march '23 wrap: wanderland, korea, etc.
Hey friend, thanks for opening! In today’s drive-by rundown: Return to Wanderland, we were in Korea for TWICE’s comeback + some odds and ends. It’s been such a busy quarter—I have a feeling you would agree! Also, in the span of less than a month, we went from ‘o, malamig pa rin?’ to ‘pucha narelocate ba tayo sa impyerno!’ LMAO. Hope you’re staying hydrated in this summer heat! -k
WANDERLAND (March 4-5)
When this year’s Wanderland organizers announced that Carly Rae Jepsen was headlining one of the days, C and I looked at each other and laughed. We had bought our tickets blindly last October—way before anyone was even announced—so having CRJ confirmed meant our tickets were going to be SO WORTH IT.
The road to CRJ was kind of long—we entered the gates a couple of performances earlier, so we could secure a good space somewhere in front. It was a nightmare to my knees—at many points, I kept thinking I’m too old for this haha—but in the end, after much perseverance, we eventually got through to the final act: A full CRJ set.
Totally killed our knees dead, I tell you. She sang all the favorites, new and old—she’s as timeless as ever, what can I say? Her 2019 concert was among our last ones pre-pandemic, and I think it’s pretty fitting that she’s among the first acts we got to see again as we slowly went back to our concert-going ways lol. I got to hear Run Away with Me and Cut to the Feeling live again, and The Loneliest Time for the first time ever. I hope it won’t be the last.
When they announced Dashboard Confessional, I was ecstatic. So much incoherent screaming. So much. I’ve been a fan of Dashboard for SO LONG and yet Wanderland was actually my first opportunity to see them live—and they definitely did NOT disappoint.
Like CRJ, Chris Carabba and the fantastic band played new and old songs, but it was the classics that really got the crowd going. I’m just glad to have been there to listen to Screaming Infidelities and the most heartfelt rendition of Hands Down I have ever heard—live, within this lifetime. I first discovered Dashboard in college, nearly two decades ago, and yet I was surprised to find myself actually still able to sing along to the songs, word for word.
So fun, would definitely do again, 15/10.
Seoul for TWICE comeback (March 10)
Okay, first things first: Please stream the music video. Thank you!
Anyway. Once we figured out TWICE’s schedule for their Q1 comeback, we quickly hashed out our plans: This time, we thought we might as well be there (as in, in Seoul) when it drops, so we could buy our albums on the day. We wanted to see what sorts of activations were available, and what the general feel was, so we flew in the day before and figured we’d also do other touristy things as we went along.
We ended up spending nine days in Hongdae, which is now my favorite neighborhood in Seoul. Everything is walking distance—restaurants, cafes, thrift shops, vinyl stores, shoe stores, street food, random outdoor performances, name it and Hongdae has it. (C during proofread: You did not mention adult stores. Me: They were not in any of the pictures!)
The weather was still a bit cold when we got there—it dropped to around 3 or 4 degrees on some nights, and with the wind blowing it was necessary to hold onto heat packs. But the relatively cool weather really made all the walking pleasant. I absolutely loved it, especially in the mornings.
Anyway, on the day of the comeback, we were at the Withmuu LD event in Hyundai Seoul so we could get LD photocards along with our album purchases. It was so fun haha. We watched the video drop in the Starbucks across and yes, our meltdown was very public1.
For this comeback though, TWICE launched their album in New York haha so we were in Seoul (GMT +9) watching a thing premiere in New York (GMT -4 skskskksks) it was crazy, but I love how the girls are going global so itodo nyo lang yan girls very good!!!
ANYWAY I have taken to chronicling our travels via Instagram reels because it’s simply so much more efficient, so—we also did these things:
Figured out how to get to Hyundai Seoul
Made really really good iced coffee
Walked around Seoul looking for even more food and coffee
Took a lot of photos at the self-photo booths for documentation2 purposes lol
I probably owe a couple more—something about food, something about opening merch, something about reacting to a music video??? but that will come later, as I only get to do that on Sundays sksksksksk designated time???
So yeah, to end this, I suppose we could wrap up with—
Things around the Internet: TWICE comeback edition
TWICE also released a full choreography video IN THESE OUTFITS3 they really be out here to kill us ded
Sorry but this Jeongyeon chorus in Set Me Free has me in a chokehold
Only half-TWICE, technically but: Momo joining Kai for this Rover dance challenge on TikTok: TATTOOED IN MY BRAIN. (Kai also joined the Set Me Free dance challenge in turn and according to these guys, they had five minutes to learn each other’s choreography HOW ARE YOUR BRAINS EVEN WIRED GUYS oh my god)
LASTLY: You MUST be aware of the now infamous 230319 Inkigayo Jihyo—so effin’ evil she actually has a THREAD of edits devoted to this specific look
Tingnan niyo naman kasi. Bakit naman kasi ganyan. Explain.
Or maybe not. Maybe just enjoy haha. Thank you for reaching this far guys, I hope you enjoyed the meltdown hahaha. Keep hydrated and see you in the next one!
XO,
K
Ang hirap talaga ng laging me kasabwat guys, pareho kaming enabler, anuna hahaha.
And spent an inordinate amount at a TWICE/Ready to Be-themed photo booth in Hongdae like—what the fuck?? Really, on our last day?? Must we see this only today?? But yeah, we took a lot of photos and it was very fun.
We call this album version the Annual Report version because check out these suits (though I wouldn’t wish this Mina in any board room, let’s be real)