2013.12.07 Hebe @ In Our Time Concert (Video, News)

Posted On December 10, 2013

Official video from the mini concert at Kao Hsiung has been released on Youtube.

In it, Hebe reads off the screen, a short paragraph that she has prepared prior to the concert (Translations after the video). After which, you will be able to watch the live rendition of 矛盾 (Contradicting).

 

I may seem bright and dazzling, but truth is I’m a very dark person.

The moment when I really shine is when I sing on stage,

and everyone of you intensely watch me perform and hear me out.

Only then, do I shine because of you.

So, in any case, I want to thank all of you.

Original Post

我 看似閃亮亮 但其實好晦暗

真正能讓我發亮的時刻是當我在臺上唱著歌

你們用每一雙認真炙熱的雙眼聆聽著我

那時我才因你們而發亮啊

所以怎麽樣都想謝謝你們。

At the end of reading this, she says, “I cannot be perfect in every way, but at least I hope there will be no regrets.”

Hebe cried when she read this and you can see how much she has opened herself up in this small sett8ing of only a 120 audience. If you listen closely enough and watch the video as she sings the song ‘Contradicting”, you will notice that she tries to suppress her emotions at several points. In this mini concert, she shared that this song had its special meaning and recently when she was listening to this song and thinking about what happened, she broke down alone at home.

 

The ‘$500’ Incident

I have kept the $500 in ”, because it is not the amount in question that sparked this whole issue.

The back story:
With only 120 tickets and all of which, snapped up in seconds, hundreds and probably thousands of fans failed to get a ticket to this mini concert. Being used to her holding large concerts, be it solo or in S.H.E, many fans took to her Facebook page to complain and ‘share a piece of their mind’. In the comments, it was not all ugly, but a vast majority, about 70%, mentioned how disappointed they were with the company and Hebe’s decision to hold such a small concert with an incredibly small capacity. They questioned the company’s and Hebe’s motive behind this, if they were that bloodthirsty for money, if they even cared for the fans, if they had given any thought through this matter and if this was in fact an autograph session that turned into a mini concert for sales and profit. (All 120 audiences can sign 1 album each if they had bought it, after the mini concert.)

Add on the fact that this time round, Hebe is only holding 1 autograph session in Taiwan, on the 21st December in Taipei, the fans questioned then, if HIM and Hebe really needed that much money that they cannot even afford to hold these sessions at more places. Some fans added, when it was S.H.E, they loved the fans and cared much for them, but what happened now?

 

During the mini concert:
After performing ‘Contradicting’, Hebe shared on this incident and that both herself and the company were well aware of everyone’s comments. She said, the night before the concert, she was really tempted to cancel the show and refund everyone, since it was receiving so much negative feedback. She felt upset, demoralized and was frustrated over what little she could do. Sharing on the motivation behind this mini concert, she explained that she wanted to do something different and going back to the concept of her album, she wanted something small and intimate, so she can be much closer to everyone. Like a line from the song, 人隔著心就有距離 (You cannot fully resolve the divide between hearts when you are apart), she did not want to opt for a bigger venue or concert than her previous shows and yet, she was getting further away from her fans and audience, it was not what she wanted at all.

With the decision to opt for a series of mini concerts instead, she was aware that there will be some complains and unhappiness over the small capacity. However, the pouring negative comments that flooded her was a bit too much for her to take. She reinstated that, S.H.E loves their fans, so does she. Hence, after breaking down, she did consider cancelling the entire series of mini concerts and instead, try and work out with the company to reschedule her time for 2 more autograph sessions. In fact, the autograph sessions are much more profit-making than any single one of these mini concerts. The concerts operate at a loss. She said to give her some time to speak with the company and see if there can be possibilities of arranging for the autograph sessions if fans really wanted that so much. But she is really at a loss of what to do, because every single column and row on her schedule is fully packed for the next two months. Although mini concerts are a really new thing and something fans are not used to, she hopes that everyone can slowly learn to accept it, because she really wants to do something different, to be closer to her fans and audiences.

 

Her Solution:
At the end of her really rare and long talking (close to 20minutes), she said, ‘This concert is on me’, and she meant it. She prepared 120pcs of NT500 notes, given out to each and every single audience when they went onstage for the autographs. The company was totally unaware of her move and she said she was so nervous before coming on stage because she had to stealthily hide the stack of money inside her pockets. She said, so many of you talk about money, if money is really so important and if she was really only interested in making more of it, it’s alright, this concert is on her. She really does not need it, at least not from this concert. She can take on more commercial shows, try for more advertisements or endorsements to earn it back just so she can have another album or another of this mini concerts. The fans present were reluctant to take the money and were upset as well (some of them cried) and to which she responded, ‘if you find this concert worth your NT500, please, donate this NT500 you receive from me to any charity organization you support. If you find this not worthwhile, then you may spend this NT500 in any way you wish.’

 

This news was picked up by media and press alike, they were sympathetic to her and said this had never happened before, for a singer to refund the paying audience and perform for free.

She spent a great deal of time sharing and explaining on the mini concert and why they decided to go forth with it, knowing that the capacity is way too small for her large fan base. Without letting her company know in advance, she withdrew NT60,000 from her personal account to refund every single one of those who were present, just so that she can let those who did not manage to get a ticket know, she was really not after more money. It is the first time she spoke so long, shared so much, revealed her true thoughts and responded in such a strong way to online comments. This incident really affected her and swayed her so much that she questions if it is worth standing for what she believes is right, to have more sessions of these intimate mini concerts just so she can be closer to those who love to hear her sing.

 

*My note: Please, do not scold those who have left those negative comments. They have apologized on her FB account and are sorry for the negative impact they have caused on her. What’s over is over, truth is, this would have happened anywhere, whichever her first stop was.