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/