Inkigayo PreRecording [TVXQ Comeback_Catch Me]

Inkigayo [12.10.03]

TVXQ COMEBACK

I will start by saying this is the longest recording I’ve ever been to. And apparently, the longest in SBS Inkigayo history? 대~박!

After an 8pm check on Tuesday night followed by a 6:30 am check and an 8:30 am check, I was the 68th person of the carded members.

After the 8:30 am check, the official fan staff passed out mini-posters, a stamp card, and the fan chant. Around 9:30 am, the fan staff announces that everyone above 150 can go and come back at 12:30. That only the first 150 are getting into the prerecording for the intro, which was supposed to start at 10 am.

However, we sat in line waiting from the green light from someone inside. We didn’t end up going inside the building until 11 am and weren’t actually allowed in the studio until 11:25. While we were standing in line to go into the studio, HoMin came through the stairwell and everyone freaked out. Once the fan staff calmed everybody again, we entered the studio.

INTRO (23 takes+)


The set looked like a futuristic parking lot with steel looking walls and columns and lines of fluorescent lights all around. The stage looked like it was raised about 1 ft. and a sub-floor had been put down. There was also a screen in front of the stage. I ended up in the standing section: middle of the 4th row.

The boys came out and they looked so amazing! Yunho wore a red suit while Changmin wore blue. Both suits had gold filigree that looked like abstract fireworks on the legs and jacket. They went up on stage and stood on a pop-up platform that lowered them down. When it reached the bottom, they had to kneel down and wait for their cue.

The screen projection was so cool. It started out with the Chinese TVXQ characters and played an instrumental of Catch Me in the background. In the video, Yunho was fire and Changmin was water (reminds me of their superpowers in “Why?”). Anyway, they dance and multiply themselves. It is really cool and really well done. I cannot imagine how long it took the boys to film all those movements with the different angles. At the end of the video, they fist touch like in the mv then the boys rise up out of the trap door in the stage. This is pretty much HoMin's only role in the intro.

This sounds really simple (and it is) and I’m sure all the staff assumed this would be a quick filming. However, it ended up taking no less than 23 takes. This is the most takes I’ve ever witnessed for any group. I tried to keep count, but honestly towards the end the takes sorta ran together. The failed takes were due mostly to the video projection and fans, not the boys.

After the first take, Yunho came over to monitor what had been filmed. It seemed like a good take, however someone in standing fist pumped the air and it was in the shot. The Inki PD yelled at us not to get anything in the shot. The 2nd take was due to the video freezing toward the end (Changmin was really shocked when they were asked to do it again). Then in the 3rd take someone raised their hand again and it was in the shot. This time we were really yelled at by the PD. Also, at the end of the video projection, a “time slot error” popped up on the screen. Yunho and Changmin both watched their performance playbacks very seriously.

Keep in mind that during all these failed takes due to video errors, HoMin had to stay crouched in the trapped door waiting for their turn to come out. The PD would sometimes walk over while they were sorting out the kinks and tell them that they could stand and stretch their legs, which Min did gladly. After the 6th take, the boys went backstage while the computers were restarted. They really seemed frustrated and I didn’t blame them. The fans were pretty frustrated, too.

When they came back out, everyone shouted encouraging things, like “Oppa, fighting!” or “Oppa, hang in there!” Min smiled and it was super cute.

Takes 7, 8, 9, and 10 were all failed takes due to the video freezing. Thankfully, this time the staff would immediately say cut as soon as they saw the video freeze up.

Takes 11 & 12 seemed like good takes, but they still wanted the boys to do more. I don’t know whether they were looking for 1 excellent take to play all the way through or whether they were filming different angles and needed a few good takes to splice together.

Take 13 was failed due to the video and Take 14 had a late pop-up from the boys. Again, they went down to monitor the playbacks and then went back on stage. Fans yelled out “Oppa, fighting” and Yunho smiled.

Then they played back the video projection while the boys were on stage. It kinda looked cool with that dual image of them on the screen and behind the screen. Then they went down the trap door again.

Take 15, 16, & 17 were due to the video freezing up.

Take 18 was a good take then the boys went backstage. They come back out and Yunho had a mic. He gave us a long speech asking us if we were having fun, thanking us for being there, how wonderful Cassies are, etc. Then he said something about Yunho fans and Changmin fans and I didn't understand that part. He also thanked the staff for all their hard work. Then he hands the mic to Min and he pretty much says “Yeah, Yunho pretty much said everything that I want to say. Thank you.” Extremely short-winded, our Changmin.I was both exasperated and amused. There were lots of Changmin fans who screamed for him and Yunho was nodding when it happened.   

Take 19 was also good. Yunho clapped his hands as if he knew that was a good take. Then they both went to the monitor to watch their playbacks.

Takes 20, 21, 22, & 23 were just of the ending part where the staff blows smoke around and the boys rise out of the trap door.

Finally, the staff signaled the OK! and the boys went out the emergency exit. We went into the studio around 11:25 am and we left around 1:10 pm. We were filed out and brought to the elevator. As we passed the stairwell doors, we saw Yunho going into the dressing / break room.

There wasn’t much fan interaction because the boys were so focused on getting this done and they were crouched under the stage for most of it. 


After the intro, we joined the other fans who had already come back. We then sat outside and practiced the Catch Me fan chant. The Catch Me prerecording should have started at 1 pm, but we all knew that wasn’t going to happen because the filming schedule was already behind. Staff eunnie told us that she didn’t know exactly when we were going to go in but that we’re on standby. So, in the meantime all the SM Supporters went around and helped us practice the fan chant. We did this from 1:15 until 2:25 pm. We lined up and went inside the building at 2:25 but we didn’t go in the studio until 2:45. The staff all gave us slogans to hold. See image here: http://twitpic.com/b0iv2k          credit: (@DeniseJCChen)

TVXQ 06 U-Know & Max
       C A T C H  M E

CATCH ME (9 takes)


The set was pretty much the same as the intro except they suspended half of the columns.  I somehow ended up in 2nd row standing along the security rope on the right. So, I was pretty much facing the emergency exit door that HoMin and the dancers used to go from their break room to the stage. The boys had done a practice run before hand because the camera crew were running a playback of it and they were going over it and coordinating camera angles.

The emergency exit door opened and I could see one of the cordi-noonas sewing one of the dancers outfits. The boys came out and they were so handsome. I thought their suits were blue from the playback, but they were more purple than blue.  They also had the light up armbands ala the MV.

Once everyone was on stage, Yunho rallied everyone together and he gave everyone a pep-talk. Yunho is such a cool, charismatic guy. Then they did the "동방신기 파이팅!" TVXQ fighting! on stage.

There were some fans screaming in the seating section and I think the choreographer, Tony Testa, may have been there. Not sure, though.

I was there for about 4 takes. If there was any doubt, this is a HARD DANCE! All the dancers DIED after each take. Halfway through the song, during the dance break, sideways-leg-waddle step, you could tell that they were using every scrap of energy they had.  Each take was great and wonderful and I lost my head screaming so much.

After the 1st take, the boys immediately left the stage for the break room. Changmin had his dying face on (the one he makes during concerts when he's really winded and sweaty?) and Yunho met with a staff member who gave him a bottle of water which he immediately chugged.

They came out for the 2nd take. I felt bad for the two dancers in the front. They were down on all fours with one of their arms raised back. It seemed like their backs were hurting them from staying in this position. After the take, everyone was so tired. Changmin power-walked offstage. Yunho patted the dancers' backs who were sitting on the stage trying to catch their breath. As they were heading off stage, he wrapped his arm around the waist of one of the dancers and they went down the stairs together. Even though he was so tired, Yunho still looked at us and waved halfheartedly to the audience.

For the third take, everyone was screaming "Fighting!" for the boys. This take was particularly fantastic. Everyone was in sync and perfect. However, during the last gorilla stomp when they were kneeling on the floor, they got these really determined looks on their face like they were summoning the last dregs of their energy. I was starting to get really worried for the boys. Changmin seemed to have jelly legs after that take and he almost tripped going down the stairs. Yunho went straight backstage.

For the fourth take, the crowd chanted "Hang in there!" to the boys when they came out. Changmin did a fist pump in the air. Our Yunho-fan section in standing all shouted "Yunho fighting" and he gave us a thumbs up. The dancers really had a hard time. Yunho helped them up and patted them on the back. He put his arms around 2 of the dancers and helped them down the stairs off stage.

SBS apparently didn't want standing for the next two takes, so just the standing people were kicked out into the hall around 4:15. =((((
While outside, we saw HoMin's bodyguard, manager, and staff come back from the 7-11 with tons of water for the boys and dancers.

After two takes, we were sent back in. HoMin had changed their outfits. Now, they were wearing brown suits with sparkly brown sequins. Instead of the LED lights, their armbands were made out of metallic gold material. I don't know if they are prerecording for the 2nd inkigayo or what, but there was a wardrobe change.

This is my 5th take, but the 7th take for the boys. When he came back on stage, Yunho bowed to the audience. After this take, 4 dancers sat on the stage while the sweat dripped from their faces. Yunho was off the stage quickly with a big smile. He waved to the audience before going to the break room.

While the Inki PD was walking around doing his thing, he was softly singing Catch Me. It was really cute!

8th take:  When the boys came back out, there were big cheers for Changmin and he had an embarrassed smile on his face. Yunho was really sweet and smiled at the girl in front of me. ^^

This take proved that the entire standing section was full of pervy mc-pervs when we all freaked out when we saw the boys boxers. kekeke~ Changmin has red & blue boxers and it looked like Yunho had a brand like Tommy Hilfiger or Calvin Klein.

This was another good take. The staff eunnie came over and told us when the boys come back out to do "1, 2, 3, TVXQ Fighting!"

9th take : This was the last take. Changmin came out on stage first and held up one finger, telling us we were going to do one more take.

At the end, they were given mics. They were both breathing really heavily and neither wanted to be the first to give the speech. They kept gesturing back and forth to each other. I think Yunho realized pretty quick that Changmin definitely wouldn't start first.

Yunho thanked all the Cassies for coming and to continue to support TVXQ. He said that Catch Me was a really hard stage and that Cassies gave them the strength to do all the many takes. He said that Cassies were the best! He also thanked the staff for their hard work through the filming.

Changmin lifted the mic to his mouth and the entire seating section erupts in screams. 
Then Changmin says "SHUT UP!" This just makes the fans scream more. Oh, Changmin. Why do we crave your snark?
He pretty much repeated everything Yunho said and how thankful he was to the fans and staff. Then he ended with "I like you all."
Fans: KYAAAAAA~! *o*

I DON'T KNOW (3 takes with 2 false starts due to set issues)

So, we finally go out of the studio around 6 pm. The staff told us that if we wanted to stay for the "I Don't Know" prerecording we needed to be back at 8:30 pm for check in, but that the recording will probably last until midnight.

So, I get there at 8:30 pm and the staff announced that the prerecording will start around 10 pm. It was delayed until midnight due to issues with the set design (this is my assumption). We were brought into the SBS building around 9:30 but we pretty much sat in our lines until midnight when we were allowed in the studio.

The SM fan staff brought us energy drinks and chocopies around 11:30 pm to help us last through the night! That was really nice of them. ^.^ Also, SBS provided buses for fans who live further away (Bucheon, Songpa, Nowon, Seocho, etc.) This is actually not uncommon. Shows like Star King and Strong Heart film two episodes in one day, so sometimes this can run quite long. If the recordings run after the trains stop, usually they'll provide buses for the audience to get home, unless you live relatively close and can take a taxi.

When we were all inside the studio, the PD came on stage with a mic and said, "Cassieopia, Annyonghaseyo!" He repeated what the staff eunnie told us about the buses and we all cheered our thanks. He appreciated that we came to support despite the long hours.

The set was amazing! It was like a rusted, industrial steel tunnel with swinging sapphire pendulums in the back. The set was amazing and I can see how going from the Catch Me set to this set was a challenge. I'm pretty sure the set was the reason behind the extreme delay of this recording.

The dancers came out in black suit jackets and white/black patterned pants. Yunho looked really hot with his hair straightened, a black jacket over a white dress shirt, and a ruby broach. Min wore a white/black vertical striped jacket, a silk print shirt underneath, and white pants.

Again, HoMin were given mics to address the fans. Yunho said, "Ah, I'm going crazy" in his jeollado accent. The crowd went wild.

Min thanked us for being there and apologized for having us stay so late. The Cassies all said "It's okay!" Changmin got the cutest wide-eyed "innocent" look on his face and said, "Ah. Really?" (Ah. Kurae-oh?)  SO CUTE!

First they do a run-through, so they didn't dance their full strength. There's a really adorable part in the I Don't Know dance where Changmin high-fives the dancer with red hair.

One of the dancers stepped on the broken stage where the wood sags and gives under pressure. He had a shocked look on his face and looked at Yunho. Yunho seemed really unhappy about the stage being broken and not fixed.

After a short break with the cameramen coordinating the camera angles, Yunho rallies everyone together on stage to motivate everyone and then they do the "동방신기 파이팅!" TVXQ Fighting!

Everyone gets into position for the real take. I never noticed before but Changmin does lots of vocal exercises: saying mum-mum-mum-mum-mum, stretching his tongue and jaw, etc.

The pendulums started to swing behind them and they were all fascinated. They kept looking back at them. All of a sudden, we all heard a loud crack when the two pendulums accidentally collided. HoMin and the dancers jumped back and everyone was surprised. Part of the metalwork on the pendulum broke and needed to be reattached.

Yunho looked at us was like "Ah! They've got to fix that." They all moved to sit on the stairs while they waited for the SBS staff to fix the problem.

Take 1: The boys come back on stage and Changmin starts doing waist twists. The PD calls standby which means everyone needs to be quiet and one of the dancers starts coughing, which makes Changmin giggle. ADORABLE~

So, they danced all out for this take. Every time I see this dance performed live, it reminds me that Yunho is a damn good dancer. He is sharp, precise, and his body matches his facial expressions perfectly. Yunho has the BEST facial expressions during this song. He is really charismatic and I cannot stop watching him during this number.  Also, Changmin has really improved in matching Yunho and the other dancers. I was really impressed with him. Although he may not have Yunho's sharp precision, he makes up for it with his musicality. He grooves with the music and it adds to his dancing.

After this take, the boys were walking to the right of the stage and I yelled out, "Yunho-oppa! Sexy!" Everyone in standing turned to look at me and laugh. ^.^

During the break, Changmin was sitting a little off by himself, head cocked to one side, staring off into space. Maybe he was thinking about something or trying to reserve his energy.
 Yunho sat on the steps talking to one of the dancers. After a few minutes, they were called back to the stage for another take.

Changmin went his position and started doing vocal exercises and stretching his mouth. Then the pendulums break again. >.< The Inki PD was really not having a good night. The entire staff just wanted to finish and go home, like everyone else. The PD said don't worry about it and just go through with the take.

Take 2:  This was an okay take. Everyone wasn't in sync with each other. It could be due to the pendulums crashing that broke their concentration and it was hard to get back into the dance.

They went to the break room for a bit and then came back for the last take.

Take 3: Yunho really went all out on this take. It was a perfect take. =)

The PD ok'ed it and the boys waved to us as they left the stage. Then we all left the studio and went home. All the buses were outside ready to take people home.
So, if you count from the 6 am check-in to when we all went home at 1:30 am, it was a 19 hour recording, including breaks and wait-time. >.< Need so much sleep...    

Seeing the boys was AMAZING and after so long. I lost my voice screaming for them and at them. Even though it was long and I have to wake up in 6 hours for work, it was all worth it. ^.^