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.
Even though I have been an avid K-pop fan for well over whole two years now, it seems that there is just such a massive back catalogue studded with gems, and so much going on in the present, everyday all day, that I never really get the chance to catch up on much that happened before 2009. That means that there are huge black holes in my knowledge that I am only too aware of, and those people pop up in my google reader every now and again who I know are super important, but I just don't have enough time to indulge in researching them at that very moment, and then they get put on the back burner as something like this
Really Teen Top, after the first comeback teaser photo I didn't think it could get much better. Chincha! But then you thought L.Joe needed some heels? YA! Are you trying to kill this nuna here?
or this
Super Junior comebaaaack. Please, please let this image, and others like it, not just be for show. Please actually wear these stage clothes, at least in the MV.
or this
Bunny, I cannot stop listening to this on loop. Daily. All day. Everyday!! I wish this had been their Korean comeback single and they had made a MV and done live performances to boot. All I wanna do is make you dance I don’t need ya name, shake it for the cam Let me see ya booty clap, clap 흔들어봐 body like that, that
happens.
Hovever, this week I did manage to make a little bit of time, though nowhere near enough, to spend starting to get to know Tiger JK oppa, dreamboat dad rap superstar husband that he is. Actually I feel like I first really took an interest when seeing this a few months back:
Hot dad babe alert.
But it wasn't urgent enough. This time it was a music video for the not-so-new but remixed song Doo Doo Doo Wap Ba Balu (두두두 합바바루) that did it. It's moving images, always, that's what seals the deal:
I have a small problem with the fact that it reminds me of OutKast, Hey Ya! or something a little calmer but a bit like that. Even so, it is a nice summery song. And lovely, lovely yellow outfit scenes...
You may already know, but it's from the Drunken Tiger Feel gHood Muzik: The 8th Wonder (2009) album, and it features some of Korea's New Top Models making a cameo appearance. In his 16-year career Tiger JK has co-founded Drunken Tiger, an American Korean hip hop group (he has lived in the U.S. for a number of years), with DJ Shine in 1999 and now also has a record label, Jungle Entertainment, which includes his wife Tasha Reid on the roster. The has been a lot of award winning. See here for more.
When I first properly 'meet' a new-to-me k-pop star/participant in the k-pop realm, the first thing I always do is a google image search, just to get an idea of what I'm dealing with.
This is what we are dealing with:
1. Swoonworthy babe
2. HOT DAD
3. Fun time party oppa
4. Dreamy husband
5. Preppy jokester that still knows what's down with the kids.
I think he may be everything one needs in an oppa. The whole package.
And I also think I may have a new video to loop. Angry Tiger oppa monster, yes!
Angry oppa, who is wrapped in chains. Reminded me of this, just briefly.
It seems that recently there have been rather a few occasions to talk about Metal X K-pop cross overs, and I don't mean to be repetitive, but I just can't let this one slide. I present to you, Norazo's Lee Hyuk!
He's amazing, all 18 note levels of him!! Just look at him go.
Even if you are not a metal fan, you are surely going to find it hard to not be impressed. Also, needless for me to add, amidst some terror facial hair and extensive sick tribal ink, there is most definitely a total babe there. Just look at this performance from 'Immortal Song 2', which should come with a warning:
---- Beware - Razor sharp cheekbones - Do not get too close for risk of injury ----
I think he may have a little wound just above his lip too ♥ Plus he's a total leather studded babe!
He's so versatile, not even out of breath after all that. He goes some type of trot ballad to rocking all out. Even Wheesung and K.Will are delighted, and we all know how they can really belt it out too. Not to mention Kim Tae Won. Maybe we should let Lee Hyuk teach the Yanghwajin band how it's done, I know he'd be a great hyung to them. And they could compare cheekbones too. In addition to this, if he could help Jinswoon in preparing for his rock album too, that'd be great. Check his progress here.
♥_♥
Also, I am pretty sure I have supplied a link to this before, but if you haven't seen it, I implore you to watch Norazo's Rock Star. And if you happen to desire a brief introduction to Norazo, here is a medley, and, of course, it showcases some excellent screams. Enjoy!
Yesterday was a very very special day, someone very special was born on that very special day 24 years ago, actually yesterday I found out that they were not alone, another very special person was born that exact day, that exact year… These people are particularly special to me, one is the other half to my whole, my beloved yeodongsang, brain twin and fellow Noona, the dazzling Jessica Jane… and the other is my latest whirlwind romance intense crush object of my affections, Supernova’s Jihyuk !!
What are the chances of that!! Only a few days ago I was preaching Jihyuk’s charms to an unconvinced Jessica who dared to make the most offensive look-a-like comparison I’ve ever heard. NONSENSE. I am adamant that there is no resemblance whatsoever, he may have a slightly botched looking nose job but really, no, no way, and I’m not even going to entertain her ridiculous claims but telling you what terror she compared him too, birthday or not. This is karma JJH. Don’t you see, you and Jihyuk could be twins!!
You might have thought this was going to be another hearty tribute to my partner in crime, but instead its just another self indulgent love confession to Jihyuk and a loose attempt to make Jess see the light. Sure he cannot compete with perfect gelfling Yunhak in the standard looks department... but remember JIHYUK IS SOOOOOOO SPECIAL
It must be common knowledge that the boy basically needs a full time carer. Sometimes its Sungmo who has to keep and eye on him at the supermarket, check he's ok cutting the vegetables ... I'm not really sure he should be allowed to use a knife if he can't actually be trusted to feed himself...
Other days it seems to be Geonil that keeps him in line. Its pretty embarrassing when he can't even contain himself and has to be restrained on national Japanese TV:
So Jessica you're probably feeling pretty smug that you picked Yunhak all that time ago, to be honest, as leader and the eldest I thought he would probably end up doing a lot of the "caring" for Jihyuk... but it turns out, I think he might be another *special* case...
really....
Seems to me like the four of us would make the perfect double date ! Are you in?
There are many things that suck about not working from home anymore, but by far the greatest problem i've come across is that I don't have time to dedicate a full days effort into creating an annual birthday bonanza post for my beloved yeodongsaeng Jessica Jane. The full days effort is what she deserves, and more. Its just not fair.
I suggest you re read last years for the happy memories, and whilst I might not have much prepared right now... I want you to know that Junho is whipping up something special in the kitchen....
and Minwoo is going to be blowing up balloons alllll day....
