I always knew that Jang has a little bit of a musical past intertwined with his acting history, not least of all from his spectacular role in You're Beautiful. But I never really thought any more of it, not until an audio track of a song with his name on it popped into my eyeline a couple of weeks ago. What a surpise I thought, what could this be about? Sadly it got thrown to the back of a pile amid a K-pop seige that insued that week, and I pretty much forgot all about it. And then I remembered it, listened to it, and discovered the MV in the related videos alongside it. Bless youtube.
The song itself is nothing really to write home about, though it has a catchy tune, a bit of a pumping beat and a brilliant "Yepp, baby, baby, Yepp" chant which proves very difficult to shake off, trust me. I may even say that it verges on club banger. In fact, it would be I'm sure (though not quite of the Big Bang grade) if it didn't have the terrible interlude, quite so much SISTAR or overly proper accent/pronunciation coming from our Jang Geun Suk.
The video is something, however, which propelled me to repeat viewing, a number of times. The opening scene for one. His waggling finger. Fingers seem to be pretty symbollic in K-pop as far as I have seen (T.O.P is one of the founding reasons for this theory - more on this another time) and this video fits this mode of thinking pretty well. And yes I know it is for a touch screen phone but still, it does.
So yes, the first few scenes, from finger waggles to thread passing through the eye of a needle? Yes. It's not some type of biological reproductive animation as I had at first thought it to be - I think I blinked at missed the close up of wool the first time around and saw a sperm entering egg... Anyways, a few forceful finger points later Jang reclines in his chair with coffee and a smile, how nice. And then we see that, oh, he is a designer, as he raises up the delightful garment he has made whilst in his studio using the power of his finger alone.
Next up, motorbike - or should i say moped - scene. As he cruises the quiet roads of Seoul I couldn't help but notice the full array of facial expressions he shows. It's like a shoot for his first actors' portfolio or something - by no means a one trick pony with a single smile. This is also the point when I started to think that the title of the song should be "Magic drug" rather than "Magic Drag". He looks high as a kite - a theme that runs thoroughout pretty much.
And back to the finger, after some jokey non-contact collision with two cars. You show them Jang.
--Cue lame interlude--- I'm not too sure what he's saying, but frankly I'm not too bothered. I'm not a fan of breaks in songs really, not unless it's necessary. And this is not. The best bit about the secne is probably the baby chick that gets a frame or two.
Then the lame girl band. As a general rule, if it's not 2NE1 I'm not interested. I would love to be swayed, but the appearance of SISTAR just reinforces my reasoning. No fear though, the finger is back with the reinstatement of the banging beats. And I think he's as fond of the finger thing as I am, drawing it up to his heart.
Now, ready, here is the rap, just what you've been waiting for. Atop a balcony in white cropped jacket and arabian scarf combo. You show them Jang, show them how it's done. And if they are still not sure, point them in the right direction with that finger of yours.
To end, a bag thieving incident and a worthy hero. In the chase I was interested to see the near on tailed(?) t-shirt flapping about. It's not challenge to the You're Beautiful costumes, but still. This thief, little tyke, gets shown both the hand and finger by Jang, my how he must have been afraid.
Finally, however, looking though a girls bag and phone though after you've just saved the day, really Jang. We are left with an ambiguity - does she really like him, or is it the power of the finger?? Maybe you should decide:
So, I'd say that though this lacks that sexyness of many ad music videos, such as the wonderful Carribean Bay, it's probably one of the most entertaining I've seen of late.
What also deserves brief mention too, not only for the name alone, is a previous song Jang did for Samsung Yepp, Toucholic.
Some of the lyrics are pretty fab and again we get more of him rapping, and an even better tune I dare say.
Please keep it in mind that Jang raps these lines.To be honest, I'd say the whole thing is worth a watch and a listen.
"Do, do, do, do, don't you want it"
"I'm a t, t, toucholiiiiic"
"I'm a t, t, toucholiiiiic"
It may not be quite in the same league, but there is certainly a strong feeling of the 2PM's about this. A pretty pleasant surprise from someone that I hadn't counted on as having any real musical tastes or abilities. I must say, I kind of like him as a rapper. Go Jang.
