And so it began. This morning (Christmas eve when I started this) I was happily greeted by this:
A delightful rendition of the timeless Candy by none other than Boyfriend. What a way to kick off Christmas eve! Happy, happy thoughts.
So Excited!!!
And then I realised that of course pretty much every music show has special performances. Of course!!!
And this also includes a cover of my favourite Christmas song ever!!! AA singing Last Christmas on TBC's Music on Top. The joy of it!
I really am once bitten and twice shy! I didn't expect so much from some rookies that I really wasn't sure about, but look at them - so good at Christmas. Well done AA.
edit: I just saw that SHINee also covered this song, the little cherubs, but it is not getting embedded as I only have a fancam of Jonghyun and no other memebers. No fair! But here, please do listen.
Also, my three favourite maknaes of Dalmatian clubbed together to produce a clap-happy medley. I would embed it, but I don't think I can have even a cover of Mariah Carey's All I want for Christmas is You on here. What a conflict of interests! Sorry, maybe go here to see it.... I could have done with some more Christmas knitwear too, but I wouldn't want to sound greedy. Oh, and speaking of clap-happy, this intro <3
It makes me happy also that Christmas is a time for the creation of new fan art...
Evidently Yejun of F.Cuz liked this "band" portrait so much that he retweeted it personally on Christmas eve <3
So yes, I hope you enjoy all the Christmas specials, both the one-off stages and the extra feathers and furs and sheen on the standard ones.
From Bunny and I over here at Nunas Know Best HQ,
A Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!
We will be hanging out our grotto, complete with festive idol wall, playing some games just like these B1A4 boys here, who clearly know exactly how to have fun!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS
CAP's cap? Definitely not. Drum and Bass Jingle Bells remix? OK then. Teen Top and Infinite sharing a stage? 100 times yes!
Sorry. It has been over two months... and I/me and Bunny are sorry. Relocation to Japan (for the both of us) has taken its toll. And no internet connection to call our own for the first three weeks of living in our new Tokyo house damn near killed us. We missed a lot, and still have much to catch up on, but please bear with us.
We are not the only ones who seem to have lost their grip on life.
Just look at Kwangsoo of Supernova (orange sweater) - what happened?! I think he has been comfort eating... I think we, though it pains me to say it, may have something in common...
This past couple of months have been very emotional indeed. I have, amongst massive life changes, temporarily lost three of my most treasured hallyu stars - and Kwangsoo has lost his favourite hyung - to the South Korean army. I am no expert on the matter, but compulsory military service is South Korea in usually 21 months I believe, and there isn't really a conscientious objector option (bar going to jail). Avoiding it just brings shame and a whole lot of trouble, and you will probably never work again. I won't even bring up the disputed case of MC Mong again. So the fact of the matter is that I lost three of my nearest and dearest for the time, and that is that.
Yunhak (Supernova) went from this:
To this:
I really hope he is ok, and is not too cold in the bitter winter without his glossy fringe :( He was the life and soul of Supernova. He got them to the top (in Japan) with songs like Shining Star, and he really was an excellent leader. I know he will be back, but will there really be anything left to return to??? No offense Sungje, but I don't trust you being left in charge of the band in his absence. All you do is take selcas of yourself and tweet them all day long!!!
There have been tears, lots of tears, so many, especially from Supernova. I may have cried with them. "Anoooo, anooooo..."
Let's not even get me started on the departure of Heechul oppa too. Woe is me!
I hope he is not being bullied in the barracks for his effeminate streak and homoerotic tendencies. We all miss him a lot, just like we knew we would. But luckily I discovered last night that he made provisions...of course he did!
As I watched a video of Super Junior and f(x) performing the amazing song Oops on the Super Show 4 highlights, look who appeared like a vision!!! There is his, number one oppa! And how else to greet him than to stand in a line facing the screen and salute him, for the entirety of his rap verse. Now that is respect. Heechul oppa, we all bow down to you, even in your absence. This is not to mention how truly brialliant this song is by the way, complete with intro growl. Thank you for bringing it to my attention Bunny!
Enjoy!!
Last, but certainly not least, we also had to bid farewell to Kim Jae Wook, of Antique and Walrus fame, not so long ago. Who went from Hedwig...
To army buff...
In basically a matter of hours.
Aigo.
But, all is not doom and gloom. There is light at the end of the tunnel. They come back. And here is some proof:
*WELCOME BACK JOO JI HOON OPPA*
We have missed you SO much!!! And I can't wait to see pictures and clips of you in the new Doctor Zhivago stage performance that you will be doing as your comeback?!
I guess it will be a 2012 hwaiting! we have to look forward to.
I just posted this on tumblr, but I decided it included enough content to warrant its own post....
OK, i've decided these are the new nicknames for everyone in Beast.
"Check Head" & "Breast Porket" still being my dreamy favourite mega babes, closely followed by "Shield" (although after yesterdays injury photograph, he's almost been promoted to #1) and then "Skull Flag" always has that special place in my heart, a special place for special people.
"Words" needs to get back on the bus already, no thanks.
Its a pity Gikwang wasn't included, lets just continue to call him "American Pelvic" but i'm sorry he can wait just outside the bus, he still doesn't do it for me.
I am here to introduce to you another wonderful post by the resident oppa here at Nunas Know Best. Rather embarrassingly it seems oppa has already caught up with our current slacking bi-monthly blog posting and is putting us to shame with his in depth articles and dedication to the K-pop cause. Rest assured, Jessica & I will be back with a vengence but first we both just have the small matter of relocating to Tokyo next month to deal with... anyway enough about us, more about oppa!
This time he is casting his discerning senses over some more girl group releases from the past few months, he even sneaks in some J-pop at the very end, but as it is some J-pop I most wholeheartedly endorse, I'm letting it slide.
Also i'd like to point out that Nunas Know Best do not necessarily agree with the views and opinions of Oppa Knows Best, more specifically - I personally cannot abide by having T-ara lumped in the "not so good" category and being surpassed by lesser mortals such as Chi-Chi, KARA and Girls Day ... but maybe that's just me.
In true k-pop entertainment style, I ask you to please give him a moment of your time...
Hello everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to sit down and listen to some KPOP due to work and life getting in the way. However, I recently managed to find the time to ignore real life for a while and assess quite a few new tracks that have been released in the last couple of months. As with most non-mainstream genres of music, it takes a keen ear to discern between the subtleties of good songs and bad songs, and while I am not claiming to be an expert on KPOP, I know what I like and what I don’t, and enjoy writing about them both.
So lets start by getting the not-so-great songs out of the way.
Davichi – Don’t Say Goodbye
This song sounds like every melody has been taken from a different 80’s pop ballad, stitched together to resemble some kind of non-ironic motivational ballad aimed at the overly sentimental. However rubbish I may find the song, they do seem like lovely girls. I found this fan blog http://sinyanmei92.blogspot.com who has screen grabbed every different facial expression that they make during one of their performances. Here are my favourites:
She looks like she is going to cry!!!
One of the girls, Kang Min Kyung (aka Minkie) has her own blog, and it looks like she came to the UK recently. Here is a picture of her feeding some geese in York:
I really, really, really hate this type of cheesy poppy-rock song, but it’s not often you see KPOP guitarists rocking out with a flying-V guitar.
Brave Girls - Why so often?
This song has numerous problems. First off, starting the song with a random rapper non-ironically trying to gangster it up and introducing the band is a very bad idea. The song itself is a weird calypso-summer-beach-pop song that has way too much saxophone. There are also too many stupid calypso drum fills all the way through, which are just awful and really shouldn’t be used in any music made after 1982. They should have stuck with doing stuff like this song,
I much prefer them when they’re strutting about in clubs and partying. Get off the beach and into the club!!!
I liked this song when I first heard it, but listening back to it again I find it a bit too boring to really enjoy. The beat just pumps all the way through the song, dragging everything along in a quite predictable way. There aren’t enough breaks or fills or crazy vocal breakdowns, it doesn’t really have enough that jumps out at me.
T-ara - Roly Poly
I just read somewhere that this is the highest grossing KPOP song of 2011 so far, which is worrying as I really don’t think it is that great. It starts off ok with an intro and verse that is quite interesting, setting it apart from other songs which just sound like generic R+B or dance songs. Stealing the “ha-ha-ha-ha” part from the Beegee’s is pretty cool, but I always found that song annoying as well. The main thing I don’t like about this song is the chorus, which is in quite a different style to the verse, which makes the transition feel a bit out of place. Plus, there is a “rap” part near the end which is just completely pointless. So, basically I think this song has too many different musical styles battling each other, and the result is that the song isn’t very cohesive. What do you think? I am wrong to be hating the most popular song of the year?
Now that we have the slightly rubbish songs out of the way, lets get onto the good stuff!
So apparently these two girls are a sub-unit from a band called The Grace, who released a few rubbish ballads back in 05/06. Not sure what the rest of the band are up to, nor if The Grace are planning a comeback, but if this song is any indication, they have the potential to be awesome. The song starts off slowly with some catchy riffs which complement the vocal melodies really well. It builds up really well with them showing off their vocals gradually throughout the song, and it doesn’t have any annoying interludes which take you out of the rhythm of the song. This might be a future favourite of mine, keep up the good work!!!
Dal Shabat - Bling Bling
I didn’t like the last song of theirs that I heard, it just sounded really childish and annoying. I quite like this song even though parts of it remind me of Repulica’s “Ready To Go”, which is normally the sort of poppy-rock stuff that I really, really hate. Another bit reminds me of the intro theme tune to a Ghost In The Shell series as well. Apparently stealing melodies from other songs and mashing them together works, because this song is awesome. Does anyone else want to go to a Bling Bling Disco?
I only heard this song recently, but I think it’s pretty good. It’s pretty pumping and the chorus is really catchy, although it does teeter on the edge of sounding something like Shakira or someone like that. It also has a weird breakdown where it sounds like its going to break down into some kind of ballad, but it seems like they did it to trick you before going back into a chorus. Overall, good song, but lacking some dynamics between verse chorus which would have made it slightly better.
WINNER!
Girls Day – Don’t Let You’re Eyes Wander
Yes it’s true, the amazing girls of Girls Day have once again made one of the best (in my opinion) songs of the moment. This isn’t a cheesy ballad, neither is it cobbled together from lots of disparate types of genres, this is what Girls Day do best, making awesome, positive attitude dance classics. The best this about them is that they sound like they are having so much fun singing it (although they probably had to train for 12 hours a day prior to the songs release, but they still emerge smiling). I don’ t want to analyse the song too much as it would take the fun out of listening to it, so just sit back and bask in its awesomeness.
P.S.
Is it wrong of me to really like this JPOP singer? I came across きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ(or Kyary Pamyu Pamyu) a while ago, and I am slightly addicted to her songs. She has a really great vibe going on; her songs aren’t massive club anthems, nor are they unbearably cheesy pop songs, they just have loads of great melodies and really catchy vocals. The video for this song is also one of the trippiest things I have seen in a while.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy my commentary on various songs. If you disagree with me in anyway please let me know, and feel free to recommend any songs that I may have missed!
This isn't the Super Junior post that I promised (that had a few setbacks) but I had to rush this one through, priority delivery from U-KISS.
Oh U-KISS, as much as I did enjoy the "bran new kiss" and 0330 I am just so happy that you went back to what you're best at, and that is... ridiculous electro, auto tune, jarring soundbites, insane over production, lots of random english, terrible rapping (although it is getting better... maybe), repetitive dance choreography and dance moves that look like no one is quite sure how to do it right and lots and lots of guyliner.
Its a beautiful thing!!!!!
AND KISEOP ACTUALLY HAD LINES TO SING!!!
and we can tick off our checklist of k-pop video essentials with ease:
futuristic? - YES
post apocalyptic? - YES
silver/grey and all black/all white outfits? YES
some kind of smoke / steam / falling snow effect? YES
costumes with sparkling, fringe or embellishments? YES
2 tone hair on at least one member? YES
abandoned warehouse set fitted out in gleaming neon lights? YES
water floor dance? YES
at least one homoerotic moment? - YES
I am so pleased with you boys ♥♥♥♥♥♥
Lately kpop has been so busy trying to do something different but you have steered clear of the non summery summer songs and the western cloned club bangers and just went for that pure K-POP song structure insanity, like only U-KISS can.
They have done me proud. Considering they're still often the punchline of jokes (including my own) when you take a step back, its really a pretty impressive back catalog (don't forget Shut Up) seriously, every one was a winner to me, 0330 took some getting used to but it was fine for a change, they really havent disappointed once (aside from the whole member swapping thing... ) and this is perfect.
Lets celebrate with the ultimate U-KISS album intro... sing-a-long with me... Euuuurrrryyybody!!!
or try this close second for the return of the gun shots and overuse of the Brave Sound "ayyyy!" button.
Additional note!
I may have made a statement earlier today in an email to JJH that I was "over" Eli. Several repeat viewings have confirmed that of course that is not the case, but really he does need a fringe at all times. And I am thankful but amazed that Dongho's perfect hair remains undamaged for yet another promotion. (O_O)b
but do they have to always give him the lines like "and we'll stay forever young" *gulp*
UPDATE EDIT!
Eli has torn his knee ligament and won't be able to perform the comeback :(
This is some pretty bad luck considering he broke his hand at the start of the Shut Up promotions, and much as I really do appreciate an injured boy... (and I may or may not have a very creepy video stored somewhere of Eli with a sling... but lets move on)... I would have certainly preferred to see them all do this dance and not have to go with that awkward thing where you make someone sit in a chair at the side of the dancing looking like a total dweeb (sorry Minho, sorry Donghae..). They have apparently changed the choreography to avoid further injury to the other members : /
FURTHER UPDATE!
so, I am still loving "Neverland" but now i've listened to the album... TOO MANY BALLADS. There are glimmers of the afore mentioned U-KISS which I adored, but ultimately... too many tracks I want to skip. That's about as in depth as my analysis is going for today, i'm not in the mood to try and listen with an ear for constructive criticism, instead I just want to risk a knee injury and flail my arms around to Neverla-a-a-a-a-a-and a-a-a-a-and. I guess a part of me truly does miss that BRAVE SOUND "uh ohhhh, uh ohhhh".
PS. Hoping for a photo with crutches, although knowing Eli it will most likely be ruinied by some atrocious denim ware and an unwanted sleeveless shirt. Is it too much to ask for a suit and crutches?
Trawling through the music shows last week I found a pretty disturbing sight.
One of Brave Girls wearing a Smiths T-shirt.
It got more disturbing when I clicked play... the videos been removed now but here's their performance from another show. picture the inclusion of the Smiths t-shirt and then there's the braids with beret, man apparently called "skull" with dreadlocks, a lots of hotpants, greased legs and the reggae beat. *shudder* and this is what Brave Brothers come up with for their own girl group?!? shame on them. (but I forgive them, with thanks for all their wonderful work with U-Kiss and so many other ridiculously catchy k-pop songs and the overuse of the "ayyyy!" sound effect)
Anyway, Morissey in K-pop, it was unexpected, but writhing to slow reggae jams on that girls chest with some customised fringing is not where I want to see him. I don't think he'd want to see himself there either.
A week later and I see Morrissey somewhere far more acceptable, on the chest of the Almighty Key co-ordinated with his lace up legged girl's Cheap Monday jeans and a Wonder Woman bracelet...
this time... PERFECT.
"you handsome devil"
I may be fickle, hypocritical and overly harsh in my dislike of non Jamaican people who like reggae too much or those who ever made the grave mistake of sportingdreadlocks... but that's just how it is. Key however, can do whatever the hell he wants.
I have long been observing Infinite's maknae Sungjong closely in an attempt to ascertain which other male idol it is that he reminds me of.
But I don't just mean in terms of looks, as that would probably be a more successful search should I peruse the numerous girl bands proliferating the K-pop scene. As Bunny mentioned in her post about 'best cross-dressed' Dongjun, there were genuine questions as to Sungjong's natural sex at the time of his debut. Rather, what I was looking for was more of a personality match, another boy that I'm already well aware of, and that he totally reminds me of. But I just couldn't put my finger on it.
It is common knowledge that Sungjong loves to impersonate girl band dances - it is his forte. He doesn't care if he's at sports day or recording on the radio. And I thought for a short time that it may be SHINee's Key that he reminds me of. But he is not sassy enough to be like Key. Not quite. And then I thought he was maybe a bit like Kevin from U-KISS. But somehow Kevin is just that much camper than Sungjong, who just seems more like a sweet young boy most of the time. Then, could it be Kwanghee? No way, he resides way too much in a world of his own to even have comparisons made to any other living beings. Take that comment as you will. As does Super Junior's Heechul ♥ who is on a whole other level.
Today, however, I finally realised who it is - how could I have been so blind - and I am kicking myself. Of course, it's none other than 2AM's Jo Kwon!!! Just look at this, where Sungjong tempts Jo Kwon up with a flick of the finger to join him in dancing to Hyuna's Bubble Pop - what a pair of divas!
It all makes sense now. Case closed! I think it's something to do with their facial expressions whilst dancing, and the precision of their moves. Whatever it is, I am relieved to have made the connection finally.
As a bonus, here is one of my favourite ever Sungjong "cross-dressing" dances.
Note that is was his normal hair - no wig - as he is only wearing a coat, which technically could be unisex...
PVC all around? Well go on then! I had totally written today off as a "bad day", so bad that I hadn't even checked my google reader (i.e. K-pop on drip). It's days like this that I thank the heavens I have Bunny in my life, even more than usual. LOOK AT THOSE LEGS. Shiny, perfect legs. Oh goodness me! Forget the terrible diamante (not that I don't appreciate the British love), the awful white budget blazers, and Heechul's purple rinse, it's all about the legs! And some lovely make-up too, very sexy and severe, in all the right ways. Well done Star Empire!!! You obviously realised that Watch Out wasn't really cutting it just in the nick of time!
I also can't fail to mention the on-stage inter-member bickering and 'camaraderie' combination. Perfect!!!
X
p.s. I'm totally happy with this being the power three, the faces of this song. Dongjun X Minwoo X Hyungshik, you did a good job. I miss silly fairly little of Siwan, but it's only fair give the others a go at the front too.
The whole song is amazing - I always knew that this should have been the comeback track. Even from the sound of the heels at the start of the song, and then the heavy breath, it has me. It's as effective as Lee Joon's panting at the beginning of Y even. Goodness me, it really is everything I want from a ZE:A performance. I may even love it as much as Mazeltov. No word of a lie. Maybe it's the dark smoldering concept that does it, something about those 'I mean buisness' faces they put on. I really think I prefer this
to this.
Sorry Bunny, I hope you don't mind me saying.
I wish they would hurry up and release a full length MV for it though. I am dying for more HQ emotions. Minwoo looks so close to actually crying in this. Maybe it's just because he's so happy that Star Empire got an HQ camera...?
Minwoo is totally stealing the show with that perfectly glossed fringe too. Oscar nomination indeed. And I am totally OK with the fact that he is getting the most camera time here. 100%.
1.30 is no way long enough. I need MORE. They are such harlequin princes, even with ridiculous eye liner drawn over half of their faces, as is the case with maknae and Siwan at least.
Annyeong to all our dedicated readers (and to those who accidentally found themselves here down a rabbit hole and forgot/cannot work out how to escape is strange yet massively addictive world),
I would like to introduce you to a good friend of mine. He is an oppa, as well as a hyung, to most on the k-pop scene, and his usual blogging primarily concerns cinematic investigations, however, as is the magical prowess of Kpop, he has now become a film-turned-Kpop blogger and will be joining us at Nunas Know Best from time to time. As he is likely to be the only oppa writing on here for the foreseeable future he will have his very own tag, 'Oppa Knows Best'. Bunny and I are very well aware that the often fantastic girl bands don't really get much of a look in here, and we apologise for that. But really, it's so hard to focus on one when you have so many boys to keep watch over, and they end up being the more urgent case for us all too often. However, I think you can rest assured now that we have now begun making amends to this, and I too have a girl group blog post or two in the works. So, without further ado, please welcome our guest oppa, and as they so often say in the wonderful world of Kpop, please give him a lot of love.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oppa Knows Best #1: Top 5 Favourite Summer Songs
I got exposed to KPOP a few months ago through Jessica Jane and Bunny who run this blog, and from then on I spent most Saturday’s watching video's on youtube and ignoring customers in the bookshop I was working in. About 6 weeks ago I went cycling around the UK for just over a month, so I was unfortunately deprived of KPOP updates, but since I’ve been at home I have got back into it and have started catching up. So what I have decided to do is write about my pre-travelling top five favourite KPOP songs!
So here we go…
5 – Rania – Dr. Feelgood
This song is a bit weird as it basically has the same beat and synth part played all the way through the verses and choruses. I think the reason I like it is because they have to use their vocals to differentiate between each part of the song, and even then the verses and chorus melodies are pretty similar. I’m a bit of a sucker for a catchy synth riff so I think this is why I like it so much. (Also, I just discovered that there were two different versions, with one basically being a speeded up version of the other. Since the quicker version is the one I heard first, the slower one is really bizarre, like a weird chopped and screwed edit or something. Plus it isn’t as catchy)
Slow Version
Fast Version
4 – 4minute – Mirror Mirror
In comparison to a song like Dr Feel Good, which basically does the same thing all the way through, this is a song that seems to take a different beat, rhythm and melody the verses, pre-choruses, choruses and breakdowns. Most of the time I think it works; the verses have two parts which keeps the song interesting, then the pre-chorus kind of breaks it down with some slightly over the top vocals and some gang-chant “heys!!!”. But the one thing that kind of annoys me is the difference in tone between that part and the chorus; the first is really energetic and happy, and the chorus is back to a massive dark synthy riff, which I feel is kind of jarring to the flow of the song.
3 – f(x) – Pinnochio (Danger)
The very first 10 seconds of this song are a bit weird (“Hey girl…remem…BER!!! meeeee….”) but it quickly goes into a verse, which is pretty solid and catchy. They then start singing “DANGER!!!” over the top, which kind of adds intrigue and an element of….something…to the song. But then it breaks into one of the best choruses ever; (dada dada da…etc. sorry I don’t understand Korean :s) unbelievably catchy and it comes with an awesome dance routine as well! Highlights from the rest of the song include some good vocal breaks and some “rapping” which isn’t really embarrassingly rubbish (for once). The song as a whole just raises too many questions for me…who is in danger? Me? Them? What is the danger? Cancer? Global warming? Am I a danger to myself?!!?
2 – Girls Day – Nothing lasts Forever
The song starts off with everyone sounding pretty bad-ass; the vocals sound really confident and they have a “don’t give a f##k” attitude, and the video has them all striding around in black leather and stuff. The verses have a really awesome beat and a kind of…not necessarily dark, but a slightly minor key melody in the vocals, which works really well when it is contrasted with the MOST AMAZINGLY CATCHY CHORUS EVER! Seriously, how catchy is this chorus? This is almost as banging as some happy hardcore tracks that my old housemate used to listen to, but with infinitely better vocals. But then (!!!) the song twists around again for the breakdown with some really mellow, sweet vocals, before building up and smashing back into the chorus…but then they go mental and the vocals make it even more catchy!!! Amazing. (I’m not sure whether to give them a minus point for the bit in the video where they try to play instruments like they’re in a band but end up in a horrible miming fail.)
1 – Girls Day – Twinkle Twinkle
I can only describe this song as f—king brilliant. The verses are fast and banging, with the pre-chorus breakdown sliding into the amazingly catchy chorus. The third and fourth lines of the chorus compliment the first two really well, sliding into each other when the repeat the chorus later on in the song. There is also a really good break down with a rising beat that drops straight back into the chorus. Basically, there is nothing that isn’t great about this song. It has awesome synth parts pretty much all the way through, and mixes up the tempo frequently to keep it interesting but still keeping the song cohesive throughout!!! Favouritest song ever!!!
So yeah, its pretty obvious I just like girl bands...and basically Girls Day are my favouritest at the moment. I even made a gif!!!
Whilst I appreciate its subject matter, and I surely do, I feel their definitive list is somewhat lacking (I’m also going to ignore the fact that they placed Teen Top at number 9 for a very light attempt at cross dressing - wearing polka dot blouses with white skinny jeans does not count as an attempt to look like a lady, even when Niel was already 75% there, I need a better effort of cross dressing to be able to score them properly, Chunji and L.Joe in a dress before the end of the year please.. we've seen the high heels recently, its a start)
Here is my crucial addition to the list, ZE:A’s Kim Dongjun.
OK, ZE:A aren’t one of the biggest names of k-pop (and I don’t hold out too much hope that their recent comeback has changed that..) and its an easy amateur mistake to miss them off a top ten or a survey poll (or forget to invite them on your televised Chunseok Special) but if ZE:A has anything at all to give, something to keep itself in perpetual involvement with the k-pop world then it’s their maknae Dongjun. ok,ok credit where credits due, they also have Kwanghee and much as I may grow tired of his camera stealing grating plastic faces antics, I have learnt to appreciate or at least tolerate him. (the boy really is a life line for his bandmates, he’s flying that ZE:A flag single handedly at least 5 days a week) Anyway, Kim Dongjun, face of an angel, body of a (slightly short) Adonis, and voice of someone who has rightfully earned his place singing prime cuts on every single so far and in my humble opinion often has to carry his hyungs sometimes (metaphorically, although I bet he can literally too) with a solid vocal, or if not he can divert attention with some kind of impressive backflippery or a party piece handstand or something.
There are two reasons why Dongjun gets featured on variety shows and holiday specials and the first reason is SPORTS. The boy is great at sports, all kinds of sports, he was basically born to compete on Dream Team (family friendly sporting athletics based TV variety show that always includes a handful of idols), he’s an all round all star, of course we did not nickname this little bundle of sunshine “Sports Science” for nothing! I suppose now would be a good time to half explain that nickname, lets say for the sake of international readers who may be unfamiliar with the term, “Sports Science” is an academic subject you can study at school/college/university/whatever, basically its P.E / Phys Ed but you learn about muscles and biology and have to write stuff a little bit, I think, to grossly generalise it’s also the subject that jock guys and people who choose to dress in sportswear even when they are not actually doing anything sports related will typically study...
Whether its football, archery or tumbling, “Sports Science” will give it his best shot, and although he’s kind of showy about it, he’s no competitive Minho (CALM DOWN MINHO!) and is more the kind that will be happy to show you his skills on the spot if you ask him to, I really think he’s an ‘all about the taking part kind of guy” but it just so happens he usually wins anyway. At this years Idol Sports Day Dongjun excelled himself winning the sprint with this majestic leap over the finish line:
its like an angel in flight!
So to get back to the original point, there is something else that Dongjun excels in in contrast and that is dressing up like a beautiful girl. ZE:A’s first ever foray into variety shows was on a TV special back in 2009(?). The group pool their efforts, Kwanghee has yet to be discovered as the plastic prince of variety of comedy and so the best they can scramble together is a funny little song and dance in Hanboks, and some dodgy impressions, including Moon Leader A.K.A Mickey Yoochun II doing an impression of Mickey Yoochun, things brighten up with the arrival of Han Ga-In look-a-like Dongjun who comes out to the song famously used in Han Ga-In’s washing machine commercial. “1,2,3 bubble bubble”, fittingly my heart bubbled when I saw this vision in a red beret and the likeness is uncanny.
Its important to note that Dongjun is a regular winker (he can’t actually do it properly as you’ll notice his right eye always closes shortly after the left, like a slightly delayed blink, but whether he can do it properly or not is irrelevant, it’s a wink, a rariety of East Asia) I have no doubt he is using this skill as a sure fire Noona killing shot on a daily basis. I imagine after effects of it are basically impossible to recover from.
There is just something about this boy, he seems to have a bold confidence combined with a shy naivety and the ever endearing willingness to please... and as a boy dressed as a girl (and take this from someone who has studied so many before) it is a rarity for a sporty athletic muscled guy to look like such ridiculous beautiful perfection in the face. Usually muscles and drag ends up a whole lot more car crash, sorry Jinswoon.
After DongJun/GaIn has finished winking and reclining on the tables in front of his captive audience, he finishes, of course, with a lovely flip:
When they interview him a few minutes later, he is coy at first before an unnecessary awkward ‘manly’ shirt rip… he’d already blown us a way, I feel this was a step too far, or maybe it was just the cringe inducing delivery .. anyway, now I’ve mentioned it, I feel its my duty to include it.
Unnecessary shirt ripping aside, did you see his face??? Put a wig on that boy and the results are GOLD DUST.
Actually, that wasn’t my first experience of Dongjun as a girl, there was something I saw before this, although it chronologically came later. Something I saw which was the very tipping point that made Sports Science catch my eye and earn himself a place a special affection. He had been in limbo before, that kind of mental limbo where you’ve noted a nice smile but you’re not letting them into your gang of “favourites” any time soon. Well that’s how it was, until this.
Sports Science, Infinite’s baby ghurl Sungjong (so pretty there were genuine questions about his gender pre debut…) and U-Kiss maknae Dongho (who also makes a fine young lady – if a little hunched.. and was also snubbed by the earlier list) perform as “Milk Caramel” at the 2010 dance battle (performing Orange Caramel’s “Magic Girl”).
"Ottokae" indeed! I was not ready for teen boys in fairy princess dresses, giant sparkling bows and Wellington boots. I was not ready to find myself keeping this image open in a tab for the next few weeks while I came to terms with this.
I don’t know how else to convey this… MINDFUCK.
and the winks, and the biceps and again, the flip… it kills me….
Dead.
Kim Dongjun, making people question their preferences since 1992.
1992... and I swear I didn't even used to go near the maknaes before this one... oh dear oh dear ...
This is a message dedicated to my most hard working and dedicated K-pop protege - she knows who she is. Since I moved to Glasgow upon leaving the bosom of Japan :'( she has been an exquisite friend. I never dreamed that I would meet yet another who could love K-pop as much as I, and who would so enthusiastically spend as much time on it as I do on a daily basis. She even attended her first K-pop night and found her own willing (and now already devoted) K-pop convert. I feel like she graduated. My friend's graduation! (but not the F.Cuz kind!)
At 9.30pm in the library tonight do you know what she had on her screen? This!
Ultimate aegyo Minhwan ♥
She's had a pretty rough couple of days mixed in amongst all the fun, but she barely shows it! She is ever smiling.
Just like her beloved Mir. (Or should I say MirO?)
And she may be my unnie just like Bunny, but she has the energy of a dongsang for sure.
Sometimes as much as POWER AEGYO Youngmin.
Occasionally it boils over into uncontrollable delight, but that's OK. It's ever endearing.
Here is a case in point.
And when it happens, I can always employ Hyunseung to give her a brief finger waggle and then a hug, just to make sure she knows she's not really in trouble.
Lastly, I just want to say that I am so proud of you - you are now a fully fledged K-popper, no longer in need of me and my 'guidance'. You have excelled yourself.
♥ Baby Dino is super happy you chose K-pop too ♥
And just in case you aren't smiling by the end of this post, hopefully this should raise your spirits, LOL.
