For this week’s Flashback Friday, we revisit 2007 to explore KARA’s debut song “Break It” from their first album The First Blooming. When they debuted, KARA was a quartet made up of Park Gyuri, Jung Nicole, Kim Sunghee, and Han Seung-Yeon.
“Break It” is an R&B track that features KARA’s strong vocals and power. The song oozes female empowerment as KARA sing about a breakup and kicking the ex-boyfriend aside. There is no sense of regret or sadness; strength and standing tall are the themes. There are hints of bitterness since the lyrics indicate the ex has done some terrible things to be on the receiving end of such anger.
The lyrics don’t contain any flowery language, so there’s not a lot of complexity in “Break It.” Reading the lyrics,the song comes across as repetitive. In this case, however, the repetition is more helpful than hurtful since it mimics how angry people repeat their arguments while trying to get a point across.
Essentially, “Break It” is just a dance MV designed to showcase KARA’s abilities and introduce the group to the public. The dancing is good and matches the beat well, establishing KARA as a strong up-and-coming talent when they debuted.
There are moments in the MV that are worth paying attention to in terms of matching lyrics, though. For example, we see the love interest locked behind bars with KARA. This indicates that the girlfriend caught her boyfriend cheating with multiple women and that he locked himself in a prison of lies trying to keep his cheating ways under wraps. KARA then confront him about his lies while kicking him to the curb.
The debut song was accepted well by critics, but the general public didn’t like it. “Break It” caused many to look at KARA as a Fin.K.L copycat (both groups are under DSP Entertainment). They were compared to Fin.K.L based on appearance and style to which KARA deemed as an honor.
“Break It” recalls first generation K-Pop sounds, so it’s easy to see the Fin.K.L comparisons. First generation K-Pop through until the late 2000s had its own unique sound that makes it easy to recognize today. KARA emulated the sound well and made it their own, layering the sound with rich vocals. There are times where the song sounds like Britney Spears’ “Oops, I Did It Again” crept in, so there are some issues with originality. However, it is a good reminder of a decade gone by and some of K-Pop’s memorable strengths.
Looking at “Break It,” it’s amazing to see how much KARA has changed over the years, not just in member additions and subtractions, but musically as well. Today, they’re brighter with more cheerful songs and lighter concepts; it’s also evident how the Japanese market influenced their music. KARA’s sound is still unique to them, but at the same time, there’s something missing. It would be nice to hear some of KARA’s older sound again to help them surge into a top group once more.
—-Joelle Halon
Girls’ Generation signaled their return with the first of three singles July 7, 2015. Within six days, “Party” already amassed close to 12 million views. Behold the power of SNSD and SONEs!
It actually took a few listens to actually like “Party.” The issue with it is that, while it is a happy song, it’s generic lyrically and doesn’t exactly show Girls’ Generation’s best abilities. Sadly, “Party” is also a lazy song that takes advantage of SONEs since Girls’ Generation will have their full support no matter what. Sure, summer songs usually involve some mindless drivel such as partying, drinking, and just having fun, but artists and companies shouldn’t take advantage of fandoms by releasing subpar songs when everyone knows the artists are capable of more.
By this time, Girls’ Generation should have experienced more growth and shifted into a more mature group. With two more singles set to be released in July, this can still be the case. Fans have had an opportunity to see growth via some of SNSD’s ballads, but SM chooses to stick with cute, poppish songs that show their charms and cuteness more. SNSD needs a chance to grow (and maybe even a chance to compose their own music, which SM allegedly denies). Until then, we get greeted constantly by songs like “Party.”
This isn’t to say “Party” isn’t a bad song because it’s not. It could be a better song, but it’s not bad. The SNSD girls are cute and charming, and the song is a nice summer tune full of joy and upbeat fun. While the instrumentals sound like a mix of Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” with hints of Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok,” the song is one to listen to when having a down day because of its bubbly nature. “Party” is a feel-good song in the purest form.
Tiffany and Taeyeon sound especially pleasant in the song, and it’s always nice to hear them shine. Their vocals always have a strong, soothing quality to them, so there are no complaints in terms of vocals.
One element of the song that is a bit off-putting is the chorus where Girls’ Generation spells out “party.” The vocaloid-type voice takes away from the song’s dynamic because it’s a bit annoying.
However, where the song lacks, the MV makes up for it. “Party” is an amazing advertisement for some of the beauty of Thailand. The beautiful beaches and pristine water are breathtaking and magnificent and worth the price of admission. The beaches are how I expect heaven to look.
Girls’ Generation also have a great sense of style in “Party.” Their summery clothes, swim suits, and hairstyles are some of the best among the summer releases this year. The girls looked beautiful and approachable, so a lot of credit goes to their stylists.
Despite the beauty and style, “Party” just wasn’t a strong song for Girls’ Generation. It’s a given it will win music shows given the power of SONEs, but they’ve had better songs. Eventually, they’ll find their way out of the weak-end of the song pool and find stronger music, but right now, great cinematography and hair can’t save “Party” from being a lackluster song that’s okay but not great. “Party” earns a 2.5/5.
—-Joelle Halon
The BIFAN poster for 2015, created under the theme ‘Urban daily life imbued with fantasy’
The 19th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) is to start its 11-day adventure on the evening of July 16th. The opening ceremony will be held at the Bucheon Gymnasium, the festival will be hosted by actors, HyunJun Shin and DaHee Lee.
The Chairman of BiFan Organizing Committee, ManSoo Kim, who is also the Mayor of Bucheon will declare the opening of the ceremony and the Festival Director’s Young Bin Kim will be making a welcome speech.
This year’s Opening Film is to be the ‘Moonwalkers’ by the French director Antoine Bardou-Jacquet.
Famous stars from the Korean film industry will be appearing on the red carpet, in the evening of the opening night at 6pm. Some of the stars who will be attending are Minho Lee and Chae Won Moon who are this year’s ‘Producers’ Choice Award winners’ and actors, Il Guk Song, Jae Hyun Cho, Jin Goo, Sang Min Park, Jiho Oh, Han Seon Jo, Kyung Ho Jung and many more will be brightening up the event on the red carpet.
Film directors, Ji Young Jeong, Joon Ik Lee, Yoo Jin Kim, Gil Su Jang, Dae Seung Kim, Jun Hee Hahn and many others will be in attendance.
235 genre films from 45 countries including 62 world premieres will take the BIFAN audiences on a ‘fantastic’ journey for 11 days.
—J. Chung.
For the past year or so, I’ve been interviewing various people from diverse backgrounds who have interesting stories to tell. This is probably the first time I’ve interviewed someone who is a friend of mine, but it does not mean I had much clue about the answers I received from this interview.
I’ve known Andrew Park for about three years; I don’t recall exactly how we became friends, but we had mutual friends on Facebook then we got to talking via the SNS quite frequently. Andrew was working at an English academy as a lecturer and its café manager and I visited him once in a while to chat with him when he wasn’t too busy. Andrew is the type of person who keeps himself busy and active.
Because there are many foreigners working in Korea than ever before; the majority of them need help to adjust– some are looking for work or searching for a new job in Korea, especially because of the language barrier.
Andrew started a non-profit community site to help the people in need of a job or looking for a new place to live. Anyone who registers can post ads free of charge. http://every1korea.com/
We are living in a generation where the right kind of resources and information are appreciated and Andrew’s site is set up to help people gain the data they need.
I’m hoping this interview with Andrew will provide a great read for those who are planning to study or work in Korea and for the foreigners currently in Korea.
We thank Andrew for providing us with the interview and hope that he finds new adventures and goals in his new workplace.
Hello, Andrew, could you introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m currently working as a café manager at Pagoda Corporation. A lot of people visit our café to practice a foreign language before leaving Korea to live or study abroad. My job as the manager is to provide good service while making sure there is no one speaking Korean inside the café.
Before this job, I was an English teacher. It was only three years ago when I found my interest in coffee. I found a barista school near my house and visited the institute to ask some questions about becoming a barista and I ended up registering for a course that day. Upon the completion of the course, I was ready to take a barista test. After I passed the exam and became a certified barista, I worked at a coffee shop as a part-timer for a year. I really enjoyed the experience and started dreaming about having my own café one day. Since then visiting good coffee shops became one of my hobbies.
Most of my hobbies are related to dancing or workout. I’ve learned Latin dance, hip hop dance, jujitsu, boxing, rock climbing and these days I’ve been spending most of my hobby-time on tap-dancing. I think learning about coffee will be my life-time hobby along with tap-dancing.
I have another hobby that can also be considered as my job. I’m managing a community website that I designed three years ago to help foreigners living or planning to live in Korea, for them to share useful information. I have plans with this website for my future jobs. There are people posting on my website and people visiting to read new postings which would become much more active once I start spending more time on managing it.
*What was it like for you to adjust to Korea when you first came back from Canada?
I felt like I’m a foreigner in Korea when I first came back. Some people glanced at me when I spoke Korean in an inappropriate way or when I subconsciously did something in a way an average Korean wouldn’t do.
However, I was quick to adapt to the culture because it wasn’t completely new to me. I just needed experience living in Korea as an adult. I’m not too shy about meeting strangers so I made many friends within a year and Korea became my home again.
*What motivated you to start a non-profit site? (Every1Korea and the one on Facebook)
I worked as a recruiter at a Korean company about four years ago. The job was to hire foreign teachers and train them to teach B2B English.
Finding good teachers was not an easy thing to do with limited budget. Most job-seeking websites for foreigners with qualified teachers were too expensive to use.
I found some free-service websites but they never really had any good applicants. Then I started to write down the pros and cons of each website on scrap papers.
By the time I decided to leave the company, I had many pages of ideas that I’ve written down. I thought I can make a good website that recruiters can use without having to spend a lot of money.
*What kind of movies do you like to watch and recommend to our readers?
Most of the good movies that I recommend to other people are either action or dance movies. Of course, I’m a big fan of marvel series but who doesn’t like marvel movies? So, I won’t include them in my list.
‘I-robot’ is probably my most favorite action movie because I’ve watched it over ten times. For those of you who like to dance or like dance movies, I’d like to recommend ‘Save The Last Dance’. The movie doesn’t have spectacle dance moves like the movie ‘Step Up’ but you will be able to learn the true meaning of dance.
*Tell us about the film scenario you have plans to write.
It’s a top secret. (Winks)
*Tell us about what kind of dances you are learning.
I taught myself how to dance to Hip Hop or I should say the TV taught me how. I learned Latin dance for half a year just out of curiosity.
These days, I’m all about tap dance. Tap dance is the most difficult dance I’ve learned, yet it’s the most interesting dance of all. The best thing about tap dancing is that you can do it anytime anywhere without getting people’s attention.
*What kind of music do you listen to when you’re practicing dance moves?
I like to dance to urban hip-hop music or pop music. I like to dance to Justin Timberlake’s songs when I’m in the mood to pop and glide.
*Do you enjoy teaching English? Do you have a special method in teaching you’d like to share?
Yes, I love teaching English. I enjoy more when teaching is my part-time job because then I can put all of my energy into the lesson to have students actively participate and laugh throughout the whole class.
I like to come up with topics that students like to talk about. I believe students get to challenge themselves more when there’s a story they really want to tell. Everyone has their own story; teachers just have to help them make ways to tell them. This method is really tough with little children though.
*What would you advise to the foreigners who have plans to work or live in Korea?
I’d say do lots of research and ask around for real information on life in Korea.
I’ve met many foreigners settle down in one place, party and get drunk every day for a few years then get stuck with one easy teaching job but can’t enjoy teaching anymore because they teach solely for the money.
I hope to see more foreigners enjoy and to develop themselves while they are in Korea. Learning Korean language or Korean traditional dance would be nice.
*What do you normally do in your spare time?
It depends on the mood, but I usually make plans in advance to keep myself busy so I don’t remember when the last time was I had spare time. I sometimes like to just lie down in my bed and stare at the ceiling.
*Thank you very much for your time. The last question is where do you see yourself in ten years?
I’ll be running a café in Korea and maybe in Canada that is full of customers, customers that are mostly friends with me. I want my café to be a place like home for a lot of people and a place where people can network with each other.
—-J. Chung
Regardless of age and gender, the people of our generation are generally interested in health and keeping in shape. They also have the tendency to be very open to experiment new ways to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Working out every day is generally considered extremely important by fitness and health experts, who claim that doing exercise on a daily basis is the most effective way to lose weight and attain a healthier state, both physically and mentally.
The type of food you eat and don’t eat will also contribute to your well-being and will massively affect how you feel and look.
I was able to interview a CEO who runs a business called, ‘Ballet Fitness,’ a business where ballet, yoga and other dances are taught to adults as well as children in pre-school. The CEO, Susie Lee has been at this fitness business since the mid 90’s.
For this interview, I questioned Ms. Lee for advice that many would be interested when it comes to dieting and working out.
We would like to express a massive ‘thank you’ to Ms. Lee for providing us with great advice and interview.
*Would you please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us about your fitness business?
I am the CEO of Ballet Fitness based in Itaewon, Seoul Korea.
Our business focuses on teaching our clients ballet, stretching, core yoga and power step. I majored in Ballet at Myungji University, participated in international competition (Jazz Ballet) and when I was at an Art High school, competed in various national and international competitions. I own a first grade license from KAFA fitness and a certificate of completion for the gymstick muscle routine.
*How did you get started in learning ballet?
I began learning ballet as a hobby when I was in elementary school, until my first year in middle school. Later, I majored in ballet when I moved onto high school, I participated in several national and international competitions, for fan dance, Jango dance and Korean traditional drum dance. I majored in Ballet at Myungji University and after graduating from university, I became a lecturer for dance.
*What is the most difficult when it comes to business and when do you feel the most rewarded?
The difficult part for me is probably doing the promotion for the business. I must say that I feel the most rewarded when I find my students are getting better postures, and when their body structure evidently improves for the better.
*What do you like to do during your free time?
I like to swim for my leisure!
*What do you think are the most important factors in order to dance well or exercise efficiently?
You need to do a lot of stretching to become physically flexible. You also need to choose to do the most adequate muscle exercise suitable to your level.
Above all, you need to have the right kind of moves in order to move in time with the music and to the beat to become a good dancer.
*What kind of person do you respect in general?
I respect someone who is always making an effort to become better.
*What kind of advice would you give to anyone who is struggling to lose weight and how do you maintain a healthy physique?
In the morning, I would advise them to drink a cup of fruit smoothie (Banana + blueberry, banana +kiwi, banana + mango…with half of the cup filled with water). They should have a full lunch and eat a light dinner. Then after dinner, drink a cup of smoothie or tea. Drinking tea can do a lot to dissolve unwanted fat in our system and it will also enhance blood circulation. The right kind of tea can also help you from aging and reserve healthy skin.
You can follow the above mentioned diet and remember to exercise every day. It is very challenging to live with just consuming 1700~1800 calories per day, but it would definitely bring you great results.
*Which Korean dish would you recommend to foreigners, which is great for a diet effect?
For lunch, I’d recommend them to try a dish of Dried mushroom soup (??????) and because the dish is low in calories, it is great for diet and extremely helpful for your immune system.
The seaweed soup (???) is very beneficial for the liver and it has very low calories, so when consumed it can easily give you a feeling of fulfillment. Cabbage is also very low in calories and is good for your liver and digestive system.
*Thank you very much for your time in taking this interview. Would you like to let us know your plans for the future?
My plans for the future? It would be to put my utmost and do my best for the business promotion and overall, I wish the business would go well and that people would achieve what they are looking for through our fitness program.
— J. Chung.
With the summer season upon us, MVs featuring non-summery themes are hard to come by, but those that aren’t summer-filled are hidden gems. Take JihoonOwl’s Project III’s “Fly to Your Dream.” The song, which was released July 2, features Kyuhee Song on vocals; and according to the YouTube description by 1theK, “The song is actually the autobiography of the author, Su Young Kim, who is travelling around the world after overcoming difficult childhood, and is singing the message like a musical that if you continue to challenge for your dream with courage over difficult surroundings, you can reach the goal eventually.”
“Fly to Your Dream” is a soft, whimsical song with some rock elements that tells a story about dreams and the possibilities that stem from them. The lyrics have a sense of hope and wonder, making the song suitable for young people who need encouragement. The overwhelming message is that even when people discourage you, you should stand for your beliefs and prove naysayers wrong (“People laugh at the girl, ‘You have no luxury for the dream.’ But the girl claimed ‘Until when will you blame your own destiny? Don’t you feel sorry for your life which never comes back’”).
The video closely matches the lyrics. A little green-haired girl has a dream of flying away to a different land. Her current world is broken, almost dystopian with her people lining up for food and working in deplorable conditions. She knows there’s a better life available elsewhere, and she convinces her friend (or perhaps her father since he is older) that there is a different place to go to start fresh. Others tend to discourage her suggestion until, one day; she jumps from a cliff toward the ocean, sprouting wings. From her, she takes her friend and some others to the better land where it is assumed they start a new life.
However, at the very end of the MV, the little girl is nowhere to be found, but her friends are, creating an ending that’s open to interpretation. Did the little girl’s wings actually sprout because she believed so strongly in herself before she fell into the ocean, therefore ensuring she survived the jump; or did she land in the ocean and pass away, her spirit exiting her body before she landed then leading her friends to a better life? Since her physical presence is absent at the very end, the latter could be assumed, especially since she changes into a butterfly, one of the universal symbols of life after death. Again, this is open to interpretation.
The wings are the most important element of the song and MV as both allude to them often. When the MV begins, the child does not have wings. As she dreams and her childlike wonder and optimism grow, as do her wings. However, her wings remained crumpled as a symbol of how others tried to crush her hopes. When she started to spark wonderment in her friend, he, too, also sprouted wings. This serves as a symbol of how optimism and hope can change someone’s outlook on life.
While the song and story go hand-in-hand, what really needs to be discussed is the MV’s artwork by Scenario. Everything about the artwork made the video feel like a storybook come to life! The characters feel reminiscent of the 1980s’ TV show The Littles meets the 1994 Don Bluth film Thumbelina. Subtle animation, 2D, and 3D combine to create a whimsical experience that makes the MV a standout since it’s outside the usual poppy colors and dance themes. The contrasts between the dystopian and hopeful images and the dark and lighter paint schemes provide the necessary sense of conflict and resolution to make the MV a beautiful picture book.
Since the MV is so different and off the beaten path, it is a standout for 2015 already. Chances are with so many first and second tier groups making their comebacks this month, this gem will be buried and forgotten quickly. However, “Fly to Your Dream” earns a solid 4/5 for artistry.
—-Joelle Halon
Most Korean names (including the surname) consist of three syllables, although very rarely, some names would have two or four syllables.
So inevitably, there are many Koreans who have the same names and on top of that, the large majority of those names are unisex so it does make it extra difficult to figure out which Korean name belongs to a female or male, at times.
The confusion that same names would bring is no exception in the entertainment industry. Many celebrities or public figures are mistaken for each other if they have the same names. As a solution, some celebrities would rename themselves and use stage names in order to avoid confusion.
I chose to list ten Korean celebrities who share the same names and because some of these figures have such definite identities, having the same name with another entertainer does not cause that much of an issue to the public from acknowledging them.
Sora Lee (???)
There are mainly two celebrities with this name in the Korean entertainment industry. One of them is a model who rose to fame when she won the first supermodel contest held in 1992.
The other is a singer who made her debut with an album in 1995 and she has hosted her own TV show and worked as a radio DJ.
The two Soras have something in common other than their names; they happen to be the same age, the model Sora Lee is a month older than the singer.
Taewoo Kim (???)
There are many celebs with this name. Probably the most notable person with this name would be the actor, Taewoo Kim who appeared in several dramas and movies.
The singer, Taewoo Kim is the lead vocalist of the 90’s all-male pop band called ‘god’ signed under JYP Entertainment and they disbanded in 2005. The members reunited in 2014, after 9 years of hiatus as a group and produced a record with the title ‘Thanks.’
Minwoo Lee (???)
Minwoo Lee is a member of Korea’s all-male pop group, ‘Shinwha’ who made their debut in the year of 1998 under SM Entertainment.
Shinhwa members are currently the only K-pop band to have their own label, with Lee as co-owner of the company with fellow band member, Eric.
The other celebrity who shares the name is an actor, well known for his roles in sitcoms, TV dramas and films. Lee has been in the entertainment business for a long time, he initially started his career as a child actor in 1981.
Jihoon Lee (???)
There are several public figures with this name, including several actors, baseball player and a former pro-gamer.
The most notable figure with this name would be the Korean singer Jihoon Lee made his debut in 1996, while he was in high school.
In the later years, he appeared in musicals, TV dramas and films.
The actor who is also called Jihoon Lee is an actor, who is a few years junior to the above mentioned singer-turned-actor. So far, Lee mostly covered supporting roles in TV shows and featured in two films since the year 2013.
Jiyoon Park (???)
The celeb who is known for this name is the singer, Jiyoon Park who debuted as a commercial model at age 13. She appeared in sitcoms before focusing more on her singing career. From 2000 to 2003, Park was signed under JYP Entertainment. After taking few years off, she released an album in 2009 and has been producing music since.
The other Jiyoon Park who is well-known to the public is an emcee and TV presenter, who was formerly a news announcer for KBS from 2004 to 2008. After becoming a freelancer she has since hosted and featured in many TV shows.
Jihoon Kim (???)
The most famous celebrity with this name would be the Korean actor Jihoon Kim who has been featured in many TV shows, two musicals and one movie since his debut in 2002.
The singer, Jihoon Kim was the former member of the 90’s quartet band called, ‘Two Two’ who were named that way because the members were 22 years old. In 2000, Kim later formed a duo group called, ’Duke’ and was active until 2007. In December of 2013, it was reported that Kim took his own life. Sources claim he was suffering from depression and other complications.
Jungmin Kim (???)
The singer with the name, Jungmin Kim is a rock singer who debuted in 1994 with his first album. He is known to have had numerous hits in the 90’s era.
The other celebrity with the same name is an actress (who may be lesser known to the public than the above mentioned singer) that has been appearing in sitcoms and dramas since 2003.
Gyuri Kim (???)
Gyuri Kim is a model-turned-actress whose name was formerly, Minsun Kim. She changed her name in 2009, after she made a statement that later tarnished her reputation. The model-turned-actress has been active in various TV dramas and films since 1998.
Gyuri Kim is a stage name for an actress who made her debut in a TV drama in the year of 1996. The actress has not been in the public eye for several years, but she is currently featured in a morning TV drama.
Yuri (??)
Yuri is the name of one of Girls’ Generation members who made their debut in 2007. Yuri appeared in a music video, ‘Beautiful Life’ by DBSK (TVXQ) in 2005. Other than the girl group activities, Yuri has appeared in many variety shows as well as TV dramas.
The other singer who goes by the stage name, ‘Yuri’ is a member of the trio K-pop band, ‘Cool’ which was very successful in Korea during the mid 90’s. After the group disbanded, she formed a group called, ‘Girlfriends’ for a while before launching her own shopping mall.
Junhyung Park (???)
This member of ‘god’ also goes by the name, Joon Park. Before ‘god’ hit off, he worked briefly as a back-up dancer for Janet Jackson. After the group members drifted apart in 2005, Park pursued acting and appeared in Hollywood movies, ‘Speed Racer’ and ‘Dragonball Evolution.’ Park is Korean-American, who grew up in California. He is frequently questioned whether he is biracial, but both his parents are Korean.
The other person with the same name is a comedian and musical actor, Junhyung Park. His career as a comedian began in 1997 and currently, he is the CEO of the management company for comedians.
–J. Chung
In recent years, Thailand has started to gain attention for their dramas and movies. One series in particular, 2014’s Lovesick, has sparked interest among domestic and international fans alike. Lovesick has quite the cult following on social media. The story has an interesting premise. That’s not all: The story is also based on an online Thai Boy Love novel/series called Lovesick: The Chaotic Lives of Blue Shorts Guys by IndryTimes.
While the story has an interesting premise, there are times when the series has awkward pacing and scenes that make the tale seem jilted at times. Even with these occurrences, it’s easy to see why Lovesick has the following it does.
Plot
Lovesick focuses on Phun (Phumphothingam Nawat) and Noh (Kongyingyong Chonlathorn), the two male protagonists. Life gets complicated for Phun after his father tells him he wants Phun to date his friend’s daughter. Phun has an issue: He’s already dating a girl named Aim (Chindavanich Primrose). To avoid dating his father’s friend’s daughter, Phun’s sister, Pang (Nuchanart Veerakaarn)—who is obsessed with “boy love” stories—tells him to have a boy love romance. This is where Noh comes in as both make an agreement to engage in a faux relationship. However, as the story progresses, it’s clear the faux-mance may have more to it.
Their relationship serves as part of the story, with the rest of the tale focusing on dealing with school and the dramas that come with it.
Thoughts
When the series opened, the first episode slogged, so there were feelings of “how will I make it through this series if the pacing is so slow in this episode?” Well, once you make it past the first episode, pacing does improve for some episodes. This was something that cropped up as an issue for Lovesick because there are episodes that are well though-out with engaging acting and action, but then there are some episodes where the show drags, especially when characters that aren’t Phun and Noh are concerned.
While watching, the story felt almost too idealized, like Lovesick came straight from a Boy Love fanfiction. Supporting characters come across as stereotyped teenagers that could be found at any school anywhere in the world, but this could be part of the show’s appeal for so many people. The characters are relatable, but they can come across as dull because they are a typical representation of everyday high school students. To some degree, it felt like Lovesick could have been more interesting with something out of the ordinary, but this didn’t occur.
However, while the supporting characters feel a little less interesting, Noh and Phun are not. There is something sweet and natural about their characterizations and how they grow throughout the series together. Their awkwardness felt realistic, as did their conversations at times. It is fun to watch how these two interact as their friendship branches off into new territory. Since they are the main characters, it is good they do come across more natural since the show would feel weird overall.
As much as Noh and Phun are enjoyed, there are times when the acting does take away from the natural ease of the characters. Perhaps it was some of the awkward writing, but there were moments when acting felt wooden and like the actors were going through the motions just to get past a scene or two. This happens in a lot of series, though, so it’s not that big of deal. However, when awkward acting moments happen, it is easy to pick up on. In season two of the series, these moments may improve.
The series is engaging in its own way, so it’s understandable why there is an appeal. The Boy Love angle Lovesick has is enough to keep viewers engaged because it’s interesting just to see the romance develop. This alone kept me engaged, so there are positives to the series. However, if you’re someone who isn’t into Boy Love scenarios and school-focused stories, Lovesick may not be the drama for you. However, give it a chance because you find it worth it.
Lovesick earns a 2.5/5.
–J. Chung
Girl’s Day made their highly-anticipated return with their second full-length album, Love. Since “Something,” Girl’s Day have been rightfully earning attention from the K-Pop world, so there’s a lot of interest in Love.
For fans that enjoy Girl’s Day’s music over the past two years, you may enjoy the album, but it may sound a little too familiar. For those looking for something new from the group, there are a handful of songs to keep you occupied. Overall, some fans may find themselves a little disappointed in what Love has to offer.
“With Me” opens the album. The music has a disco sound which Girl’s Day matches well. The song has some unique elements to it because it goes from a disco beat to incorporating some tango. You can hear Minah loud and clear on the track, too, but overall vocals sound really good. Yura’s parts are strong and husky adding some strength to the track. Toward the end, something feels a little messy with the tempo change, like Girl’s Day are singing a bit outside their vocal range. However, “With Me” is the perfect way to get started.
The promoted track is “Ring My Bell.” The use of harmonicas in the track is definitely interesting and something that isn’t heard often in K-Pop tracks. The song is upbeat and easy to enjoy as it has many strengths from the memorable verses, impressive hook, and catchy chorus. The “I feel you breathe” portions provide a nice break in the song prior to Yura’s rap. The vocals really show how Girl’s Day have grown since debut since the girls are way more expressive than before. This has the potential to be a hit.
“마카롱” is one of the most interesting songs on Love. The Big Band/ Scat sound makes for a standout song. It’s easy to imagine them in 1940s fashion performing this song on stage. The song is all at once refreshing and retro. Girl’s Day did a great job making something old-sounding new again. The song does feel like it loses some steam at the end, but it’s energetic and fun.
The fourth track is “Come Slowly.” “Come Slowly” is a ballad track that highlights Girl’s Day’s soft and subtly powerful vocals. Sojin, Hyeri, and Minah sound amazing and dreamy, helping to express the group’s maturity. The girls utilize different keys well to create a beautiful song that sounds romantic and sweet. Fans of 1990s US ballads and R&B songs may enjoy “Come Slowly” because it is reminiscent of that era.
“Top Girl” brings back the dance mood. Some lines feel rushed and awkward; at the same time, the composition feels somewhat messy. There’s just something that feels off about “Top Girl.” It took a few listens to actually get behind the song to where there’s a sense that it’s an okay listen. The song isn’t bad, but it’s not the best. There’s just something inherently amiss about “Top Girl” that just makes it not as exceptional as it should have been.
“Top Girl” is gladly overlooked because one of my all-time favorite Girl’s Day tracks, “Darling,” is included on Love. “Darling” is just an essential summer song that feels like sunshine, ice cream, and tasty fudge from a Main Street candy shop or a 1950s soda shop. “Darling” is the song you pull out to listen to on a really bad day just to feel chipper once again. “Darling” is just joy embodied in a song, and that can’t be messed with at all.
“휘파람” is another upbeat track with strong and impressive instrumentals. The song is one of Girl’s Day’s edgier tracks, so it’s impressive for that alone. While it still has their signature feminine sound, there is something extra that makes it stand out. The girls switch well between higher and lower notes well, creating an interesting dynamic. Some may listen to the track and hear the whistling in the background. At times, the whistling feels like it’s from Brown Eyed Girls’ “Kill Bill.” There is something familiar about the track, so this might be it.
The eighth track, “Look at Me,” was featured on Everyday III. The song is a lovely ballad with a waltz beat. The song embodies growing up and maturing, especially in love. The message of the song is clear since they want potential love interests to see them as ladies instead of children. There is a delicate beauty in “Look at Me” that does show Girl’s Day beauty. It was a good song on Everyday III, and it’s still a good song on Love.
Also making an appearance on Love is Girl’s Day’s 2014 hit song “Something.” It seems fitting to have “Something” on the album since it is the one that further propelled them into the spotlight in 2014; in 2015, it’s surrounded by songs on an even stronger album. Adding the track onto Love feels like a “thank you” to fans for showing their support and they will look to the past to remember how they got to such a high point in their careers.
“Timing” is the tenth song and originally appeared on their Summer Party album. The song was one of our favorites last year, and this holds true on Love. The bouncy beat accentuates Girl’s Day and helps to embody their cheerful personas. The song is a nice “crush song” as the girls sing about a man who needs to stop pussy-footing around asking for a date. “Timing” is cute and straightforward and still enjoyable in 2015.
“I Miss You” is also a track from 2014. Girl’s Day ballads are special because they show their range. “I Miss You” has nice melodies and harmonies, so this is something fans don’t have to worry about with them. “I Miss You” is a pretty song, but it can easily be overshadowed by other tracks.
Another track from Everyday III appears with “Show You.” The song works well for the girls to show their vocal abilities, although the higher notes feel strained at times. What’s nice about “Show You” is how vocals and instrumentals blend well since one doesn’t overpower the other. The song as a whole is just pretty and not very memorable because it’s too soft at times, but it’s still nice.
Finally, “Hello Bubble,” a project song from earlier in 2015, wraps up the album. “Hello Bubble” opens interestingly to make the song sound like it’s going to be edgy and a different sound than what we’re used to from Girl’s Day. Unfortunately, the song shifts into a comfortable pop song, so this was a letdown to some degree. “Hello Bubble” is cute and enjoyable and allows Girl’s Day’s cuteness to shine. It is a nice way to close the album.
Many fans probably expected a lot of new songs from Girl’s Day, but there were only a handful of new ones. Older tracks tend to dominate the album, which would make fans of their older songs happy. Overall, expectations were high, so there is a bit of a letdown with Love. Love earns a 3/5.
–Joelle Halon
With the Hallyu Wave growing bigger, not only do we love hearing about and seeing our favorite artists coming to shore, but we also enjoy hearing from the people who help spread the wave to others.
Being from the Midwest and the Chicago-area, I’ve noticed that we have a thriving and increasingly more vocal K-Pop fan base than experienced in years past, and it’s a beautiful thing since it’s finally starting to feel like a huge extended family in the region. Over the years, Korean and K-Pop festivals and conventions have become more readily available, and K-Pop artists and companies finally know we exist and will come to concerts to support our groups. And with both, comes dance and music cover groups that help spread the joy and fun of the K-Pop scene.
One group in particular, CHEMICAL X, is becoming increasingly more well-known among Chicago-area K-Pop fans for their charismatic and diverse performances. Kcrush was lucky enough to have a chance to talk to them about their work, lives, and future plans as well as goals for the group.
Kcrush Magazine (KC): To begin, do you mind introducing yourselves?
Anna: Hi there, I’m Anna, and I am the leader of CHEMICAL X. I’m a business major and a bit of an author, and I live in the suburbs north of Chicago. Dancing is obviously one of my biggest hobbies, but outside of that, I love writing, singing, or anything else in the realm of performing. I also enjoy working out.
Lauren: Hi! I am Lauren, currently studying business at Oakton Community College. I live in Niles (10 minutes away from Chicago). When I am not dancing, you’ll either see me binge watch on a show or playing League of Legends.
Collin: I’m Collin aka “Tye”, nice to meet you all. I’m a Business Marketing major born and raised in Chicago, and I love writing songs/dancing.
Vince: Hi! My name is Vince. I’m from Orland Park, and I’m currently a student looking to study dance.
Jen: My name is Jen, and I’m one of the newest members in CHEMICAL X. I’m from Naperville, Illinois and I graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a BS degree in Chemistry. I love hip hop, dancing, graphics design, drawing, and animation.
Bekah: Hi I am the youngest member, Bekah. My friends call me Bean. I live all the way in Wisconsin, and I love ice cream!
Sammy: My name is Samantha Hernandez, but in the group I’m known as Sammy or Manager Sammy. I recently got accepted in to Columbia College Chicago and I’ll be starting as a freshman in the fall. I’m still deciding my major, actually- between Writing and Dance, but we’ll see in the future. I’m from the suburbs of Chicago: North Riverside, a pretty quiet town. My interests include dancing, which is probably an easy giveaway; singing, which I know for one not entirely good at, but I enjoy to do that; also drawing when I have the time, I’m still learning new ways and techniques of drawing, but I mostly draw on my iPad.
KC: Do you mind talking about how and where you all met and what that meeting was like?
Anna: Speaking as one of the original members, those of us who are a part of the first generation met because we were a part of a different dance crew- iNfuzion, which was a K-Pop dance crew based in Chicago. Meeting the original members for the first time was interesting because we met through K-Pop dance. We were teammates before we were friends, but today I’m proud to call us a family.
Vince: Since CHEMICAL X is made up of multiple generations who are added to the group at different times, many of us found our way into the group by an audition. I am among the first batch of members to join via audition, and that’s also when I met the original members for the first time. I auditioned in January 2014 and was officially added to the lineup about a month later along with two other girls. Today, I stand alone as the only second generation member left in the group. I will do my best to represent the second gen well!
Bekah: Actually, I was a huge fan of CHEMICAL X for years before I joined. I always watched in awe until I finally decided to audition when I heard they were looking for new members.
KC: When did you discover you had an interest in K-Pop? Did you discover it together randomly, individually, or collectively as a group? How did this shared-interest come about?
Anna: I, personally, discovered K-Pop over the summer of 2011 after I graduated high school with Super Junior’s “Bonamana.” All of our dance crew members discovered K-Pop individually, and that was what brought us together in the first place. Being a K-Pop-focused dance group was a great way to meet fellow dancers who shared that love of K-Pop. This goal of making K-Pop more prevalent in the Chicago dance scene is what unites and motivates us.
Lauren: I got into K-Pop in the summer of 2010.
Collin: I was six years old when I heard my first K-Pop song. It was Shinhwa’s “T.O.P.” AMAZING! I met the now-CHEMICAL X members by chance and the majority of us have similar groups that we like.
Vince: I stumbled across a Girls’ Generation video in 2010.
Jen: I had an interest early on when I was in high school. My cousin introduced me to “Hug” by DBSK, and from there I started watching other groups like Big Bang, 2pm, and later SNSD.
Bekah: Back in 2011, I found K-Pop through watching a YouTube video where somebody mentioned K-Pop, I googled it in curiosity and found Beast and 2PM… there was no turning back.
Sammy: I remember I was in 7th grade at the time. I was already really in to Japanese music, so I came across Super Junior’s song, “Bonamana,” and at first I wasn’t into it, but I was really in to the men dancing. After a couple of times listening to it, I was already hooked.
KC: Whose idea was it to start a dance crew, and how did you get others interested in joining?
Anna: As I mentioned earlier, the original CHEMICAL X members- being Collin, Lauren, Tran, Annie, and myself–were a part of a different K-Pop dance group called iNfuzion. We were selected to be the members that would represent iNfuzion at K-Fest 2013. As we worked together, we formed a bond with each other, which led to us breaking off from iNfuzion and forming the CHEMICAL X we are today.
KC: What made you want to join CHEMICAL X?
Vince: Ever since discovering my love for K-Pop and dance around the same time, I’d always thought it would be neat to dance on stage to the music I loved. I had my eye out for some kind of cover group for a really long time, but never really knew how to find one. In December 2013, I saw Lauren’s post about CHEMICAL X’s first member auditions in a Facebook group. It had been what I was looking for all along. I watched their performances on YouTube and immediately became a fan, and that was just another driving force that pushed me to put myself on their radar.
Jen: I had a place in college where I was able to let loose with my passion for dance and my creative hobbies and was able to showcase that. After I graduated, I no longer had that place, but I still had my passion for dancing and creativity. When I found a Facebook group called Koreo Party in Chicago that taught K-Pop dance classes, it sparked my interest for both K-Pop and dance. From the Koreo Party Facebook page, I found CHEMICAL X hosting auditions and this looked like a wonderful opportunity for me to find my new place, in CHEMICAL X.
Bekah: Every time I had watched CHEMICAL X perform, they would always do their own take on K-pop dances. That really shakes it up and makes a really interesting show and I thought to myself, “I want to be up on that stage with them one day!” from the very first time I saw them perform.
KC: What made you decide on CHEMICAL X for a name, and how do you live up to that name in your performances?
Collin: Names are an important thing to me. The name ‘CHEMICAL X’ is originally from the 1990’s cartoon, The Powerpuff Girls. The name, to me, signifies an added ingredient that creates an indescribable phenomenon. We all come from different lives and separate dance backgrounds, so coming together and creating such a positive atmosphere is what we strive for. We live up to the name by showing that there should be no boundaries.
KC: You’ve done dance performances set to GI (Global Icon), BtoB, Super Junior, Troublemaker, and VIXX among others. How do you go about deciding what songs you want to dance to, and what ultimately makes you think “This is the perfect song for us to do”?
Anna: I like to think that we, as a group, have a very diverse set of skills, and so for that reason, we don’t stick to one particular concept or theme. As a group, we gauge the event or project that we’re working on and try to come up with the most surefire way to captivate our audience while showcasing our diverse skillset. It always starts with a concept or a theme or a storyline, and from there, the songs tend to fall into place.
Collin: We tend to compile a list of songs that we believe would describe the concept we are going for. We narrow it down from there and that’s pretty much how we do it. It is hard though. There are so many good songs out there. * Snickers while frowning *
KC: I understand you’re all busy with school and I assume work and family obligations too. When do you have time to get together to practice? Better yet, how do you make the time?
Lauren: Luckily, most of our members are in college and we usually focus more of our time in the summer. So we ask who’s available during the week, and we base off our practices on everyone’s schedule. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn’t work in our favor. But, we do make the best out of it.
KC: You’ve performed at the Chicago Korean Festival, UIC KASA events, and scheduled for the Chicago Main Events: Midwest K-Pop Dance Competition. Besides these events, where else have you performed? Do you decide what events you dance at or do people contact you? What is it like to prepare for these shows?
Anna: Due to some last minute scheduling issues, we were unable to perform at the Midwest K-Pop Dance Competition. Outside of that though, generally speaking, if it is a competitive event, we decide whether or not we want to dance; and if it is a noncompetitive performance event, other people contact us and invite us to perform. Preparing for these shows are, without exception, utterly stressful. Between working around busy schedules and coming up with content that suits our large number of members, it is always a challenge. But come performance time, looking back, the struggles always pay off.
Lauren: So far, those are the only events we have performed at. We decide where we perform, but there are occasions where people have contacted us (like UIC KASA). And then whichever members are free for practices perform at that said event. Our main focus is usually the Chicago Korean Festival, so we would like to have all our members perform. Preparing for these events is challenging, but worth it. We definitely put a lot of thought into every performance to give our very best and to represent CHEMICAL X’s name well.
KC: You were invited to perform at SMTown Week, and a little bird said you were invited by SM Entertainment themselves. That’s something! What was it like getting that invite, and how was the experience?
Lauren: I was informed on Twitter about the SMTOWN week contest, where certain cover groups are invited by SMTOWN to perform at one of their fan parties. I decided to do it for CHEMICAL X for the heck of it. Honestly, I did not think anything would come out of it.
I got the email very late at night and had to double check where I sent the video. I sent it to a @smtown.com address and the person validated himself as an SMTOWN employee. He told me to call him as soon as possible. I had a few hours left, so I had to call him on my grandma’s Skype since it was an international call. We talked, and he was really impressed by our performance. Our only problem was that we had to find our own way to get to Korea and a place to stay. If we had had the money, we would have performed at SMTOWN week. But it’s an honor for them to ask us.
KC: Besides dance, what else do you do involving K-Pop or any Asian entertainment?
Anna: I’ve dabbled in various dance and entertainment groups, and had various opportunities to work with different K-Pop events. The most notable and memorable being when I was lucky enough to be Boyfriend’s MC for their Chicago showcase.
Lauren: Currently, I am part of an organization called HallyuCon Chicago. Hopefully we bring a festival to Chicago soon!
Collin: I make K-Pop covers on YouTube under the channel “tyewantspie”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QJSUcBI3xM
Vince: I’m a very big fan of Hello! Project, which is a company that produces several J-Pop girl groups!
Bekah: I love to cook Korean food and I watch K-dramas, reality shows, and anime.
Sammy: As of now, I’m in another K-Pop cover group called All Kill. We’re still fairly new, but we already have some big plans, so please look for us in the future! And I’m trying to involve myself in any way I possibly can for dance, but also volunteering at K-Pop concerts, etc.
KC: Lauren, on your YouTube vlog, I noticed you had an opportunity to audition for K-Pop Star 3. What was that experience like for you? Did you learn anything from auditions that you brought back with you that helped you with your CHEMICAL X experiences?
Lauren: K-Pop Star 3 was an experience I won’t forget. I think the one thing I experienced that will help CHEMICAL X is just be confident on the stage.
KC: There’s also a sub-unit of CHEMICAL X called Chemical-J. Who’s involved with Chemical-J and where can we see that group perform?
Lauren: I am involved with Chemical-J. We hope to release more J-Pop videos and perform at anime conventions and other J-pop related events.
Vince: The members are just Lauren & I. We had one performance at a club called X Factor. We’re brainstorming some video covers for the future, so please stay tuned! J
KC: On your YouTube channel, there’s a call for auditions. What are you looking for out of potential new members?
Anna: CHEMICAL X looks for people with presence, personality, and passion, more than anything else. We would rather take on an average dancer, who knows how to have fun in front of a crowd and works hard to learn new things, than an amazing dancer who only dances from the neck down. Dancing is obviously a key ingredient to a dance crew, but so is passion. You can teach someone how to dance. But you can’t teach passion.
KC: I’m from the Illinois/Indiana region myself, and I’ve noticed a growing interest in K-Pop along with fans being less closeted than they were in previous years. How do you feel about the growing interest in K-Pop over the years not only globally but regionally?
Vince: I think it’s a really great thing. I think it gives K-Pop fans more of a chance to come out of the closet that they’re in. Nowadays, they can say “Hey, there’s other people that like this too….I’m not weird for liking this!” and they can make friends through the genre and have people to just…freak out with. I think we all need friends who have the same obsessions as us. Ever since being in CHEMICAL X, I’ve had a chance to meet many people who are into k-pop that I can freely express myself around. It’s something really tremendous and we’re like a big family.
Jen: For individuals who are fans of something overseas such as K-Pop, it is difficult to express that certain interest with others because many do not know what K-Pop is, and it is hard to harbor these exciting feelings by yourself without wanting to express it to others that also know it. So I think that’s wonderful that K-Pop is getting more known across America and here in the Midwest. It brings all the people in the Midwest region together for something they all share and individuals don’t have to be as timid or scared to show something that they love and it certainly sparks vitality within the community.
KC: With summer upon us, what activities do you have planned for CHEMICAL X and Chemical-J? What about the rest of the year?
Anna: K-Fest is looming the distance, and that is always CHEMICAL X’s favorite time to shine. The K-Fest is stage is special to all of us, so that’s probably our most anticipated event of the year. However, we also have some other performances lined up towards the end of the year. Stay posted on our Facebook and Twitter updates.
Lauren: Chemical-J’s plans I have said earlier. As for CHEMICAL X, we plan on doing competitions for the summer. And we will have to see about future plans after the summer is over. Hopefully bigger and better plans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIKse1QWB3Q
KC: As a group, what is your biggest dream for CHEMICAL X?
Anna: All I can ask for with this group is for us to keep on progressing, to keep moving up and up. More events, more performances, more competitions. Because with each new event that we take part in, we’re spreading the K-Pop love further and further. For CHEMICAL X’s name to be recognized as a prominent K-Pop dance crew- That’s the dream.
Lauren: Just to get CHEMICAL X’s name out there. That is my main goal right now. Biggest dream personally: Open up for a K-Pop act.
Collin: To grow and become a group that people can relate to on a personal level. It’s important for others to have something like that.
Vince: I’d like us to be not only well known in Chicago, but also in other places. Promoting ourselves on YouTube and entering bigger competitions can help our name become familiar among K-Pop fans everywhere.
Jen: For CHEMICAL X, to be the most fantastic crowd pleaser at kpop dance events and become known on YouTube.
Bekah: I would love if we could have a lot of opportunities in the future to perform and get more well known to the K-pop community in Chicago and maybe the United States OR maybe even the world!
Sammy: What would be the biggest dream is to get asked to go to Korea to perform and to actually be able to make it there, but our goal right now is to be able to perform at KCON 2015 in New York.
KC: Individually, what are your future goals?
Anna: I have lots of goals. I want to travel, see the world, publish a novel, meet all the people and idols that I admire, and keep dancing and entertaining for as long as I can. I want to live my life to the absolute fullest. No regrets. Simple as that.
Lauren: After college is over and I have a fund set up, open up a dance studio. I currently teach K-Pop classes, and I would like to branch off from renting a studio to having a studio of our own.
Collin: Eventually, I would like to form a boy group who performs not only dance covers, but vocal covers. A real group. It would be an experimental group of course, but I would like to be a member as well. I love performing, so I don’t want to give that up.
Vince: Personally, I’d like to take the world! I want anyone and everyone to know who I am! The bigger the crowd, the happier I’ll be.
Jen: To become a better dancer and be more known since I am new member, haha.
Bekah: Personally, I would love to become a backup dancer for some entertainers; that has been my dream for years now.
Sammy: My future goals would to help make CHEMICAL X very well-known so we are asked to come for different events to perform at and have fans scream and chant the group name because the fans are what helps CHEMICAL X be who we are today; and that we can grow more together as one, as a family.
KC: Finally, what do you want your audience to know about you that you would like them to know?
Anna: I want our audience to know that everything we do, we do for them. Whenever CHEMICAL X competes or performs, our primary goal is to hype our audience. The judges are great, and we want to keep them happy, but our first priority will always be our audience. We also want to thank everyone for all the support that they’ve given us over the years. It’s been a great road, but it’s nowhere near over yet. Please keep an eye out for us because we’ve got plenty more coming your way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pri46v6TD8s
Kcrush America thanks CHEMICAL X for their time to take part in this interview. We wish them all the best and lots of success!
—-Joelle Halon
Renowned Japanese actor Ken Takakura is all the reason you need for watching Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2005). In the film written specifically for him, Ken plays the aged Takata in a role that’s sweet and memorable in a film that’s neatly wrapped and topped with a dainty bow. While the ending can be seen from a mile away, Takata’s journey is one that will that will bring laughter and tears as the story unfolds.
After the death of his wife, Takata escaped to a remote fishing village, thus damaging his relationship with his son. When Takata discovers his son is dying, he goes to see him only to be turned away. Takata’s daughter-in-law then provides him with a video so he can understand his son, sending him on a journey through China to find famed Nuo Opera performer Li Jiamin (played by himself), and ultimately through remote locations of China to locate Li’s illegitimate son Yang Yang (Yang Zhenbo). On his journey, Takata’s adventure comes full circle to put a soft punctuation point on his life.
Riding Alone refers to the performance Li Jiamin was to put on for Tanaka’s son. The show is an allusion to the story presented in The Romance of Three Kingdoms where Guan Yu took a solo journey to reunite with his brother Liu Bei. In the film, Takata is a modern-day Guan Yu taking a journey to reunite with his son, and to reunite another man with his son. While Takata doesn’t have any godly powers, it’s clear his story is meant to mimic that presented in Guan Yu’s tale; it does so beautifully.
Ken Takakura shines in his role. As the film unfolds, you see him as a hurt man still yearning his for wife and wanting to show his son how much he cares about him, to someone who is warm, kind, and willing to do anything to prove how much he loves the people around him. Ken has always been great at playing complex, multi-faceted roles, and his role in Riding Alone is no exception.
Takakura really does get lost in the role to where it’s easy to think of Takata as a real person and not a character. The way he interacts with people on his journey is authentic and warm, painting a rosy picture of a man trying to scoop up the pieces of his life. At the same time, he interacts well with the scenery presented in the film to make Takata seem much bigger than he is in a film filled with grandeur.
The grandeur does provide some issues since it seems the director, Zhang Yimou, seems to present an idealist view of China with open spaces, painted skies, and beauty everywhere the light can touch. The scenery fits in with the film and writing, although it feels inauthentic to never come across as anything other than sprawling landscapes. However, it’s great to be acquainted with the beauty in Japan and China as it is instrumental in latter scenes of Riding Alone.
For the most part, Riding Alone is a serious film, but it has moments of lighthearted humor. Takata and Yang Yang have a cute relationship that feels more grandfather-grandson than complete strangers. Then there’s the poor guide Qui Lin (as himself) and the running joke of his poor Japanese. These moments add to the charm of the film and are worth the lookout for them.
While the parallels of Riding Alone are a highlight and great fodder for a melodrama, how full-circle and neatly packed the film is may bother some viewers. The hints of conflict that exist feel thrown in to close the plot more than to push the story too, much like the scene where Yang Yang runs away. The conflict and the way everything ends too perfectly can feel like hiccups, but it’s no different than some TV dramas available.
Riding Alone is a sweet film with great characters despite its flaws. Ken Takakura is truly the soul of the film, especially since the role was written for him. Ken earns a 5/5 for performance, while Riding Alone earns a 3/5 overall.
—-Joelle Halon
BIGBANG unveiled D July 1 with the songs “Sober” and “If You.” The single also includes the songs “Bae Bae” and “Loser” from M and “Bang Bang Bang” and “We Like 2 Party” from A, which we reviewed previously. YG Entertainment promised that each song would get better, so let’s see if he was right!
“Sober” gets the single started. The song, written by T.O.P, G-Dragon, and Teddy, and composed by Teddy, G-Dragon, and Choice37, is an upbeat track with a strong beat and addictive chorus.
The song is about being sober, which could literally be sober from alcohol or sober from a romance. The lyrics suggest the song could refer to either alcohol dependency with references to not being able to fall asleep (blackouts), taxis (avoiding drunk driving), and time slowing down; but these same lyrics along with references to chasing fame and money, being without something, and feeling childish suggest a breakup with someone. BIGBANG earns credit for personification though, which is part of “Sober’s” charm.
Like with previous MADE Series tracks, Seungri, T.O.P, and Daesung knocked the song out of the park! Taeyang’s stronger, more pleasant vocals also made a great return in “Sober” to present a well-rounded, addictive tune that could be right up there with some of BIGBANG’s best. G-Dragon, sadly, didn’t bring his best vocals to the song. At times he sounds tinny and nasally to the point of obnoxious grandeur, and since he has a large chunk of the song’s lines, this is not a good thing. If GD was toned down some, “Sober” would have been a much stronger track. However, it’s easy to fall in love with the song to make it a go-to worth listening to constantly.
“If You” is pleasantly softer with the beautiful sound of guitar. What’s more, T.O.P sings! His raw, imperfect introduction just adds something haunting and amazing to “If You” that can’t be described. Then Seungri comes in and adds more layers. Just from the two of them alone, I was sold on the song and already feeling some emotions.
“If You” has lyrics that leave a mark on the heart because they are emotional and haunting. As they watch love drift away, you can feel the pain in the words. The lyrics avoid flowery language and metaphors, so it does feel more straight-from-the-heart and honest than other BIGBANG songs in the MADE Series.
The song pretty much stays in one range. Normally, this would not make a song stand out, but it helps in this case. Staying in one range with instrumentals helps the words and vocals POP to make them penetrate more.
Given how soft the song is, though, Daesung and Taeyang’s vocals were a little too powerful. When Daesung sang his lines, they were a bit jarring; the same goes for Taeyang. Toning down the power could have made more of an impact, much like they did around the 3:16 mark.
Even with a few picky things in “Sober” and “If You,” they are among the best of the MADE Series thus far. These songs are signature BIGBANG filled with heart and fun, so it’ll be exciting to see what the finale holds!
MADE Series- D earns a 4/5.
— Joelle Halon
Summer always brings out the fun, dance-heavy track to get the party started. Of course, Sistar would be one the groups that would provide a dance track with “Shake It.” The song and MV are typical Sistar with bright, poppy colors and lots of booty-focus to provide fans what is expected of Sistar. Fans must be happy as it’s been certified a all-kill several times, so it’s safe to say Sistar keeps proving their worth!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9-TIy7WPQI
In “Shake It,” Sistar are high schoolers who know how to put the “fun” in classroom fundamentals. The high school is straight out of an anime with attractive people, Sistar as the sexy female leads, a creeper guy, and doofy teachers. It’s clear Sistar are the popular students who lead the pack in dances while turning heads. There are several scenes where it’s clear Sistar’s shake “brings all the boys to the yard,” even to the point where they’re cutely arrested by the police.
There’s not a lot of substance with “Shake It” even though there’s a lot going on, making it a strange video for that reason alone. There’s plenty of stereotypical high school hijinx with sports, goofing off, and interacting with teachers and classmates. Then we have a typical teen-show, after school actions like shopping and hanging out at the mall. This is the whole MV. All the bright colors and writing everywhere are enough to keep a viewer engaged, but this is definitely not an MV if you’re looking to engage in analysis or thinking, so it is the perfect summer song as there’s just fun; no thinking necessary.
The song is also simplistic with all the makings of a successful pop song complete with easy lyrics, repetition, and catchy beats. The shaking in the song refers to not only Sistar’s assets (as the MV allows you to believe), but also to the dance and the shaking of the heart. A shaking heart is the heartbeat of love in K-Pop language. “Shake It” is, essentially, an upbeat song about crushes and falling in love. The song fulfills the theme of joyful summery romances and flirtiness well, although it feels like the MV could have matched the theming better instead of being set in a school and mall.
It would have been fun to see Sistar focus on summer love over schoolyard shenanigans because doing so would have fit them more given how they appear older than school-aged. Based on appearance alone, the Sistar ladies knocked it out of the park in terms of hair, makeup, and overall theming to where they easily could have stepped into the roles of love muses showing anyone who may fall in love how to shake it. Sistar could have kept their styles and dance for the comeback, but the concept was too young feeling for them, especially Hyorin and Dasom who usually appear more mature than Bora and Soyou at times.
As a whole, the song is catchy and enjoyable, but it’s not the best lyrically. The cheerful colors and Sistar’s dance felt on-point, but the concept just didn’t work for them. With some improvements to the latter (read: concept change), “Shake It” could have been a better MV. “Shake It” earns a 2.75/5.
—-Joelle Halon
It seems like it has become standard for idol rappers to try out for the MNET tv show Show Me The Money after Bobby from the yet-to-debut YG group iKON won last year. This year a large number of idols showed up to audition including Mino from Winner (the group that beat out iKON to debut), Kidoh and Yano from Topp Dogg, Ravi from VIXX and Lime from Hello Venus.
Naturally, this has brought up the conflict between underground rappers and idol rappers yet again, with many people saying Show Me The Money was originally meant to be a platform for unknown rappers and not those with idol fame. I can definitely understand this in Mino’s case because he is already successful in his group and doesn’t necessarily need the promotion the show would give him. The other rappers, sans Ravi, are all from groups with way smaller fan bases and are still pretty unknown.
This year in order to pass the audition you were judged by judges including Jay Park, Jinusean or Zico, the latter, according to reports, being extremely hard on those that competed. I do find a little bit of irony in the fact Zico is judging because of all the conflicts he has had with trying to find the balance between being an idol and a rapper, even going to say he really wasn’t sure of who he was anymore. Idol standards are harder for underground rappers to deal with as appearance makes a difference in everything idols do. Some talented but less physically attractive rappers are even left behind in the underground scene as well.
One of the issues idol rappers face involves the idea that the things they do as idols like the make-up, dancing and outfits, aren’t seen as being ‘hip-hop’ and that they sold out for more fame. In my honest opinion, I feel a lot of the idea of what is hip-hop is just based on what is seen in American hip-hop and doesn’t hold any real value as some of these ideas are very sexist as well. Many of the idols that auditioned were and still are very involved with the underground scene outside of their idol activities.
If an idol rapper wants to try out for this show or anything else like it, he or she should go for it. If they pass the audition, they obviously have earned their place in the show and whether they are ‘hip-hop’ enough should not matter. I am looking forward to this season and seeing what all of the rappers will bring to the table.
—-Ke’Anna Bullard
On June 8, 2015, K-Indie artists The Solutions released their six-track album NO PROBLEM! as a four-member group for the first time. This time, Park Sol and Naru are joined by Park Han Sol and Kwon Oh Kyung to provide fans with a summery album full of The Solutions’ unique sound. While The Solutions usually sing in English, for this album, they decided to cater more to the Korean audience with more Korean tracks.
The album opens with “No Problem,” an instrumental track with a nice 1980s beat. Throughout the short track, you can hear different voices saying “No Problem” to where it almost sounds futuristic and like a computer is talking to you. The spoken elements feel distracting to some degree because it interrupts the music. However, it does work well as a transitional song.
“Love You Dear” picks up the beat from “No Problem.” “Love You Dear” covers one-sided love, but in a cheerful way. The song sounds like it’s straight from the 1980s, creating a song that’s fun and almost reminiscent of days gone by while feeling new. The combination of both nostalgia and newness makes the song feel like it could last a few decades to make it a go-to summer song for years to come.
While they work for the album, “Stage” and “Sing and Flow” feel better suited for The Solutions’ Movements album because they have a stronger, in-your-face quality. However, “Sing and Flow” does maintain the album’s summery vibe. “Stage,” though, is a great introduction song to show potential fans how well The Solutions can transition between English and Korean. At times, the transitions are so smooth that a listener may still think they’re singing in one language because it isn’t like some K-Pop songs where a random word or phrase is thrown in for the heck of it.“Sing and Flow” is synth-heavy, but it’s a great party-starter.
The fifth track, “L.O.V.E,” lures listeners into thinking it’s going to be a ballad just by looking at the title. However, it’s a nice mid-tempo track that’s mellow and almost peaceful. The softer side of The Solutions is nice and different and shows dimension. It’s a shame this actually wasn’t the last song on NO PROBLEM.
The album closes with the Miami version of “Love You Dear.” The song is completely English. When listened to side-by-side with the original version, there are differences that can easily be picked up. The Miami version has more of a party vibe in terms of bass and added instrumentals, whereas the original focuses more on vocals. With the Miami version, vocals aren’t as dominant. With that said, play both songs at the same time with one in the left ear and the other in the right; it creates a cool impact and will help in noticing the different nuances.
NO PROBLEM is a nice album to usher in summer as it has a good amount of rock and nostalgia. It will please fans, and while a fun album, Movements is still the best one to introduce new fans to The Solutions.
NO PROBLEM earns a 3/5.
—-Joelle Halon
Few movies affect me deeply enough to make me pause to reflect on life and death. Movies that do affect me stick with me long-term. The 1998 Japanese film After Life falls under this category. I watched it for a psychology class years ago, but I still remember it as if I just watched it. While it’s slow-paced and unsteady at times, the film captures the uncertainty of death, the memories we cherish, and the regrets we may have beautifully.
Plot
After Life is a simple film with a simple plot: Every Monday, newly deceased individuals come to a rundown-looking station to talk to “social workers” to discuss their deaths, lives, and memories. The social workers and deceased work together to determine the dead’s most precious memory that will be filmed and viewed as a send-off into the unknown. Those who cannot choose a memory work at the station—a symbol for purgatory—until they decide what memory is most important. This is where the second part of the story occurs.
Social workers Takashi (Arata) and Shiori (Erika Ode) work with the deceased to determine their memories. When Takashi works with Ichiro Watanabe (Taketoshi Naito), a man who married Takashi’s fiancé after Takashi’s death, both Takashi and Shiori reflect on their experiences.
Review
One of the best parts of After Life is that it is a quiet film. It doesn’t go for shock value; it doesn’t preach; it doesn’t try to be more than what it is. After Life is wholesome and retrospective in that it makes viewers part of the story as they may reflect on their own lives and memories.
Essentially, After Life is two films: The first part focuses on the dead and their lives, and the second is on the social workers.
The first portion of the film is interesting since some of the dead are actors while others are non-actors. Adding non-actors gave the film a more authentic feel on top of the documentary-style filming, and it helps paint the beautiful pictures their stories create. The characters’ colorful memories help eliminate the muted façade, and the world which these characters pass becomes warm and friendly. What works best is that the stories feel familiar, as if a family member is sharing his or her life story. While drawn out at times, the stories are interesting to hear.
The social workers’ tale focuses on Takashi and Shiori. Their story is interesting because the viewer does get the sense there is something unresolved with the two of them. First, there is a quasi-romance with the characters that leave viewers wondering if love can occur or continue after death. Arata and Ode do well highlighting the chemistry between the characters which made their roles believable. As the duo begins looking at their lives thanks to Mr. Watanabe, Takashi, at times, is drier than Shiori, so it’s interesting to see their contrasts.
There are, however, some plot holes in After Life, mainly why a memory has to be filmed when the social workers have all memories on film, but this is one of those films where being overly critical should be banned. The touches of fantasy used to recreate a moment are meant to make the deceased happy as they crossover, therefore, you should feel happy too while wondering what really lies beyond the here and now. The plot issues make the film endearing and clever while saying if there is a heaven, hell, or absolute nothingness after we die. For this, the film is brilliant.
If you don’t mind slow moments, After Life is a sweet film that goes right to the heart. It sticks with viewers in a positive way. This is why the film earns a 4/5.
—-Joelle Halon
Non-Kpop Wednesday: Jane Zhang
Jane Zhang (Zhang Liangying) is one of China’s most known singers outside her country. The talented songstress not only sings in Mandarin and Cantonese, but Spanish and English as well. The 30-year old has also appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and held a concert in the US among other accomplishments, so is there anything Jane Zhang cannot do?
Zhang hails from Chengdu, Sichuan, China where music seems to have always been a part of her life. At a young age, Zhang shared her talent for singing with her parents’ coworkers, moving to singing at a local pub following her parents’ divorce and father’s death. While singing at the pub, she gained more exposure to different music, which influences her style today.
Zhang then dropped out at Sichuan University to compete in 2005’s Super Girl competition where she placed third behind Li Yuchun and Bibi Zhou. During the show, Zhang showcased her versatility and global flavor by singing songs from Shania Twain, Shunza, Tina Turner, Joe Yamanaka, Wei Wei, and Christina Aguilera among others. While she earned critical praise, young viewers weren’t behind her, thus her third place finish. However, this placement didn’t deter her as she became the first Super Girl contestant to hold a music show for fans. The attention from the show also opened many doors for her.
In 2006, Zhang released her first EP, Jane Love, and debut album, The One. The latter was released on her 22nd birthday and featured three English songs produced by Craig Williams. The album led to Zhang being chosen to sing for various films and dramas in China, helping to put Zhang on the map.
Since 2006, Zhang has released six albums, three EPs, and one live album:
- Jane Love EP (2006)
- The One (2006)
- Dear Jane EP (2007)
- Update (2007)
- Jane@Music (2009)
- Believe in Jane (2010)
- Reform (2011)
- Listen to Jane Z Live (2012)
- Grateful EP (2013)
- The Seventh Sense (2014)
With these albums, Zhang has had over 30 singles chart on the Chinese music charts and has been nominated for eleven awards, winning eight of them including two Best Asian Artist awards and the Most Popular Female Artist Award. Additionally, in 2007, Zhang was also the only Asian artist invited to partake in World Peace One to promote awareness of third-world poverty. In the same year, she also sang “We Are Ready” with Jackie Chan, Joey Yung, and Elva Hsiao to promote the summer Olympics coming to China.
In 2015, Zhang was chosen with Big Sean to sing “Fighting Shadows” for the newest Terminator film, Terminator Genysis, set to open soon in the US. This is a big honor, especially considering how Asian artists are starting to gain recognition in the US market.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZseC8ZyVEQw
With “Fighting Shadows” about to be released, check out some other songs by Jane Zhang to introduce yourself to a wonderful, accomplished singer so you can get to know her better.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8WP9wFBGBg4AszI2lXZRmrK1Q-bXyQ3f
—Joelle Halon
For this week’s Drama and Movie Thursday, instead of focusing on one movie or drama, this week we’re recommending a few movies to give you warm romantic fuzzies, especially since one of our contributors to Kcrush is getting married in about a week. So, in honor of her marriage, let’s all get the loving feeling with some of these movies and dramas! Of course, we can’t name them all, but these are some to get you started.
Love So Divine (Korea, 2004)
Love So Divine is a romantic comedy starring Ha Ji-Won as Bong-Hie and Kwon Sang-Woo as Kyu-Shik. Kyu-Shik is a seminarian who seems to always cause some sort of disaster in his seminary before being sent to the countryside to serve Father Nam. While there, Kyu-Shik meets Bong-Hie, Father Nam’s niece who is also a bit of a disaster and a wild-child. The two seem to constantly bump into each other like fate is bringing them together, causing Kyu-Shik to question his priesthood commitment.
The pairing of Bong-Hie and Kyu-Shik feels awkward at first, but the characters and the actors playing them warm up as the movie unfolds. The story is cute-but-predictable, but it’s worth the fun and laughs that come with it.
Howl’s Moving Castle (Japan, 2004)
Howl’s Moving Castle isn’t a traditional love-story in that it’s not truly a love story. The Studio Ghibli film based on the book of the same name is more about self-acceptance and consciousness, and with this, platonic love as Sophie (as an old woman) helps Howl and company become their true selves while getting Howl back his heart. Miyazaki makes it a point to not include traditional romance in his films, instead focusing on friendship and platonic feelings, but one cannot help but hope Sophie and Howl had a happily-ever-after after the movie ended.
Chobits (Japan, 2002)
Can love between man and persocom exist? Chobits explores this concept cutely and comedically through the series while blurring the lines between human-robot relations.
Humanlike robots called persocoms pretty much run Japan in the series, and the warning of “do not fall in love” is forever evident through the show’s human cast and Freya, the “dead” sister of Chii. As male protagonist Hideki maintains a porn addiction while working and studying for his exams, he is faced with his growing feelings for Chii and Chii’s feelings for him. While it’s not love in the traditional sense, the buildup of feeling for the series protagonists make it easy to keep watching all while rooting for an otherwise unnatural relationship.
Lovesick: The Series (Thailand, 2014)
Based on the online Thai novel Lovesick: The Chaotic Lives of Blue Shorts Guys, Lovesick focuses on Phun (Phumphothingam Nawat) and Noh (Kongyingyong Chonlathorn). Phun has a girlfriend, Aim (Chindavanich Primrose), but his father wants him to date his friend’s daughter. Phun’s sister, Pang (Nuchanart Veerakaarn), suggests he engage in “boy love” in order to avoid dating his father’s choice in mate. Phun and Noh develop an agreement to act as a couple, but they slowly develop real feelings for each other.
Once you get past the first episode, Lovesick has better pacing and storylines even though the acting can be wooden at times. However, the pacing of the budding romance is sweet and realistic and will keep you engaged.
Christmas in August (Korea, 1998)
Life is a portrait in Christmas in August, which stars Han Suk-Kyu as Jung-Won and Shim Eun-Ha as Da-Rim. Jung-Won, a photo shop owner, is diagnosed with an unnamed terminal illness that causes him to navigate the remainder of his life with death not far behind. Da-Rim is an adorable parking meter attendant who falls slowly in love with Jung-Won, only to have her heart broken by his absence. The film thrives on subtleties as it asks the viewer to lean in and notice the little things that mean a lot, especially in the face of death. While the relationship between Jung-Won and Da-Rim develops slowly, viewers may appreciate the blossoming of affection.
Straight from the Heart (India, 1999)
If love triangles are your thing, then Straight from the Heart will definitely speak to you. Starring Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan, and Ajay Devgan as Nandini, Sameer, and Vanraj, respectively, Straight from the Heart explores arranged marriage, devotion, and discovering what love really means. Throughout the journey, emotions run high with different hijinx and moments of sadness and joy, but it’s engaging and sweet.
Queen and I (Korea, 2012)
Time-travel, romance, historical-drama, and action: Queen and I has it all! Starring Yoo In-Na as actress Hee-Jin and Ji Hyun-Woo as Bung-Do the Joseon Dynasty scholar, past meets present as they develop feelings for each other. The drama is engaging throughout with one moment at the end that will surely turn a viewer into a puddle of tears.
What are some of your favorite romantic movies? Share with us what they are and why, and we’ll share your recommendations on a future Movie and Drama Thursday!
— Joelle Halon
Since the year of 1995, the ‘Dream Concert’ has been annually held for the last two decades as the main event for K-pop in Korea, hosted by the Korea Entertainment Producers Association.
The most in-demand and popular artists in Korea are invited to perform at the stadium each year, the performances in total last for approximately three hours. The message these concerts designate to get across to the audience (who are mostly students and young adults) is ‘Dreams and hope.’
The slogan for the first Dream Concert ever held in 1995 was ‘Love for the nation.’
The following year, the concert’s slogan was ‘We are against all violence’ and the year of 1996 was special for H.O.T and their fans – the five-member all male band had marked their debut that year and with the help of an army of fans
H.O.T is recorded to have brought the most number of fans for the Dream Concert; the cloud of white balloons represented the ‘Club H.O.T.’
The 70,000 seats were all filled due to the number of their fans, the ones who were not lucky enough to enter watched the concert from a screen outside.
From 1995 until 1998, the Dream Concerts were held at the Olympic Stadium in Jamsil, Seoul.
As to the entrance fee, back in those days it was free of charge. Thousands of fans would camp outside the stadium for hours waiting to get inside the stadium. The concert would wrap up around 10 pm in the evening and since most fans stayed around midnight to watch their idols leave, the line 2 on the subway station even agreed to extend their hours until 2 am instead of closing around the usual hour to get the fans back home.
In 1997, the stage was reconstructed to install more seats for a bigger audience and that year the slogan was ‘Let’s think about the young people in North Korea.’ The seats are recorded to have been about 110,000.
The year of 1998 was an incredibly difficult one for Korea. Due to the severe financial crises the nation went through, many citizens became destitute, bankrupt or out of jobs. So the slogan the concert set for that year was ‘I love you, dad’ in order to encourage and support everyone; especially the parents who had a hard time getting back on their feet for their family, during the financial crisis era.
In 2000, since H.O.T did not participate in the concert, the 45000 seats were filled with the fans of their rival band, ‘Sechs Kies’ who ironically announced their disbandment after three years of being together as a band.
The band’s last performance was held at the show, where many fans shed tears along with the band members.
From 2009, the revenue for the ‘Dream Concert’ was switched to Seoul’s World Cup Stadium located in Sangam-dong and the tickets also began to be sold; the funding raised from the event was to be donated to charities.
For a decade, the slogan for the concerts has been consistent from 2005 until this year as ‘We love Korea.’
But the slogan for the year 2014 was, ‘Cheer up, Korea’ – obviously for the reason that the year was extremely difficult for Korea – unexpected accidents, scandals and various mishaps put the country into depression.
Each year, K-pop fans come from all over the globe to watch their favorite artists perform live.
The Dream concert had its 21st anniversary this year on June the 7th 2015.
These concerts add a deeper meaning because of the fact that they are held for a charitable cause and the fact the event was held consecutively since 1995 makes them more significant.
—-J. Chung
Tracklist
- “Resurrection”
- “Mirror”
- “Every Day”
- “Hey You”
- “Eyes on You”
- “I Know U Want Me”
- “Four Seasons, 24 Hours”
- “Tree”
Continuing with our MBLAQ theme for the week, Album Review Tuesday focuses on Mirror, the group’s eighth mini album and first as a trio. As the album unfolds, it’s clear MBLAQ stayed with the theme of mirrors as each song “mirrors” each other in some way either through similar tone and beat, borrowed instrumentals, or the fact each song has an intro so before it. Mirror is brilliant in this way as MBLAQ did take a theme and run with it. Throw in its feelings of nostalgia, hopefulness, and sadness, and you have a well-rounded album that was worth the wait.
“Resurrection” opens the album with a nice piano buildup. At the beginning, it sounds like there’s machinery in the background which is bookended with the sound of a heart-rate monitor at the end. MBLAQ is alive and ready to begin their new journey.
The title track “Mirror” comes next. The song has feelings of sadness and bitterness as MBLAQ longs for someone who betrayed them. In MV Monday, we touched on MBLAQ’s thoughts about the song and how it may pertain to Thunder and Lee Joon. That aside, “Mirror” does well highlighting Mir, G.O, and Seungho. High and low notes are in all the right places and help stir emotions. It’s nice the song is a ballad without feeling too much like a ballad, so it helps “Mirror” from becoming completely boring. While it’s a strong song, it doesn’t exactly feel like comeback material but more of a companion track to a stronger song that could have been released. Nevertheless, its strengths outweigh the negatives.
“Every Day” is a funky intermission-type track.It’s only a few seconds long, but it helps set the tone for “Hey You” since both rely on the instrumentals. It’s weird for “Every Day” to be its own track since it should have been just an extended introduction for “Hey You.” “Every Day” is just filler and nothing more.
“Hey You” is a bouncy, Funk-Pop song that covers loneliness, feeling like it’s okay to be alone, before admitting that love would be nice. “Hey You” is flirty and a nice reminder of some of MBLAQ’s past songs. The song is enjoyable and cute and worth listening to more than once. The harmonies, in particular, are delightful and smooth, easily making it a favorite on the album. Toward the end, it’s cute how the lyrics are sung with a bit of a nursery rhyme cadence, adding to the song’s delight-factor.
The R&B-feel of “Eyes on Me” serves as an intro to “I Know You Want Me.” The song is misleading because it’s easy to think it’s mislabeled on album and really should be “I Know You Want Me.” The R&B-styling makes “Eyes on Me” sensual with the “I Know You Want Me” chorus. However, this is just MBLAQ trolling as the lure you into thinking it’s time for sexy time only to burst forth with “I Know You Want Me” dance track.
“I Know You Want Me,” like “Hey You” has a Funk-Pop feel. The smooth tempo and vocals make the song fun and great listening. Like with “Mirror,” “I Know You Want Me” does a great job highlighting individual vocals. Upbeat MBLAQ has always been the most enjoyable, and this song is a reminder of that. Like “Hey You,” it is an easy favorite.
“Four Seasons, 24 Hours” is yet another intro track. The soft piano and what sounds like rain in the background just draw the listener into the music. It’s mellow, nostalgic, and romantic, but the only downfall is that it’s too short!
“Tree” wraps up the album and stems from “Four Seasons, 24 Hours.” The track continues with the nostalgic piano, so this is a definite plus. It’s beautiful how the instrumentals highlight MBLAQ over drowning them out, so everything is amazing at this point. The song sways and flows much like a tree in the breeze, and the lyrics, too, even surround trees. The song is simple and gorgeous, a nice way to wrap up an album.
Mirror does a lot of things well such as showcasing MBLAQ’s beautiful vocals and growth despite being down two members. While it is ballad-heavy and half intro songs, it’s a worthwhile mini-album. It would have been nice to have eight full songs, but we’ll take what we can get. Mirror earns a 4/5.
—-Joelle Halon