I just realized that for 2 weeks running Vixx has been in my SOTM posts. This wasn't intentional at all! Discovered this song from a blogger recently and I just love it. I find myself falling for Vixx a bit and I don't know if I can handle another group to fangirl over! This particular song really fits both Leo & Ken's respective voices and I like Ravi's rap in this also. But the absolute best thing about this song besides how awesome the beat sounds is watching Leo really get into the song. I'd say this fits his style real well. Enjoy!
I don't really have one character per say that I'm most like, except maybe Lee Soon-Shin. She's super kind and loving towards her family and always puts others before her own self. Another aspect of her character that parallels my own is how she isn't confident in herself. She doesn't see how pretty, smart, or funny she really is. Sure it took Shin Joo-Ho for her to see the potential she possessed but I liked how LSS eventually started to stand on her own two feet and accomplish things without the help of SJH. What I love most about her is that innocent quality she possess. It's not an act or show, its just part of her personality. Another thing we have in common is our drive to do our best. Whenever I go after something I want to achieve or have, I go full-force. Nothing can stop me or get in my way. I will work as hard as I can in order to succeed. LSS is the exact same way when she was going after the various television roles and assignments. She knew the only way to get to the top was to start at the very bottom.
Ahhh I cannot believe 2013 is almost over!!! Where did the year go!? This year in the K-Pop world we saw alot of different songs and concepts come out. Some were better than others and some were worse. I'd say overall that 2013 was a great year musically for me personally, because I branched out of my little "bubble" of music groups and started to listen to more soloists. This list is based on personal feelings so yeah its gonna be a wee bit biased. Alot of these songs come from artist who I believe are extremely underrated amongst the bigger "top" stars and unfortunately don't get the attention they deserve. Without further ado here are my most underrated songs from K-Pop.
MBLQ~Smoky Girl
I did a SOTM for "Smoky Girl" and didn't realize how much love they would get. Its an incredible song that should have gotten more exposure. I feel they fit this style better than their previous concepts it just seems more natural. The more I see of these guys the more I fall in love with them.
UKISS~Standing Still
I admit I didn't like this song at first, it took alot of listening to it over & over again in order to appreciate what a gem it is. And I liked how they went with a different music producer this time around. It really helped give them more leeway to different concepts and themes. I'm a big fan of UKiss and I can only hope that they continue to grow musically and personally.
BTS~No More Dream
Had to decide between this and "We Are Bulletproof" and based on the lyrics went with the former. Both songs did well enough but didn't get the exposure that I would have liked to see. BTS caught me by surprised as I though they were just another new Hip Hop group to come onto the scene. "No More Dream" is a wonderful song about going after your dreams, regardless of the outside pressure coming from parents wanting their kids to go on certain career paths and society forcing you to conform to their standards. This is the kind of song that speaks to young people like myself who are in the midst of still trying to figure out our life goals. My favorite part is when Rap Monster raps "Open your eyes now, dance now, dream a dream now, and stop hesitating." Such powerful lyrics coming from a rookie group.
Seungri~Gotta Talk To You
Well this one is pretty self-explanatory. I've always believed Seungri was overshadowed by the other members of Big Bang since his voice is more softer and not as strong as the others. But finally he has come into his own style & it fits soo well with him. He's not trying too hard to impress anyone, and he doesn't have to, he's Seungri! That entire album was a gem too bad he didn't get noticed more. After "Gotta Talk To You" I believe people will take him more seriously in the future.....well that's my wish at least.
Kim Lim~Goodbye 20
Ahh this song speaks to me the most. I was/am in the same rut wondering where did 20 go and why did it feel like I hadn't accomplished anything substantial yet!? Kim Lim (or is it Lim Kim!?) has a great funky tone to her voice. Its unique and I like how she sings as if she's standing in front of you talking about it. I'm currently watching SUFB and when I saw her went "OMG isn't that the girl from the "Goodbye 20" song she seems like a reserved but cool person in real life.
Younha~The Real Reason We Broke Up
Another one I talked about in my SOTM posts. Its a touching song about a relationship that has run its course and the emotions during that time. I really like the song because while the lyrics are sad and nostalgic, the music keeps a hopeful upbeat tempo. To me, that symbolizes that the person is hopeful that they'll come out of this experience a much better and happier person.
Ladies Code~Hate You
I can't remember if it was Pandora or Youtube that I first heard this song from but it caught my attention right away. Ladies Code's voices blend well together in harmony. For being rookies they seem like pros in the way they carry themselves and with their vocals. They beat some big time singers in K-Pop who have been singing for far longer than this group. I don't have alot of girl groups that stand out to me but this year Spica & Ladies Code have really made me change my views on girl groups. Hope there's even more to come from these girls.
San E~ Break Up Dinner
I always remember San E as that one hilarious MC guy from Gurupop. The thing about San E is that he released at least 3 songs this year and each and every one was fantastic so you can understand my dilemma when trying to narrow it down. And the videos he puts out have some well thought out concepts. I really like how he can be funny and upbeat during some parts of the songs and then change to a more serious tone later on. San E's got some talent and I love how each and every video has a theme about relationships. "Break Up Dinner" is a song about not being able to let a relationship go. The video is downright sad and this time you can hear in his voice the emotions he feels, its not upbeat but more melancholic. At the beginning is voice is hopeful & optimistic but as it gets closer to the end, it becomes somber. And its so sad to see him all happy about his dinner date not realizing that he's dead in the video. Him being "dead" represents not understanding that the relationship has long run its past and San E isn't ready to accept that. I thought the plot of the mv was pretty good, heart-breaking but realistic.
CN Blue~I'm Sorry "I'm Sorry" is such a jamming song. Slightly funky intersected with pop/rock the perfect combination. I felt that this song didn't really get any attention, granted it has been almost a year since it was first released. Jung Yong Hwa is not only beautiful to look at but his voice is perfect. I could listen to it all day.
Lee Hyori~Amor Mio
Lee Hyori had a great comeback this year. Monochrome was one of my top favorite albums of the year. Sadly, "Amor Mio" got buried beneath the success of "Bad Girls" and "Miss Korea." I found this gem while listening to the album and was surprised to find there was also a video for it! Its very simplistic but her voice fused with Park Ji Yong's wasperfection.
Nell~Ocean of Light
Just a great song. Everytime I listen to it I feel nostalgic and start remembering things in my past. Nell is a group that I only became aware of earlier this year with their song "The Day Before." Funny thing but I couldn't remember who sang that song or anything else but that it had those 2 model guys in it and one was from 2NE1's "Ugly" video. "Ocean of Light" is the perfect song to just relax with. The music is so soothing and it lets your mind wander to the happy places. Nell knows exactly how to create music that fits life perfectly. Every song of theirs hits my emotional spot and this song is no exception.
B.A.P~Coffee Shop
Such a beautiful and smooth mid-tempo song. The piano in the song is just so exquisite, it brings such a nice touch. After looking up the lyrics I fell even more in love with it. BAP is usually known for being the tough-guys of KPop but through "Coffee Shop" showed the world that they could venture into the smooth areas of music as well. Having never listened to any of their ballads before (that is if they had any) I was pleasantly surprised how smooth the boy voices were. Personally, I think this is their best song aside from "One Shot" because they take a risk and get away from their comfort zone. The music video is one of my favorites of the year. Its so simple but I adore the many landscape shots and different places shown in the video.
2PM~A.D.T.O.Y
Not being a fan of this group before, they surprised me with "A.D.T.O.Y" its such a great mature sounding song. Having listened to their previous songs, they've really grown up in the last couple of years musically and individually. I really liked the rap in this song because it flowed nicely and it wasn't too cheesy or anything. So bonus points for that. Secondly, I like the simplicity of the video. Black and white always looks cool in music videos and it helped focus the attention on the group. Also, using the chairs as props was genius. The dance was simple, could actually be considered too simple, but adding the chairs gave it a even more special effect.
I gotta say I've been quietly watching Vixx do their thing over the past few months and I am thoroughly impressed. They do dark and creepy very well. Their consistency in every video that comes out always has a great theme and dance routine to it like "Hyde" for instance was also another one. I'm not very familiar with all the members yet but the one with the creepy eyes in the video really did a great job, he should consider trying out some acting projects. While the song isn't the best I've heard, its still got some cool elements in it, like in the pre-chorus right before the stabbing part. I just love the way the music starts to rise there. Really gives it an epic feel. Another thing I like is the "Ooooh" part during the song. In the midst of such a chaotic presence in the song, the ooohs bring some much needed relief. The dance is the best part about "Voodoo Doll" it goes along great with the lyrics and just adds more to the song. I really like the guy whose always in the front - he's usually doing the stabbing - not only is he great eye candy but the dude can dance! I couldn't take my eyes off of him. I can't wait to see what concept they will tackle next. Enjoy.
Voodoo Doll
I also included their dance practice video because its better to see the whole entire choreography.
Finally finished my review for Secret though I am sorry I didn't have it earlier, finals were the most important thing on my to-do list. This particular review took me away to format and get all my thoughts done because it was such a great drama and there were lots of material I potentially needed to use. There is soo much to say that I could write for days about Secret but unfortunately we cannot do that. Beware there will be spoilers in this review.
Cannot believe its already been a year since I first started LBO. Its been challenging at times remembering to post on certain days when I have to juggle the college life and everything that comes along with that. But its still a learning process for me and hopefully I can not only continue to grow, but also challenge myself to be a even better writer. I've have learned soo much in just a short time period and there is always room for growth - soo much more - hehe. Thank you to those who drop in on this tiny blog from time to time, it is very much appreciated. Now I'm off to continue working on some reviews for you guys. :)
Such a soothing ballad to listen to. The lyrics are pretty sad highlighting the feelings of loneliness but the music adds that uplifting happy beat to contrast with it. My translation of the song is that the person is trying to keep an happy outlook on life even though they might be feeling lonely and sad inside. It's the perfect song that showcases how one might act despite their circumstances. The song is really good and I personally like it better than her other single "One Way Love." To me, this song shows off her talent more and OWL sounds like a Sistar-esque song.
I really enjoyed the video because it showed-cased Hyorin's personality. The shots of her walking around different places in London were beautiful and I felt that I got a glimpse of who the real Hyorin is. Happy, sad, melancholic all were parts of her. She's got a beautiful, husky voice that stands out against other current artist.
Lately I have been obsessed with watching this dance crew's videos on Youtube. They are extremely talented and their energy is just off the charts. The way they present the movements so clean and crisp makes me enjoy watching them versus the actual artist. They really put all their heart and soul into the routines, making it entertaining to watch. These 4 videos are my currents favorites that I literally watch everytime I'm on Youtube. So I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Secret.
There are not enough adjectives to describe what a roller coaster ride
this drama was. Unfortunately I didn't wait for it to end so I couldn't
marathon it all the way through because now I'm having serious
withdrawals. Withdrawals are common in the Kdrama world and I am having
the worst of the symptoms. Constantly on YouTube
watching either clips or music videos starring the leads...its a big
problem. I just can't let go of Secret and one part of me wishes there
could have been an extension *gasp*. Yes I
know, this drama was too good to be possibly ruined if there was an
extension but that's how bad I miss it. Now I have no Wed-Thur show to
look forward to. Thankfully it wasn't *SPOILER*
a sad ending so I wasn't teary-eyed and exhausted from crying after it
ended - shakes fist at writers of King 2 Hearts! In-depth review coming soon.
Do You Watch Asian Dramas for Their Storyline, Genre or Actors/Actresses?
When I first got into Asian dramas I would just stick to dramas that included the actors/actresses that were familiar to me. Then based on preferences from my mom or just reading recaps from other bloggers I would chose what to watch. Now I mainly watch for the story lines only. Genres alot of the times can be hit or miss so I never watch anything because its a romantic drama/comedy - which are my faves. I usually find the sageuks long and boring, but some were really interesting like Rooftop Princewhich started during the Joseon period but was fused with modern time or even Princess Man which completely changed my view on sageuks indefinitely. I like to think after almost 2 years of watching Asian dramas, though I am nowhere near the record of many other bloggers, I know what types of dramas to watch and what to stay away from. Luckily enough, I haven't watched any truly horrible dramas, some might have started out great and ended on a bad note- Protect the Boss is one that comes to mind- but otherwise they were good.
At last Part 3 of my series is here!! I didn't realize how popular it would be so thanks to everyone for inspiring me to keep posting them. This was suppose to be a post about different bloggers but I realized squeezing more in would be unfair. So in today's spotlight is a fashion blogger called Dominique of style2bones.
I absolutely love this photo shoot with these girls. Its a mix of fun and edgy put together. The energy is off the charts and Lee Hyori and SPICA look amazing in their different outfits for 1st Look. Spica is one of my new "it" girl groups at the moment. So to see them get to shine along with Lee Hyori was just plain awesome.
Wow. Two JYP songs of 2013 that I actually liked, this is a record for me. Miss A has always been that girl group that while I knew they existed and listened to a couple of their songs, didn't really give much attention to them. With "Hush" they popped up on my radar again.
This song is very addictive. At first, I thought it was pretty mediocre but after finding myself humming the tune throughout the day I realized how good it really is. The buildup is slow which is probably why I wasn't so into it, but its definitely worth the wait. The girls are really talented and I like how each member has her own well deserved spotlight during the video. They are fierce and sexy all at the same time and never once overdo it. The choreograph was simple but had a Miss A stamp on it. From watching their previous works, they never go too hard with their dances but just add enough sultriness to make it worthwhile. Cannot wait to see what else they have in store for us in the future. Enjoy!
Yayy for the return of easier posts. I'm extremely sorry it is taking me soo long to do all of these but real life is getting in the way. Now, I'm taking this to mean whole soundtrack of dramas or single songs right? Idk but I feel that I've broken alot of rules already, whats one more. :)
Hearstrings OST This has got to be one of my favorite albums to listen from a drama. I had most if not all the songs on my ipod playing on repeat constantly. Heartstrings might not have lived up to all its hype but the music made up for it.
I love looking at beautiful photo shoots or pictorials of famous celebrities, models etc. Soo Joo Park in particular is my absolute favorite model. I'm obsessed with looking at different photos of her, she's got this unique look about her that just draws me in. So I decided to do a post just about her. Enjoy!
This one was a tough one to write about. I'm not the type who usually gets weepy over anyone or anything - except animals and other cute things- but this particular dramas sapped the life out of me. Alot of dramas that have a sad essence to them won't make me cry, it usually takes a special kind of drama/character to make it happen for me.
With the list of dramas previously watched there are plenty I would have loved to write full reviews on but that would take too much time. So I decided to start a segment on those dramas that didn't quite make the cute for full review. Enjoy.
I Hear Your Voice
Every time I think of this drama I get those warm fuzzies. How could it be possible for a drama to entertain us and at the same time speak to our hearts? Every moment was poignant and I give credit to the writer(s) in making these characters so realistic because that is what really made this drama. Also the other strength of this drama relied on the relationships between each character.
This is an extremely late review on this comeback song from Seungri. I actually forgot about it, amidst all the other things on my list to write about. Well Baby Panda is back and I for one was extremely proud of his latest album. There was obvious maturity not only in the music but his voice also. It seems that he became more aware of what his voice and do and the type of music that will suit it. "Gotta Talk To You" is one of my favorite songs of the Fall/Winter releases. It felt like we had a slump there for awhile and then BOOM great, though-provoking music was released. I love the smooth mid-tempo beat of the song, perfectly accented his voice/music style and its just super awesome. And that ending is right on point!! It fits Seungri soo well. Had me jumping off my feet wishing that it would last just a tinsy bit longer. Great song and video! Gotta Talk To You
Day 4: Your Favorite Couples In An Asian Drama? Ooh and I thought the last one was hard. Since it would be impossible to just pick one, bear with me here. There might be a brief SPOILER about one or more characters, so beware. Secret Garden Gil Ra Im & Joo Won Truly how could this not be on my list. They had such sizzling chemistry, its a wonder they didn't date in real life! They were the perfect example of a couple that were complete opposites of each other but were able to work out their differences in order to be together.The switching bodies part was hilarious because Joo Won was able to understand Gil Ra Im a little better because he was in her body. Sure their minds were the same and only the bodies were switched, but the seemingly little differences between the two became quite obvious overtime.I believe Joo Won was able to appreciate her a little more after experiencing what it would be like in her shoes. The same goes for Gil Ra Im.
King 2 Hearts Eun Shi Kyung & Jae Shin The drama that made me cry for days all because of one man...Eun Shi Kyung. At first I just thought I was being too emotional but reading comments from many fans of the show, they cried buckets of tears also, so now I don't feel so much like a ninny. This was the almost-perfect couple, only if he had lived. Jae Shin was fearless, brassy woman while Eun Shi kyung was the loyal, awkward bodyguard. Together they helped each other with their strength and weaknesses. The quintessential couple in dramaland. What's Up? Oh Doo Ri & Sun
While this was a great example of a one-sided crush on your high school teacher, I couldn't help but wish they would actually become a couple. I mean, sure he was much older and wiser than her but she was no naive girl going through life with her head stuck in clouds, Doo Ri was smart and sarcastic quite the opposite of the reserved but loving teacher. For this nontraditional couple, it was her relentless pursuit of trying to make them a couple and Sun trying (but not succeeding) of pushing her away from him. She was the one constantly by his bedside the sicker he became, and also the one he made sure wasn't there to see him die. One of the saddest part of his death was during the funereal when Oh Doo Ri was reading the eulogy and she couldn't finish the rest, right then the tears started to come. Because whether you were a fan of the teacher-crush, I believe she really did fall for him which is why his death hit her the hardest. I Hear Your Voice So Ha & Jang Hye Sung I had almost forgotten why I loved this couple so much, it took going down memory lane reading another bloggers post to remember why I loved IHYV so much. I could just say I watched this drama only because of Lee Jong Suk -and while initially that was true- I genuinely came to love Lee Bo Young's portrayal of Jang Hye Sung. She was wonderful in bringing to life such a flawed character. And the best part about this couple and their relationship, is how realistic it was. It never felt forced or rushed just perfect.
