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(1) “Even without words, something is written Hearts that gave love without any special reason.”
(2) “Since we resemble each other, We can embrace each other wordlessly, we do, we do”
This is how Onew welcomed us in his fanmeeting, by singing his title track, “CIRCLE”, from the album by the same name. It garnered several accolades (WELL DESERVED TBH) like getting #1 on iTunes in 40+ counties, a music show win at Music Core, and of course Billboard’s #1 Kpop album of 2023, and for me this is the perfect song to start Onew’s Guess fanmeeting. Because we literally waited for summer, fall, winter and spring to have him back. After 10 months of hiatus, we can confidently say that ONEW IS BACK. Happy and healthy, Onew is back.

Kicking off the event, Onew performed “SIGN” from his debut album “Voice,” filling the theatre with his soulful voice and making hearts flutter. The intimate setting, perfect acoustics, and his live band (shoutout to Kim Jin Seong on keys and Ahn Jong Jae) created a magical atmosphere.

He also pointed out that for the show he has no MC and for today he is the MC, the Artist and the mood maker all in one.

Embracing the “GUESS” theme, he involved Shawols in guessing games and shared personal stories, making the night interactive and fun.

It started off with “Geunhwangnekeot,” a fun activity where Onew shared what he had been up to recently through four photos. He delighted fans with anecdotes, such as purchasing the same microphone model as one of his band members and mastering the art of taking selfies.

The night was filled with laughter during the quiz game. Onew recalled a past interview where they were asked what type of stage they’d like to perform. Fans threw out several guesses, the loudest being “SEXY,” but the correct answer was actually “FLY.” This unexpected twist had everyone laughing and added to the fun, playful atmosphere of the evening.

Fans were treated to a live performance of five songs that Shawols had longed to hear, starting with “Starry Night,” which Onew performed alongside Shawols, creating a sweet and unforgettable exchange. “Anywhere,” from his album “CIRCLE,” showcased not only his vocal power, but also while “SHINE ON YOU,” from his debut album “Voice,” brought a poignant silence over the audience. This song, written for Jonghyun, holds special meaning, and hearing
it live was a heartfelt gift. Onew performed “CIRCLE” for a second time, highlighting his vocal range and the song’s beautiful message. The set concluded with “Always,” a perfect showcase of his cool, soothing tone.

The concert featured a VCR segment, much to the delight of fans, who clamored for an HD version. After the mini break and a wardrobe change, Onew played “[fan questionnaire] Guess Your Choice” where he was asked to rate the looks he had for his previous comebacks depending on who he thinks Shawols like the most. Onew was definitely surprised by fans’ affection for his eyeglass look during Voice era.

During this segment, they also showed 3 cover songs that the fans loved the most and it was ”Rainy Blue” by Hideaki Tokunaga, “Lies Lies Lies” by Lee Juck, and “Dear Name” by IU. Each song carried deep personal significance, especially “Rainy Blue,” marking his first solo performance post throat surgery during their Tokyo Dome concert in 2014. On top of that he was accompanied by Taemin on the piano for the performance. “Lies, lies, lies.” During its airing, Sea of Hope dominated the ratings, with viewers finding solace in Onew’s heartfelt rendition. Among the many songs he performed, “Lies Lies Lies” stood out as one of the most impactful, resonating deeply due to its profound meaning and Onew’s poignant interpretation.
“Dear Name,” a fan favorite, carries a special charm. IU, a renowned singer herself, has confessed that Onew is her favorite male vocalist, praising his unique and unwavering voice quality. Fans have long dreamed of a collaboration or duet between these two talented artists. Here’s to hoping it happens soon!

In a playful interlude, Onew engaged in games with his band members, with arm wrestling match and a water bottle challenge. One of the night’s funniest moments was Onew’s impromptu search for a normal mic while singing “Baby Shark.” Another amusing segment had him mimicking famous choreographies, and for that show, they chose Riize’s “Get a Guitar”. The song that went viral for its catchy melody and complicated choreography so no wonder Jinki was asking how do they (Riize members’) do that choreography while he was earnestly practicing it. He also asked for “TIPS” on how to do the choreo from Shawols. He managed to do
a cute version of the dance which for me is already a win.

It must be noted that SHINee is one of the boygroups who pioneered innovative choreographies
in Kpop.

“Guess Who I Am” brought fans into the spotlight, it is where we were asked to stand up and answer Yes or No questions about Onew, at the end there were about five or six lucky winners who received signed posters from Onew. He also shared with us his new song and even taught us the fanchant “WOL-HWA-SU-MOK-GEUM-TOH-IL SICK” the first seven syllables being the
days of the week. It was a fun pop song with a catchy melody that is an earworm. Cant wait for it to come out. The encore featured “Dice,” his first solo song post-military service, followed by a touching fan video accompanied by “Shine on You.”

One of the fans pointed out how well the Stage was made as how the made a wordplay with ONEW’s name sign at the back.

Onew kicked off his “Onew Guess” tour with three mesmerizing shows in Seoul on May 17 and 18 This tour will span for three months and will visit seven countries and eight cities, including Osaka, Yokohama, Macau, Manila, Kaohsiung, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Personally, I cannot wait for his Manila leg and I’m really curious on what’s in store for us. It will be handled by LSquared Production.

Onew was absolutely worth the wait. His voice, his presence, his charm – it all made the hiatus
melt away. Hearing him live again was pure delight. Shawols, our wait is over, and it’s everything we hoped for and more!

Article by: @binibiningedda
Photos by: @ONEW_GRIFFIN