Torrential Rain

1 Feb 2007

Korean pop sensation Rain mesmerised his fans in Kuala Lumpur last weekend with a brilliant concert that showcased his singing, dancing and wash-board abs to stunning effect. CHOW EE-TAN writes.

YOU probably can't name his songs but you would have heard his name.

Korean pop sensation Rain is a phenomenon that has swept Asia by storm in the last year. So much so that the 24-year-old whose original name was Jung Ji-Hoon was listed by Time magazine as one of the World's 100 Most Influential Persons and second most influential in entertainment!

Imagine the buzz and hype generated when Rain was to hold a live concert in Kuala Lumpur as part of his "Rain's Coming 06/07 World Tour".

Last Saturday's concert at Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil, presented by Hotlink and organised by CMG Absolute Entertainment, was an extravagant event and a top-class production featuring state-of-the-art stage design and stunning visual effects.

Rain's brilliant and innovative dance choreography would just blow you away. The audience was also awed by his stamina as he practically danced non-stop throughout the two-hour concert.

The concert opened with the screen displaying (what else) rain effects, a large submarine bursting open and Rain, clad in dark glasses and silver jacket, jumping out to thunderous yells and screams.

From then on, the music linked seamlessly from one song to another — beginning with fast ones like It's Raining, Touch Ya and Why of All Things.

However, no one, except his Korean fans (quite a number were at the concert) would understand what he was singing. English translations came on only for a few songs.

But then again, no one really cared what he was singing as they were busy gawking at his electrifying footwork, his seductive body movements and every little gesture that came from his well-toned torso.

Rain knew exactly how to turn his fans on. He would playfully shake his booty, and for one or two more passionate songs such as In My Bed, he did a rather crude pelvic-trusting movement that sent his fans into a frenzy.

Those who had hoped to see him rip off his shirt were in for a disappointment. Rain kept his clothes on as he had to respect our local laws.

The sexiest moments were when his long-sleeved white shirt was drenched in the man-made rain and when he took off a jacket to reveal a tiny singlet that showed his wash-board abs.

One of the high points of the concert was when he sang I. Soaked in the “rain” at the centre of the stage, he fell to his knees at one point and the music stopped. He hit one note and sustained it there, the visual and sound conjuring a rather poignant moment.

A song that was almost devoid of sexual innuendoes was Friends, written for World Vision (of which he is an ambassador).

During the chorus of that song, he was elevated on a platform, his arms stretched out wide, fusing perfectly with the image of a gigantic pair of angel’s wings.

While his performance was top-notch, Rain somehow lacked the charisma that could connect him with the audience.

Speaking in raw and stiff American-accented English, Rain’s words came across as something rehearsed, like something he would say at every concert.

He called the audience his "babies."

"Don't forget I will always be with you, my baby. I love you, my baby," he cooed in-between songs.

But such soppy and emotional lines were enough to melt all his fans hearts.

Once he got a bit carried away and said: "I love your face, I love your heart, I love your body!"

I was cringing but his adoring "babies" obviously didn't mind it.

To them, Rain is a demi-god that could do no wrong.

Behind the sexy, cold facade
RAIN was in a much relaxed and amiable mood at a brief Press conference the afternoon of his concert a lucky break for the Malaysian media.

The Korean pop sensation was reported as "cold" and "non-expressive" in Hong Kong and Singapore, where he also wore shades throughout.

But in Kuala Lumpur, we could see Rain's cute, small eyes. Looking neat in a long-sleeved white shirt, dark pants and tie, he smiled and dutifully answered questions posed through an interpreter.

He was soft-spoken and polite, quite a contrast to the sexy and wild image he portrayed on stage.

To a question why he's so popular especially among the female fans, Rain modestly replied that he didn't know but added that he always gives his best in his music and performing.

He said he would work on fusion pop and continue to challenge himself to come out with more good music in the future.

The singer also attributed the popularity of K-pop to the strong foundation that some of his seniors had laid.

"The most essential tool for me to make it on the international front is to improve my English," he said, in response to another query.

Rain, who starred in popular drama series such as Full House and A Love to Kill, will also be working on some drama series soon.

He has received "quite a lot" of scripts but will only look at them after his world tour.

The "Rain's Coming" world tour will take the superstar to Vietnam, China and Japan as well as the United States.

The tour is sponsored by Korean Air, which has put up a staggering US$1.8 billion (RM6.4 billion) for the concerts, and even allocated an aircraft with Rain’s photo on it. —

By Chow Ee Tan

source: NewStraitsTime On-line e-news
sitelink: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Thursday/Features/20070131153743/Article/index_html