MIRTH:
Blogging the delicious, the inane, the delightful, and the laughs of a twenty-something.
Showing posts with label kpop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kpop. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
OH MY GTOP.
They really couldn't have waited until I got to Seoul to record this music video?!?! If you are confused about what I'm talking about, read below.
DOUBLE DOUBLE COMBO!!!
okay let's get back to the important things. I haven't expressed my love for Big Bang on this blog as much as I should have, so let me remedy that right now.
MY BOYS are BACK!
Well, two of them are.
^G-DRAGON
^TOP
This duo from my most favoritest of favorites, Big Bang, are releasing their new album titled "HIGH HIGH" and I for one, am giddy with excitement.
I know many of you will make faces at their very strange outfits and hairstyles. Yes, they look crazy ridiculous, but it's part of their appeal. I know that sounds so weird, but in a cookie cutter generic world of kpop, where everyone looks and sounds the same, G-Dragon & TOP forge their own path both musically and fashion wise. Plus, they're craazy talented and swaggerlicious.
Their performance at the recent MAMA awards (along with taeyang):
Yesterday they had the world premiere/ listening party for their HIGH HIGH album live streamed on youtube. OMG the wonders of technology. If this had been available when I loved NSYNC, then it would have been a completely different sort of stalking... I mean, well, whatever.
Anyway, they release teasers/previews of some of the songs off their new album, and now I will dispense a few of my favorites.
HIGH HIGH Tracks
INTRO - The best intro I've heard in kpop in like 2 years. This should have been made into a full song.
OH YEAR - This song features my favorite kpop voice, Park Bom, of 2NE1. She and G-Dragon & TOP have made songs before in the past and I love this throwback to their beginnings. Plus I think Bom's voice sounds so interesting contrasted with G-Dragon & especially TOP's raspy voice.
DONT GO HOME - I had heard bits of this song before and it remains one of my favorites on the album.
If you are curious, adventurous, or a glutton for punishment, you can check the rest of the teasers here.
MY BOYS are BACK!Well, two of them are.
^G-DRAGON 
^TOPThis duo from my most favoritest of favorites, Big Bang, are releasing their new album titled "HIGH HIGH" and I for one, am giddy with excitement.
I know many of you will make faces at their very strange outfits and hairstyles. Yes, they look crazy ridiculous, but it's part of their appeal. I know that sounds so weird, but in a cookie cutter generic world of kpop, where everyone looks and sounds the same, G-Dragon & TOP forge their own path both musically and fashion wise. Plus, they're craazy talented and swaggerlicious.
Their performance at the recent MAMA awards (along with taeyang):
Yesterday they had the world premiere/ listening party for their HIGH HIGH album live streamed on youtube. OMG the wonders of technology. If this had been available when I loved NSYNC, then it would have been a completely different sort of stalking... I mean, well, whatever.
Anyway, they release teasers/previews of some of the songs off their new album, and now I will dispense a few of my favorites.
HIGH HIGH Tracks
INTRO - The best intro I've heard in kpop in like 2 years. This should have been made into a full song.
OH YEAR - This song features my favorite kpop voice, Park Bom, of 2NE1. She and G-Dragon & TOP have made songs before in the past and I love this throwback to their beginnings. Plus I think Bom's voice sounds so interesting contrasted with G-Dragon & especially TOP's raspy voice.
DONT GO HOME - I had heard bits of this song before and it remains one of my favorites on the album.
If you are curious, adventurous, or a glutton for punishment, you can check the rest of the teasers here.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
KPOP
hear me out. this post isn't going to be what you think.
I HATE KPOP.
You heard me right.
KPOP disgusts me.
KPOP offends me.
But I think I'm jumping the gun a bit. Let me back up a bit.
When I first got into kpop, it was through their dramas--they were fun, over the top, sometimes insanely tragic, but they were, for all intents and purposes, entertaining.
KPOP aims to please.
Then through a rather rapid process I started to like it's music--even though, and quite possibly in spite of the fact that I couldn't understand a lick of it. It started with 2NE1, then extended through Big Bang and the whole of their entertainment company, YG Entertainment. Like every blossoming relationship, everything was great in the beginning. I got see these groups sing and dance on their weekly music shows, I watched the shows they were in--subbed or not, I listened to their songs, I got to know their fandom. Everything was fun and entertaining and deceivingly innocent and lighthearted.
But then I got to know the dark side of kpop.
Kpop singers, whether in a group or otherwise, are dubbed "idols" and every group has its own official fanclub. These fanclubs wage war with each other on a daily basis. DBSK/JYJ have Cassiopeia, Super Junior has E.L.F. (wait for it... Ever Lasting Friends LMAO), 2PM has Hottests, Girl's Generation/SNSD has Sones, Wonder Girls has Wonderfuls, Big Bang has VIP, 2NE1 has Blackjacks... you get the picture.
And in these fanclubs... there's a whole lot of IDOL worship. Fans STAN their idols (stalker + fan) against other fanclubs, against criticisms, against everyone and everything. They protect their idols fiercely. They shower their idols with tons of love in the form of lavish gifts--spending absurd amounts of money on designer gifts for their idols and buying each and every piece of memorabilia. They will continue to STAN their idols as long as the idols keep them happy. So these idols dance with smiles on their faces, they play nice, they give all sorts of fanservice to the admiring masses.
Doesn't seem to bad, right? In fact, back in the 90s, when I loved NSYNC, I would do this very same thing--but fandom in the US is not like fandom in Korea.
Because what happens when these fanclubs turn against their idols? What happens when teens take stanning too far? what happens to a culture that is so absorbed in this idol worship? What happens when teens, young girls especially, want so badly to become an idol that they often tolerate heinous acts of rape and harassment, and endure hours of plastic surgery?
This is the dark side of kpop.
As much as these idols have their fans...many will have an equal number of anti-fans. These fans can and will be brutal.
When leader of boy group 2PM, Jaebum, or as you may know him now JAY PARK, broke the hearts of Hottests last year, antis (and many former fans) decided to issue a suicide petition that garnered thousands of signatures. That's right, people were petitioning for him to commit suicide. Like what the fuck.
Epik High's Tablo made a statement that he graduated from Stanford. Anti's got hold of this bit of information and would not let go. They created his anti-cafe "TajinYo" or "We Request the Truth from Tablo" and basically assaulted the musician urging him to confess that it was a lie: he didn't go to stanford. They dug up all this crap from stanford records, slandered his name, his WIFE's name and their NEWBORN baby. Tablo went on the record many times stating the truth, gave his transcripts, even freaking went to Stanford with a camera crew to verify the truth. Everyone was suing everyone. It went to COURT. How ridiculous is that. Finally, thank God, Tablo won out in the end.
Kpop is especially disturbing when it comes to women. Korea is known for its plastic surgery. Female idols go under the knife regularly. This creates unrealistic expectations of beauty...which in turn forces more and more women, and young girls, to under go plastic surgery. I feel like the most obvious example of this is the girl group SNSD. They are known for their faces and legs--and are often labeled as being "plastic" due to the amount of plastic surgery, real or imagined, they've had.
They're supposed to represent Asia's "Girl's Generation." right. because all girls look like that. but young girls buy into this perfection and try to emulate it: like this.
SNSD has lyrics that are SO OFFENSIVE to me as a woman. Their image is always about being cutesy and SUBMISSIVE. See the music video (subbed) "tell me your wish." I understand that the group's concept is dictated by their company, incidentally run by a male so go figure, and that they're catering to popularity. But I feel like they're catering more towards creepy men than to girls. And then the message they send to girls is damn harmful.
That's not to say that SNSD are the ONLY ones who do this. But they ARE one of the biggest groups in kpop and they are the worst transgressors. Although Orange Caramel, another group apparently wants to fight SNSD for that title:
That picture doesn't even do justice. These girls dress up in heinous outfits straight out of a halloween costume bag: Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland. Yes, OPPA, let me be your DOLL.
Girls who want to become famous in korea not only put themselves at risk during surgery, but they also tolerate sexual transgressions, often by their own entertainment companies. This often leads girls to depression, which then leads to suicide. Countless idols or famous actors are driven to suicide by fans, antis, or the pressure of the kpop industry.
Fans aren't above breaking the law to support their groups. Chinese fans of Super Junior stole Korean Social Security numbers just so their could vote in korean website polls. The disgusting part about this is that people were trying to JUSTIFY IT. That's kpop idol worship for you.
Oh and you know how the G20 Summit was held in South Korea... they used kpop idols to attract attention. There were all these G20 summit songs by idols, idols all in ceremonies...but what do these idols have to do with the summit? Like, why?
The thing about kpop, I would argue a part that makes kpop what it is, is that it takes itself SO SERIOUSLY. All the the things above are representative of that. Fans stan HARD. So much so, that they lose sight of bigger more important things going on around them. They lose touch with reality. It's the thing that pisses me off the most about kpop. Because it makes something light-hearted and entertaining in its most basic form, and transforms it into this disgusting thing.
And I personally hate all the anti-fans and cafes. These people who get to hide behind their computers but spam kpop idol's twitter accounts, their home pages, who get to comment on every article written... they don't realize the power they hold. They get to bitch and criticize, causing sometimes fatal results, and for what? they put in SO much time and effort hating... but why? just to be mean spirited? cant they put all that energy into something positive? where do they get the nerve? I dont understand it.
So I'm not embarrassed to say that I like kpop. I'm upset and horrified that I like it. Even my bias, YG/Big Bang/2ne1 has its share of fanaticism--even as they try to be more about the music (which is why I like them and not other groups/companies). I'm beginning to think I should be a fan of the group over kpop in general, because I'm so disenchanted with it.
Let me leave you with the example that will take the cake. I could have used this one example to show all things wrong with kpop: fan sends idol bloody fan letter sprinkled with pubic hair.
That's the bat. shit. crazy stuff that happens in kpop. And kpop wonders why it isnt more reputable.
I HATE KPOP.
You heard me right.
KPOP disgusts me.
KPOP offends me.
But I think I'm jumping the gun a bit. Let me back up a bit.
When I first got into kpop, it was through their dramas--they were fun, over the top, sometimes insanely tragic, but they were, for all intents and purposes, entertaining.
KPOP aims to please.
Then through a rather rapid process I started to like it's music--even though, and quite possibly in spite of the fact that I couldn't understand a lick of it. It started with 2NE1, then extended through Big Bang and the whole of their entertainment company, YG Entertainment. Like every blossoming relationship, everything was great in the beginning. I got see these groups sing and dance on their weekly music shows, I watched the shows they were in--subbed or not, I listened to their songs, I got to know their fandom. Everything was fun and entertaining and deceivingly innocent and lighthearted.
But then I got to know the dark side of kpop.
Kpop singers, whether in a group or otherwise, are dubbed "idols" and every group has its own official fanclub. These fanclubs wage war with each other on a daily basis. DBSK/JYJ have Cassiopeia, Super Junior has E.L.F. (wait for it... Ever Lasting Friends LMAO), 2PM has Hottests, Girl's Generation/SNSD has Sones, Wonder Girls has Wonderfuls, Big Bang has VIP, 2NE1 has Blackjacks... you get the picture.
And in these fanclubs... there's a whole lot of IDOL worship. Fans STAN their idols (stalker + fan) against other fanclubs, against criticisms, against everyone and everything. They protect their idols fiercely. They shower their idols with tons of love in the form of lavish gifts--spending absurd amounts of money on designer gifts for their idols and buying each and every piece of memorabilia. They will continue to STAN their idols as long as the idols keep them happy. So these idols dance with smiles on their faces, they play nice, they give all sorts of fanservice to the admiring masses.
Doesn't seem to bad, right? In fact, back in the 90s, when I loved NSYNC, I would do this very same thing--but fandom in the US is not like fandom in Korea.
Because what happens when these fanclubs turn against their idols? What happens when teens take stanning too far? what happens to a culture that is so absorbed in this idol worship? What happens when teens, young girls especially, want so badly to become an idol that they often tolerate heinous acts of rape and harassment, and endure hours of plastic surgery?
This is the dark side of kpop.
As much as these idols have their fans...many will have an equal number of anti-fans. These fans can and will be brutal.
When leader of boy group 2PM, Jaebum, or as you may know him now JAY PARK, broke the hearts of Hottests last year, antis (and many former fans) decided to issue a suicide petition that garnered thousands of signatures. That's right, people were petitioning for him to commit suicide. Like what the fuck.
Epik High's Tablo made a statement that he graduated from Stanford. Anti's got hold of this bit of information and would not let go. They created his anti-cafe "TajinYo" or "We Request the Truth from Tablo" and basically assaulted the musician urging him to confess that it was a lie: he didn't go to stanford. They dug up all this crap from stanford records, slandered his name, his WIFE's name and their NEWBORN baby. Tablo went on the record many times stating the truth, gave his transcripts, even freaking went to Stanford with a camera crew to verify the truth. Everyone was suing everyone. It went to COURT. How ridiculous is that. Finally, thank God, Tablo won out in the end.
Kpop is especially disturbing when it comes to women. Korea is known for its plastic surgery. Female idols go under the knife regularly. This creates unrealistic expectations of beauty...which in turn forces more and more women, and young girls, to under go plastic surgery. I feel like the most obvious example of this is the girl group SNSD. They are known for their faces and legs--and are often labeled as being "plastic" due to the amount of plastic surgery, real or imagined, they've had.
They're supposed to represent Asia's "Girl's Generation." right. because all girls look like that. but young girls buy into this perfection and try to emulate it: like this.
SNSD has lyrics that are SO OFFENSIVE to me as a woman. Their image is always about being cutesy and SUBMISSIVE. See the music video (subbed) "tell me your wish." I understand that the group's concept is dictated by their company, incidentally run by a male so go figure, and that they're catering to popularity. But I feel like they're catering more towards creepy men than to girls. And then the message they send to girls is damn harmful.
That's not to say that SNSD are the ONLY ones who do this. But they ARE one of the biggest groups in kpop and they are the worst transgressors. Although Orange Caramel, another group apparently wants to fight SNSD for that title:
That picture doesn't even do justice. These girls dress up in heinous outfits straight out of a halloween costume bag: Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland. Yes, OPPA, let me be your DOLL.
Girls who want to become famous in korea not only put themselves at risk during surgery, but they also tolerate sexual transgressions, often by their own entertainment companies. This often leads girls to depression, which then leads to suicide. Countless idols or famous actors are driven to suicide by fans, antis, or the pressure of the kpop industry.
Fans aren't above breaking the law to support their groups. Chinese fans of Super Junior stole Korean Social Security numbers just so their could vote in korean website polls. The disgusting part about this is that people were trying to JUSTIFY IT. That's kpop idol worship for you.
Oh and you know how the G20 Summit was held in South Korea... they used kpop idols to attract attention. There were all these G20 summit songs by idols, idols all in ceremonies...but what do these idols have to do with the summit? Like, why?
The thing about kpop, I would argue a part that makes kpop what it is, is that it takes itself SO SERIOUSLY. All the the things above are representative of that. Fans stan HARD. So much so, that they lose sight of bigger more important things going on around them. They lose touch with reality. It's the thing that pisses me off the most about kpop. Because it makes something light-hearted and entertaining in its most basic form, and transforms it into this disgusting thing.
And I personally hate all the anti-fans and cafes. These people who get to hide behind their computers but spam kpop idol's twitter accounts, their home pages, who get to comment on every article written... they don't realize the power they hold. They get to bitch and criticize, causing sometimes fatal results, and for what? they put in SO much time and effort hating... but why? just to be mean spirited? cant they put all that energy into something positive? where do they get the nerve? I dont understand it.
So I'm not embarrassed to say that I like kpop. I'm upset and horrified that I like it. Even my bias, YG/Big Bang/2ne1 has its share of fanaticism--even as they try to be more about the music (which is why I like them and not other groups/companies). I'm beginning to think I should be a fan of the group over kpop in general, because I'm so disenchanted with it.
Let me leave you with the example that will take the cake. I could have used this one example to show all things wrong with kpop: fan sends idol bloody fan letter sprinkled with pubic hair.
That's the bat. shit. crazy stuff that happens in kpop. And kpop wonders why it isnt more reputable.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
It Hurts
Even if I didn't listen to Kpop, even if I didn't like 2ne1, even if I didn't love this song, I would LOVE this music video:
There are so many things to love. I'm a big fan of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Corpse Bride" and this is right up that alley. Plus, Dara was perfect in the lead role. Everything, from the imagery, the acting, the styling, was excellent and just made me love the song that much more.
2ne1 "it hurts" :
There are so many things to love. I'm a big fan of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Corpse Bride" and this is right up that alley. Plus, Dara was perfect in the lead role. Everything, from the imagery, the acting, the styling, was excellent and just made me love the song that much more.
2ne1 "it hurts" :
You wear the shoes I gave you and walk along the streets with her
As if it were nothing, you kiss her
You spray the cologne I gave you and embrace her
You'll probably repeat those promises you made to me with her
It seems that we're already too late
Has our love already ended
Please at least say anything to me
We truly loved each other, can't turn back?
I'm the only one hurting tonight
Have you changed?
Am I no longer in your heart now?
When I, I think about you
It hurts, hurts, hurts so much
You look at my tears as if it were nothing
You continue to talk calmly again
You told me cruelly that you couldn't deny
That you had absolutely no attachments or regrets
Are we already too late? Is our love over?
Even if it's a lie, please tell me it isn't so
I can do better now, though we can't meet again
I'm the only one in pain tonight
Have you changed?
Am I no longer in your heart now?
When I, I think about you
It hurts, hurts, hurts so much
You're no longer your old self
Because the you I loved
And the you now are so different
Are you that shocked?
I just stood and cried
Watching you become further away
No way, I can't recognize
You're not mine anymore
Did you have to change?
Can't you come back?
Did you really have to change?
Can't you come back?
Did you have to change?
Can't you come back?
Why did you have to change?
Can't you keep loving me?
Oh, is this the end?
Am I no longer in your heart now?
When I, I think about you
It hurts, hurts, hurts so much
It hurts, it hurts
It hurts, it hurts
Monday, October 11, 2010
Korean Variety Shows
These are pure crack. Or what I think crack would be like haha.
Korean Variety Shows- I'm not sure that we quite have an equivalent in American culture. They're not quite reality shows, not quite scripted dramas, not quite like talk shows, but something in the middle. These are pure entertainment gems. Sometimes they take the form of game shows/competition shows, sometimes they take the form of a talent/interview show, but I find the more interesting ones sometimes the show has a premise--let's clarify (with english subtitles, for enjoyment!):
1) Star King - talent competition/interview
^Yes, that's Charice Pempenco, Pride of the Philippines and most recent cast member on "Glee," circa 2007. Before she got discovered by Ellen and Oprah, she was on this Korean show. Clips of Charice performing on Star King were put up on the internet, and caught on like wild-fire, producing a flight to the US to meet with Ellen & Oprah, and the rest is history. Three years later, she returned to the show to sing again. She pwns another kpop idol (seriously the girl ended up crying) in singing Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time" @ 14:00 but her singing that song ALWAYS gives me goosebumps:
2) Family Outing - premised show
Hands down my favorite variety show to watch. Season 1 that is, there was a season 2 that sucked so bad (change of cast members) that it was canceled so fast no one likes to even think that there was a season 2. But man, I miss this show.
The premise is this: each week, the "family" (regular cast members) go to different parts of Korea (usually not big cities) and take over a halmoni's (grandmother) home for a weekend. the Halmoni is sent off for a nice weekend vacation. The family members then take care of the house, and do the chores for the halmoni. The great part about the show is that it showcases traditional Korea--they go to "provincial" areas to do tasks that everyday people in that part of Korea do for work. That is, they go dig up mud flats to find octopus, they go out on boats to kelp/seaweed farms to "harvest," they hang and dry squid out on lines by the ocean, the snorkel for fresh albalone, or they help train dogs that are native to Korea. You really get to see a different side of Korea--from the traditional homes they visit, to traditional garments the halmoni usually wears (hanbok), to a sort of rural lifestyle that still thrives in areas outside of Seoul and Busan.
Hilarity ensues with every episode as the normal "family" welcomes new members (guests--usually idols) and together they do everything from catch their meals, perform chores, and hold games.
^TOP from Big Bang is the visiting member. Another member from Big Bang (Daesung) is a regular on the show.
^two teams: one is making breakfast but failing & the other is going to harvest 5 colored rice and make rice cakes for the grandmothers.
3. We Got Married - premised show
I really shouldn't like this show as much as I do, but like I said, it's like crack. The premise of this show is for two idols (see the idol fascination Korea has?) to have a fake marriage. That's right, I wasn't kidding when i said I shouldn't like this show as much as I do. The couple get together to record them doing activities/dates and they even get an apartment to live in. It's like all the benefits of having a boyfriend but with none of the drama (hence it's appeal to me haha).
But the real reason why I like to watch it is because it's a fantastic social experiment. The people who join the show know that their "marriage" is fake--that ultimately everything between them is just for show--and yet, people can't completely distance themselves from developing some sort of intimacy with someone they've been exposed to for a period of time, especially if you have to call them wife/husband. Plus, my favorite couple on the show (theres 3) are so darn cute/fun to watch.
^ah, I didn't used to like him, but Nichkhun is so cute.
4. 2NE1 tv- reality show
Seriously cant do a kpop blog with the boys or the girls. While I had heard 2ne1's song before, watching their reality show is what made me like the girls and thus began my addiction to kpop.
^the girls leave Korea to come to LA to record songs for their upcoming English Album--with Black Eyed Peas member/producer Will.I.Am. The song they recorded in this ep sounds so siick. I'm so excited for this, its not even funny. Also, they eat in-n-out, shop on rodeo drive, and kick it with designer Jeremy Scott. So envious.
next post: Korean Dramas! :)
Korean Variety Shows- I'm not sure that we quite have an equivalent in American culture. They're not quite reality shows, not quite scripted dramas, not quite like talk shows, but something in the middle. These are pure entertainment gems. Sometimes they take the form of game shows/competition shows, sometimes they take the form of a talent/interview show, but I find the more interesting ones sometimes the show has a premise--let's clarify (with english subtitles, for enjoyment!):
1) Star King - talent competition/interview
^Yes, that's Charice Pempenco, Pride of the Philippines and most recent cast member on "Glee," circa 2007. Before she got discovered by Ellen and Oprah, she was on this Korean show. Clips of Charice performing on Star King were put up on the internet, and caught on like wild-fire, producing a flight to the US to meet with Ellen & Oprah, and the rest is history. Three years later, she returned to the show to sing again. She pwns another kpop idol (seriously the girl ended up crying) in singing Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time" @ 14:00 but her singing that song ALWAYS gives me goosebumps:
2) Family Outing - premised show
Hands down my favorite variety show to watch. Season 1 that is, there was a season 2 that sucked so bad (change of cast members) that it was canceled so fast no one likes to even think that there was a season 2. But man, I miss this show.
The premise is this: each week, the "family" (regular cast members) go to different parts of Korea (usually not big cities) and take over a halmoni's (grandmother) home for a weekend. the Halmoni is sent off for a nice weekend vacation. The family members then take care of the house, and do the chores for the halmoni. The great part about the show is that it showcases traditional Korea--they go to "provincial" areas to do tasks that everyday people in that part of Korea do for work. That is, they go dig up mud flats to find octopus, they go out on boats to kelp/seaweed farms to "harvest," they hang and dry squid out on lines by the ocean, the snorkel for fresh albalone, or they help train dogs that are native to Korea. You really get to see a different side of Korea--from the traditional homes they visit, to traditional garments the halmoni usually wears (hanbok), to a sort of rural lifestyle that still thrives in areas outside of Seoul and Busan.
Hilarity ensues with every episode as the normal "family" welcomes new members (guests--usually idols) and together they do everything from catch their meals, perform chores, and hold games.
^TOP from Big Bang is the visiting member. Another member from Big Bang (Daesung) is a regular on the show.
^two teams: one is making breakfast but failing & the other is going to harvest 5 colored rice and make rice cakes for the grandmothers.
3. We Got Married - premised show
I really shouldn't like this show as much as I do, but like I said, it's like crack. The premise of this show is for two idols (see the idol fascination Korea has?) to have a fake marriage. That's right, I wasn't kidding when i said I shouldn't like this show as much as I do. The couple get together to record them doing activities/dates and they even get an apartment to live in. It's like all the benefits of having a boyfriend but with none of the drama (hence it's appeal to me haha).
But the real reason why I like to watch it is because it's a fantastic social experiment. The people who join the show know that their "marriage" is fake--that ultimately everything between them is just for show--and yet, people can't completely distance themselves from developing some sort of intimacy with someone they've been exposed to for a period of time, especially if you have to call them wife/husband. Plus, my favorite couple on the show (theres 3) are so darn cute/fun to watch.
^ah, I didn't used to like him, but Nichkhun is so cute.
4. 2NE1 tv- reality show
Seriously cant do a kpop blog with the boys or the girls. While I had heard 2ne1's song before, watching their reality show is what made me like the girls and thus began my addiction to kpop.
^the girls leave Korea to come to LA to record songs for their upcoming English Album--with Black Eyed Peas member/producer Will.I.Am. The song they recorded in this ep sounds so siick. I'm so excited for this, its not even funny. Also, they eat in-n-out, shop on rodeo drive, and kick it with designer Jeremy Scott. So envious.
next post: Korean Dramas! :)
Saturday, October 9, 2010
In other Kpop News
What I'm currently listening to:
2) SunMin, Rainbow Bridge.
^Discovered this song today and thought it was lovely.
3. Se7en, Going Crazy.
^Like the MV, love the song. Like that it features his real life girlfriend. They're so pretty together it borders disgusting, but in a completely not disgusting, totally jealous kind of way. se7en's one of the best live singers in kpop--his falsetto is crazy good.
4. 2NE1 covers Beyonce's Broken-Hearted Girl
^ you knew I couldn't do a kpop post with either 2ne1 or Big Bang. Loved their version, even if there were rough parts, hey, its not easy singing Beyonce. They also are one of the groups who have the best English pronunciation--even Minzy who doesn't know that much English, and Dara who has a Filipino accent. Loved Bom's voice. I really wish they would let her sing more in these kinds of songs, because her voice shines best in them.
1) Ga-in, Irreversible.
^this is so typical kdrama its not even funny. I mean, it COULD be a drama, since it's an 11 minute "music video." But its got mystery, scorned love, a death, melancholy, the weird english, the works. Its basically everything about Korea pop culture rolled into an 11 minute music video. But I've always thought Ga-in's voice was interesting, and I love the tango thing going on. Skip to around 3:00 for the actual song.
^this is so typical kdrama its not even funny. I mean, it COULD be a drama, since it's an 11 minute "music video." But its got mystery, scorned love, a death, melancholy, the weird english, the works. Its basically everything about Korea pop culture rolled into an 11 minute music video. But I've always thought Ga-in's voice was interesting, and I love the tango thing going on. Skip to around 3:00 for the actual song.
^Discovered this song today and thought it was lovely.
3. Se7en, Going Crazy.
^Like the MV, love the song. Like that it features his real life girlfriend. They're so pretty together it borders disgusting, but in a completely not disgusting, totally jealous kind of way. se7en's one of the best live singers in kpop--his falsetto is crazy good.
4. 2NE1 covers Beyonce's Broken-Hearted Girl
^ you knew I couldn't do a kpop post with either 2ne1 or Big Bang. Loved their version, even if there were rough parts, hey, its not easy singing Beyonce. They also are one of the groups who have the best English pronunciation--even Minzy who doesn't know that much English, and Dara who has a Filipino accent. Loved Bom's voice. I really wish they would let her sing more in these kinds of songs, because her voice shines best in them.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
to to to to to anyone
CL, Dara, Minzy, Bom
So my all time favorite kpop girl group just released their new album today--after a year's hiatus--and I'm all kinds of excited!! I've posted about 2ne1 before, and I can't express how much I love these girls. They are fierce, talented, unapologetic, and just fabulous. Without further ado...
My personal Review of the new tracks (out of 4 stars):
1) Can't Nobody**3/4
Definitely a different sound. More autotune than I think was necessary--and no, I'm not someone who is bothered by autotune. The best thing about it is the chorus. It's a good song, not ground breaking, but a good song with a nice beat.
2) Go Away***
Love the upbeat R&B feel. Catchy, and fun. CL's kills it like always. Bom/Minzy are great as always. I was really happy with Dara in here also. I think it was one of the tracks on the album where you can really here her voice without autotune, which I appreciated. I think she sounds fine without the autotune, personally, so I always want to hear her without it. This song also has my favorite line of the whole album: "You always act the fool... you aint sh*t without your crew" lol.
3) Clap Your Hands***1/2
The beat reminds me a lot of TOP's "Turn It Up." It's the track that we want/expect from 2NE1. It is distinctively 2NE1 in sound. It's fierce. It's in your face. It doesn't mess around. It definitely let's you know 2NE1 is back and that they are serious. This song is what KPOP has been missing since the girls left.
4) I'm Busy***
I was not feeling the beginning of the song. There just seemed to me to be too many digital effects going on. But by the time I got to the chorus, I felt like I could deal. And by the end, I really thought it was well balanced between the upbeat/fast track, and the absolutely brilliant slow beats. Nice mix of the two. I enjoy the verses/bridge more than the chorus though. But CL's rap was SIIIIICK.
5) It Hurts****
When the teasers came out, this song was easily my favorite of the four. I played this more than any other song. And the full version did not disappoint. I think Bom's voice is really shines here, which I enjoyed because sometimes I think she doesn't always get the kind of songs that can show what she can do. Minzy's voice sounds so mature here and really suits the overall sound. The jazzy/R&B sound of this song is definitely something to just groove to. Love it.
6) Love is Ouch****
I was really surprised by this song and surprised by the girls with this song. I think it was chance for them to show a different side of themselves. We all know how fierce they are, but with song it showed a softer, more feminine side of them. They all sounded amazing. I love the slow/fast mix of Minzy/Bom's vocals combined with CL's rap and Dara's softness. It just has a refreshing sound that is very attractive. Been listening to this song the most.
11) I Don't Care Reggae***1/2
Confession time. 2NE1 was the group that got me into kpop--and their reggae version of "I Don't Care" on Inkigayo was THE performance that caught me hook, line, and sinker. Thus, I always have such a sense of affection for this version of IDC. The girls sound great, and I love how all of them are really able to display their voices. I just love swaying to this lol.
12) Can't Nobody (English)**1/2
I don't like the brand name dropping at the beginning. I think they could have done something else besides brand name dropping to demonstrate how "Bad Bad" they are. Was it laziness on behalf of the lyricist? Maybe. But you can be fierce and bad without label dropping, IMO. It seemed like such a waste of what could have been a fierce rap, which is why I'm so bothered by it. The rest of the song is fine though.
Overall: I applaud the girls for the risks they took with this album. They had a lot of pressure riding on them from their success in 2009 and with the delays, there was a lot riding on this album. I think they took a lot of chances. They didn't play it safe in order to have commercial success. I'm glad they played with different sounds and feels. Everyone was expecting something big and different from them, and I think they delivered. A lot of the songs grew on me. Multiple plays allowed me to get a better impression of their new sound. It's definitely an album that grows on you. You can take that however way you want. Maybe too much digital-ness than I would like, but overall I thought it was a strong effort by the girls. 8/10
Thursday, February 4, 2010
for the love of KPOP!
confession: I LOVE korean pop music (affectionately called KPOP). I know what you all are thinking, just how did I get into kpop, and why would I like it when I can't understand a lick of what is being said. Well, I've been a listening to kpop for awhile, and, it's just super catchy...it IS pop music afterall. And making up my own words is half the fun! hmm... maybe it's best explained through specific examples of my favorite groups.
1. BIG BANGDaesung, G-dragon, Seungri, TOP, Taeyang
I just adore these boys! so cute and funny and can do no wrong. I can appreciate the fact that they just look like they are loving every moment of doing what they do. Some engrish skills...they have japanese songs that are in english heyyy. They are just so darn charismatic. And come on, we all know the soft spot I carry around for boybands. And, in a bizarre sense, they kind of remind me of nsync back when nsync was still fresh and fun. Undoubtedly the biggest group in Korea at the moment, they all bring something unique to the group. And I appreciate that while they all have their own solo projects, they remain dedicated to the group [gosh JUSTIN!]
2. 2NE1Minzy, Dara, CL, Bom
3. 2AMJinwoon, Jo Kwon, Seulong, Changmin
4. WondergirlsYubin, Sohee, Sunmi, Sunye, Yenny
Big Bang and 2ne1 together? Yes please!!
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