Super Junior's Sungmin is ready to sparkle in SuJu sub group Super Junior - T (T for Trot, duh!)
The current generation of international k-pop fans might already know what 'Trot' is, you've probably seen some of your favourite idols put on a sparkly sequined jacket and a bow tie, hold the microphone strangely and sing some kind of funny dated sounded pop songs with a weird wobbly voice? Well that's Trot. Its what Korean pop survived on for decades before the dance music and the boybands and the shirt ripping and the autotune showed up.
"Trot music is described as two-beat rhythm or duple rhythm, traditional seven-five syllabic stanzas, and unique vocal style called Kagok"- wikipedia
Well what does that mean? It means its a lot of good clean fun, it's nostalgic and full of over exaggerated action and emotion and young people parodying it or embracing it seems to make everyone laugh. I suppose its a bit similar to 50s and 60s pop songs or impersonating Rat Pack crooners in the Western World. Young people singing in a style from long ago, its funny to other young people and its fun for ajusshis and ajhummas... everyone's a winner.
Famous Trot singers from yesterday still have their place in Korean entertainment filling up some of those numerous guest seats on TV variety and talk shows, getting the occasional special stage or collaboration with youngsters from time to time, and i'm sure there is still a whole world of touring concerts and fan clubs I know little to nothing about. What I do know about is the current idol groups and their various ventures into Trot, and I love it.
Two of my favourite k-pop singers who really embrace their inner Trot singer are SHINee's Onew and Key who performed a far too short duet at the 2010 SBS Gayo Daejun in the Trot Medley Special where Beast's KiKwang and Yoseob also had a short but sweet performance, and its really a testament to my love of the genre of Trot that it almost makes me like Yoseob! almost! Beast as a whole are pretty special in their Trot renditions, here's one of my favourites from last year's Idol Star Trot Chuseok Special:
If you even need a reason to love Jang HyunSeung then 1m10s would be it.
Even though its completely irrelevant to my post on Trot I just want to slip in a link to remind my inner circle of readership that this was the one and only Chuseok Trot Special that also featured the leg wrestling contest in the middle of it. Kiseop VS Doojoon anyone? and JJH, i'm not sure but I think we might have completely overlooked SUPERNOVA's performance. Did I mention I've been going off Sungje lately... the sideburns aren't helping.
For a lot of the idols, singing Trot is kind of a joke, whether they are respectfully mocking their seniors hits or whether they are parodying their own songs in a Trot style, its even more of a joke when its comedians performing Trot versions of hit idol songs, to an almost identical tune each week on Gag Show. Special mentions to this version of 2PM's I Hate You and SHINee's Ring Ding Dong. Other idols have to take Trot a bit more seriously, like for example if your dad is a famous Trot singer than you're going to need to embrace it for example F.Cuz's Lee U is he son of famous Trot singer Sul Woon Do and even appeared with dad, pre F.Cuz debut on an episode of Happy Together (which kind of needs to be seen for his nervous interactions with TVXQ, adorable face and unexplained Britpop hairstyle... watch it here) One of the girls in VNT's dad is also a famous Trot singer, but I barely know who VNT are, let alone her dad... sorry.. Then there are the occasional bands (or subgroups or solo ventures) who purposely fit themselves into the modern mold of Pop Trot. I'm not talking about SuJu's Shindong & Leeteuk's fabulous summery Trot digital single, i'm talking about an idol group who were created for the very purpose of TROT... and Jessica Jane how on earth we missed these delightful boys I will never know....
so let me introduce .... 3 CHONGSA (3 Musketeers)
IMPORTANT PROFILE INFORMATION:
Leader - HwaRang (real name Hyun Seok)
1989 - bloodtype A - 181cm
SasYa (real name Hae Won)
1991 - bloodtype ? - 186cm
Maknae - Kang Ho
1992 - bloodtype A - 183cm
Now those pretty faces (mainly i'm talking about the first 2, sorry Kang Ho) and long legs were not what you might expect from a Trot debut, but oh its a match made in heaven!! The only released 2 singles, one in 2009, one in 2010 before they called it a day and left the Pop Trot scene altogether, but the songs they left shall be legendary, to me at least.
Firstly "LET'S GO!". It's a Summer Party Trot on the Beach spectacular, and usually, along with my hatred of Summer, hot beaches, tropical coloured clothes I cannot handle a forced feel good party tune, but I can now say that this song, along with Shindong & Leeteuk's song and Shinhwa's "usha usha" has me practically begging for a some teen hunk in stripes and flip flops to whisk me away on a jet ski. I don't know who I am anymore.
The song was heavily promoted on the music shows, including special versions with 2PM (3 of them come out right at the end for a bit of a dance) or Super Junior, who love to get involved, also possibly best outfit award to 3 Chongsa. 3 Chongsa featuring Kangin, Eunhyuk & Shindong :
where was Leeteuk? why did Kangin have to be there..!
After a long absence they made their comeback with a really unnecessary perm and a song about cooking "Eat Eat!"
They also recorded a gentle ballad (not so Trot) called "Sweet Silly" , I'm not sure if it was ever performed but i'd prefer to remember them skipping about in their nautical get up or their chefs gear going all out with the action dancing.
Now if like me you are left feeling a little deflated that 3 Chongsa are no longer an active group then please wipe away your tears, unless you're a KangHo fan in which case I can't help you. Sorry. I have some fantastic news! I was pretty happy on my chance discovery of 3 Chongsa, I was even more happy on my discovery of Hwa Rang (hi!) and much as love some Trot it did seem almost wasteful that these boys would never get a chance at the chic dressing hip thrusting probably full of autotune dance bangers... maybe just maybe they will. Every cloud has a sparkling silver lining and the demise of 3 Chongsa meant Hwa Rang and Sasya jumped ship to a new management company, and I heard we're going to be seeing the pair of them again pretty soon, and not a bad perm or a jokey costume in sight... HyunSeok... HaeWon... (you see there was a reason I gave you their real names earlier) and friends.... i'm looking forward to it.
For a whole lot more pictures of 3 Chongsa, gifs, video links and cyworld treats, head to the 3 Chongsa forum at soompi. and of course, keep and eye out for X-5...
It sort of took me by surprise when I found myself so excited at the teaser video for the latest song off the repackage of TVXQ/DBSK*'s album. I think that's the first time i've actually referred to them as TVXQ since ... the drama settled down (new to kpop? need an explanation of the drama? abridged version - 5 member TVXQ, 3 of them try to sue management for unfair contracts, management try to sue 3 for breach of contract, 2 stay quiet, confusion ensues, lots of fans crying, 3 start new group JYJ, 2 stay quiet, JYJ attempts to be an international group as they face so much trouble promoting in Korea, finally 2 make a comeback still using the original TVXQ name...). I'm not a hardcore Cassie (Cassie = shortened version of Cassiopeia - TVXQ's fanclub) but it still makes me kind of sad to see just 2 of them under that name.. (i'd like to see all 5 together again... preferably performing "Balloons" ... I say that with hope.. keeping the faith ;_; etc) however their banger of a comeback single certainly helped to cement my support and it seriously wipes the floor with JYJ's dismal efforts (that's a whole other story, shame on you Kanye!! shame on you).
When there's only 2 of them it's not like you even have to make a conscious effort to 'ship it.
So TVXQ / DBSK / U-Know & Max / Yunho & Changmin / HoMin / "The Twin Towers" (as in they're both tall and thin ... I love this nickname) are promoting a new song "Before U Go" and I was SO EXCITED. I'm easily excited by some lovely fringes, flying kicks, guns, suits, bullet proof vests... its enough to get most people worked up really. Action suits them well:
ACTION MAX
ACTION U-KNOW
The whole video teaser was set to Keep Your Head Down (previously mentioned 'banger of a comeback single') which surely kept my attention and non stop action drama so I didn't even think to listen to this new full song when it got leaked before the video, so I had no idea I was about to enter into the world of epic action drama video set to the smooth vibes of R&B. I have a few issues I'd like to address. I'd also like to tell you that in the few days week since I started writing this post, saved it as a draft and nearly forgot about it, I've actually swung round my opinion 180º and almost kinda sorta love the song...
The first 40 seconds is perfect, its basically just the teaser again. "Keep Your Head Down" is blaring out whilst men abseil from the ceiling, punch each other and kick some ass until around 42seconds, random k-drama babe man who isn't TVXQ is on the phone and then uh oh it starts.... as in the song, the song starts, the horrible RnB ballad, the very worst kind of DBSK sexy balladry begins with some twinkling chimes and some soft porno soundtrack wah wah pedal guitar noises and then Max comes in, first line "oooooh mmmhmmm yeaahheeeaheaahheeahaheeahhhh" ok i'd just like to stop you there guys because honestly if there were not visuals right now I would be skipping this track, now, right now. NEVER start your song with a warble, please.
I really thought this new dawn of TVXQ might have put a lid on the sexy balladeering, but who was I kidding, even if you take the boys out of dated american style r&b smooth grooves sexy time warbling you cannot take the dated american style r&b smooth grooves sexy time warbling out of the boys. I get it Korea, you still love Brian McKnight and BoyzIImen, all of you, the whole country. Every male idol out there needs to be able to do some kind of soulful improvised vocal warbling on demand if they are to prove themselves as REAL SINGERS / main vocals or whatever, 2PM's Junsu just wouldn't have any pride in himself as an artist if he didn't show off his ability to burst into R Kelly "Bump & Grind" at every fucking occasion he gets the chance. Heck, SM Entertainment love the ballad warbler so much then event wasted the concept of a "Supergroup" with 'SM - The Ballad' (featuring the unmatched lung power of SHINee's Baby Dino, Jungmo hyung from TRAX, SuJu's slightly sickly, hot as hell, tender voiced Kyuhyun, and that other kid Jino (?!) who they plucked from somewhere), the integral audition process was probably based around a game of improvised warbling Chinese Whispers - see 2mins35 in this clip and tell me i'm not the only one who wants to slap them round the back of the head. Of course if you are not overly confident in soulful warbling then go for the breathy vocals and some really subtle lyrics, we all saw what came naturally to Xiah's Japanese solo time, need I remind you "stroke you like an arpeggio girl" ? (although to be fair that was pretty great..).
Back to the video. So its a drama style MV with a story, a story that is sort of hard to follow, mostly because its a TVXQ video and these days even Yunho is hot so its very distracting trying to concentrate on narrative when there are alternating cuts to some fur trimmed HoMin with some sneaky glances of bare chests thrown in. Its also hard to follow because I only just discovered that there is an accompanying full drama MV which explains the story, with dialogue, as opposed to the video cut with the distracting eye candy shots and lack of coherence - so I probably wasn't expected to comprehend the whole thing anyway, but what I got was this....
Twin Towers, Dramababe and Token Hot Chick work for the NDI which I guess is like FBI or CSI or NCIS or whatever, is it a real thing? who cares. Anyway they spend their days sitting around the luxurious HQ at their giant glass desk where U-Know is jokingly throwing scrunched up paper balls at people (as if they even have paper in this fancy futuristic hi-tech crime fighting world) then the gang drink coffee out of tiny paper cups throwing their heads back in glee and sometimes they drive about in open top cars throwing their heads back in glee. Meanwhile at the start we saw some girl is in hospital, I thought it was Token Hot Chick at first, haru haru style I thought it was going to be a love quadrangle, but no, there is some crime going down, the bust at the warehouse with the gambling, some really shady looking guy with a book, someone deciphering a code from the book ... KILL WITNESS .. uh oh. Dramababe is up to no good, shooting Yunho in the leg! killing the witness! SHOOTING YUNHO IN THE LEG - HOW COULD HE! Changmin cottons on quickly through some top secret snooping through a venetian blind and has a rooftop screaming match with Dramababe that gives us a full inspection of their perfect dental work, and then Changmin shoots the air in frustration ?! I kind of thought he would take more serious action on the discovery that his fellow agent shot his best friend in the leg and is most likely a criminal,, but no, just some screaming and shooting the air.
Half expected a dead pigeon to drop from the sky. The city scape looks really beautiful though right?
I was going to make a GIF of Yunho getting shot in the thigh, the blood packet exploding effect was really quite something in slow motion, but I thought maybe its a little tasteless/creepy so instead i'll just include this "hot guy on crutches" screen cap to satisfy my needs... wish we could have had a better fringe though, Stylist Nuna needs to up her game.
Yunho is perhaps not the sharpest pencil in the box, a little slower on figuring out that Dramababe is up to no go, until he borrows his book for some casual car reading and somebody literally spells it out for him:
KILL...CHANGMIN !!! UH OH.
Meanwhile Changmin seems to have quite naively entered into the bad guys lair with Dramababe, despite the fact that he knew Dramababe shot Yunho in the thigh and killed a witness, and yet is still suprised when Dramababe pulls a gun on him, I for one, was not suprised. Dramababe and Changmin tussle, Yunho arrives in his Jeep (seriously, a Jeep? c'mon), shady bad guy might get away but thank goodness ass kicking Yunho is here, finally deciding to actually shoot people rather than mess about with the punching:
Yunho shots the shady bad guy and bursts in on whatever homoerotic tryst was taking place between Changmin & Dramababe, and he's understandably pissed about it. Dramababe is just in the middle of smacking Changmin in the jaw, goes to pull his gun out which Yunho shoots out of his hand, another screaming match ensues, the clock strikes 12 and the girl in the hospital from the beginning is maybe dead or something (its on Dramababes iPhone, didn't really get what was going on here in the MV). Dramababe cries his eyes out, turns down a leather clad hand that offers to help him up, and the DBSK duo walk away in mild disgust, as far as I could see they made no effort to cuff or retain criminal Dramababe in anyway, poor NDI work I feel.
Of course the only way it could ever end was DBSK walking away, just the two of them *cue "just the two of us"*, we all know 3's a crowd (apparently 5 was a crowd too... ouch).
Like I said, it had some plot holes, but if you want to watch the full 15 minute drama with subtitles then you can understand the whole thing, please step this way for part one and part two. As well as answering all my questions, the full 15 minute drama did through up a few new questions for me, such as, does Yunho live in a car showroom? Is it really appropriate for Yunho and Token Hot Chick to be dating when they work together? Is it really appropriate for Token Hot Chick to wear that footwear to work? Didn't Changmin get Jealous of Token Hot Chick?? I'll bet he did... or my main question DOES THIS SONG HAVE ANYTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH THE DRAMA VIDEO?! to which the answer I think I know is a resounding "No".
The full drama also ends differently with a celebration of spectacular bromance as Changmin & Yunho drive off into the sunset in their red convertible:
I almost thought we were going to get a full Thelma and Louise for a moment, sadly not, but I do now like to think of this video as some kind of prologue to Homme's "I was able to eat well". So there you have it, I held your hand and walked you through this whole complex ballad big budget video short film drama thing, but you know what? I'm still not done.
I wan't to go back to talking about the song. Never in all my days on earth did I think I would see Changmin attempt the glorious singing techniques taught by Nitro's Jim Gilette (Hair Metal on steroids finest) in his "Vocal Power" home video series. Go back to the original DBSK video and skip to 2minutes52secs and listen to the rising multi octave scream and now watch Jim demonstrate:
Am I the only one who thinks this? I'd like to know. I also want Changmin to practice a little more because Jim Gilette is still the greatest god of vocal power, and I really want to cast Changmin in Nunas Know Best's previously discussed 80s Hair Metal festival special (we are hoping the replace the poor effort of New Years Failure - SBS Gayo Daejun with a glam sunset strip spectacular, I don't remember the details right now, thats not important, were SHINee going to be Guns n Roses? ..)
UPDATE - DISCRETIONARY READERSHIP ADVISED - OVER 16s ONLY PLEASE...
I've now been writing this post on and off for so long that they now released the "dance version" of the MV which is very convenient because I was just debating whether or not this was getting too long already but I still wanted to talk about dancing.
I spoke earlier about the 'sexy balladeering' requirements of male k-pop idols but I didn't explain to you that there are also 'sexy R&B smooth vibes' dance moves which you must be proficient in if you want to prove yourself as the ultimate desirable male. Its a simple fact that all k-pop boys need to at least pretend to prove that they are as full of bump n grinding hot blooded lust as Rain hyung, he's like the bench mark for "sexy", of course we have Rain to thank for recently managed to fit in full body rolls and hip thrusts into even the slowest of warbling ballads, see this post(which I will never tired of linking too, I conisder it some of my finest work), which he then followed up with "Hip Song", which as the title suggests, had its moments. However, the official South Korean dance for sexy R&B time is surely The American Style Pelvic (as introduced in this post) which should typically be performed by the "Prince of Pelvic" Lee KiKwang (member of Beast) as demonstrated here and here to the official dance of the The American Style Pelvic - 'Take You Down" by Chris Brown (also notably performed by 2PM at star dance battle a few years ago, i'm not giving you the link, you go find it yourself, i'm not some kind of purveyor of smut you know! although I recommend the rehearsal video as I find nothing hot about all white outfits with a doo rag and cap, although if you're a Chansung fan, you kind of need to see him thrusting in Bojangles...)
Well, DBSK have gone in search of new sexy R&B time dance moves, and from the live performances I saw that all they've really got to offer is 'stroking down your own body' thing, basically, touching themselves:
FYI Changmin, you're not doing it right.
The "Before U Go" dance version video does offer up some more thrusting, thigh stroking and chest rubbing (always their own, unfortunately) but honestly I don't even think I want it, thanks but no thanks. They look so miserable, and their hair looks rubbish, and dear god what the hell is Yunho wearing for the second half of it, he looks like such a sleazeball, I almost wish they were back in turtleneck sweaters standing still like the old days (and I have been so nice so far and didn't even bring up Changmin's turtleneck in the drama version!). Really this video has SO MUCH WRONG. Changmin looks like he is going to burst into tears...
I think the director noticed just how awkward their faces were trying to too hard to be erotic so he just opted for the weird blackout lighting where you can't even see their faces most of the time, a wise move. Actually the strobe flashing light kind of made me think of those clap on clap off lights people have and it made me wonder how things would go down if a guy is trying to perform some American Style Pelvic and has already clapped his lighting down to the appropriate mood, every accentuated thrust and clap would have the lights back on?! surely a passion killer. I bet Rain and Kikwang don't make these amateur mistakes, but I totally feel like Yunho and Changmin would... do you see what i'm saying? DBSK you are meant to be the "rising gods of the east" but that was seriously the most lacklustre sexy dance I think i've ever seen, and your rogues gallery of backing dancers (except for the cute one with the loose perm) is doing you no favours (and why oh why is Yunho touching them, at least 3 times?! he should be touching Changmin or nobody, jeeez). Really though, the biggest passion killer of all... a black satin shirt:
My final verdict is ... they should not have made this dance video, and i'm not even sure they should ever perform it live. They recorded their sexy balladeering and that was enough, why couldn't they just leave it at the epic drama gun shooting video (which was totally hot) and leave the sexy dance to the Lee Kikwangs of this world? In fact, I'm pretty sure if they cut a new video with Kikwang doing the The American Style Pelvic for 4minutes57seconds to this song then they would instantly solve the problem of a declining population in Eastern Asia. I'm just sayin'...
- BUNNY
* For real k-pop beginners I don't think we've been through this yet on Nunas. The group is called 동방신기 (Dong Bang Shin Ki) which translates to "The rising gods of the east" this gets shortened internationally to DBSK, or TVXQ from the Chinese 東方神起 tong vfang xien qi ... and in Japan its 東方神起 Tohoshinki but we don't shorten that one. ok?
And the live Dalmatian performances are even more adorable, with full house set as their stage or even with the sofa alone, them lot of them in baby blue suits. Youngwon is such a show stopper, blue hair or not. Day Day is the wrong kind of show stopper - why does he have to sit next to Youngwon?! He dampens the mood.
Sungyeol may not have any lines to sing, poor child, but he is the star of the video. And he really is a bright, sparkling, darling star. Besides, he gets to sing the chorus with the others.
Oh ZE:A, I take it all back. I don't care what I said, I already love your song. Siwan has me singing 'Girl 넌 나의, butterfly, butterfly...' round and round and round again. He is transfixing. And who thought Dongjun would actually be able to cope so well with his lines live. Well done maknae, really well done. Though I would prefer a few less winks from you - somehow they are creepy and I don't like them, too sure of yourself, and you're not wearing a nice suit either (I've never been one for blazers and v-neck T-shirt combos. Why isn't he pretty in pink in the live performance like everyone else??). Siwan, on the other hand, you are literally killing me in your pink denim jacket and powder pink trousers. What a vision you are. Everyone's dancing is so much better than the silly narrative video, with that girl wasting precious screen time - there's nine of them don't you know! Looking forward to the dance version MV. Anyway, ZE:A, this is my public apology. Forgive me? I promise to watch all your live stages and love you a lot.
And like all these GIFs above, I'm pretty sure that this is how my brain is going to remain all day, on loop.
What is this new song they have given you? Is this sabotage Star Empire? Surely no company in their right mind would think that this is the way to finally get a number one hit?
It's not the cutesy concept that I have issue with, because I love cutesy a lot, but when it is done properly. And if even if you don't have a budget, that's fine, be like F.Cuz - spend it all on clothes(that say "Fuck me blind") and don't try to make a whole filming set out of your pocket money. ZE:A are so due a number one hit, heaven knows they deserved one with Mazeltov, but really, they don't stand a chance with this awful new song. And I am pretty sure that adding another three minutes onto that terrible teaser score will make absolutely no difference for the good. Aigo.
Maybe deep down Star Empire know that, and this is why Dongjun is being loaned out. I don't know whether to laugh or cry as I write this, but meet the very next star, and lead role, of Aladdin the musical. I know Bunny and I always talk of Dongjun as a prime rags-to-riches case - our most adored "sports science" candidate no less. But I am pretty sure that I can speak for the pair of us when I say that this is not the kind of narrative that either of us had in mind. I'm so worried that ZE:A are going to descend in only being a laughing stock of the K-world, and this I do not want. Or worse, have members swapped out! Though they can take Taeheon and Kevin, and Kwanghee, though that may be a little risky as I fear it may he him who actually makes any of the little money they actually have.
This is not current news or relevant to anything in particular aside from me stumbling across the screen captures in a untidy folder of all kinds of forgotten and unwritten blog post fodder. I'd even edited the screen captures together already, in a "here's one I made earlier" type affair.
Super Junior's Miracle Show (aka "Human Network Super Junior’s Miracle") was a TV show broadcast in 2009 presented by Super Junior members Leeteuk, Shindong, Eunhyuk and apparently also Sungmin and Kangin (although 2009 was when Kangin met some trouble with the law... and Sungmin isn't in the only episode i've seen). The premise of the show is SuJu "plant hopes and dreams for teenagers troubled with hardship by giving them support and encouragement" and find role-models and mentors for these trouble youths (I'm guessing bar fights and hit & run accusations didn't make Kangin the ideal role model...)
I'm not sure if it always follows the same formula, but the feeling I got was this is still very much an idol variety show, with amusing talk segments, silly games and challenges with the added heartwarming sentiment and human life story angle thrown in their for good measure. It's also interesting becasue Leeteuk, Shindong and Eunhyuk are the MCs, there's no comedians and comediennes shoved in to bulk up the numbers or help out with some amateur idol hosting, of course this is because those three are basically pros, successful radio shows, years of tv experience (compared to current influx of rookie groups stumbling over their cue cards) and they even have their regular comedy "Teukigayo" spot on "Strong Heart" (another very popular celebrity talk/variety show) - I suppose wisdom and experience really do come with age, but i'd like to think SuJu are just naturally gifted. If only Heechul had been there.
Ok the real reason I chose the watch this show was because the other idol guests were MBLAQ, SHINee and Brown Eyed Girls. Its rare and exciting enough to get a fourway idol group interaction but somehow this combination struck me as a MUST SEE situation, despite the fact that all of them are missing a member during filming. In case you're wondering, BEG's Ga-in is filming elsewhere, MBLAQ's Joon is sick with a cold (why oh why couldn't it have been Thunder...) oh poor Joonie, at least they let him have a day off as this was 2009 when MBLAQ are relatively newbies (they have to give full rookie style member introductions) not like these days where the poor boy works through his insomnia, casually mentions he's bipolar, performs a day after a random vomiting fit and falls off a stage during and elaborate twirl (he's had a tough time) and finally SHINee are missing Minho (sorry but its not the greatest loss, its not like they're filming Dream Team) as he's at school - nice to know they make it their sometimes.
After some introductions and the mandatory promotional dance performance we meet the first kid who wants to be a news reporter. Everyone is on their best behavior for his 5 minute interview and giving encouraging nods and sympathetic "ahhs" to his story and his good grades and good intentions and after imposing on him a forced dance lesson of Brown Eyed Girl's Abracadabra "hip dance" the entire cast unites in a "HWAITING!" cry and promises to find him a suitable mentor, before sending him on his way for now.
Time for an idol talk segment and really, its a good one. "scholarship quiz" - "it raises your IQ!" oh really?! Discussion time - Narsha define's "mentor" for us, Taemin describes the programme we're watching for us, and then something I really did not see coming ...
"What book became a mentor for you?"
Now I don't want to undermine anyone's intelligence here, but I had never considered a k-pop literary review appearing in a tv show, i'm still coming to terms with seeing T.O.P reading / holding a copy of and pretending to read "Mama Makes Up Her Mind" in the "Knockout" video:
Whether or not he can read that is besides the point, its a hip hop video and that screen shot above is promoting two things, firstly - MCM Luxury monogram leather goods, and secondly - LITERACY. Way to go T.O.P.
Anyway back to the Miracle Show. BEG's Miryo talks about a book called "You're Lonely, Aren't You" which helped her through a difficult time in her mid twenties and gave her hope. Now we turn our attention to Mir. What kind of books does Mir read?
Mir reads Death Note, an excellent manga of course, but what valuable lesson has Mir learned from the teachings of Death Note?
I see. Let's move on... but not before a quick joke at the expense of G.O and his creepy debut image, moustache and all:
G.O then introduces his mentor book Lee Oisoo's "Even women don't know women" which despite its title is apparently about "how people can become poets through tough ordeals". MBLAQ fans may recall the group actually go visit Oisoo at his home in their first reality show, so I wasn't too surprised by G.O's poetic revelations. And as the cast imply, he's got a moustache, he looks a bit like an author, so y'know, he probably reads and stuff.
As for SHINee, this is when things started to get interesting...
Key starts us off in full Mother Teresa mode talking about Kim Hyeja's "don't hurt them even with a flower" that helped him to overcome an attitude problem, realise he was a happy person and worry about all the helpless children in the world. God bless you Saint Key.
Is your mind blown yet?
Taemin chimes in with "I read Bernard Werber's - les papillion des etoiles" (I looked it up, French philosophical science fiction, I don't think its been translated into English, just french - korean..), I would love to know if this is a set text at school or something he just picked out for himself on his weekly sunday browse at the bookstore, either way, Minnie has some brilliant philosophical advice for us all:
The wisdom of a 16 year old pop star. Justin Bieber doesn't even know where Germany is and Taemin's gaining life lessons from French Sci-Fi. You lose Bieber.
Of course Jonghyun reminisces about reading Kafka in high school, i'm not even making this up... and still somehow they manage to turn it around to talking about perving on a girl's bathroom...
Finally what is Onew reading at the moment? Jo Hyeryeon's "Future Diary" (Korean comedienne) and of course he too is learning valuable lessons about modern society, and in particular such a heartfelt message of optimism:
He is then made to deliver a video message to his future self and then book club is over. I was going to stop the post here but I feel like you also need to know about the idol's troubles segment, or at least you need to know that Key admits to being a bitch on national TV:
Please be my friend Key, please. I don't even mind if you phone me up and tell me i'm fat like you did to Nicole. I know you're just being honest, and that's why I love you.
Shindong gives Key some great advice that he puts to use, kind of relunctantly, later in the show - basically Shindong suggests any criticism of a girl can be smoothed over if you end it with "...but you're still pretty", when the second average normal person youth looking for a mentor arrives she tells us she wants to be come a Herbal Doctor, "one who combines intellect with looks" priceless Key cuts in with "just go for intellect..." Shindong prompts him "and..." and Key finishes "...but you're still pretty". GOLD DUST MOMENT.
You think this program is over now? they just go off in two teams and look for a mentor for these kids? no no no. This is South Korea and that would be no fun, they must play "Sudden Wealth Jump Rope" - "Let's Earn our Travel Allowance", charades whilst skipping rope to amass petrol money for their bus trips to find the mentors... yup. You should probably watch this for yourself, i'll just mention highlights include Taemin's dance animal impersonations and a questionable action as G.O mimes Lord of the Rings. I'll admit I didnt even look for the next episode to see if they found any mentors for these kids and helped them with their dreams, I kinda felt like this show wasn't really going to surpass its own brilliance of k-pop book club, Baby Dino reads Kafka and SuJu/SHINee/MBLAQ/BEG skipping games. and Key you can be such a bitch... but you're still pretty.
You can watch the entire episode I watched here in parts 12345 (book reviews in 2 & 3, skipping charades in 4 & 5)
I don't know why I was so not bothered about their debut before, when clearly I should have been. Bunny unnie always knows best. With the comeback I was on board from the teaser - we all know how much I love a bit of playfighting when it comes my way. But I never thought to revisit the original music video and debut song, Come back again. If I'm honest, I still don't love the song, but I have finally found my peace with the music video.
All thanks to L ♥
Thank god I fell in love with him dancing for the hundred millionth time today and was encouraged by Bunny to return to the original MV. What would I do without her? Or him? Or Hoya? Or Sungyeol for that matter!
"Ssi" (씨) pronounced "shi" is attached to the end of a person's full name (or first name if you are friendly with them) if they are of equal social / speech level to you. Used very similarly to "san" in Japanese language.
For example: "tomorrow Jessica-ssi and I are going on a double date with KimJaewook-ssi and No Minwoo-ssi" (just a random example that sprang to mind...)
or "my favourite members of MBLAQ are YangSeungho-ssi and LeeJoon-ssi"
and now lets all sing it together and have beautiful blonde Joon-ssi dance around and then slide down a child's slide in the corner of the classroom set.... really....
Thank you South Korea, thank you.
I think that come close to rivaling "Seungho - God of Eating" for best video existing on the internet today, but I can't be sure of anything right now.
Stylist nunas did a great job! Bunny and I usually only complain about bad stylist nunas, mourning the loss of fringes and the like, but we have no grounds for that today. Just look at them all.
It's bowties and stripes all round! Rolled up trousers and almost a full house of fringes!
Eli doesn't even look like Eli (sorry Bunny but YAY!) and AJ may be lacking a fringe but just look how wonderfully he has matured since Paran!!! And I can see touching (almost); I can feel it - there is going to be touching.
And what a lovely power of three. Hoon does looks a whole lot like 2PM's Wooyoung here, but I am referring to the best phase of Wooyoung, so hopefully he will be safe (Bunny, thoughts?). Soohyun is totally working this selca, being the hyung and all. And AJ, well, what can I say, I am totally sold and this is by the mouth alone I realise.
Finally, the news has come in as to who is going to, dare I say it, replace Xander and Kibum in U-KISS. If this means nothing to you, check out Bunny's post here.
First announced was Hoon.
I'm not sure how excited I am about him, but I would hate to judge a book by its cover. He has nice collar bones by the looks of it, so let's give him a chance.
A 91-er, which means he still has three years on Dongho, he's a theatre major at university, and has prior acting experience. But don't worry, he also comes complete with 'impressive vocal talent'. I should hope so! But really, the solo single he released in 2009 is total balladsville, so this best not be the direction U-KISS are heading in. Even though I did read, and am trying to forget, that they want U-KISS to bring out a ballad debut album in the U.S.?! What are they thinking. Anyway, he is a happy 180cm and is skilled at Tae Kwon Do. Also, apparently he likes basketball, snowboarding and wakeboarding, so he may be good for some variety entertainment...
As he was the first to be released, and is the-one-with-the-voice, I was hoping the next would be the wild card - the Kiseop of the new U-KISS era. But, hmm, I'm not so sure. Meet AJ.
Mullet, mullet, mullet!
Oh wait, that's not good. Try this.
The mullet remains!
Or this?
Improvement? I guess the pastel suit is a bit better.
Maybe this?
Cats usually help!! Oh well, I guess stylist nuna will have a busy time on her hands pre-(re)debut later on this month. I'm not saying he is a terror, but considering these are mainly publicity shots, from when he was in Paran (now disbanded - see why), there is work to be done. Admittedly he was around 15 or 16 I believe, and is now the ripe age of 20 (another 91-er). He went to Korea Kent foreign school, so he will be speaking some English I bet, and he is a rapper apparently, or was in Paran, so that gives us some hope musically. He is also 180cm, the same as Hoon, so there will be no bickering over shoe lifts. The only hobby I can find for him so far is 'street basketball'? Oh, and he's an A. Maybe we will end up getting on like a house of fire.
Loving U-KISS as much as I do, I will be sure to give them a try. There just best not be any horrible surprises along the way.
In (public) response to your "verdict please" request Bunny, the official answer is yes. For reference and in case anyone else reads this, this was in relation to my thoughts on what occurs at 1:35 of this video. I.e.
For a bit of extra context I should let you know that both Bunny and I have an oddly ambivalent feeling about Thunder, a.k.a. Cheondung of MBLAQ. I probably have always liked him a bit more than Bunny, mostly due to the influence of a certain K-sensei. I guess my rule when he debuted was that he had to be wearing the hat. Without the hat was out of the question, with his horrid spiked-on-top footballer's hair. After watching him learn yoga in Raising the idol last year though I definitely warmed to him. Nevertheless, he has always remained last place in my personal fantasy MBLAQ line-up. But it seems that Again, and its aptly phrased lyrics, have bought new hope:
Try-y-y-y-(Try) No matter how many times I bump Try-y-y-y-(Try) even if it becomes my last time My closed heart and my hidden love it can no longer be patient Try, Try even if I forget you and forget you Try, Try even if it rips my chest and rips Bye, Bye But, Give me, Give me one mo’ try Try-y-y-y- Try-y-y-y-
Really, when I look at it objectively, Thunder's hair is the best it has ever been, and his shirt lifting antics reveal what is near on identical to that which lies beneath Lee Joon's lovely knitwear at this very point in time.
