So, so fresh, what a Hello, Hello

There's something that I still can't get used to and that is the K-video messages aimed at international audiences about upcoming concerts and general thanks, straight from the artists of the k-pop kingdom. What highlighted this of late was UKISS, and their recently made promo video for their upcoming Malaysian fan meeting:


Poor Dongho being blocked by the terribly creepy Xander! This ratio is all totally round the wrong way.

I should be happy that they are speaking at me in English and making a special video just so that I can understand it. But I don't know. I'm not sure I can even explain it, but there is a strange uncanny feeling that lurches up from within me. Sadly, this is not only the UKISS effect, though it is exacerbated by them (more on this another time). The fact that half of them seem totally oblivious to what is going on is somewhat distressing. It seems like these teenagers are just forced into it - it's like they've not even had a rehearsal, and have just been told to go up there are look fun; for the non-English speakers they seem to have no idea of what they are nodding (half heartedly) along to, and this is a bit uneasy. In the pre-filming scene I almost imagine their being some inappropriate slaps on the bum by management, that makes them feel slightly cheap and used, as they are pushed in front of the rolling camera - this is the feeling I get. It's like they must do everything thrown at them, no matter if they have no clue what it is.
Maybe I overreact. But even my K-pop heroes come across a little bit this way.



See, Big Bang, even you don't seem to have it down. You all look so stiff and confused, like bunnies in headlamps I'd go as far as to say in the case of T.O.P and GD. T.O.P just glares a little into the camera - it's kind of scary (though I do like the slightly fearful feeling that this causes to well up within me. His Russian sounding accent is also pretty fab). And GD's powerless "Bu Bye" at the end as he barely breaks his stare. He seems as though he's resigned to it - this is not the GD that I know and love, where's all his crazed energy gone... It's the same story when they are doing a Japanese interview too. T.O.P and GD, shadows of their glorious selves.

Those who manage it best, I feel, are 2NE1:



I think they kind of pull it off. It's not creepy and it's kind of fun. Minji is a little quiet, but Park Bom and Dara pipe up every now and again to join CL, so it flows a hell of a lot better than poor old BB.

I don't know what I want really. I shouldn't be so ungrateful, but I think maybe I wish only to communicate with my K-idols in smooth flowing English raps. I think I can pretty much hear everything I need to just from these. And they seem much happier delivering these too.

For my initial meeting with T.O.P, he can just communicate through his Big Boy verse:

HEY, COME ON, GIRL Don't ask anymore questions and just follow me
You're my STYLE (WOO!)
OH, PLEASE TRUST ME (I'm your slave)

And if there are problems with GD he can remind me of our happy past:

You used to be my queen,
I used to be your king
You used to go to bath with me,
And we was living happily.

Even, if I feel guilty about crushing on Dongho at the age of 16, he can remind me:

Stop treatin' us like kids
cuz we're not anymore u know what i'm sayin'??
we' all grown up (yeah~we're all grown up!!)
(I'm sure he must know these of by heart from the others)

Essentially, rather than being ungracious and critical of all their English efforts and achievements, I want to tell them not to worry so much. The raps will do just fine; this is how they won my heart, and this is how they can retain it.