Interview: Getting to Know CHEMICAL X

 

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 7^th 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 22^nd 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 21^st anniversary this year on June the 7^th 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

For this week’s MV Monday, MBLAQ’s “Mirror” takes the stage. MBLAQ returned last week as a trio following the departure of Thunder and Lee Joon, leaving some fans wondering if MBLAQ will survive. In “Mirror,” the remaining members give it a gallant effort with strong melodies and overall nice vocals.

The song drips with feelings of sadness and betrayal, which is understandable since Seungho, Mir, and G.O have said the past six months have been “emotionally draining” since the departure of the other members. On the surface, “Mirror” is about a romantic betrayal, but members recently revealed that since they lack experience in love, they used experience from the Thunder and Lee Joon’s departure for the song’s overall mood and tone. One section of lyrics, in particular, captured fans’ feelings, since the song may be about the departed members:

You left without saying anything

I guess that’s how distant we were

Now I feel your heart

You and I resembled each other more than anyone

That’s why the scars are bigger

You didn’t even say sorry

To these lyrics, Seungho said, “It will translate differently depending on the viewpoint. We want to reveal all the relevant content with straightforwardness, but there were a lot of good memories. I do not want to ruin those. Just think of it as we’re supporting one another.”

“Mirror” is MBLAQ’s first one as three members. While watching it, it’s clear there is something missing. Gone are the outstanding dances and charismatic music; it seems ballad-type songs may be here to stay (their last release, “Be a Man,” was also a ballad). While the song itself is good, the MV is lackluster.

“Mirror” opens with Seungho, Mir, and G.O riding in a car. Then, they’re wandering and running the streets, standing on buildings, and singing in open doors inside a warehouse. This is the MV. On the surface, it’s fairly dull and nothing stands out, making this a questionable MV and song for a comeback.

Looking deeper, however, there are things to notice that make sense to MBLAQ’s current situation.

The Car Ride: The fact that the MV opens with Mir, G.O, and Seungho in the car is telling. The car has a vanity plate that reads “B3LAQ.” The three members are heading to a new destination, so the drive represents how they are on a new journey. At one point, Mir puts his arm around the empty seat nearby as he looks wistfully at it, hinting that something is missing. This could be the other members or a lover depending on the interpretation.

Walking the Streets: As MBLAQ walk and run through the street, they have wistful appearances. The members are remembering the good times.

The Doors: MBLAQ are seen walking through or standing around doors inside the warehouse. When they’re standing in the doors, this symbolizes how they’re unwilling to move forward to new opportunities at first, especially without the ones who left them. At the end, they walk through them indicating they are heading into the future. The doors never close either, so they are leaving the doors open to opportunity and leaving doors open for the others.

Backup Dancers: At one point, there is one female backup dancer, so this lends credence to “Mirror” being about love. However, there are four male backup dancers. Mostly, they are background, but at 3:43, there are only two. It’s like they are the memories of Lee Joon and Thunder since they are dressed in non-descript colors, but it’s clear Lee Joon and Thunder are still important to the remaining members.

Y: The back of Mir’s shirt forms a “Y.” “Y” is MBLAQ’s second single and featured Seungho, Thunder, Mir, G.O, and Lee Joon on the track (their debut song, “Oh Yeah,” did not feature Thunder as he joined MBLAQ 15 days before their 2009 debut. His vocals were not on the debut album, but Sang Bae–the member Thunder replaced– was. Sand Bae departed the group due to health issues). “Y” is also the single that won MBLAQ’s first music show win. The “Y” on the shirt refers to both their beginnings as five members and the song that earned them attention as well as questioning “why did you go?”

The End: The MV ends with five dots arranged in a triangle, then lines connect all the dots. M3LAQ still thinks of themselves as five members, and no matter what, they’re still connected to one another even though the others have moved on.

The symbolism is what makes the MV better than what it is because there isn’t much to it. MBLAQ did their best to make the material standout, and the method was somewhat effective. If someone isn’t willing to look at the deeper meaning, the MV is just dull.

As a whole, “Mirror” is pretty and highlights Mir, G.O, and Seungho’s vocals. While it is a good song and the MV is subtly impactful, neither are that memorable. “Mirror” earns a 2.5/5.

—-Joelle Halon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hallyu Festival & Conference Announces Postponement

DALLAS, TEXAS, JUNE 15, 2015 – The Hallyu Festival & Conference, which was scheduled for July 3, 2015, through July 4, 2015, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, has been postponed until July 2016 due to the current MERS outbreak in South Korea.

Although the organizers of the Hallyu Festival & Conference gave the matter much consideration, postponing the event is in the best interest of all involved parties including South Korean performers and festival-goers. With the current MERS outbreak, there is a potential for a health scare, and the Hallyu Festival & Conference organizers, performers, and artists are erring on the side of caution. The artists and performers agreed that the postponement was a wise decision, and they look forward to coming to participate in the 2016 Hallyu Festival & Conference.

Ticket holders can receive a refund by contacting support@hallyufest.com or by contacting their ticketing agency. Full refunds will be given with exception to service fees. Should ticket holders wish to retain their current tickets, they will have top priority for the next scheduled event.

The 2016 Hallyu Festival & Conference will be officially announced at a later date. The event will feature Asian performances, art, food, entertainment, and more. The Hallyu Festival & Conference gives a glimpse at true Asian culture, with events and demonstrations featuring pop culture, music, music videos, and more. The Hallyu Festival & Conference aims to raise awareness for Asian culture while offering a fun experience for people of all backgrounds. Customers will be able to place their tickets on lay away at a future date to lock in their spot before slots fill up. Scholarship recipients will also be announced at the event. Those that have submitted the 2015 scholarship application before the deadline, will not have to resubmit. More information can be found at http://hallyufest.com/.

About the Hallyu Festival & Conference

The Hallyu Festival & Conference strives to bring people closer to Asian culture, music, and art.

 

Contact

Denise Coley, Founder/CEO

E-mail: info@hallyufest.com

Phone: 972-848-7299

For this week’s Flashback Friday, we bring attention to the former K-Pop group Lady.

Lady were active from 2005 to 2007 and were signed to Logi Entertainment. Lady formed via tryouts when they were expected to be a three-member group. Prior to debut, another member was added.

The now four member group made up of Sinae, Sahara, Binu, and Yuna was unique as it was hailed as the first transgender idol group in Korea. In 2005, they released the singles “Attention” and “Ladies Night.” While they are currently looked back upon fondly by current international audiences, during their tenure, Lady were not well-received by the Korean public.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsjllxfTzhc

According to their bio, Lady formed following the rise of Harisu, a Korean transgender vocalist. During the time of their artistic emergence, pushing the sex appeal envelope was considered a popular trend. Because of this, Lady started off with and maintained a sexy concept.

Lady, unfortunately, had average vocals at best, so this was an issue along with being transgender in a conservative country. Prior to debut, the group received little training, so vocals were not as refined as they could have been. In favor of training, trying to ride the popularity of Harisu was more of a priority. However, the group did experience acceptance and mild popularity in Japan and China, so they did leave behind something as their legacy.

Conversely, during Chinese promotions, accusations surfaced suggesting Binu became transgender in order to avoid mandatory military service; this did not sit well with people. Following the accusations, the group went on hiatus.

In addition to this controversy, their label released a photobook titled Women Reflect! that featured the scantily clad and topless Lady members in an effort to drum up interest. Naturally, this didn’t go over well.

Following their singles and photobook, Lady went on a long hiatus and were rumored to have disbanded in 2006. In early 2007, Logi Entertainment released an official announcement of their disbandment was made on their Daum cafe explaining why they disbanded. The statement read:

The transgender group Lady, with Sinae, Sahara, Binu, and Yuna, had a one-year run since April 2005. After a year of activity, the group discussed dissolving in August 2006. The reason for the group’s termination was due to the prejudice they experienced. This [prejudice] restricted their stage and broadcast performances. Emotionally, Lady suffered during the span of their activities.

From the beginning, Lady had great endeavors, but in the end, the prejudice of people was stronger than their will. One of the members was criticized for circumventing mandatory military service by becoming transgender.

Lady also toured in Japan and China where they experienced an unexpected positive reaction, but it was difficult for them to tour overseas. However, Lady’s album Attention was very popular in clubs in those countries.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX_g-KSzP4o

Since their disbandment, Lady members disappeared into obscurity, as did their label. The person who inspired them, Harisu, experienced larger success and is still considered active even though her last MV was in 2012.

Lady weren’t the only transgender group. In Thailand, Venus Flytrap are still active. They debuted in November 2005 following Lady.

Only time can tell if we’ll see another group like Lady in the K-Pop industry again. Currently, N.O.M (Nature of Man) pushes the envelope of sexuality by blurring the lines of feminine and masculine living.

For this week’s Drama and Movie Thursday, we travel to Thailand to view 2003’s Last Life in the Universe. The film, directed by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, stars Tadanobu Asano as Kenji and Sinitta Boonyasak as Noi. Like with last week’s Hana and Alice, the film sounds interesting on paper, but length and confusing cinematography make it draggy and confusing for some viewers.

 

PLOT

Asano plays Kenji, a librarian at Bangkok’s Japan Foundation. Kenji is a quiet, organized man who gets thrown into chaos by his brother Yukio, a Japanese yakuza member. When Yukio is killed by his friend Takashi, we see Kenji’s story unfold along with his suicide fixation.  From here, a series of unfortunate events unfold that lead Kenji to kill a man, attempt to kill himself, witness a deadly accident, and then find himself entangled with Noi (Boonyasak).

Kenji and Noi form a bond over lost siblings, but the two are quite different. As the film unfolds, we see them flirt with romance only to have the bond tested by an abusive ex and the yakuza until the story ends in a surprising way.

 

IMPRESSIONS

Kenji and Noi seem connected by fate as serendipity and unfortunate circumstances bring them together. The pair complements each other well and remains a focal point even though there is a constant sense that something bad will happen. Last Life in the Universe is built on gloom and doom, so anything of the contrary would derail the film’s dynamics.

From the beginning, it’s clear the film would be void of joy. The opening focuses on Kenji’s dwelling: Categorized books, beer neat and orderly, the space overwhelmingly sterile. Kenji, too, is more sullen than lively. The entire time, we see him imagine his suicide scenarios, leading the film to take on a dark comedy vibe at times. He wishes to be physically dead, but the audience already sees he is mostly dead in spirit.

Kenji is contrasted by the livelier Noi. His pot-smoking, slovenly mate symbolizes disorder as everything around her is unkempt. From the moment she appears on screen, it’s clear she is going to bring disorder somehow to Kenji’s life, and this is even before they are directly connected.

Their connection should be something that would require beautiful storytelling; this is not the case. Their pairing just brings confusion as time and space seem scrambled throughout the first portion of the film. Surreal elements like a home cleaning itself and bending time actually make the audience feel like they are smoking Noi’s pot.

These elements make it difficult to really determine what is false and what is reality, leading the film to become a confusing journey. There are a few things we know are true though:

• Kenji and Noi form a legitimate bond
• There are two dead bodies at Kenji’s place
• Death influences the film
• Jon, Noi’s ex, and the yakuza are a threat

Once these elements are firmly in place, then parts of the story make sense.

The ending may throw people for a loop as the film enters a split screen with alternate endings side-by-side. It’s up to the audience to decide which is real and which isn’t while using clues from past sequences to determine which is the true ending. Some may akin the technique to the final scene of Lost in Translation when Bill Murray whispers in Scarlett Johannson’s ear: You may never know what is said there, just like you may never know what is the true ending of Last Life in the Universe.

Even though there are some messy follies, the film does excel in small elements. These elements such as three languages (English, Japanese, and Thai) being spoken, the appearances of lizards, and the contrasts between order and disorder help move the story along. It’s fun to watch for the little things, especially as the film heads toward drag territory in the middle.

All elements combined, there is an interesting story at hand, but keeping fantasy and reality straight make following the film a chore at times. If you’re someone who isn’t into artsy films, this may not be the movie for you. Otherwise, it’s an interesting journey that’s worth following to some degree.

Last Life in the Universe earns a 2.75/5.

You can find Last Life in the Universe on Veoh.

 

–Joelle Halon

On June 1, 2015, BIGBANG released the second installment of their MADE Series with A. A has six songs: “Bang Bang Bang,” “We Like 2 Party” and their instrumentals, as well as “Loser” and “Bae Bae.” A features songs that are more party-centric and upbeat, which is different from M’s sexually-charged, self-loathing anthems. The shift is perfect for summer; so many VIPs will enjoy it.

The album opens with “Bang Bang Bang.” The song has a similar vibe to “Fantastic Baby” from a few years ago with booming sound, addictive chorus, and catchy beat. While it doesn’t quite reach the addictive levels “Fantastic Baby” had, but it’s a good stand-in that—while not as addictive as the aforementioned “Fantastic Baby”—it actually does a few things better.

For starters, T.O.P rocks the song. His rapping keeps getting better with stronger flow as he matures. Seungri, also, has more maturity that is evident in his lines.

On the flipside, “Bang Bang Bang” feels more like a song made for Just Dance or Zumba game. With this, G-Dragon’s vocals feel squeaky and off at times, which throws the song off in the beginning. No matter what, “Bang Bang Bang” is still an enjoyable song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ips2mM7Zqw

“We Like 2 Party” has a summery vibe that is reminiscent of BIGBANG from days gone by. For fans of earlier hits like “Sunset Glow” and “Always,” “We Like 2 Party” will be more your style with its light instrumentals and vocals. The song isn’t as heavy-handed as “Bang Bang Bang,” so it’s a nice inclusion since BIGBANG shows off different sides of their abilities. The lyrics provide a feeling of wanting to make memories and have fun, adding to the summery vibe. The song can easily become an earworm and a song that could be timeless due to its lighter vibe. Plus, it’s one that could be used to introduce new people to K-Pop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFmfi1vM7co

“Loser” was one of the singles from Series M. The song has twinges of heartache mixed with its mid-tempo sound. The beauty of “Loser” is how each member represents a different element of loserdom in the lyrics. BIGBANG’s voices waver and flow well while providing the sense of loss, anger, and sadness that consumes them. What’s interesting is how some of the lines feel more flat than others, so there are twinges of being deflated. The song has hints of “Love Song” and “Blue” in it, so it is perfect for those who enjoyed them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CTced9CMMk

Finally, “Bae Bae” is fairly memorable not just for its lyrical content, but for the way it’s delivered. At times, you can hear that BIGBANG did not take the song seriously, and that’s a good thing since it is sexually driven and one that has innuendo. How can it be taken seriously? Like with “Bang Bang Bang,” T.O.P and Seungri shine brightest, especially Seungri whose vocals drip with sex appeal. T.O.P, on the other hand, has more good-natured fun in his vocals that make the song feel unique and complete. While it’s not among the top BIGBANG songs, its uniqueness gives it an edge that rank it high in a category all its own. “Bae Bae” is essential BIGBANG and flaunts their personalities the best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKD03uPVD-Q

So far, while the albums are performing well on the charts, these aren’t the best songs BIGBANG have produced. They get the job done and they’re making a lot of fans happy, but the lyrics just don’t suffice compared to BIGBANG of old. There are still two more mini albums to come, so it’ll be interesting to see what’s next. So far, there is a slight feeling of disappointment.

Made Series-A earns a 3.5/5

 

— Joelle Halon 

MV Monday: BIGBANG “We Like 2 Party”

This past week, BIGBANG released the A to their MADE series with the songs “Bang Bang Bang” and “We Like 2 Party.” While “Bang Bang Bang” is more in your face, “We Like 2 Party” is softer and more summery. The MV features the fun, goofy sides of BIGBANG, making it an MV that’s more light-hearted than substance-filled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFmfi1vM7co

 

Like with “Bang Bang Bang,” (which is covered in Album Review Tuesday) the feeling of “I heard this song before” came to mind. Then it hit: Weezer’s 2005 song “Beverly Hills” has a similar beat and tempo. There are similarities, but not quite plagiarism as it is an easy term to throw around these days. BIGBANG adds a few more notes to the melody, but the bones are there. There’s another song heard but can’t be pinpointed even though there are some nuances of Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag.”

 

“We Like 2 Party” is nice and summery and connects well to their 2007-2008 eras with “Sunset Glow,” “Always,” and “Last Farewell,” so it was refreshing for those reasons alone. It’s great BIGBANG recalled their roots, but it brings about longing for the BIGBANG prior to the MADE series.

 

The song covers what the title suggests: Friends getting together, drinking, hanging out, and having a party. It has a reminiscent tone to it, like there’s a sense the party-goers don’t get to see each other much and they have to make the party memorable. This is where the MV, although it’s just BIGBANG having fun, plays a role.

The MV also has a sense of “let’s make this memorable. Let’s make this party fun.” It opens with BIGBANG getting on various forms of transportation and interacting with fans, these scenes matching the lyrics of “my friends came out again today/man, how you been? What’s up?” After their three-year hiatus, it is like the fans are long-lost friends coming to the party where BIGBANG are the hosts. Then the MV shifts to BIGBANG on Jeju Island playing on the beaches, enjoying each other, and creating havoc at a hotel and in the hotel pool to create the unforgettable party vibe while enhancing the summery feel.

The guerilla-style filming helps to create the fun party vibe. The scenes feel more authentic and candid instead of polished, and that’s part of the beauty. There are scenes, too, that aren’t so kosher such as Taeyang and GD flipping the bird at :43, and GD’s potty antics at 2:13. Sometimes things got a little too authentic. On the flip-side, we are seeing BIGBANG as they are right down to T.O.P wearing all his clothes in the pool (he’s said on multiple occasions that he doesn’t like exposing his body).

While it’s fun, “We Like 2 Party” is nothing special. It feels like a video that a rookie group would shoot to show they’re real people that do normal things. The MV just feels lazy and like YG and BIGBANG are focusing more on quantity (two MVs a month until September) than quality. Prior to hiatus, BIGBANG’s MVs were thought-provoking–this is not to say “Loser” and “Bae Bae” were not as the former definitely was while the latter was more innuendo-rich—but the A-Series set feels frivolous. There’s nothing special or particularly catching in the MVs, especially for “We Like 2 Party.”

However, even though there’s not much to “We Like 2 Party,” Seungri, T.O.P, and Daesung have definitely gotten better. Seungri and Daesung’s vocals are richer, and T.O.P’s rapping has more quality. Before, Seungri was more loveable goofball, while Daesung—although always having the strongest vocals in the group—was oft forgotten. T.O.P, while being a fast rapper with some interesting solo work, appeared wooden at times in MVs and in songs; this is no longer the case. These three prove that artists can get better with age.

As a whole, “We Like 2 Party” is an okay MV showing BIGBANG’s fun side, but it’s not that interesting or memorable for a group of their status.

“We Like 2 Party” earns a 2/5.

 

– Joelle Halon

Post-Taewoon-era SPEED made their return May 30 with the MV for “What U.” Heading into the song, there were some concerns circling around SPEED’s dynamics and how they would be with Taewoon’s exit from the group. However, it seems a lot of the worries were eased because SPEED still has their dynamics intact and another excellent song in their repertoire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGci3RbaTdc

THE SONG

SPEED are a rare group due to their consistency and stream of strong songs with each comeback. With their comebacks, they show more growth and better depth to their abilities: SPEED can be loveable goofballs, emotional sweeties, or swaggy fun-bearers.

Sadly, they are terribly underrated despite their strengths, so they seem to be the group that will always be under-the-radar, but this is due to underwhelming advertising, random and often-by-surprise comebacks (even though they usually appear in the first quarter), and lack of noise during non-promotion periods. In other words, they’re always the bridesmaid and never the bride.

Good music can only get a group so far if the other variables aren’t there to help them out. Taewoon, though, was the face of the group, and people noticed him; without him now, it’ll be interesting to see if the group will grow or be further buried into the land of under-the-radar hit makers or if they’ll become flat-out forgettable. This is the quandary “What U” faces.

Even though Taewoon’s absence is noticeable, the remaining SPEED members do a nice job with “What U.” They provide a good amount of emotion and flair to carry the song, and they do so with an awesome beat and equally amazing instrumentals to back them. At times, the higher notes do sound shaky, creating an imperfect quality. This imperfection doesn’t hinder the song, however, especially when paired with some of the scenes in the MV. The vocals, at times, blend too much to where there isn’t enough vocal distinction.

The rap portions deserve a compliment because they hold their own. For “What U,” even if Taewoon was still with the group, his rap shouldn’t have been the focus because the other two were perfect given the beat and tone. So for rap, SPEED will be A-Okay just based on this song only.

By far, the best of “What U” is the instrumentals. The sound is a bit different from other pop-heavy songs released this year which makes it more enjoyable and memorable. There are hints of some old-school rap beats that help with the memorability, and the way vocals match the beat perfectly just make the song.

THE MV

Despite how good the song is, the MV is BLAND. SPEED MVs are usually pretty good with interesting dance concepts or a story. Since 2014, their MVs have become less interesting, so it’s not that much of a surprise this one is on the dull side. There isn’t much happening here: There’s a hinted at affair, random scenes of New York City, SPEED skating at a skate park, and random dance breaks. That’s it. It is one of those MVs where it seems the director wanted to be more artsy than cohesive. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t. In this case, it didn’t work.

The scenes are messy, so it’s difficult to tell what is happening. From what is gathered from the scenes, one member was cheated on by the girl, and he discovers this after he comes home to see the alcohol and another man’s ring on the coffee table. In the meantime, his friends are all skating around willy-nilly having fun. Apparently, the girl may have cheated because SPEED are bums and do nothing but hang out at the skate park all day… not that this condones cheating. As it seems, too, the girl has a drinking problem given her distress, daytime sleeping, and often woozy-looking scenes of which she is featured. It seems these are two broken people involved in a doomed relationship where escapism is a thing and working on being better people and in a better relationship is not.

What’s funny about the cheating discovery is that the girl isn’t confronted. Instead, he gets all creepy and stalks her. This adds a weird element to the MV, and one that feels out of place. Perhaps it would feel right if the MV focused solely on this story, but with the skate park theme, it’s weird.

The skate park is weird in itself too given the song. However, SPEED did something cool and different by incorporating heelies into the dance. THIS made the dance! What’s a shame is that viewers don’t really get to see the full performance for “What U” without having to view the debut during the 2015 Dream Concert or during any of the music shows. It’s neat how they can dance– on skates– without falling on their faces. Hopefully there’s a dance practice video in our future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPJfOaShdqQ

OVERALL

“What U” is the first song SPEED has done post-Taewoon, and it’s a good song. There are some weak points with high notes and the MV has no flow or clarity. However, it works, and it’s proof that SPEED is underrated.as a group. It’ll be interesting to see where they go from here.

MV: 2/5

SONG: 4/5

OVERALL: 3/5

Philip Ahn (Ahn Pil-Lip -???) was born on March 29th 1905 in Los Angeles, California. His family had moved to America from Korea in the year of 1902, Ahn was allegedly the first US citizen of Korean heritage to be born in the United States.

When Philip Ahn graduated from high school in 1923, he went to work in the rice fields owned by the ‘Young Korean Academy’ which existed for Korean independence movement that trained Koreans to help rebuild the country once Korea was free from the Japanese colonial rule. The Academy had the rice field under Philip Ahn’s name since it was not legal for Koreans to own land in California. Due to heavy rain that year, the rice crops failed so Ahn was left with a debt, he got himself a job as an elevator operator to pay off the debt and support his family.

It was not until 1934 that Ahn was able to afford to attend the University of Southern California. He served as the president of the USC Cosmopolitan Club, the chairman of the All University Committee on International Relations and was also an assistant to the dean of male students as advisor for foreign student affairs. Philip Ahn had great interest in acting and considered to pursue it as a profession.

Ahn’s father, Changho Ahn (His pen name, Dosan) was the famous patriot and leader who fought for Korea’s emancipation from the Japanese colonial rule. He had just come back from China and knew that the profession of acting was a form of art and not regarded as crude an occupation as it was in Korea. He told his son that if he really wanted to become an actor, he should try to be the best actor he could be and advised his son to take courses in acting and cinematography.

Changho Ahn was a public figure in Korea as the nation’s patriot and a political leader. He spent his life resisting the Japanese domination.

In 1932, the Ahn the senior was arrested when he was back in Korea, after being involved with a bombing that killed Japanese officials; he died in a Japanese prison camp six years later.

Philip Ahn took his father’s advice and landed his first opportunity when Douglas Fairbanks saw Ahn waiting by his car for his then girlfriend and actress Anna May Wong. Fairbanks advised Ahn to take a screen test and he was given a role in a film.

“I’ll never forget that day,” Ahn recalled years later, “Still wearing my makeup, I proudly came home to tell my mother the great news. His mother’s response was not very supportive. “No son of mine is going to work in that terrible profession,” was his mother’s response and she locked him inside his room for three days.

Another funny incident Ahn mentioned was the time when director and producer, Lewis Milestone turned him down after the audition when he found that Ahn could speak English perfectly. As Ahn was leaving, he turned to Milestone and said, “Oh so sollie, honorable sir. Me no talkie light lay. So good-by, chop, chop.” Then, he was given the small part he auditioned for.

In 1935, Ahn appeared in A Scream in the Night, Anything Goes (1936) and his first credited roles came in 1936 in The General Died at Dawn and Stowaway, opposite Shirley Temple, Daughter of Shanghai (1937) and King of Chinatown (1939).

During the World War II, Ahn would often play roles of Japanese villains in war films. Many people would mistake him to be Japanese, so he received death threats via mail.

Ahn decided to enlist in the United States Army, having served in the Special Services as an entertainer. He was discharged before his time because of an ankle injury and he soon returned to making films.

Ahn appeared in Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing, Around the World in Eighty Days, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Paradise, Hawaiian Style, with Elvis Presley.

In 1952, Ahn made appearances on TV series, Schlitz Playhouse and he was cast in four episodes of Adventures in Paradise, four episodes of the Warner Brothers’ Hawaiian Eye and Hawaii Five-O. He was also featured in TV series like Crossroads, Bonanza, and M*A*S*H a few times. He mostly played Japanese and Chinese characters but he also played Korean characters in Korean War movies such as Battle Circus (1953) and Battle Hymn (1956).

Ahn was very active in the Korean community in Los Angeles; he contributed to making Los Angeles twin cities with Korea’s second biggest city, Busan.

He played an important role in bringing the Korean Bell of Friendship to California. The Bell of Friendship has been seen in various movies.

Ahn served as honorary mayor of Panorama City, California for twenty years.

He worked to have his parents buried in Seoul. His father had been buried in a location far from the city because the Japanese intended to play down his contribution to Korea’s independent work. His mother had died in America.

By working with the Korean government, Ahn helped to establish a park to honor his father and was able to have his parents buried together.

The Dosan Park was established in 1973 to commemorate the legacy of Changho Ahn.

Ahn’s acting career lasted for forty years, during this time he worked in over two hundred productions. To a lot of people, his most memorable role would probably be Master Kan in Kungfu.

He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6205 Hollywood Boulevard, making Philip Ahn the first Asian-American to ever receive a star on the walk of fame. November 4^th is known as Philip Ahn’s day in Los Angeles.

Philip Ahn died on February 28^th 1978, at the age of 72. The cause of his death is stated to be either due to pneumonia or complications from surgery. Ahn’s legacy as an actor and his love for his motherland will live on.

—-J. Chung.

Every week for Drama and Movie Thursday, we choose a film or drama at random to watch and review. The film may be new or old, but it’s always fun to watch something different. This week, the random choice was 2004’s Hana & Alice, a Japanese comedy-drama film with an interesting premise that seemed like it would be fun to watch. One thing learned from Hana & Alice is that just because it seems interesting, it doesn’t mean it will translate well to film.

The Plot

Hana & Alice centers on the titled main characters played by Anne Suzuki and Yu Aoi, respectively. Prior to their high school years, Hana finds herself lovesick over a stranger on train: Misashi (Tomohiro Kaku). Fast-forward a little bit, and both she and Alice pass their high school entrance exams and end up at his high school. Hana joins his drama club and follows him one day, just so she witnesses Misashi walk into a door and collapse. She convinces him that he has amnesia and that she is his girlfriend. As expected, one lie leads to another and Alice ends up involved as the “ex-girlfriend.” Eventually, a triangle forms that tests the friendship.

Characters

Aoi and Suzuki are the bright spots in Hana & Alice because they feed off each other well. Suzuki and Aoi portray a realistic friendship and make their characters feel as if they have been friends since childhood. Both girls are excellent in portraying joy, sadness, and heartache as they navigate through their personal lives and love-triangle.

Suzuki is perfect as the somewhat selfish but, at times, timid Hana. Suzuki provides some hesitancy in the role that makes Hana feel human and more than a screen character. The key is to watch Suzuki’s facial expressions throughout the movie as the subtle nuances such as the tilt of the head, a raise of an eyebrow, or certain ways she blinks really show the inner workings of Hana and any guilt she may feel about the scam she’s pulling or any jealously she has toward Alice. Her expressions make up for, at times, dull line delivery and wholly show the growth the character experiences.

The same can be said for Aoi’s Alice. Alice comes across as more confident and sympathetic, and this is due to Aoi’s flawless performance. On the surface, you see a strong girl with a cheerful demeanor, but her eyes tell the story of someone who puts up a front and hides issues at home with her cold, uncaring mother who only wants to chase men. Hana is the one constant in her life and it shows, while Misashi provides the male stability she lacks. Alice is a joy to watch.

Then there’s Misashi, who is possibly one of the worst characters ever conceived. He’s dull, lacks a personality, and is too monotone to even be remotely humorous. Yes, he is supposed to be this way since Hana and Alice’s initial attraction to him was through a distant glimpse on a train, but he could have had some hint of a personality in order to make him interesting. His dullness got so annoying that he totally dragged the movie.

Impressions

Exploring the friendship and the dynamics of Hana and Alice’s friendship really should have been the focus, and it was mostly except for the limp noodle Misashi pretty much dampening the whole movie experience. He is a dark cloud that was hard to avoid. There’s monotone, and then there’s walking the line of completely unbelievable as a character: This is Misashi.

Other elements of the film should be noted, though. The documentary-style filming made the story feel more personal, so this was definitely a help. The muted tones, however, constantly hinted at some of the dullness contained in the Hana & Alice.

Overall, if you enjoy friendship films but despise dull characters, this film may not be for you. There are subtle hints at humor, and Aoi and Suzuki are superb in their roles, but the bland male lead doesn’t help the film at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb6KKTgjzLU

 

—-Joelle Halon

This mini drama stars

Episode 7

The episodes get shorter and shorter as this series goes along and while it does save time, it leaves me wondering how they’re going to get everything into the episode.

This one starts where the last left off with Yeonhee being defended by the 4 members. Yeonhee goes home and is excitedly telling Gaeun of the events that happened. At the same time, Baekhyun guesses the boy must be Yeonhee’s ex, leading D.O and Chanyeol to display what looks like jealousy.

Gaeun tells Yeonhee that her ex will get interested again and call soon.

Sehun spends time with Yeonhee’s brother again in their strange bromance. I finally realized this was an easy way to help the plot move along faster, which is really smart.

The next day when Yeonhee is cleaning, Chanyeol is creepily watching her and when she asks him if he needs something he rudely responds.

The episode ends with Yeonhee helping D.O. read romantic lines from a script and her getting a little embarrassed from this.

These short episodes stress me out. I want things to move faster, but I feel the same during regular length dramas as well. Another thought that has crossed my mind watching these episodes is how exactly are they going to involved all of the members of EXO.

Episode 8

This episode continues with Yeonhee and D.O. going over lines. Yeonhee gets super embrarassed and fakes sick to try to leave. She recieves a call from Minhwan but Chanyeol holds her phone above her head and asks if he is her first love.

He doesn’t get a response and the scene cuts to Yeonhee being questioned by Gaeun, who gives her a pep talk involving EXO and her love life. Kwangsoo overhears and comes to the conclusion that Yeonhee likes one of the EXO members, which he later tells Sehun.

Sehun reveals to the others that the member Yeonhee likes is Kai and not surprisingly Kai shows up at their door.

Finally, something that will stir up a little more drama in this, well, drama. The production behind this drama recently announced they would be reworking this into a movie and I feel that format would work much better with this. I will say that the acting in this so far has been much better than I initially anticipated, and really enjoyable.

Episode 9

 

The episode starts out with all the members of EXO greeting each other and preparing for a photoshoot.

From the conversation Sehun and Chanyeol have it is shown that Suho is almost healed completely from his injury and will be able to start dancing soon. Somehow a group conversation turns into the members egging Chanyeol to get Yeonhee to show up so they can meet her. When she shows up Kai takes immediate interest, pulling her to a separate room where they talk, much to Chanyeol’s displeasure.

Later on, Chanyeol dreams of his grandfather who tells him he has lost something twice now. The next day, Chanyeol watches Kai and Yeonhee interact with much jealousy. Before the episode ends his grandfather’s words cross his mind.

This episode was mostly Chanyeol glaring at Kai’s attempts to get closer to Yeonhee, which was pretty hilarious. It was nice to see all of them members in this finally. This is really like a fan fiction or something come to life and I understand a lot of the popularity now.

 

—-Ke’Anna Bullard