rehearsed interview with Suzy and the other interview whose name I can't remember (even in the interview he asks me, "Do you know me?" After I say I like miss A to Suzy, and I reply to him with "Sorry..." LOL. I'm so proud of myself though, I did the whole interview in Korean :D)
Suzy and the other guy then left the stage and the music started.:D
I looked into the audience and the judging panel (K will was one of the judges :D) and just sang.
I tried to performed as best as I could, trying not to let the fact that I was really nervous and that I felt exhausted show.
And then it was over. One of the judges then said they enjoyed my song and then a few other words in Korean that I didn't understand :3 lol
When I returned back stage, the judges then took a break because I think it was a Kpop artist performing after me, so they weren't needed. K will spotted me backstage and then he said to me "너무 잘 해요!! (well done!!)" and then I did my awkward laugh and said 감사합니다 (thank you) xD I'm such a dork!
The show sadly came to an end, they did the award ceremony, sadly I didn't win anything, but I still was happy with everything I got from this whole experience.
When the show was truly over we all went to celebrate in a restaurant with all the contestants and the staff. We ended up staying out till 4 in the morning and at this point I could have fallen asleep standing up I was so tired. Everyone kept telling me my eyes where half closed lol
Then sadly, it was time say goodbye. ): I wanted to cry so bad but I held it in until I got to 허지영 언니 (Ho JiYoung onnie) and her eyes were watering up and then it got even harder not to cry, so I just hugged her it was so sad!! Haha >____<
I said my goodbyes and headed straight to the airport with Monique, YAA and Nadia.
I feel like I gained so much from this trip! Friends, an experience to remember and another free trip to Korea lol :3 I wish I could do it all again. I actually felt really depressed when I got back home xD I called it Korea withdrawal symptoms lol.
I miss everyone, from the contestants to the staff and I miss every experience that I've had.
I'm really greatful MBC has allowed me to take part in this festival.
THANK YOU NADIA FOR EMAILING ME!!! <3 사랑해요!! ㅋㅋㅋ
You can watch my performance here:
A few pictures :D
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