Where Have I Been?

Hello fellow readers,
If you have noticed (or haven't been paying attention) how sparse this blog has been since oh I don't know...4 months ago well I'm about to tell you the reason. First off, I moved and transferred to a school over 4,000 miles away from home and took the time away from the blog to get settled into another school year. Because of the move, school and lack of interest in blogging, I decided to put it on hold hoping a nice break would end my writers block. Well here we are 4 months later and I still have writers block! While I have not been blogging about dramas that doesn't mean I've stopped watching any. In fact I've watched a couple that aired this year and boy were there alot of disappointments. Most of the popular dramas I skipped and only read the reviews which turned out to be a great idea judging from the majority. So I'm gonna do a quick drama review for each one that I watched. Some dramas that I watched this year were already reviewed so they won't be on here.

Doctor Stranger: 7.5/10

What a great drama that wasted its potential mid-way through the series. DS suffered from not knowing what direction or genre it wanted to be.This has to be Lee Jung Suk's worst drama and I won't even mention his leading lady.

Bride of the Century 8/10

This was a very cute drama that I wasn't expecting to be so good. It had a nice plot that was different from the usual dramas and it kept me entertained. I've been a fan of Lee Hong Ki since You're Beautiful, and he wowed me once again.  

Marriage Not Dating 8.5/10

I've never watched a drama with any of the leads and so was apprehensive about watching this but once again I was surprised by how well they did. Han Groo just earned herself a new fan. Her comedic timing is on point and she had great chemistry with both leading men.

My Secret Hotel 7/10

After watching Queen In-Hyun's Man, I was looking forward to seeing Yoo In Na take the lead role again but unfortunately this drama suffered mid-way as well. MSH was suppose to deliver suspense and romance but failed heavily in the suspense department. Instead they focused on keeping the lead couple apart most of the drama and with out spoiling anything, the ending wasn't satisfying.

Secret Love Affair 9.5/10

I avoid Yoo Ah In's dramas since he doesn't stand out to me in the acting department but I'm glad I took the chance for this drama. Secret Love Affair was amazing and unfortunately I can do it no justice talking about it. This is a must see drama. The drama is about the love affair between a genius pianist and his teacher, its not just about the affair but how music can connect two souls together in ways most people couldn't understand.

Vampire Flower 7.5/10

Vampire Flower caught my eye because it was getting fanfare on one of the sites I frequented, and since I was looking for something short and sweet it fit the bill. While it didn't have the most amazing plot, the story was cute even though some of the special effects weren't up to usual par. The main lead wasn't too bad as a idol-turned-actor and of course the ever so lovable Kim Ga Eun was such a great fit for this.

You're All Surrounded 8/10

Lee Seung Gi finally returned to dramaland and I can say his chemistry with Cha Seung Won was perfect. They play off of each other very well and so did his co-stars. YAS was a nice drama that stayed consistent throughout.

I Need Romance 3 7/10

Sung Joon!!! Seriously he has one of the best jawbones. I Need Romance 3 was a great disappointment. Again, like alot of dramas lately, it started off well-off but suffered the middle slump where everything Kim So Yeon's character did irritated me. And when the lead character starts to become annoying it messes up the entire drama. The romance was the only reason I kept watching and the other side storylines were boring, except for Park Hyo Joo's part. She needs more roles because outside of the leads, her scenes were the ones I looked forward to the most.

Song of The Moment~BTS~Danger

Bangtan Boys are back and better then ever! Literally the first couple seconds of this video had me speechless. Not only do they all look good but the group plays bad boy really well. Or I should say, jilted ex-lover very well.

"Danger" is a very aggressive song that explores the end of a relationship that has become one-sided. The other person has lost interest in maintaining that relation and stops trying altogether. Clearly, BTS isn't having it and hashes it out with the girl through their words and dance.  Everything from the dance to the verses scream the internal feelings of anger and hurt. I like how they continued the storyline from "Boy In Luv" which showed the first feelings of falling for someone. Through "Danger" we see the gradual fall of the relationship and what went wrong. BTS put in alot of time and patience to make this work but the girl constantly rejected their love and instead used it against them. I find one of the lines from Jungkook's rap to be pretty ironic.

"Whenever I turn sulky you ask me “Are you mad at me?”
  Have you ever really done something to me?
  You are a sweetie! But I’m just a poor boy"

Instead of taking the blame for not giving parts of herself, the girl turns it around on BTS. Making her the mature one in the relationship when in fact, she's the reason behind their problems. The more I listen to the song, the more I get how personal it really is. Once again, the Bangtan Boys give me another reason to fall for them.

As always I love every member's contributions in this song but my standouts were J-Jope, V, Jungkook, and Suga. We are used to seeing J-Hope always smiling and just being a happy guy onscreen but in this MV, you could feel the anger during his rap verse it was very well done. Suga, as always, was perfect. I could say more but that would be showing my fangirl side which honestly would take over this entire post! V & Jungkook were awesome! Jungkook isn't a bad rapper, he has the right vocal flavor that it works for him. They are starting to give V bigger parts which is great because he has a nice, distinct deep voice that works for them. My overall opinion was that this was a great comeback single. Can't wait til the album comes out!


Danger

BTS "Dark & Wild" Comeback

The return of BTS is here folks and I for one am uber excited!! Their comeback is slated for August 20th, with an even darker concept than before. After the school concept, they seem to be taking it a step further in delving into what happens after "Boy In Luv."

From the first teaser video released, BTS is delving into the territory of a broken relationship. With their last single "Boy In Luv," the boys dealt with the initial emotions of a first crush, and the feeling that come along wit it. Well from this teaser, it looks like they've come back down to earth and this time it won't be as pretty. After listening to Rap Monster's rap monologue, it's safe to assume that the album's focus will be on the events following Skool Luv Affair.

Who else is ready for some more of BTS!?

New Writing Gig at Asia 24/7

For the past month or so I have been part of a writers program called The K-Pop Writers Workshop, specifically catered to writers/bloggers interested in K-Entertainment writing. Through this workshop I was given the opportunity to work on a article that had the potential of being published on one of their affiliated websites. Well, after the workshop ended I was asked to join the Asia 24/7 team where I am now one of their main writers!! So I mentioned all of this because my piece was just published today!! I reviewed the classic "Haru Haru" by Big Bang. If you guys want to check it out here is the link http://asia247.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/throwbackthurdsday-review-haru-haru/ .

30 Day Asian Drama Challenge: Day 11

To say that I am wayy past the 30 Day Challenge is a understatement, things got in the way so I never got around to finishing it off. It also works better this way since I've watched tons of dramas since then. Now onto the challenge!

Name A Drama That Disappointed In The End:
Nice Guy

Song of The Moment~ Taeyang~ Eyes, Nose, Lips

Finally he is back with a fabulous ballad!! I've missed listening to Taeyang's ballads like "Wedding Dress" as those were the songs that drew him to me the most. While "Ringa Linga" was great I was awaiting this comeback just to see what else he had made while on hiatus and "Eyes, Nose, Lips" did not disappoint. It's the perfect break-up song showcasing Taeyang's vulnerable side and the lyrics are raw and moving. The bouts of symbolism splattered in the song, like the burning picture of the ex-girlfriend, were a pretty fitting tie-in with the words.

"But like a burnt out flame,
  Burnt and destroyed
  All of our love
  It hurts so much, but now I’ll call you a memory."

The chorus is my favorite part, taking the simplest features of a person, to paint us a picture of his heartbreak. I'd say that's pretty ingenious.

"Your eyes, nose, lips

 Your touch that used to touch me,
  to the ends of your fingertips.
  I can still feel you."

This was a very serious relationship that clearly Taeyang wasn't ready to let go of and I am really glad he used the loss of that to write such a beautiful song.

Vocal-wise, I feel this is the best song Taeyang has ever sung. His voice captures all the right emotions and that smooth falsetto he does at the end of the chorus is perfect.

Eyes, Nose, Lips

Song of The Moment~ 2NE1~Crush (Japanese Version)

I have a confession to make. I haven't been looking forward to any new 2NE1 songs since 2011's "I Am The Best" skyrocketed to fame. As the only K-pop girl group that I was really into, lately most of their releases have disappointed me in some capacity. But they have redeemed themselves with their latest release "Crush." Personally I believe that "Crush" should have been their comeback single instead of "Come Back Home." Not only did it deliver better but the way the song is structured it would have been awesome to hear it on SBS Inkigayo. The difference I feel between the Korean versus the Japanese version, is that the latter flows better with the music. It's got the main components that make 2NE1 so great. The catchy chorus to sing along with, the booming bass, the killer verses, I could go on! The fierceness that they are so famous for can be heard once again in the song. It's exactly what I wanted and much, much better then the original release which unfortunately let me down. This is the 2NE1 I've been dying to hear again. I only hope to see more music videos like this in the future.

K-Movie Review: 200 Pounds of Beauty

Verdict: The only Korean movie that I think could qualify as a equivalent to the American movie Shallow Hal. The similarities between the two films stop at that point though. While I enjoyed Shallow Hal, this movie didn't really do enough for me. 

Summary:
Hana/Jenny (Kim Ah Joong) is a bright, light-hearted singer who unbeknown to the outside world is the real voice behind Korean popstar Ami (Ji Seo Yoon). Life is seemingly perfect until the day that Ami humiliates Hana in front of her secret love Sang Jun (Joo Jin Mo) which then spurs her choice to have plastic surgery over her entire body. The movie takes us on a journey of how Hana deals with her drastic transformation, and the people who are affected with her.

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD! BE AWARE!

Thoughts on the movie:
Initially in the first half of the movie I really enjoyed it. The comedic timing was perfect and I LOVED Hana. She was a fun, confidant, woman who had a great voice but her biggest obstacle was that she was overweight and considered "ugly." What really drew me to this character, and essentially the movie, was how full of life she was. While most people would be unhappy singing but not actually be seen singing, Hana was perfectly fine with it. All she wanted was to sing and she got her wish. Her "secret crush" on her music producer, Sang Jun was glaringly obvious to everyone but her. I feel like sometime after his birthday party, if not then, she would have expressed her feelings to him. Thinking back now, I think Hana thought he liked her and that her weight didn't phase him. It wasn't until she found out that she was being used, then came the decision to get plastic surgery, believing that would win his heart.

Sang Jun by the way, was a complete jerk not to mention the biggest idiot on planet earth. He had a jewel and didn't realize how valuable Hana was until she left. And I'm pretty sure he used her liking him to his advantage. He made the same mistake twice. Twice! Using her the first time, then using her again when she was Jenny. The ending was perfect to me, because Sang Jun did not deserve another chance with Hana. I would have been less satisfied with 200 Pounds of Beauty if they ended up together, it was just too impossible at that point.

Where the movie went south was towards the latter end. Probably because "Hana" no longer existed, and in her place was Jenny. This persona only cared about burying Hana for good even going to the extent of calling her former self ugly while talking with Sang Jun. I don't know about anyone else but that part really got to me. She hated what "Hana" represented so much, she was more than happy to harp insults and ridicule her former self. That a person could despise a part of themselves is mind-blowing, especially to that extent that she did. Another scene that comes to mind is when she disregards her own father all in the name of protecting Jenny. The disgust on her friends face mirrored my own. Jenny wanted to put the past as far away as possible, even her own father wasn't immune to this.


Throughout the movie Hana has to deal with the new "her" and learn to accept who she had become. I will say the last part where she comes to the point where she's tired of pretending that Hana never existed is a great scene. She realized that she could never forget Hana, though some parts of her were physically altered, the rest always remained there. That entire scene where she finally bridges the gap between the two personas and tells the world who she really is was perfect.

Final Thoughts:
Characters: Kim Ah Joong did a lovely job of portraying a person unable to come to terms with the changed person and the fumbles and falls they go through before they eventually accept who they are. I will say that I liked the Hana better than Jenny because not only was she more confidant with her true self but she also never tried to be anything else except who she was. Joo Jin Mo confused me alot throughout the movie and I'm not sure if that was done on purpose or not. Did Sang Jun have some feelings for Hana at all or was it only her voice that he found attractive?? Also the actor who played her plastic surgeon was just so great. I don't know the name but I've seen that actor before in some drama but he stole the show for me whenever he was on screen. That whole interaction with him and Hana during the consultation was hilarious once he found out who she really was.

Theme/Message: I didn't really like the message that you have to change yourself physically in order to be accepted by society. I could be wrong, but I felt that this was the main message of the movie, that transforming ones self in order to conform to society is the only way to entail that you can get accepted. That was my biggest issue with the film, and kinda made it hard for me to fully enjoy a otherwise nice movie.
 
Music: Not only is Kim Ah Joong an actress but a singer as well. I don't remember much from the soundtrack since the only thing that stood out were these two songs "Byul (Star)" and "Ava Marie."

Memorable Lines: 
Jenny:
"Hana is worthless, but Jenny is worth a fortune."
 
"You broke my heart, a tissue won't fix it."  

"Desire to become pretty isn't a bad thing."

Sang Jun: "Can't you sing like her (referring to Hana)."

Jenny's father: "God is the only one who can do everything. We humans do what we're capable of."

First Impressions~ Witch's Romance

Who would have thought that after watching two noona-based dramas in the last year, that I would enjoy watching another one. Quite frankly, I had no intention of even watching Witch's Romance but because of some really good marketing on the promoters part, I decided to forge ahead and see if it could live up to the potential seen in the trailers. The verdict? A++.

Synopsis:
Following the noon-romance trend of the year, comes the latest drama in the pack. The Witch’s Romance is about a strong, confident reporter who is extremely good at her job. So much that her nickname is literally “witch” because she tends to walk all over her co-workers. After getting left at the alter by her ex-fiancee, Ban Ji-Yeon has given up on true love.

Our lead man Yoon Dong Ha runs a small errand center with a friend. In this business they do anything the customer wants, including teaching a self-defense class or pretending to be Santa Clause for a day. Despite his happy-go-lucky appearance, Yoon Dong Ha hides a secret sorrow, having tragically lost his girlfriend some years back.

When the two meet, immediately sparks incur, and though their age difference might be great, their common interests and shared sorrow bring them together.

Cast:
Uhm Jung Hwa - Ban Ji Yeon
Park Seo Joon - Yoon Dong Ha
Han Jae Suk - No Shi Hoon
Jung Yeon Joo - Jung Eun Chae
Ra Mi Ran - Baek Na Rae

The cast work well together but what really draws me in (and thus has lead me to becoming a fixture on forums) is the chemistry between Uhm Jung Hwa and Park Seo Joon. Age doesn't factor in the equation at all with these two. Jung Hwa is doing a wonderful job of playing a character who from the outside is strong, confidant, successful woman that has everything together, but on the inside is a vulnerable woman. Coming into this, I had never seen any of her previous work before, but with romantic comedies, she is in her element. Park Seo Joon though relatively new to the acting world, is on fire. Literally and figuratively speaking! He has this "thing" where he never turns off, even when Seo Joon's character isn't in the frame, you can still see him in character in the background. As Dong Ha, he embodies the persona so well, with his expressions and the way he carries himself. Oh, and since this airs on tvN, we actually get REAL kisses!! I don't want to spoil it for anyone but there might/might not be a kiss scene in the first 3 episodes. Just saying!

Another plus to this drama is the momentum is has kept since the first episode. Many dramas, especially in the last year, start off on a high and then fizzle out towards the middle half. And while Witch's Romance isn't half-way yet, it still has been able to keep me glued to the screen in anticipation of the next episode. It has charm, romance, and humor that keeps the show (and audience) on it's toes.

Obsession Corner: Daeho's Cover of 2NE1's "Missing You"

Found this in my draft folder and realized I never got around to posting this!

I recently discovered this phenomenal singer Daeho from YouTube~of course! And he is an extremely gifted and talented person. He sings, plays the piano, and creates awesome videos, I'm surprised he isn't more popular. AllkPop even mentioned him in one of their latest posts. He collaborated with another YouTube-artist named Jungmin, and they covered 2NE1's Missing You. Personally I find it better than the original. They put such heart and soul into it, that I can feel the emotions from their voices better than when 2NE1 sang it. And this is in no way bashing 2NE1 because I love them, but I could never fully get the "feeling" of the song until now. Besides doing a phenomenal job singing-wise, I love the editing of the video. Simple so as not to distract from the singing but it still catches your eye.

Drama Review~Shut Up Flower Boy Band

I'm having serious drama withdrawals again...and this time I think its worse. After just finishing up Secret, I went and finished watching Shut Up Flower Boy Band and boy did that show know how to hit you in the right spots emotionally. I can honestly say that only 6 dramas have left deep impressions with me loong after I've watched them. It really says alot about the quality of the dramas. Never have I been so satisfied with an ending before. Usually korean drama endings either leave you lacking or they cram too much that it overwhelms the storyline. SUFB had the opposite affect. Instead of leaving us hanging they gave us everything we wanted. Each storyline was wrapped up and they left us wishing we could continue the journey in each of the guys lives but also all good things must come to an end.  

Shut Up Flower Boy Band was a beautifully written drama encompassing the lives of 5 young guys through their teenage angst years. It follows them going through betrayals, fights, friendships, breakups, and finally coming together again. The drama realistically portrayed the characters and the things they went through. Yes there will be times that you'll get mad at your best friend because they forgot your birthday or something, but they always make up for it in the end. Even as I write this review, I tear up thinking about the characters. To me there really weren't any secondary characters because each person was all intertwined together by a common ground, the band.

The Liebster Award~Round 2!

Imagine my surprise when a blogger messaged me saying I had been nominated for my second Liebster Award!! And only a month after receiving my very first one. I really enjoyed the questions for this round, and had a blast reliving past watched dramas. I would like to thank Avocado from Counting Out Heartbreaks for the unexpected nomination, that was very sweet of you. Here are her questions for me.

The Questions:
1. If you were put under a spell and trapped in a drama as the second lead, would you give up on your love or fight for it and why?
I would fight for my love because I wouldn't want to live with the "What Ifs" in my life. What if that person was my one and only and I didn't take the chance and fight for what could be mine? That's just something that would be in my mind.

2. Was there ever a drama in which you shipped the two second leads?  If yes, what was it?
Hmm that would be Eun Shi Kyung & Lee Jae Shin from King 2 Hearts. One of the best almost-couples to appear in a drama I've watched. There is just something that makes them seem so relate able, they support each other and he's her man in shinning armor :)

3. Was there a side character whom you became attached to almost as much as or more than the main leads in a drama?
I've got 3 words for you.......Eun Shi Kyung. Only drama where I've fallen for the side character more so than the lead, and not because they were horrible but because Eun Shi Kyung was such a well acted out character. Jo Jung Suk did an phenomenal job of bringing to a life a reasonable boring character that I believe if anyone else had the role could not have done it justice.

4. Was there a drama that made an impact on your life in a big way? If so, which one and why?
What's Up would be the drama that comes to mind. After seeing how passionate the people were it made me yearn to feel that same passion for my own dreams and to be confident in what I wanted to do in my life. It's still a work in progress, but I'm even more confident I'm working towards my dreams now.

5. What is your all-time favorite drama character?  Would you want to be his/her friend in real life?
If not for question #3 I would have said Eun Shi Kyung! Hmm, this is a hard question but I'd choose Lee Yeon Jae (Scent of a Woman) and Oh Do Rim (What's Up). LYJ because she took that phrase "When life gives you lemons....." and turned her life upside down. She discovered new things, gained new hobbies, and found the love of her life, all because she decided one day that she wasn't gonna let the fear of dying keep her from living the rest of her life.

ODR - she's also another strong character who said what was on her mind, the best type of friend as she was loyal to a fault and would do anything to protect those she loved. I would be friends with each of these woman as both would teach me something to learn about life.

6. Did you fall in love with drama slowly or did you suddenly realize you were addicted?
It depends on the drama I'm watching. Some like Gaksital I can get addicted to right away and others like Queen of Reversals can take some time. Just like I said, it solely depends on the drama plus the pace or writing of it.

7. What keeps you blogging?
That is a question I ask myself alot and the answer is............me. That might sound weird but I got into this because of my rampant thoughts that wouldn't quit and I needed something to purge myself of them. The day blogging starts to feel like a chore and/or I've lost all feelings for Korean entertainment will be the time for me to move on. But don't worry folks, I don't believe that will happen for a long time.

8. What food have you never eaten but most want to try?
Indian food. I've only tried curry but never anything else from that culture.

9. What kdrama character have you most wanted to strangle?
Ah the easiest one to answer, that would be Ah Do Hoon. Spineless, narcissistic, animal of a human being. The one character I've truly hated, though I've disliked many in the past, I've never come close to hating them as with him. 

10. Is there a drama you wish you had never watched?  If so, which one and why?
Playful Kiss. I know other people have watched and loved it but I couldn't stomach it. Kim Hyun Joong was too passive as an actor and the lead girl annoyed me. I even skipped to the married parts to see if it had gotten any better but alas it hadn't.

Well this is the end, again thank you Avocado for the nomination. You're such a sweetheart! It's nice to sit back and try to come up with the answers to these wonderful questions. Since I've already done this before I won't nominate anyone but instead will recommend some great Korean drama bloggers for you guys to check out.

http://thefangirlverdict.com/

http://dr-myri-blog.blogspot.ch/

http://www.samsoondowntherabbithole.com/

http://couch-kimchi.com/

http://thedramanoona.wordpress.com/

http://popsmission.blogspot.co.nz/

Song of The Moment~BTS~Boy In Luv

BTS have had such a great year - can we even still call them rookies? While still young, and relatively new to K-Pop they show more maturity than others their own age. Each single they have come out with fully embraces their growth and I'm super proud of them. In some instances they remind me of my other fave group, Block B, in that they have similar styles of writing confessional lyrics. I love K-Pop don't get me wrong, but I love it more when the artists write about the world they live in opposed to hiding or not acknowledging it. But let me get off my soap box and talk about the song.


Just like the title suggests, the song is about a guy whose in love with a girl - pretty simple stuff - but what makes this song so great is how they express their love. The song is full of longing for that one person, every thought, every emotion, is on full display for us to see. I like that it's so plainly stated who and what they want, no tricks or games, just like telling it like it is. The vulnerability of the song is another key thing I love about it. It reminds me of those times when I was interested in that special someone and that longing to be with them. Though they may be young, they have the talent of exposing their feelings through clear cut lyrics and letting the audience see their heart. That's the thing I like most about BTS, they don't hold anything back and allow the world to see who they are and what they represent.

Besides the lyrics, I'm loving the rock vibe of the song. At first, I thought it would be cutesy - how could I ever doubt them - but thank God it wasn't anything of the kind. It was a total BTS-esque sound. The guitar and drums together in the chorus were awesome, I'm a big rock fan so seeing that kind of music integrated into K-Pop is heaven on earth for me.

Now if only Block B would come out with a new single soon, my life will be complete.

Boy In Luv

First Impressions~ I Need Romance 3

[ I am currently up to date with the show but since I was busy with RL, couldn't finish it in time which is why this is still a First Impression post.]

I adore this show. Never having seen the previous dramas in the series I had no preconceived notions about I Need Romance 3. The only thing I hoped for was that it would be a steady and consistent drama from start to end, and that Sung Joon & Kim So Yeon will get to shine like never before - that part was the fangirl in me. The cinematography and music are perfect. They picked the right music to fit the mood and I LOVE the ost that's played throughout the show. It sets the tone for the drama and is perfecto.

Song of The Moment~Kiss&Cry~Domino Game

I gotta say this song pushed me out of my temporary bloggers slump. Once I listened to the song, it had to be part of Song of The Moment for this week. It's funky,upbeat and such a happy song. First off, I rarely if EVER like a rookie group's debut song, but this song is soo refreshing to hear. Quite frankly I've been tired of the sexy concept that's been going on for awhile within the girl groups and wanted something new and fresh. Thank God for Kiss&Cry to debut around the time that I was almost going to give up on girl groups. Each member has their own individual voice so it wasn't hard to pinpoint who was who. Dia is the one member who stood out the most because she doesn't have the aesthetic looks popular in the girl groups....and I love it! I can only hope she never changes her look to fit in. She's a phenomenal singer who did a cover of "Let It Go." Yes I know it seems every popular Korean-Pop singer has covered that song but I put her version up there with Ailee's and Hyorin's. I'm sure as they get more songs under their belts, I can do a feature piece on them but so far I'm quite proud of this group and can't wait to see what happens next.

Domino Game

Life Update

I know I haven't posted in some weeks,  and its mainly because of a combination of school and bloggers slump. Not only am I taking about 16 credit hours but I'm also taking Korean Lessons on the weekends, so as you can guess I don't feel like being productive blog-wise. So far I'm able to read Hangul and get super excited when I can figure out the letters on various K-Pop music videos or K-Dramas but I just don't know what they mean yet! It's all a work in progress but so far I really enjoy my lessons. But I will try my very best to give you guys something once a week. And I know I promised I would have the Shut Up Flower Boy Band review done by now but unfortunately its still in the process, so you'll have to wait just a little bit longer. Much appreciated guys!

The Liebster Award

Wow. Was the first word that came mind when I found out that Love Bug's Obsession was nominated for the Liebster Award from Jamie of The Drama Noona blog!! This is such a tremendous honor and I feel very privileged to be selected along with some of my all-time favorite bloggers. I'm still very much a newbie at this, and hope that I will continue to improve as a writer in the future. Thank you so very much Jamie for the award!

For those who do not know, the Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers as a form of encouragement while also exploring the bloggersphere world.

Now here are the rules of the Liebster Award:

1. Each nominee link back the person who nominated them.
2. Answer 10 questions which are given to you by the nominator.
3. Nominate 10 other bloggers for this award who have less than 200 followers.
4. Create 10 questions for your nominees to answer.
5. Let the nominees know that they have been nominated by going to their blog and notifying them.

Let's begin!

1. Why did you start blogging?
I started blogging because I came to the realization, that I could only talk with my family about K-Dramas or K-Pop for so long before they tired of me. That's when I first started thinking of outlets to "purge" myself of the constant thoughts and comments I had over the latest drama watched - which at the time was Gaksital. This is  how I discovered the wonderful world of blogging and haven't looked back since. :)

2. How did you come up with the name of your blog?
Ooh good question. It took me weeks (yes weeks) to figure out what I wanted to name my blog and if it would be catchy enough. Eventually, my dad suggested I use a family nickname of mine for it to be more personal. Love is part of my last name, Bug is a part of one of my many nicknames, and obsession since well K-Dramas are my obsession! ;)

3. Who is your favorite author?
I love Jane Austen. I've watched all the television adaptions/movies and Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite reads of all time.

4. What type of show/movie is your guilty pleasure?
Vampire Diaries. I swore that I wouldn't get caught up in the vampire phase that was going on for awhile but I fell hard after watching Youtube clip of Klaus and Caroline, who happen to be one of my favorite characters on the show. For movies I'm not sure really. I adore chick flicks, even the kinda cheesy/corny ones like Princess Bride.

I can't really consider K-Dramas my guilty pleasure since most of my friends and family know how much I adore them.

5. Do you have someone to watch dramas with?
Sometimes my mother and I watch them together but usually its just me, myself, and I.

6. What is your favorite drama genre?
Definitely the rom-com and action/revenge ones. You can never go wrong with those.

7. Do you watch dramas from multiple countries?
Yes! My mother was actually the one to first start watching dramas from different countries like Filipino, Indian, and Tawianese dramas. I recently started watching Japanese dramas also.

8. If you could meet any actor, from any country, who would you meet?
This is a toughie. Um.... Joo Won. Because I would like to know what place did he have to go in order to pull off one of the most intense grief scenes I've ever seen. Ha Ji Won, because she's such a versatile actress and seems really sweet, then my favorite Jo Jung Suk because he's just awesome nuff said. Lastly is Shahrukh Khan, the man's a legend in Bollywood and magically doesn't seem to age, like ever!

9. Who is your current drama crush?
Kim Woo Bin. He actually caught me by surprise - I figured it was those devilish eyebrows that just jump out at you - and while I still haven't finished School 2013, I can see that he has alot of potential to really make it big.

10. Have you ever been nominated for a blogging award before?
No I haven't this is my first one. :)

Ok, now for the nominees:

http://crazyforkdrama.blogspot.sg/

http://newkdramaaddict.blogspot.com/

http://shinealightrose.blogspot.com/

http://haeppimemoli.wordpress.com/

http://countingoutheartbeats.blogspot.com/

http://chrissmile.wordpress.com/

http://givememykdrama.wordpress.com/

http://creatingvolumes.com/

http://sulovesdrama.wordpress.com/

http://saryre.blogspot.com/


And the questions are:

1) What inspired you to first start your blog?

2) What would you say is the hardest part about blogging?

3) Have you ever encountered bloggers slump and if so how did you overcome it?

4) Is there a drama character that has the same personality traits as you?

5) Which actor or actress do you feel is underrated or less well known?

6) If you could change the ending of any drama, what would it be and why?

7) What is your favorite post that you have written?

8) Which is harder to write, drama recaps or reviews?

9) Do comments and viewers really matter to you as a blogger?

10) If you weren't a blogger, what would you be doing instead?

I hope you guys will have as much fun as I did! Thank you again Jamie for the nomination that was really sweet of you. :)) And lastly congratulations to all the nominees, you all deserved it!
 

K-Indie Music: Yaya "Nightmare"

I've been in the exploration-mode of new and different music for awhile which is a big reason why I started this segment. One of the people I've come to appreciate their music is singer Yaya. Yaya is an exceptional singer and composer blending the two to create such invoking and haunting music. Quite frankly I didn't know what to think of her style. Musically, its different from anything I've ever heard before. So different I cant put her in any particular category or genre. She perfects the talent of integrating different genres such as jazz, tango, classical, cabaret - all into one masterpiece.





"Nightmare" is crazy, chaotic, and a tumbling mesh of different instruments in one piece. There is never a slow moment in the song. It starts out crazy and never settles down. But that's the beauty of it, its suppose to represent something dark and yet mesmerizing when you listen to it. At first listen, it was kinda jarring to the ear but after repeating it again and again, it became less harsh and more amazing. Its best to listen to it more than once in order to get the full impact of the song.

Drama Watchlist 2014

The New Year has barely just started and we already have a great crop of new dramas to look forward to. This is my year to watch more dramas. That was one of the many things on my Goal List, since I felt making resolutions would be easier to break. I had been pretty lax during last years shows mainly because I felt the dramas weren't as great as the previous years. Except for a select few, many lacked the pizzazz of such greats like Gaksital and King 2 Hearts. I can only hope that the next batch of dramas will be great.

First off...............Lee Bo Young is coming back to dramaland!!

Song of The Moment~EXO~Black Pearl

This song is pretty golden! I have no clue have took me so long to discover what a gem it really is. Now I don't really follow EXO all that well, I can't tell you the names of each band member, and I admit there are times I mix up one or two of them BUT that doesn't mean I'm deaf to all they have been doing since they first debuted in 2012. Their on fire and only getting hotter as they get more comfortable in the world of K-pop. Now I absolutely hated "Wolf" when it first came out though I love the music video for some odd reason. I thought "Growl" was pretty cool but nothing had grasped me yet until I heard "Black Pearl." When people say that usually the promoted singles aren't the best songs off the albums their right. There's so many hidden gems that aren't promoted and honestly I would have picked "Black Pearl" over "Wolf" to promote instead. The song has a nice darkish vibe to it, I absolutely love it when groups go to the dark side. I was pleasantly surprised that they could pull dark so well therefore they made a believer out of me. So while I'm not quite a fan, I can still appreciate a good song when I hear one. :)

Black Pearl

I Need Romance 3 Premieres January 13th!!

 Who else is uber excited to see Kim So Yeon and Sung Joon back on their television screens. THIS GIRL!! I literally squealed out loud when I found two of my favorite actors were going to be coupled together in a drama. Blessed news just weeks after finishing Shut Up Flower Boy Band where I feel hopelessly in love with Sung Joon and his smexy self. Kim So Yeon can no wrong in my book and I'm super happy to see her back once again. I have very high expectations for this drama and looking at the previous dramas in the series I could potentially be disappointed but that won't stop me from watching Sung Joon sizzle on my screen again. :))

K-Indie Music: Clazziqua's "Brown Gold Eyes"

Sorry this is a day late but blame it on my recovery from ice skating late last night, and recovering from volleyball practice during the week. Sitting for long periods of time just isn't working for me at the moment.

A blogger friend recently recommended the group Clazziqua to add to my must-listen to list. The group consists of Alex, male vocalists, who might be more well known as a actor that played second lead to Gong Hyon-jin in the drama Pasta, the female vocalist of the group Horan, and DJ Clazzi who composes, mixes, and produces the groups music. So far I've only listened to this song about eighty times already. Its a very nostalgic song about missing that special someone and how they keep thinking about their past memories and their "brown gold eyes." I love how they used the instruments in the song, keeping it simple so not to overwhelm the vocalists. Using just the acoustic guitar in the beginning was pure bliss I liked how it set the tone for the rest of the song. This group is a must to check out.

Song of The Moment~Shut Up Flower Boy Band OST~Wake Up

This song.....I have no words for it.....

Every single time I hear that beginning melody start to play, my thoughts immediately go to the gang. I miss them dearly and so thus I listen to "Wake Up" over and over again to reminiscence in those sweet memories of friendship, love, loyalty, and family. This particular song is my absolute favorite from the drama, I'm always playing it and it gives me those warm, cozy feelings. I'm still in the midst of writing my review for Shut Up Flower Boy Band so I can't promise I'll have it soon, since school just started back up again. But I WILL have it done. I promise.

K-Indie Music: Nell "White Night"

I recently started listening to K-Indie. For those who don't know what K-Indie stands for it is Korean Indie or what is considered non-mainstream music. Since there is a big difference between "indie" and "popular" music, I decided to start a whole new segment on Fridays just for it. And also since I'm a newbie to this world, your suggestions on bands/singers to listen to will be greatly appreciated!

Now, I'm the type of person that once I get into something or someone, I'm all in and that is no exception with my music picks. Nell has become my new music obsession. Seriously. I've listened to their albums Holding Onto Gravity, Escaping Gravity & Slip Away all in a span of a couple of hours and was immediately hooked. Their sound and style of lyrics remind me slightly of Coldplay, in that their very deep and profound but that is in no way comparing the two bands because both are extremely talented on their own. "White Night" is a beautiful, haunting song about a failed relationship and has constantly been playing on my Youtube playlist all this week. Even though alot, and I mean ALOT, of their songs are about past relationships and the obstacles of life, they always bring a new feeling to it. It makes me sad and filled with longing for something I don't even have, if ever. There's a portion of the song where he says, "I can't get over you, you just keep shining on and on through my time" that always gets to me. Its so full of longing for that person that you're not ready to let go of.

White Night