To SONEs, 2011 will be remembered as another year of domination.
It seems like it was yesterday that we took our first breaths in 2011. Not knowing what was in store, it seemed like the only thing to expect out of a new unknown year was more merchandise to purchase in support of the girls. Naturally, that prediction came true, but more came along with it too.
On January 8th, Soshified held a mass meet-up in Koreatown, Los Angeles, for and by SONEs. With less than a week to prepare, everyone struggled, and when the news became public, there were worries if it would attract a decent outcome.
Early in the morning of the meet-up, only thirty people were around to set everything up. However, all worries were dispelled when the doors to the venue, CGV cinemas, were opened. Over 500 people spilled into the theater even though the capacity was less than 300. Though it was upsetting that a large amount of people weren’t able to come in and experience the start of the “Year of the SONE”, it was unforgettable.
There was joy, enthusiasm, and support, and even though there were also criticisms and troubles, the positivity that was started here fueled the rest of the year.
Another meet-up was soon announced, one that would take our great international pink banners to the heart of the girls’ homeland: Seoul, South Korea.
Soshified’s own Soy, sarahbot, and bbzidane flew to Seoul to oversee the first Soshified Seoul Meetup.
sarahbot:
“Just a few short days after the big LA meetup, me, Soy, and bbzidane got on planes and jetted off from our scattered locales in the US to meet up at Incheon Airport for a Seoul adventure.
I knew I was in for something different, but I was not prepared for what an amazing experience the Seoul Soshified Meetup would be. We went in thinking only a few people would be able to come, maybe ten to fifteen people at the most, but attendance was enough to completely fill the coffee shop where it was held. (“앤타르트 (and tarte)” in Songpa-gu was our gracious host – what a cute place!)
Everyone excitedly gathered around to see the Visual Dreams video for the first time and many times after, and we partied together SONE-style until the sun went down.
We then headed to the venue for the Intel showcase, where we were treated to an amazing show, with a jazz performance, celebrity Starcraft match, and finally, the girls! It was only my second time seeing them in person, and getting to see them perform Visual Dreams live was such a privilege. Most people have seen the videos; they seemed to really have fun with it on stage. It was also, of course, my first time watching a performance surrounded by K-SONEs. To my surprise, Sooyoung’s famous shrieking fan was sitting right behind me! It was easy to recognize her once Sooyoung started singing. What a strange and unexpected experience it was to see and hear her in person, really bringing to light the reality of the things we Soshified members are always watching online.
The most important experience on this trip was meeting some of the greatest Soshified users from abroad, and some new friends from Seoul as well. Even though they wouldn’t want to be named, I want to say how incredibly thankful I am to those K-SONEs who are friendly to Soshified and basically put on the meet-up, paying for the food and drinks, driving us around, and arranging for us to see the showcase. It is so touching to remember their hospitality. It’s proof to me that around the world, SONEs are the best.”
Perhaps this had been a relatively humble start to the year, but the year was still young. More wonderful things were still to come.
As most K-Pop fans know, Hallyu has spread feverishly over the past year, but the market for business has been relatively contained within the borders of Asia. Despite this, SM Entertainment took a great stride and soon announced that an SMTown would be held in Paris at Le Zenith.
Dandan87:
“Tickets were bought. The countdown to the concert day had started. As the day came nearer, I became more nervous. Finally, I could meet people who share the same interest, passion, and love for Girls’ Generation as me: SONEs! It was everything I’d imagined. SONEs everywhere, dressed in pink Soshified shirts, holding the pink foam heart in one hand and a pink light stick in the other… A proud feeling came over me. I was proud to be a part of this beautiful fandom and proud to be a SONE.
A three hour concert filled with different stages from different artists, but the highlight was Girls’ Generation. Every time it was their turn, I screamed and jumped like every other crazy fangirl would do. The girls are breathtakingly beautiful in real life and all smaller than I thought.
After seeing them live, I’ve become an even bigger SONE then I was before because I realize that they give me hope on days when I’m having a hard time. They make a smile on my face appear when I’m sad, and they brighten me up when I’m having a bad day. It is like having a bottle with nine energy pills. Each and every one of them have their own charm and power and together. They make my world complete!”
SONEs in Europe finally had their chance to see the girls. After seeing Girls’ Generation perform in person, the anticipation and craving just to see the girls perform once is replaced with a desire for more. With that, they join many of us who wait for the next chance to see our girls perform for us again.
In addition, there are other gifts that come with being SONE and being Soshified, and sometimes they are pleasantly surprising.
This summer, 100 Soshified members got the opportunity to go to Seoul and learn more about the city and the culture of Korea. To top it all off, they would get a coveted ticket to attend one of Girls’ Generation’s solo concerts. These members came from all over, from Boston, California, Singapore, and Australia and got a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
MoonSoshi9:
“If someone told me at the start of 2011 that I would spend a week in Korea with people I had never met I would have called them crazy. But, because of the power of Girls’ Generation to draw you directly to them, I took a chance and hopped on a plane and had the time of my life in Korea.
Soshified members were literally treated like celebrities as we arrived at Incheon International Airport. A large group of people were waving and holding signs welcoming us, and the media pounced on us with cameras and interviews. Even the next day, when we went to downtown Seoul to the Korea Tourism Organization, media were there to greet us for a press event and more interviews as they followed us around the beautiful Cheonggye Stream.
The day of the Girls’ Generation concert, we lined up early in the morning to buy goods, and of course, the media was there for more interviews. We cheered for Girls’ Generation, sang their songs, and did the fanchants as we waited in line alongside K-SONEs. Once inside the arena, I had the interesting experience of being interviewed by KBS in the standing pit, almost yelling into the mic because of how loud the cheers were for Girls’ Generation members’ UFOs being displayed on the screens. Soshified made its presence known in Korea, and we made it known how important Girls’ Generation was to us and how they brought us to the country.
The concert itself was mind-blowing. One thing since that concert I’ve been saying to fellow SONEs is: “I didn’t think it was possible to love the girls more, but once you see them live, you will.” The girls are masters of fan service, and they noticed Soshified members in the crowd wearing the grey shirts made especially for the trip and holding our pink towels. International SONEs and K-SONEs stood together as one group, SONE, cheering as loud as we could for Girls’ Generation. When the nine girls lined up for “Into the New World”, nearly everyone around me was in tears. It really is something that can’t quite be explained words, the feeling of seeing Girls’ Generation’s passion and performance on stage in person. They are truly unique in their love of their craft and their fans.
The trip as a whole was amazing. We ate delicious food. We shopped in incredible markets. We bought every Vita500 bottle we saw. Coming from America, Seoul was such a unique and interesting place, but what really made the entire experience amazing was meeting fellow SONEs. People from all walks of life came together as one through our collective love of Girls’ Generation. These are people that I now consider real friends. Soshified accomplished something truly special with the field trip to Korea.”
Eventually, the prophecy of Taeyeon’s “Tokyo, Seoul, London, New York” within the song “Mr. Taxi” grew more and more realistic. It was announced that an SMTown concert would be held in New York City, the long-awaited sequel to 2010’s first ever SMTown in the United States in Los Angeles.
With the concert came another event: the first fan meeting with Girls’ Generation in the United States. Finally, international SONEs would get a chance to meet the girls up close and in person. It was an opportunity not to be missed.
SNSDave:
“There was something special about the whole New York experience, not just for myself, but for any attendee. It was the first time SMTown as a whole had made the journey to the East Coast, the first time any K-pop artist had performed at the legendary Madison Square Garden, and the first time Girls’ Generation held a fanmeet outside of Asia. This was a sign that it really was turning into a “Global Generation”.
The concert itself was as astounding as the one I attended in LA, with everybody being on the top of their games, be it SHINee adding a dance flourish in ‘Ring Ding Dong’, Super Junior KRY bringing the house down vocally with ‘Sorry Sorry Answer’, or DBSK taking the stage to a reaction like no other. Girls’ Generation was no slouch either, delivering their usual set with extra flair and oozing charisma, looking for an excuse to give fan service whenever they got the chance. The highlight of course was ‘The Boys’ being performed for the first time live in English, but anytime Girls’ Generation steps on stage can be counted as a highlight for most SONEs.
The fanmeet was something out of a dream. Not only would it be Girls’ Generation interacting with their fans, but it would be something done in conjunction with Soshified, and something I was privileged to work at. No doubt, it was not an easy task, with the behind-the-scenes crew of select Soshified staff working furiously to ready the venue and ‘script’ the event. For anybody who only witnessed the fanmeet via YouTube, the atmosphere was one you had to be there to remember or even comprehend. From the time the girls stepped on stage to perform ‘The Boys’, to the curtain call at the end, the energy was clearly bursting at the seams, and while it was sad to see the girls leave, it was the beginning of another chapter in SONE and Girls’ Generation history: the entry into the US market.
I could not possibly end without speaking about not only the concert, and the fanmeet, but the people I met with and who were with me at the time. Be it first time people I met while distributing bundles, or SoCal SONE who had made the trip out and whom I’d known for a year, everybody contributed something to my experience with not a hint of negativity. The high point for me was not the concert, not the fanmeet, not even the hug from Tiffany, but the people I met and the experience we had together in the Big Apple. If nothing else, while I will always look forward to seeing Girls’ Generation again, I look forward to seeing my friends, Soshified members and SONEs alike, even more.”
The joys of New York were well reaped by the loyal fans of the United States, but across the world, other SONEs were gearing up for their own chance at seeing the girls.
Singapore would hold two concerts over two days, and thousands of fans would dedicate at least four hours to nine angels as their hands waved in the air holding a glowing mechanism of pink.
LetsGo:
“The day had finally come: December 9th, the fateful day when Singaporean SONEs would unite as one to support Girls’ Generation. When we all were about to move into the stadium, all I felt was anticipation and excitement. All I was thinking was, ‘I’m finally going to see them!’ When I entered the stadium, the atmosphere wasn’t as high as I thought it would be as the stadium wasn’t fully filled yet. When the stadium did become filled, and when the concert was about to start, the lights were doused and I could finally witness and be a part of what I could only see in pictures, the legendary ‘Pink Ocean’. The fanchants for all of the songs that Girls’ Generation performed were deafening. Then came the song ‘Into the New World’. I dare say that ‘Into the New World’ holds a really significant and special place in all SONEs’ hearts, as it is THE song that kicked off Girls’ Generation start and all of the other achievements that were soon to come.
Despite all the cultural differences and language barriers that we might have, all SONEs have one thing in common: our never-ending love for Girls’ Generation. This has somehow connected all the differences we may have, and we all come together as one. One SONE.”
Of course, this was only a part of what SONEs can do and the bond SONEs share (more testimonials can be read in the SSF Fan Accounts section). The amazing turnouts in Japan and Taipei, in addition to the girls’ aforementioned concerts, and the support these girls have received throughout the year, wherever they went for whatever they did, is only a testament to the strength and love only SONEs can give. Every concert and every appearance was dominated by adoring fans, so much so that the girls could feel the love and naturally return it.
With 2011 coming to a close, one can look back and relive all the memories that made this year unforgettable. And with a new year approaching, it gives SONEs another round to match this amazing year, or perhaps even better it. It would be no surprise if SONEs do indeed better their performance, because SONEs only strive to be the best, especially for their girls. And this time, SONEs will expect to do more from the start than just buying Girls’ Generation merchandise.
Photos by: SM Town, Soshified Photo Gallery, doe@soshified, cedge@soshified
Written by: Ukigumo@soshified, residentbenchwarmer@soshified, SNSDave@soshified, sarahbot@soshified, DanDan87@soshified, LetsGo@soshified, MoonSoshi9@soshified
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Wow, what a year. I have surely missed a lot since I’ve been quite busy for college but I’ll make sure that I support them in 2012. I do hope they visit philippines. :) SNSD, please.
Any year with SNSD still going strong is a year to remember and love. ^^ SNSD just makes my days so much brighter and fuller. I honestly can not imagine life without their voices and their dorky adorable selves. 2011, though, might be the most important year of my life. I saw them – live in concert at SMTOWN NYC. It still baffles me that I saw them live and on stage. Looking back, it was like a dream (but I have the videos to tell me otherwise, lol). My biggest regret though, was that I wasn’t able to make it to the fanmeet. Till today, it still hurts thinking back. I cried while watching the fanmeet, haha.
SNSD makes any year a good year for me. (: ♥
I want to be lucky like the rest of you S♥NEs that got to see the angels in person. I hope 2012 will be the year I be so lucky. 1st I need a job though so I can start save some money for when the time comes I’d be set financially and hope to god nothing gets in my way. Thanks for sharing SSF. :D
happy new year soshified and the girls
Happy New Year mylove ^^
Oh my gawd yes! 2011 was Girls’ Generation’s year!! And a year I will never forget~
So many memories, perhaps not as amazing as some SONEs, but amazing enough for me.
Met many wonderful SONEs and k-pop fans this year, many who I now call my friends. Saw many amazing things because of Soshi, and hope that the coming year will be even more amazing for Girls’ Generation and SONE.
I wish in the year to come i will able to join all SONES to shout in ONE stadium for SNSD’s concert. That was my wish…i want to go for SNSD concert so much….huhuhuhuhuhu…but my study life really block me from doing all that and most of all MONEY!
This year was amazing for Soshified, SONEs, and SNSD. Soshified and SNSD had many accomplishments. This year was most definitely a Global Generation! I got to travel a lot this year and got to see them live twice ^_^. Coming from where k-pop is little known, I was happy I got to meet SONEs face to face, and it was fun sharing a common interest like this. I would be traveling alone from my hometown, but it was these SONEs that made my travel and concert fun and comfortable. I miss you guys and wish you the best in 2012. Let’s meet up again and make 2012 another year to remember!
SNSD insipred me XD ALOT!!! im getting crazy for them!! Hope 2 c SO NYUH SHI DAE soon in Malaysia!
2gether as 1 SONEs!!! Proud to be a SONE!! GIRLS GENERATION FOREVER!!!!!!!
This year was so special for me…you know why??
it’s the year that i knew OUR GIRLS in it more and more..
it’s the year that let me feel like i’m born again..
it goes as days … but because these days were with SNSD, so we;ll never forget it..
Well, they’ll keep dominating the world with their music!
it feels like yesterday,yes? We can expect more from them this 2012 so let’s watch out :)
To SNSD! that will soon be above #1! Well, they are on the top now. :)
*Sones cheers*
it has truly been a magical year T.T so many things and events i wish i couldve taken part in and supported the girls…but for what it counts i was supporting them and cheering them on in my own way from where i am…..im so proud and glad to be part of this awesome community thats filled with so many good and awesome ppl supporting one cause….and YES, i agree ITNW will always be special in the hearts of SONEs…reminds me of how this all started….wish i had a TIME MACHINE to go back and relive so many of those special moments this year(aha did u see what i did there ^^)….these girls have really brought so much joy and purpose into my life…thanks so much for everything girls..all the tears we shed with the girls, all the moments where we laughed with them, and all those concert moments where we partiedlike there was no tomorrow…..it shall be my new years reso to go out and meet many more sones and take part in soshified activities!!!!!!!!! it really is a SO NYUH SHI DAE, today, tomorrow, and forevermore…may 2012 also be a Girls Generation year…..as it will always be, in the hearts of SONEs
Happy New Year, one and all
지금은 소녀시대!
2011, a great year for me as a sone. I personally was an anti of our 9 girls at first, judging them and making insulting remarks about their singing abilities, acting, and even if they got plastic surgery. I wasn’t as severe as a typical ‘Soshi Hater’ but to me back then, I didn’t realize their overall talent, personality and charms. I’m now glad that I wondered onto youtube, looking for something entertaining to watch and happened to stumble upon a variety show. In that moment, my life changed. That was back then in 2009 but now in 2011 and soon to be 2012, I am a hardcore, loyal Sone. 2011 was a great year for our girls, and Soshified itself. Having our girls tour in Japan, participate in SMTown, go to Singapore, travel to Europe, and even to the U.S really made me happy. Knowing that all 9, (Taeyeon, Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun) loved Sone’s touched my heart. Soshified is a large and great community where all Sone’s can gather to spazz, love, write, and even adore our girls. Just being able to spend another joyful year together with Soshified and SNSD makes me realize how much I genuinely love and care for both. Every event during the year 2011 will stay in my heart, adding another year of happy memories to my life. In 2012, I hope for only one thing. I hope that our girls will continue to do what they love. The year 2012 will surely be another huge year filled with, happiness rumors, spazz worthy moments, heart aches, tears, worry and excitement. For those sone’s who have joined our family, I welcome you to an experience you will never forget.
To future sones in the year 2012, I will tell you one thing, get ready to lose your heart to 9 perfect girls.
Right now it’s, Girls’ Generation!
In the future, Girls’ Generation!
Forever, Girls’ Generation!
지금은 소녀시대!
아프로도 소녀시대!
영원히 소녀시대!
영원히 9 – Forever 9
태연 – Taeyeon
제시카 – Jessica
써니 – Sunny
티파니 – Tiffany
효연 – Hyoyeon
유리 – Yuri
수영 – Sooyoung
윤아 – Yoona
서현 – Seohyun
I hope everyone has a safe new years. I hope to connect with more Sone’s in 2012. Everyone take care.
Love,
Jane <3 a proud to be sone. <3
This is so amazing.. I’m glad Girl’s Generation has touched so many of us and made our lives a lot more fun and loving :P ^^
SNSD forevah~!! lol
Thank you Girls’ Generation and SONEs for making 2011 even more memorable for me(:
I have made friends with so many sones(:
Girls’ Generation and SONEs hwaiting!
May 2012 be filled with more wonderful events!
지금은 소녀시대!!!
앞으로도 소녀시대!!!
영원히 소녀시대!!!
<3 Girls' Generation and Sones forever(:
So much has happened this year. I discovered them. They conquered Japan. They entered the US. Looking forward to another wonderful, SoShi-filled year!!!!
SONES and Soshi, lets make miracle again in the coming 2012. It’s been a wonderful year for SNSD and judging from the love they received, 2012 is definitely gonna be amazing as well, or even better, lets make the mountain higher, fill it with our love and passion. :D
Happy New Year SNSD and SONE!
It truely was an incredible year to be a SONE, I still can’t believe that it has not hit me that I was able to see them during SMTown NY, I never thought I would be able to see them live being from the East Coast of the States.
Incredible 2011! I became a SONE in Sep. SNSD, you complete my life! Come to Hochiminh city, we will show how nice Vsones are :)
soshi’s concert in sg is one of the best thing that happened to me in 2011~
been waiting for it since into the new world concert tour..
cant believe our girls actually stepped into the tiny dot of our island..
& seeing pink ocean & hearing fanchants through our very own eyes & years!
it has been a very packed year for soshi..
it will still be for the brand new 2012! but hope they will have time to rest & recharge themselves!
have a happi, healthy & fruitful 2012 year ahead soshi & sones! ^^
ikr…SMTOWN pls!!!
SNSD Saranghae <3 The most Kpop group I'll support with all my life time. 2011 is the best year for SNSD and SONE as well. This year is the most unforgettable year for us as ONE BIG FAMILY.
This article is a really nice read . Everything that seems impossible is made possible because of the mutual love that every sones have for the girls :) 2011 is a great year for both the girls and sones and i believe that 2012 will be another great year !
Soshi , sones, and soshified are the best ! ^^
Yeah. Honestly, I started to have my SNSD Fever this April. 2011 is really a year to remember for me. This is the year when I’ve been infected with the SoShi Virus.. LOL! And seriously, it is TOO high! SNSD dominated my heart this 2011!!! I can’t believe it, I’m thinking of them day and night XD They are also my inspiration :) GO SNSD GIRLS’ GENERATION! WE LOVE YOU!! SONES ARE ALWAYS HERE FOR YA!! GO GO FIGHTING!~
Yeah, this year was amazing for SONEs and the girls.
We will always support SNSD ! for ever !
i think the fan accounts of the experiences was a great touch. great article. i have been a sone for about two years now, but the sone i was versus the sone i am now i think has drastically evolved over the year of 2011. there were several events that contributed to the deepening love and appreciation i have for the girls. the first was the uk soshified meetup. this was the first time i had ever seen fans of snsd, other than myself in the flesh. i hope you will understand why this moment was so important for me. i had been a sone for over a year and never seen a sone before this day. it was so wonderful to confirm all the hopes i had had in my fellow sones. the kindness, the enthusiasm, everything that i hoped for was there, in that room, in london. i will never forget the friends i made that day. i was then lucky enough to barter a ticket off a stranger for smtown live in paris. that stranger, along with another concert-goer became two of my best friends. even though one lives in europe, one in asia, and i live in the usa, i speak to them more often that i do the people i live a few minutes from. sones are just that great. and seeing the girls in person, the recognition they gave all of sone, this is what made me fall in love with them. there was no turning back after that. and i also got to see smtown live in nyc. i was so happy for the girls and so proud that i was able to share in this monumental moment with them. and i also was able to introduce some of my friends to kpop and soshi as well. now i was not only holding the fort in my corner of the world, making sure soshi stayed here, i was beginning to spread the word. there were so many events, big and small, that we all shared in that i could mention here that changed us all for the better, but these are the three that allowed me to evolve. if you think i’m crazy for my donation, and more to come, that’s fine. just read this and maybe it will make some sense. i am even going to try for the pr specialist opening. i owe these girls. i owe sone. you have given one of the best years of my life and i am sincerely thankful to each of you. whether we became friends, met in person, or online, i am thankful to each and every one of you.