Drama and Movie Thursday: Grave of the Fireflies

For this week’s Drama and Movie Thursday, we’re still riding our Way-Back Machine. We’re stopping at 1988 to look at the excellent Studio Ghibli film Grave of the Fireflies. This movie had to be brought up because not only is it an amazing, heartbreaking story, it’s a film that makes the viewer stop and think (and maybe cry).

Grave of the Fireflies (GotF) is one of those rare movies that only require one viewing to be deeply impacted by it. While many who’ve seen it deem it an anti-war film, the director, Isao Takahata, states otherwise. Takahata says the film “is not at all an anti-war anime and contains absolutely no such message.” Instead, he states the movie was meant to follow a brother and sister as they fail to live due to societal isolation and lack of sympathy toward other people. No matter the movie’s meaning, it’s one that shouldn’t be missed.

Plot

The movie follows brother/sister duo Seita and Setsuko in 1945 Kobe, Japan. The movie begins with Seita’s death and the removal of his body, his possessions tossed to a field. We then see Seita and his young sister Setsuko in the field, followed by Seita telling their story in an extended flashback.

The story goes back to March 1945 during a bombing in Kobe. Here, viewers see the destruction of the city as the two children try to survive, losing their mother in the process. They then move in with an aunt, leave as she grows cold toward them, and the story continues to unfold from there as the duo struggle. As Seita and Setsuko live alone away from society, viewers have an opportunity to see how important they are to one another, even as circumstances grow desperate.

Thoughts

The beauty of GotF is how childlike innocence and pleasures mingle with a very dark, political, and adult world. The story is jarring in that–when people look back on WWII, they see old footage of bombings, movies that romanticize the ideal, or stories that gloss over the human toll the wars had–by centering on a toddler and a teenager, the world is viewed with simplicity and innocence and through someone who is torn between childhood and adulthood. They experienced the atrocities of war firsthand, and it’s insightful to see the war realistically through the eyes of the victims, albeit fictional victims.

GotF is grounded, too, in the in-between world of childhood and adulthood with the use of childhood pleasures like candy and fireflies. These serve as pieces of hope in a world that is dim and growing dimmer minutely for the protagonists. These childlike pleasures may seem meaningless to the viewers, but for a duo that experienced war, death, human cruelty, and more potential death, they mean everything and remain a symbol of hope.

With that said, the movie is jarring for those who are young and anyone who just can’t accept the darkness of the human condition. Even though I fall in neither category, once the movie ended, I found myself sitting quietly for well over an hour just thinking about the horrors of the world and the pain we inflict upon each other. GotF puts a lot into perspective and may even cause an inner peace to wash over a viewer, possibly prompting them to want to change for the better. This happened to me. It may not happen to others, but one thing for sure is that the movie will stick with a viewer.

Since the 1988 original, two live-action remakes entered the market in 2005 and 2008. The 2005 drama was made in commemoration of the 60^th anniversary of WWII’s end. The story does center around the siblings, but is told from the point-of-view of their cousin. The2008 version was different from the 2005 version. However, neither packed the emotional punch the 1988 anime version did.

The original Japanese with English subtitles is the best to watch since the voice actors are more convincing. If you’re someone who can handle extreme emotions, death, and really sad movies, GotF is worth picking up. If not, avoid it at all costs. However, it is recommended to watch it once.

—Joelle Halon

BESTie Love Emotion Review

Girl group BESTie made their return with Love Emotion May 8. Hae Ryeong, Hye-Yeon, Dae Hye, and U Ji have a solid hit on their hands with the album if people are willing to listen. Their vocals are strong and pleasing and carry on throughout the album. Perhaps the only downfall is their version of “Mamacita” didn’t make it on to Love Emotion. If it did, the album would have been 20 percent cooler.

“Excuse Me,” the album’s promoted track, opens the album. The speak-easy sound makes the song easy to enjoy and fun to groove to from beginning to end. The chorus is especially fun and highlights BESTie’s sparkly personalities. The spoken “excuse me” is often cute and doesn’t detract from the actual song. The portion where they sing “left, right, side to side” changes the tempo of the song in a good way to add different layers. “Excuse Me” is a fun song to brighten up the day.

“Hush Baby” is an enjoyable mid-tempo dance track with hints of disco. It’s a refreshing song that covers moving slow in a relationship, hinting that BESTie wants an actual romance and not a date-and-dash relationship. The vocals are pure and sweet to where it’s easy to pick out individual voices. The harmonies sound amazing as well. The only drawback is how the song ends abruptly.

The third track is “Single Bed.” The song is about wanting an ex to come back. The song should be a sad one given the subject matter, but it’s surprisingly not. The beat feels like it belongs on the ballroom circuit and fits perfectly with the subject matter. The rises and falls with the beats make it easy to imagine someone wrestling with wanting the ex-boyfriend back while trying to move on. The girls sound great in the song, and it easily could have been selected as the promotional song.

“I’m So Fine” livens up the mood again. While it’s catchy, it’s not exactly the best song on the album. The rap portions make the song slightly less enjoyable, as does the whistle in the instrumentals. The overall sound feels less polished than the other songs too. There are also times when the singing sounds slightly screechy, making “I’m So Fine” the album’s weakest link.

With the instrumental version of “Excuse Me” excluded, Love Emotion wraps with “이런 날.” BESTie does ballads well because their voices are suited for them. The song is pretty without being overwhelming, and because it doesn’t feel processed, there is a raw quality to it that makes it a classic ballad. At times, it has hints of the ballad sound from early 2000s-era K-Pop which makes it even more bittersweet and enjoyable.

Love Emotion is one of May’s most solid comebacks or debuts. It’s always a shame that BESTie doesn’t get the recognition they should have because they are among some of the better group vocalists out presently. With that said, Love Emotion earns an A-.

Love Emotion is available on iTunes now.

 —-Joelle Halon

This week’s non-Kpop Wednesday takes us to Indonesia where we meet girl group Cherrybelle. Also known as ChiBi, the nine-member group has sometimes been billed as Indonesia’s version of Girls’ Generation.

The girls were chosen in February 2011 following auditions in Jakarta, Indonesia. During this period, the Hallyu Wave was riding across Indonesia, fueling the need for a group in the country. Music producer Dino Raturandang chose Angel, Anisa, Cherly, Christy, Devi, Felly, Gigi, Ryn and Wenda (all stage names) out of the 400-or-so girls who auditioned. After selections and a few months of training, Cherrybelle debuted in August 2011 with the Love is You mini album which was greeted with decent sales. From that album, “Dilema” was billed as their first single with “Love as You” as the second. It’s catchy music and fun dance helped to earn them attention from Indonesian fans, but they also caught the ire of international fans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TPGNwOVPJ8

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

K-Pop fans accused Cherrybelle of plagiarizing Girl’s Generation in style and dance, most notably SNSD’s “Gee” with the colored shorts. Since then, some K-Pop fans make it a point to comment on YouTube videos with plagiarism claims. Of the similarities, Dino Raturandang said that I-Pop was an evolution of K-Pop and denies plagiarism claims.

The group has undergone some lineup changes since debut. In 2012, Devi and Wenda departed and were replaced by Kezia and Steffy. In 2013, Anisa departed and was replaced by Novi.

Since 2011, the girls have had two additional albums since Love is You, adding 2013’s Diam Diam Suka and 2015’s Reborn. In addition to the albums, they have three movies titled Love is U, Crush, and Battle with Love. All are available on YouTube.

Cherrybelle, for the most part, has a decent mix of sounds that walk the line between K-Pop and J-Pop while sounding uniquely Indonesian. Earlier songs lacked refinement and sounded amateurish, which is usually the case when groups first break into the industry. However, their Reborn album features a more mature sound that seems to be resonating well with fans. Perhaps Cherrybelle, along with other Indonesian artists, can start to be recognized for their music.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8WP9wFBGBg70z9umlI2-AjZw37112J9y

 

 —-Joelle Halon

 

 

After the annual MET Gala at the Metropolitian Museum of Arts, many were left in awe of Fan BingBing’s dazzling representation of the theme “China: Through the Looking Glass.”

Fan made another appearance in Cannes, France at the Cannes Film Festival in another gorgeous outfit, leaving many in awe and wondering just who this woman is.

Fan, born September 16, 1981, is a Chinese actress, producer, and pop singer. She is recognizable from her appearance in X-Men: Days of Future Past, portraying Blink, one of the mutants. However, her acting career began with minor roles nearly 20 years ago before her breakout role as Jinsuo in the television series My Fair Princess in 1999.

Fan also has started her own studio, Fan Bingbing Studio, in 2007 after leaving her previous company. That same year she starred in eight different films and won Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Horse Film Awards for her role in The Matrimony. Her studio has also produced many other successful productions: Rogue Snow(2008), a television production; The Last Night of Madam Chin, a movie based on a book of the same title.

She also opened an arts school in Huairou, Beijing and was principal (her parents actually run the school). To date, Fan has been in over 75 productions. She released her debut album Just Begun in November 2005, and provided 12 theme songs for various productions.

Fan is also a fashion icon, known for her daring looks. Her actions have caused her to receive invitations from many brands including Versace, Dior and Louis Vuitton to attend various fashion shows. Fan also was selected by Barbie to join the Barbie global celebrity Hall of Fame and had a doll, the Fan Bingbing Celebrity Specialty, released in Shanghai.

Fan, along with Chen Lizhi (the general manager of Beijing Maite Media), also created Heart Ali, an organization seeking to help children suffering from congenital heart disease in Tibet. Fan is directly involved with these efforts, accompanying teams to screen children on two separate occasions.

It is truly amazing to see all of the work Fan has done with her life in the time she has been in the industry and am anticipating much more from this well rounded actress. She is currently set to appear in 5 films this year, both in China and abroad.

—- Ke’Anna Bullard

‘The Producers’ is a new drama series that features the dramatized, yet very realistic lives of producers and staffs at an entertainment division of a broadcasting station in Korea. Since the drama has not been aired yet, (the first episode will be aired on the 15^th May, Friday- Korea time) in this article I will be revealing the short profiles of the main characters.

Joon-mo Ra (Played by the actor, Cha Tae Hyun) is a producer/director who has approximately ten years of experience working in the entertainment industry. He feels uncomfortable expressing his opinions and afraid to hurt peoples’ feelings which affects the way he works. Despite his many years of experience in the industry and his contributions to various shows and programs, he still has to produce a show that could be considered as a ‘hit’ and his own to claim.

YeJi Tak (Hyojin Gong) is an experienced producer who is never afraid of expressing her opinions and telling people what to do. She works as the director of the long-running music program, “Music Bank” and ‘Sung Chan Baek’ who is the new intern, has to impress her in order to survive in this industry. Ms. Tak has her peer, ‘Joon Mo Ra’ wrapped around her finger since they share a past that involves family issues that enables her to manipulate him.

Sung Chan Baek (Played by the actor, Soo Hyun Kim) is a new intern at the broadcasting station’s entertainment department. Baek is a law graduate from an ivy-league school who he chose to work at the department of KBS for variety shows due to personal reasons. Baek is an intelligent young man but very able in making mistakes and his personality and behavior would be considered as very ‘clumsy’ – he has a long way to go if he wants to succeed in the Korean entertainment industry.

Cindy (Played by the singer IU) is a popular singer who ranks as the top artist in the music business. Cindy “debuted” as a singer and entertainer at the tender age of 13. And currently at the age of 23, she seems to know all the ropes in the music business. Nicknamed as the ‘Ice Princess’ for her frosty personality and lack of emotion, she knows well not to trust anyone in the music business.

‘The Producers’ will be adding more of a reality element by featuring cameo appearances of singer and entertainment CEO Jinyoung Park (a.k.a JYP), veteran actress Shinhye Hwang and Bora Guem, the comedian Youn-ja Lee, Tiffany (Girls’ Generation member), Nichkhun (2PM member) and various other actors and K-pop singers.

Photos provided by KBS production

—-J. Chung

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another new segment we’re introducing here at Kcrush is Drama Thursday. Drama Thursday will introduce you to different Asian (Korea, Japan, China, and Thailand) dramas and movies that may fit any mood. Some you have heard of while others may be obscure to some audiences. We’re not just focusing on new movies and dramas, but old ones as well!

This week, we’re hopping in our Way-Back Machine to 2006 to look at Love Com. The Japanese romantic-comedy was directed by Kitaji Ishikawa and starred Ema Fujisawa as Risa and Teppei Koike as Otani, the story’s protagonists.

Love Com is the live-action movie adaption of the popular shojo manga Lovely Complex by Aya Nakahara. The award-winning manga ran from 2001-2006 and was published by Shueisha in Bessatsu Margaret. The movie followed in 2006; a video game came out in 2006, and the anime aired in 2007. The sequel to the manga, Lovely Complex D ran from May 2009 to June 2012.Love Com

Love Com is a cute movie that focuses on Risa and Otani. The two are a comedic pair with Risa being taller than her basketball-playing male counterpart. The duo is similar in personality, which is why they get along so well until Risa realizes she has feelings for Otani. Their friendship was definitely the most realistic element of the movie as Fujisawa and Koike have great chemistry together. The movie is worth watching for the two of them alone because they felt like they weren’t playing roles but were actually friends in real life.

Without giving too much away, the movie itself stays fairly close to its manga counterpart with a few omissions (Risa’s birthday) and slight changes in the ending. Otani and Risa’s relationship maintains its adorableness and realism as they go through high school. Their friends also play well off of Risa and Otani, building on the enjoyable factor.

What stands out are, of course, the quirkier characters like the homeroom teacher and his ever-changing toupees and the ridiculous factor of “Mighty,” a homeroom teacher who is way too in love with himself. They serve as great reminders that Love Com is irrelevant fun.

For some viewers, Love Com might be too much to handle with its quirkiness. For example, Risa’s sister is too deadpan to be taken seriously at times, even though she is enjoyable for those who enjoy purposefully bland characters. The homeroom teacher provides some much needed comedic intermissions, but some viewers who are not familiar with the manga may wonder about his purpose. Then there’s Mighty, who is really handsome, but his addition just makes the film drag weirdly toward the end. No matter how hysterical of a character Mighty is, sometimes he feels unnecessary to the story.

The dragging out of the end is Love Com’s main issue because there are several points starting around the 45-minute mark where the movie could have ended several times. This was the problem with trying to condense 17 volumes of story into one hour-and-a-half film. The movie, perhaps, would have worked best as a live-action drama because storylines could be explained better and explored more, especially if viewers jumped in without reading the manga.

Overall, if you’re looking for cute, funny, and irrelevant, Love Com is a great movie for you. What’s great too is that it’s available on YouTube with English subs. While it’s not the best movie out there due to awkwardness, it’s a nice story to keep your mind off of some of the bad things going on in the world.

—-Joelle Halon

Welcome to Non-K-Pop Wednesday! For this feature, we’re introducing you to artists from all across Asia. While K-Pop is currently the dominate genre out of Asia, there are so many countries in Asia that produce good artists and music. You won’t just see artists from Japan and China in this segment: We plan to country-hop to bring you different artists from Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, and so many others! Hopefully, you’ll expand your horizons along with us.

For the first installment of Non-K-Pop Wednesday, we’re looking a Candy Mafia, a girl group from Thailand.

Candy Mafia debuted in 2009 with members Nett, Bam Bam, Garn, and Nune under the name Mafia. Originally, the girls—who were 13 and 14-years old at the time—were a dance cover group formed to compete in Thailand’s JK Idol Cover; the girls gained interest from their 2NE1 and 4Minute dance covers as well as some of their vocals, garnering attention from the music industry.

In 2010, Candy Mafia made their music debut under Mono Music with the song “Mafia.” With their debut, controversy followed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DDMFX-4VYc

Their initial debut was a hot topic in the K-Pop community as their debut MV was viewed as being too similar to 2NE1’s “Fire” and 4Minute’s “Hot Issue.” However, Candy Mafia started to gain more traction in Thailand with their second song “Alzheimer,” which was met with criticism from international fans.

“Alzheimer” is about a girl being dizzy in love, making her forgetful. However, international fans did not take kindly to the name of the song because of the association to Alzheimer’s disease. International fans wrote messages of hate on Candy Mafia’s Facebook and YouTube.

Subsequent songs after “Alzheimer” gained more positive attention, especially after a fifth member, Milk, was added to the group. However, Nune left Candy Mafia following the “Your Friend Can’t Tell You Everything” era, leaving Candy Mafia as four members once again.

With the releases of “Cliché” and “Automatic” in 2013, Candy Mafia started to gain more international fans. The successes of fellow T-Pop groups and artists like G-Twenty (who tried unsuccessfully to break into the K-Pop market), Natthew, and EVO Nine helped them earn attention. Improved vocals on top of already strong dancing skills helped also.

In 2014, the girls released “My Boy.” The song was lauded as one of their best because of their more mature vocals and abilities to tell a story. Internationally, especially in Europe, Candy Mafia took off from this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6sVcRfm9aY

Currently, Candy Mafia aren’t promoting, and there are rumors that started earlier this month that Garn and Bam Bam may have left. A statement from Mono Music wasn’t made available at the time of print. However, Candy Mafia are active on Twitter. You can check them out on their official YouTube and Twitter pages as well as their Facebook fan club!

Following the successful NU’EST concert a week earlier, Dallas hosted another show, this time 7 member boy group, GOT7. This was a very anticipated show, with fans from several states flying over to see the boys on their first US fanmeeting tour. The line began earlier in the day around 1:00 p.m. and ended up wrapping around the side of the building just before the doors opened at 6:30 p.m..

The boys started the show with their last comeback song, “?????(Stop, Stop It)”. Despite having performed 3 other shows within a week, the boys were very energetic getting the crowd excited right away. After performing “Gimme”, GOT7 headed backstage while the MC prepared us for the interactive part of the fanmeeting. A board with sticky notes from fans was brought on to the stage and the boys picked notes for each other to read. Youngjae and Jr. both sang parts of their favorite songs, while JB was requested to pick who he liked more between Jr. and Nora, his cat.

The next section included a game with fans who won the opportunity to go on stage with GOT7 and play musical chairs. The boys joined the game and were very competitive, knocking each other over trying to get into chairs. The two winners received gifts and a picture with GOT7.

After this they performed “Forever Young” and ?? Girl(Magnetic)”. Fans also celebrated BamBam’s birthday, singing to him and delivering a cake on stage.

7 more lucky fans were brought on stage to play ‘identify’, where a member would stand behind them and they had to try to guess who it was. The winner also received a gift and special picture with GOT7.

This is when the MC announced the show was coming to an end and GOT7 performed “A”, “Girls, Girls, Girls” before coming back for an encore of a GOT7 version of JJ Project’s “Bounce” and a remix of “A”.

Overall the fan meeting was really enjoyable. GOT7 seemed very excited to be in Dallas for tbhe first time and expressed their desire to return for a full concert. Fans were also able to see the funny side to all of the boys during the talks in the shows. This fan meeting seemed like a preview of something more to come from GOT7 and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Thanks to JYP Entertainment and Jazzy Group for bring GOT7 to America and organizing this fan meeting!

—Ke’Anna Bullard

BoA makes her long-awaited return to the Korean music scene with her 8^th album, Kiss My Lips. The album presents listeners with classic BoA as she seems to have returned to her roots. The majority of the album is good, easy, enjoyable listening sure to delight any BoA fan. For anyone nostalgic for her early 2000s’ material, this is the album for you.

“Kiss My Lips” opens the album. The song perfectly shows BoA’s growth as an artist while successfully reaching a hand to her beginnings. The song itself is flirty and sensual with a “let’s play hard to get vibe” that matches well with the accompanying track. The music’s beat feels like it belongs on her No. 1 album from years ago. BoA’s echoing, deeper vocals on the chorus showcase her more mature vocals indicating that she’s only gotten better with age.

The second track, “Who Are You,” features Gaeko. The song feels like a first love song , adding to the adorable vibe. “Who Are You” is upbeat, a perfect song for warm weather and summer romance. Like “Kiss My Lips,” it recalls earlier BoA eras where joy can be felt in the lyrics. Gaeko’s rap feels a bit too harsh for the song at times, but it fits lyrically. Gaeko’s voice does fit well with BoA’s, but the rap does feel a little off. Toward the end of the song, the rap matches well since it’s softened.

“Smash” picks up the beat more and incorporates more pop-rock elements. The song is overall cheerful and one that could have a fun dance-break if it was ever turned into an MV. The song feels like it could be part of an off-Broadway musical or an opening theme to a US-TV show on the Family Channel or Disney. While it’s upbeat and fun, the tone feels off for BoA as it really does feel more like a show tune than a standout song on an album. There is a 1980s, early 1990s vibe at some points that help make the song sound better than what it is. Overall, it’s more High School Musical or Make It Pop than a potential BoA hit.

One of the standouts is “Shattered.” “Shattered” is a dance track that has hints of melancholy. What’s nice about the song is how it has hints of late-era Michael Jackson, but the feminine spin adds a nice, new layer to the beats Jackson laid down for musicians. BoA’s vocals match the beat well, especially during the chorus to where the vocals and instrumentals match so well, they almost sound like one. So far, “Shattered” earned the most play-time from me.

“Fox” has an old-school vibe and a good vibe. BoA’s high notes sound oh-so-right for the song. The way the song fades in at the beginning makes it feel peaceful even though it’s a mid-tempo track. The song is cute and enjoyable. When the song ended, however, I forgot I listened to it, so memorability is an issue. It’s still a feel-good song, so it’s sad it doesn’t stand out much.

Eddy Kim lends his vocals on “Double Jack.” Eddy Kim was a great choice for the duet because he has the right amount of softness and power to balance BoA’s voice. BoA sounds stronger than Kim, so he is overpowered at times. However, this doesn’t occur enough to flaw the song. Vocals feel just right.

“Home” reveals BoA’s R&B side. Her softness here stirs emotions that make the listener feel the song. “Home” is simple with a certain elegance to it that makes it feel relatable at times. The chorus truly stands out because of how BoA lowers her tone. There is a lot of heart here.

“Clockwork,” the eighth track, has tango elements that feel straight out of Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge. The instrumentals make the song feel off-pace and strange. Some lyrics feel rushed and awkward, especially her pronunciation of “idea.” A song that could have been fast-paced and sensual turned into something that’s more messy than anything. To describe it, it’s like sloppy sex that tried to be steamy and sensual. There was a lot of lost potential here.

Track nine is “Love and Hate.” The song features a sweet and unplugged BoA. The rawness shows her vulnerability and paints a pretty portrait. Part of the song’s charm is its simplicity because BoA just sings. There’s nothing fancy: No dance track, no vocal distortions. It’s just BoA and a guitar. Sometimes simplicity speaks more than anything else, and this is why “Love and Hate” is one of the best songs on the album.

“Green Light” will make fans of her Japanese work happy as it has a J-Pop feel. The instrumentals have an upbeat feel that seem like they belong to an anime OST. BoA’s tone is also higher-pitched which feels more J-Pop than K-Pop, but this is why BoA is who she is since she does promote for both genres. The cheery tune will engage fans who enjoy her J-Pop hits, though it feels a bit generic.

Track eleven is the refreshing “Hello.” BoA allows the lyrics to carry her, making the result soft and dreamlike. The song has the potential to transport listeners to a better place. The piano instrumentals are peaceful and romantic. The overall composition is clear and elegant and shows why BoA is one of the queens of K-Pop still.

Finally, “Blah” recalls the nostalgic feel the beginning of the album introduced. The song is the perfect way to wrap the album as it is light-hearted and positive. She sings about being in a controversy and how words are used as weapons. The lightness sends a message that people shouldn’t care about what’s said. As the saying goes, “haters gonna hate,” but BoA doesn’t care. “Blah” sums up why BoA is a glorious being.

Overall, Kiss My Lips is a nice return to the Korean scene with some great feelings of nostalgia. There are a few songs that aren’t memorable, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good. BoA is still one of the queens, and she continues to cement her place in this position.

Kiss My Lips receives a B+.

—-Joelle Halon

NU’EST was the next group to visit Texas, the first of many visiting this state this summer. The 5 member boy group performed May 3rd at Gilley’s in Dallas, Texas after a successful concert in Toronto. General admission was free to this show courtesy of the sponsor, MyMusicTaste.

Fans began lining up as early as 8:00 a.m. in the morning the day of the show, excited for the group’s first performance in Texas. Many traveled far for this show including a group from Mexico. Around 1:00 p.m. or so Aron came outside and spoke to fans for a little while bringing out cases of water himself for those waiting.

Doors opened around 5 p.m., with more than 500 people filling up the venue. MyMusicTaste, the sponsor of the event opened the show thanking all of the fans for coming and hyping up the crowd before NU’EST took the stage.

They performed a 16 song set including “Action”, “Face”, and “Good Bye Bye”. NU’EST’s stage presence was incredible, making the small venue feel like full stage, but still having an intimate feel because of the closeness. NU’EST’s live vocals left everyone in awe, especially during ballads.

NU’EST were very grateful towards the fans that attended the show, thanking them every speaking opportunity they had.

After the show, fans who bought tickets had the opportunity to meet the boys during a signing and photo. During the signing each member spoke a little with fans, laughing and smiling during conversations.

NU’EST seemed to enjoy their time in Dallas as much as the fans did, promising to come back soon on another tour.

—Ke’Anna Bullard

Baekho, lead singer of NU’EST, one of South Korea’s famous boy groups, revealed on his Instagram post last April 8 that his father was diagnosed with acute leukemia. The lead vocalist was very straight in asking fans’ assistance for blood donation cards.

Leukemia is cancer of the blood which arises from the development of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and lymphatic system. This can be characterized as acute or chronic depending on how fast the disease gets worse. In the case of Baekho’s father, it was identified to be acute myelocytic leukemia (AML).

AML is characterized by growth and spread of immature white blood cells called as blast cells. Other primary types of leukemia are Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

White blood cells are body’s natural defense against infection. People with leukemia develop abnormal and fast-growing white blood cells which put patients on high risk of developing infection, bleeding, and anemia.

Leukemia can be diagnosed in different ways. A physical examination may suggest swollen lymph nodes and liver and spleen enlargement. Routine blood examination is one of the common laboratory procedures that can determine abnormal cell growth and chromosomal abnormalities. More complex procedures like biopsy and bone marrow test can confirm presence of leukemia cells.

Common signs and symptoms include frequent and persistent bleeding, bruising, and infections, sudden and unexplained weight loss, fever, chills, sweating, fatigue, bone pain, appearance of petechiae or tiny red spots in the skin, and night sweats.

The cause of leukemia is unknown. However, several factors increase one’s risk of developing the disease. Risk factors include family history of leukemia, genetic and chromosomal abnormalities, smoking, exposure to radiation and chemicals such as benzene, and previous cancer treatment.

The treatment process for leukemia is based on the type of leukemia, patient’s age, extent of disease, and patient’s overall physical condition. Stem cell transplant is one known method of leukemia treatment. Through this procedure, the affected bone marrow is replaced with a good one that will allow reconstruction and repair. This treatment may not be recommended for patients with old age.

Chemotherapy, the most common treatment for cancer including many types of leukemia, uses single or multiple drug combination to kill abnormal white blood cells. Radiation therapy is another method frequently used to kill and prevent spread of leukemia cells in preparation for stem cell transplant. Supportive treatment for maintenance includes antibiotics to fight infections, blood-forming factors, and blood replacement.

According to Leukemia Research Foundation, there are more than 310,000 Americans living with leukemia which causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20; however, leukemia is diagnosed 10 times more often in adults than children. Every day 143 Americans are diagnosed with leukemia and 66 lose the fight. (Leukemia-research.org)

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society reveals surprising statistics of leukemia. In their website, it was stated that leukemia ranked fifth in the most common cause of cancer deaths in men and sixth most common in women in the United States.

“However several important differences should be highlighted in lymphoma and leukemia. In the present study, the most significant improvements in survival were observed in leukemia and lymphoma patients, but the survival rates for leukemia and lymphoma were noticeably lower than in the U.S. and Germany. This reason for this difference in the survival rate by ethnic was that the incidence cases of subgroup of leukemia and lymphoma was different between U.S. AYAs and Korea AYAs. More, ethnic disparities in tumor biology and clinical factors may influence cancer treatment and survival. Compared with the survival of patients aged 1 to 10 years, overall survival and disease-specific survival are clinically significantly poorer among AYA patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The survival rates for leukemia among the Korean AYAs in our study have remained worse than among Korean children based on data from the KCCR.” (Cancer Incidence and Survival among Adolescents and Young Adults in Korea, May 1, 2014 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096088)

More clinical studies are being conducted to discover better diagnostic, treatment, and maintenance systems, improve patients’ quality of life, and decrease mortality rate due to leukemia.

Ibrutinib was found to be a potential leukemia treatment. In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers reports significant survival period improvement through the use of the said drug.

Another study shows significant progress in understanding the pathophysiology of acute myelocytic leukemia (AML). Researchers have found out different forms of AML which might require different clinical treatment methods. These findings can be utilized to help doctors and scientists determine better treatment procedures for leukemia patients.

This mini drama stars Moon Gayoung as Yeonhee, a shy girl treated harshly by her mother (similarly to Sweden Laundry, for those that have watched that) and Exo as themselves.

Episode 5

This episode starts out with what I guess is another of Yeonhee’s bad dreams. This time around she is an older homeless woman being interview and she warns of binoculars, cock roaches and international stars.

Once awake it is shown she has a cold and when her mother starts hounding her, her brother steps in and defends her much to Yeonhee’s surprise.

Next door, D.O. is pacing and Chanyeol is constantly looking out the window towards Yeonhee’s house. They wonder why she hasn’t come over to clean and Sehun offers to get her number from her brother, who he has formed a strange friendship with.

Meanwhile, the delirious Yeonhee is flashing back to her second confrontation with Chanyeol. When he asked if she knew him, Yeonhee responded as a fan which disappoints Chanyeol. I’m guessing he had a thing for her when they were younger or they were close friends, which would explain his expression.

D.O leaves a drink for Yeonhee with her brother, much to Yeonhee’s pleasure. I think this is the beginning of a sort of rivalry between Chanyeol and D.O for Yeonhee’s attention. I’m hoping

The next day Yeonhee is feeling well enough to go to work, however she is confronted by Chanyeol in his room for the third time, where he apologizes to her.

I am still waiting for a full explanation for EXO’s hiatus in this drama but I like all the episodes so far. I really enjoy the weird friendship between Sehun and Yeonhee’s brother.

Episode 6

This episode begins with Chanyeol trying to see if he can get Yeonhee to remember anything by saying her name. She doesn’t and he sets her back to working. When Yeonhee goes home, she receives a text from Chanyeol saying she needs to be ready for their initiation ceremony.

While walking outside Yeonhee’s brother is attacked by girls asking him if EXO were living next door to him. Seeing that he was completely clueless, the girls leave him alone. He later looks up EXO, sees clips from their “Mama” music video(the super powers one) and sets out to warn Yeonhee of the dangerous people next door. I was cracking up during this entire little section, his reactions are hilarious.

He does not let her leave to EXO’s house without giving her a helmet. During the interview, they nickname her Incheon Gal and give her a set of rules to follow.

Later on Chanyeol is working on a song, and is very frustrated, telling Baekhyun it just doesn’t sound right. Baekhyun assures him that everything will work out.

Yeonhee is walking outside when she bumps into someone and once she sees who it is she has a flashback to the person telling her they were leaving. I’m guessing this is someone she had a romantic relationship with because she turns red and doesn’t speak or look directly at him.

The man begins to speak a little harshly to her and EXO come to the rescue.

You finally get a little more behind the story of why EXO are on hiatus(Chanyeol’s inability to write songs after destroying his grandfather’s charm). This episode developed the relationship between Yeonhee and each member a little further. I can see why people who aren’t EXO fans have started paying attention to this show.

Screencaps: KShowOnline.com

— Ke’Anna Bullard.

For those riding the Hallyu Wave, South Korea is a music mecca full of hardworking individuals and companies who strive to make the music happen. The same goes for those who want to produce music or even act in movies and TV shows. However, for many, breaking into the Korean entertainment industry is an unattainable dream, so acting or singing alongside the stars is something fit for fantasies and not reality.

What if someone told you it is possible to attain your dream, especially if you’re a foreigner? What if someone told you it’s possible to become a global star instead of a Hallyu star?

If this sounds like a joke, don’t start laughing yet. A new entertainment company called IT Factor wants to step up and turn idol dreams into a reality and help turn potential stars into global icons. Kcrush America obtained an interview with Jermaine Risby, Co-CEO of IT Factor, and he’s here to tell you a lot about his goals and IT Factor’s mission.

 

Kcrush (KC): To begin, can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and IT Factor Entertainment?

Jermaine Risby (JR): My name is Jermaine Risby, Co-CEO and founder of IT Factor Entertainment and I am a former musical theater actor. I’ve been in musicals all over the US, including Hairspray, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Fantasticks. I studied musical theater at The Hartford Conservatory and The Tisch School at NYU, and have a degree in music education with a focus in voice and cello.

Our mission is to nurture and develop talent, from marketing and branding to thoroughly training them. During the process we would also develop projects around them by producing films, TV shows, and web series featuring developed talent. We will manage every aspect of their career as well as record/produce all their albums and create original content for them to star in once officially signed as an IT Factor Artist.

All artists under IT Factor Entertainment will be role models and leaders in the world of not just entertainment but in their communities and communities around the world. We will use the K-Pop formula to not just bring foreigners to K-Pop, but also bring the beauty and traditions of Korea to an international audience.

 

KC: What led you to want to create It Factor Entertainment, and what is your ultimate goal for the company?

JR: I truly respect the Korean way of developing artists, it reminds me of the Motown way of developing artists as well as the training I received when I did musical theater. I really believe that for an artist to have longevity, they need to be thoroughly trained and able to show their ultimate potential. I wanted to create something similar with international talent as well as spotlight musical artists from Asian countries to the western audience.

The ultimate goal for IFE is to create “global” pop – where all nationalities are represented, and ultimately anyone can enter any entertainment industry around the world regardless of their race.

 

KC: You’re based in Korea. What made you choose Korea over anywhere else in the world?

JR: South Korea is a great metro area that has so much to offer, and their competitive nature makes it a great place to really focus on training. Plus they have great trainers (some of the best in the world), but really don’t get the recognition they deserve.

I also personally love the traditions and cultural aspects of South Korea, and the language is simply beautiful.

 

KC: In your “About Us” statement, you say that IT Factor will “be able to give a voice to those who are talented but aren’t given a fair chance to really shine.” Could you explain what you mean by this statement and how you plan to do that?

JR: We mean that we will be able to showcase those who wouldn’t have the opportunity to do so because of lack of opportunity by marketing them to the masses and really developing their talents for longevity in the industry.

 

KC: In terms of talent, what are you looking for in potential signees when they head into the auditioning process? What would make them have the “It Factor” that could turn them into stars?

JR: We are looking for those who have raw talent that can be molded into amazing artists. For the first round of trainees, their training experience will be very condensed compared to future training classes. Right now, we are looking for those with some existing training as well as potential because we need talent that will be able to handle the tight training schedule. Once the first two groups are established, we will bring in those who may be younger or have less experience for a longer training period.

 

KC: For those who may be interested, what will the audition process be like? What should people expect during the process, and how should they best prepare for an audition?

JR: Well, right now we are doing an online audition process first, and from there we will chose ten guys and ten girls to come to South Korea for a week of auditions and training. We will also have live auditions in South Korea as well.

The audition process is pretty simple, so expect us to be fair and honest. When it comes to preparing for your audition, just don’t try too hard and make sure you put the best “you” out there. So, don’t rush to make your videos because this is your first impression.

 

KC: There are a lot of young people domestically and abroad who dream about entering the K-Pop industry. However, they may not understand what it takes to train properly to become a star. For anyone who is interested in auditioning for your company, could you describe what to expect during the training process so future participants understand what’s involved?

JR: Because of the intense training schedule, talent should honestly be prepared to be training every day. In between training times, they will also be doing interviews, Web series, and cover videos to build their fan base.

There will be opportunities to work on song writing skills as well as community services to show South Korea that we are serious about integrating into the community.

It will be stressful and slightly overwhelming, and since our trainees will debut within a year, they need to be mentally prepared for it all because we will release those who don’t keep up.

 

KC: It seems your focus is on bringing foreigners into the K-Pop industry while also introducing “global stars.” Over the years, K-Pop fans haven’t taken too kindly to foreigners within K-Pop like in the case of Chad Future or even the new project group EXP. How do you plan on changing the public’s negative perception of foreigners in K-Pop, especially since K-Pop is “Korean Pop”? It seems you may be eliminating the Korean aspect.

JR: First of all, our talent will be required to learn Korean as well as totally embrace Korean culture and tradition while also embracing other countries’ traditions and cultures. What makes us different is that we truly respect all things Korean.

Also, we aren’t strictly a K-Pop company. We are a global company, so with that said, we are looking to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western countries.

Ultimately, K-Pop is pop music sung in Korean. So if you can with confidence sing in Korean, then why can’t you do K-Pop? South Korea is known as a homogeneous country, but that is changing very rapidly and with that, Koreans are warming up to the idea of different nationalities appearing in their media world.

 

KC: What do you plan on doing differently from other companies that may help foreigners succeed in the industry?

JR: It’s not a matter of doing things differently; it’s a matter of adapting. Koreans do not want us to come and try to change things, but to adapt and show that we aren’t trying to take over. So what we would do to help foreigners succeed is work the Korean entertainment industry and show that we truly respect their business model and take it serious when it comes to becoming a part of this ever-growing Hallyu Wave.

 

KC: Some may be suspicious of your intentions of entering the Korean market or may feel you’re trying to ride on a trend; therefore, they may see IT Factor as something that will not last when and if the Hallyu trend fades. What can you tell potential participants or any followers of your company to indicate that your intentions are pure and not based on trying to ride a trend?

JR: What we want to say is that firstly, we aren’t strictly a K-Pop company. We are looking to branch into entertainment industries all over the world. We chose to start with South Korea because of reasons stated earlier. We are not interested in riding a trend. If anything, we want to be trend setters ourselves. So our followers do not need to worry that we are here for a moment and then leave. We want to help the Hallyu Wave spread even further then it has already, as well as embrace other industries around the world. Our intentions are pure and will always be. We believe music and other forms of performance art can truly bring the world together, and we want to do our share.

 

KC: What do you think IT Factor can do to improve the K-Pop industry?

JR: I think opening it up for other races is a huge step forward. We want to do much the same as other companies, and improve as we see fit for each and every artist that we sign under our banner to make our artists not just idols and role models in Korea, but for the whole world.

 

KC: There has been a lot of negative attention regarding the treatment of artists by K-Pop agencies. How will yours be different?

JR: Financially, we will be able to offer more right off the bat, because we want to make sure our artists are happy and will continue to grow and improve to then help us bring in the financial gains to keep the circle of life going.

Training will be tough, that’s a given, but we will make sure our talent is treated with respect by never using negative reinforcement to get what we want out of them – instead encouraging and supporting our artists to be the best artist they can be. Also we have other plans such as proper insurance, health screening/nutrition planning, etc. to show that their health matters, as that’s been a key factor in the issues before. Also, schedule management, since some artists are booked so tightly they have to speed outrageously to manage it and/or aren‘t given much time off or to rest properly, causing injuries, collapse from exhaustion, and traffic incidents.

We also will give our artists options to attend college, as well (all expenses paid).

 

KC: Many K-Pop companies have long contracts. Are you going to take a similar approach or will you be giving your artists more flexibility? Please explain.

JR: Our artist will have five-year contracts. If they are successful, they will have the option to renew their contracts or discuss other options as we want our artists to stay within the company even if they decide to take on different roles (i.e.: actor, model, solo singer, producer, writer or choreographer or work on the business side of things).

 

KC: You’re looking for people to fill spots for a five-member male group and a three-to-four member female group. Do you have any concepts in the works for these groups that potential trainees may be interested in, or will you be creating a concept based on the people you select? Furthermore, will you be following the typical formula many K-Pop groups have with members where you have a visual, rapper, vocalist, dance, and sub-rappers and vocals, or will you try to break the mold here?

JR: For concept, we will build the specifics based on talent, but we will work hard to make sure that we stay true to our mission and make sure that an actual effort is made to create something new and exciting.

As far as the type of groups we will be making, they all have to know how to sing (solo and in a group) and everyone will have to be strong dancers. Everyone will have their strengths; we won’t necessarily build the group based on the typical K-Pop formula. We aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but we do want to make it more efficient with a larger demographic.

 

KC: Finally, for those who may be opposed to the ideas IT Factor wants to bring forth, what would you like to say or prove to them now? With this in mind, where do you expect to be in five, ten, or even 15 years from now?

JR: Don’t jump to conclusions about what we will and won’t do. Just watch and enjoy/support the ride.

In five years, we expect to have several artists under our banner that are internationally acclaimed, as well as several charities. Also, we want to represent models, actors, and other forms of entertainers.

In ten years, we want to have offices all over the world – especially in Europe and India, with fully functional training facilities where we could train the future of the entertainment world not just in performing, but also in writing, producing, and directing, as well. Also in mind is a production company where we develop projects for our talent, and hopefully an online channel devoted to everything related to #IFE.

By year 15, we want to be one of the biggest international entertainment conglomerates in the world with a fully operational production company, technology company, and several other companies under our belt making us one of the companies leading the way for the future of entertainment.

 

KC: Thank you so much for your time, Jermaine! We look forward to seeing what IT Factor has planned in the future, and we look forward to seeing your artists somewhere down the road!

If you’re interested in IT Factor and what they’re trying to accomplish in the industry, you check them out on Facebook and on their website! If you ever wanted to make it in the music industry, perhaps this is your chance. Good luck!

 

On the Web: http://www.itfactor4eva.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itfactor4eva?fref=ts

 

—- Joelle Halon 

Episode 3
This mini drama stars Moon Gayoung as Yeonhee, a shy girl treated harshly by her mother (similarly to Sweden Laundry, for those that have watched that) and Exo as themselves.

Picking back up from the last episode with Yeonhee is having a nightmare, ending with Chanyeol sitting on her bed asking if she had fun sneaking a peak into their house. Later, Yeonhee being instructed by her mother, who I guess is the person renting out the house to Exo, to clean and do the laundry for Exo while they are staying. Naturally, she throws a fit and her mother almost reveals who is staying in the house (she doesn’t know Yeonhee already figured it out).
Gaeun, who also appeared in the last episode to spy on EXO, brings the distressed Yeonhee EXO fan club goods to clean with, telling her if she feels bad for spying she needs to do a good job cleaning.
This cuts to a side story of Sehun looking for drip coffee and approaching Kwangsoo, Yeonhee’s brother, who prepares him coffee by hand much to Sehun’s delight.

Yeonhee begins clean but like any super fangirl in her position might do, she gets a little distracted; at one point smelling what she believed to be Baekhyun’s worn clothing. While hanging clothes to dry, she realizes Exo were the mysterious figures she ran from and in her curiosity goes into one of their rooms. After she accidentally knocks over several musical instruments in the room while attempting to kill a roach, Chanyeol enters and scolds her. Yeonhee runs out and is comforted by D.O, which makes her face turn extremely red. The episode ends with Chanyeol watching the two of them.

This episode was funny. There still hasn’t been a real explanation for why EXO are staying in the house but I’m hoping that would be coming up in the next 2 or 3 episodes. While the short episodes are nice, it makes it harder to move the story along without making it seem awkward.

Episode 4

This episode starts with clips of EXO live concerts, and a voice over of Chanyeol saying it all happened a year ago. After the concert, Chanyeol accidentally breaks his necklace and receives the news that his grandfather has passed away.

There is a cute flashback where it shown his grandfather gave it to him when he was younger. From that point on Chanyeol had bad luck including causing Suho to injure himself.
In her house, Yeonhee realizes she lost her phone and is calling it. Chanyeol sees it in his room and after browsing her phone tells her friend to tell Yeonhee to come pick it up.

Yeonhee sneaks into the house to get it but is caught, again, by Chanyeol. Chanyeol ends the episode, asking her if she knows who he is. (I think it’s also a little strange Chanyeol sleeps with a picture of himself above his bed.)

This episode seems to pass by much quicker than the others but was more informative than the others about why EXO are on hiatus. This one leaves you anticipating the next one. The opening part of the EXO concert took up a little bit too much of this short episode but was clipped together nicely.
Screencaps: KShowOnline.com

—Ke’Anna Bullard

Episode 1
This mini drama stars Moon Gayoung as Yeonhee, a shy girl treated harshly by her mother (similarly to Sweden Laundry, for those that have watched that) and Exo as themselves.

Yeonhee is out late at night purchasing feminine products much to her embarassment. On her return home she is followed by four mysterious figures. Of course, she panics and when confronted by them she takes off in an anime-like burst of energy.

As Exo settled in to the house they’re staying, Yeonhee’s mother requests she takes something by to the new neighbors next door. As you can probably guess, Exo are the next door neighbors.

When Yeonhee goes over, and into the house, Exo are startled by the sounds of Yeonhee eating and then coughing on a rice cake in their kitchen. When Chanyeol goes to confront her, Yeonhee is shocked and upon recognizing him, spits water into his face.

This episode was pretty funny. I like that these episodes are only around 12 minutes including credits. Only 4 members, Chanyeol, Sehun, D.O, and Baekhyun appear in this episode so if you’re waiting for your favorite to make an appearance it might take a while.

 Episode 2
This episode Yeonhee spends a majority of her time freaking out over the fact that she is living next door to EXO. She excitedly relays this information to one of her friends who shows up with binoculars.

Meanwhile the four boys spend time settling into the house and video chat with Kai, who is in another place. After this they notice Yeonhee looking into the window and decide to tease her a bit. This ends with D.O. waving at her.

Yeonhee freaks out momentarily before watching them again. EXO close the blinds and question Chanyeol when he joins them in the room.

This episode ends with Chanyeol pulling open the curtains and staring at Yeonhee, saying he lost something precious and that’s the reason he returned to this house.

Ooo, dramatic.
I’m still a little clueless as to why EXO are all in hiding but I’m guessing that will be revealed in later episodes. These two episodes are a nice introduction to the series. The episodes air bi-weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Screencap Credit: Line Corp.

—- Ke’Anna Bullard

This week, I asked a couple of my friends and some strangers who their favorite kpop artist is and whom they would want to perform in the U.S. I got a variety of answers from different people, and, to my surprise, almost all of them had different answers! I was very surprised, because that doesn’t normally happen, as most people are into the popular groups.

Anyways, the first person I asked was my best friend at my school named Grace. She said her favorite group was EXO and that she would love to see them perform in the U.S. and meet them. She has been a fan of EXO for about a year now, and their recent comeback made her fall more in love. Grace has never been to an actual concert, so she said it would be awesome if she could watch them perform live and in person. She said, “Why haven’t EXO come to the U.S. already? They have tons of fans here!” and what she said is completely true. EXO has a lot of fans in the U.S., especially those who are into dancing, because EXO has one of the best choreographies in the realm of kpop.

The second person I interviewed was my friend named Andrew, and he said his favorite girl group was EXID. He talked about how EXID has been in the music industry for many years and have amazing talent, and yet they never got the spotlight they deserved until Hani’s fancam became a huge hit. With their recent song ‘Ah Yeah,’ many people said the group can be a one-time-hit, but they proved them wrong. Their comeback song has been on the top ten charts since it was released. Andrew said he would probably faint if he saw them in person because they are all so beautiful: “I would love to see Hani dance to ‘Up and Down’ in person. I’ve seen the fancam many times, and she just has that sexy sass that brings everyone’s attention to her.”

The next interview was with a girl I met at school named Karly. I had no idea she was into kpop. There are only a few people at my school who are into kpop, and most of them are fans because of me, but I wasn’t even friends with her, so it was cool to see someone who is not friends with an Asian to be so into kpop. I asked her my questions, and she answered “BOA.” I was a bit surprised, for one, because BOA is a single female artist, and two, I surely thought she was going to mention a boy group. I asked her to explain why she chose BOA, and she said it was because watching BOA sing and dance incredibly well had inspired her to do what she truly loved, which was also singing and dancing: “I’ve been a fan of her for 5 years now. She’s truly inspiring. It’s rare to see a solo artist to be good at both singing and dancing because it’s usually one or another, but she is perfect in every way. I have all of her songs on my phone, and I play through them everyday.”

Okay, I couldn’t find any more people at my school who were into kpop, and in fact most of them didn’t even know what I was talking about. So I went to the mall and asked a few nice looking strangers. I was able to find two people who actually knew what I was asking.

Her name is Tina and she told me she is a big fan of BEAST. She fell in love ever since their song ‘Soom’ aka ‘Breath’ came out. She immediately fell in love when she heard the main vocalist Yoseob’s powerful voice. I asked her if she would like to meet him in person and watch them perform live and she said “Oh my gosh, that is my dream goal! Too bad they don’t come to America. I would love to see them but the plane ticket is way too expensive. But it will happen one day. One day!”

The last person I interviewed was named Daniel. This guy talked really fast, and I was not able to get half of the things he said, so what I’m writing is shorter than what he actually said. He said he was really into Sistar and would love to see them perform live, but, unfortunately, they don’t have any concerts here in the U.S. He told me that one time he actually thought about purchasing a plane ticket to fly to Korea and go to their fan meetings to get Sistar’s autographs and take pictures with them. “I love the fact that they have members who are very tan with nice healthy looking bodies because that is very rare for kpop girl groups. I think their curvy bodies really shows better dance movements and for once I’m not worried about them getting sick or hurt from being way too skinny,” he said.

– Juyeon Oh

Miss A released their seventh project, Colors, March 29, 2015. The six-song mini album provides a look at the different sides of Miss A while staying true to who they are. Sadly, the album seems lost among many of the stories about them from Suzy’s announcement that she’s dating Lee Minho, and Say A and other K-Pop fans tossing around accusations that the rest of Miss A are bullying Suzy. However, if people actually focus on the music, they may find Colors is worthwhile and more interesting than the supposed scandals surrounding the group.

The album opens with the R&B track “한걸음.” The song provides a more mature sound for Miss A. The beauty of “한걸음” is how it utilizes their huskier vocals well. Jia, Fei, and Min, especially, stand out as star performers. R&B is a style that doesn’t seem to fit Miss A because of their poppy, dance-tracks they’ve had in the past, but the style leaves a listener hungry for more because the vocals are sensual without being overtly sexy. “한걸음” is a great opening track.

“Only You” is the lead single for the Colors, and while it’s a good song, Miss A plays it safe. It has all the elements to make it a hit song with a nice dance beat and easy-to-recall lyrics. It has hints of early 1980s sound, which adds to the appeal. However, it sounds more like a potential debut or second single than a single from an established group. Suzy, too, at times, sounds thin vocally, which throws the dynamic off a bit. Throw in the random male screaming in the instrumentals, and there’s a lot going on in “Only You” that feels strange even though it’s an overall decent track.

Track three, “Love Song,” is fairly simple and one of the best songs on Colors. Fei and Jia drip sensuality, while Min’s vocals add a different layer of richness. The instrumentals also add interest to the track along with hints of mystery. It was a great choice to promote “Love Song” along with “Only You” during the first week of promotions because the two together show Miss A’s depths as a group. However, “Love Song” is much better than “Only You.”

Another addictive track is “녹아.” If anyone remembers late ‘90s music in the US, this song will speak to you as there are twinges of Monica, Brandy, and Aliyah in the beat. Throw in Miss A’s sweet vocals, and hints of traditional Asian sound in the instrumentals, and you have a song that truly has global flair! At times, the high notes feel wrong for Miss A because lower tones are more fitting, but the overall beat and simplicity make the song fulfilling.

“I Caught Ya” brings in some Motown vibes with some 70s sound. The old-school vibe provides a nostalgic feel to this otherwise upbeat song. The catchy beat and hook with “I Caught Ya” makes the song worth listening to over and over again. What’s interesting about “I Caught Ya” is how the girls’ vocals blend well while the listener is able to determine who is who. The song has a strong amount of soul that helps with the enjoyable nature of the song which makes it another top track.

The album wraps up with “Stuck,” which is the perfect ending since the album started with a slower track. “Stuck” has a strong sense of femininity associated with it, almost to the point where the listener can feel Miss A’s vulnerability. There’s almost a childlike innocence with the song that makes it so memorable and sweet, putting an exclamation point on the album’s end.

Colors was a nice return to the music scene for Miss A. Colors easily has many hits on it, making it one of the standouts in K-Pop’s first quarter. Colors earns an A-.

— Joelle Halon

EXID returns with a new mini-album, Ah Yeah! There’s a lot of hype surrounding EXID and the new album considering the immense popularity they earned with “Up & Down” and it’s amazing climb up the charts. With K-Pop fans watching them as a potential new darling group, did Ah Yeah live up to the hype?

Their new track, “Ah Yeah,” kicks off the album. It was initially billed as the follow up to “Up & Down,” and it definitely has a similar feel, but with a slightly less addictive, although vocally better, chorus. “Ah Yeah” utilizes EXID’s vocal abilities well and shows their potential to become a second-tier group. Hani, Solji, Hyelin, and Junghwa can harmonize well to make the vocals standout, and LE kills it with her awesome rapping. The echoing vocals partway through the song create an interesting dynamic that could have failed if not executed well, but everything came together well. “Ah Yeah” helps capture everything fans knew EXID were capable of since their debut, and this is carried out throughout the entire album.

Fans of “Every Night” may enjoy “Thrilling” as it carries similar instrumentals, rapping, and singing to the point where it sounds like “Every Night” part two. “Thrilling” is different from “Every Night” in that the girls sound more mature. The chorus stands out the most because of the rich, deep vocals. Toward the end of the song, some of the lines feel like they’re screamed over sung, which detract a little from an otherwise excellent song. If this part is overlooked, “Thrilling” shows a nice amount of growth from earlier years.

“Patpat” has some R&B beats paired with LE’s rapping. From the opening chords, it feels like the beat wouldn’t work for LE’s rap, and at times, the pairing felt a bit forced. However, the vocals are magical and fit the music well.

“Patpat” is worth a listen for the singing alone because the high notes and harmonies turn an otherwise so-so song into something above average.

“With Out U” stands out because where other girl groups use flowery language to say they’ll be okay in a relationship, EXID doesn’t. They’re confident and sure they’re okay! The vocals and rap also radiate confidence while the instrumentals sound cheery. “With Out U” could have been a decent single on its own.

Track five, “1m,” is a ballad that has layers of sweetness and gentleness. “1m” strips the girls of their strong backtracks and just presents their vocals. The stripped down EXID feels so right, and it’s a side of them fans should pay attention to since they’re more than just fun songs and potential viral hits. LE is even toned down from her usual fierceness to show a more vulnerable side. Everything about “1m” has an enchanting quality.

Of course, “Up & Down” makes an appearance on the track. Although it’s a song we’re all familiar with by now, it’s nice to see its inclusion as homage to the attention they’ve received the past few months. Even though we’ve all heard it, it’s still as addictive as ever.

EXID’s other hit “Every Night” also makes an appearance on Oh Yeah. The girls give us another version of “Every Night” with rain sounds in the background. It’s not much different from the original version other than long-gone members are now no longer included and the bridge is much better than the original. Again, it’s great EXID isn’t forgetting the songs that put them on the map, so they earn praise for not neglecting their roots.

Fans of EXID didn’t have to worry if they could duplicate and improve upon the viral sensation that was “Up & Down” because they definitely improved and showed their growth with Ah Yeah. This album should help give them the attention they deserve. It earns a solid A.

–Joelle Halon

 

‘Blue Paprika’ is a Korean Indie band that consists of three musicians whose names are Won-young Lee, Kihoon Sung and Min-gyu Kang.

They are an Indie band, currently at its peak; they have a solid fan base who have enjoyed their music since Blue Paprika debuted in 2013.

Blue Paprika members say they strive to produce and perform the kind of music that people find soothing and fun to listen to. The band definitely has a unique sound; their songs could be at times played repeatedly since they can be quite addictive. The songs like ‘Longest Night,’ ‘Love Confession’ and the most recent single called; ‘Come To Me Like The Spring’ are very suitable songs to enjoy at this season of the year.

Blue Paprika’s music could be described as somewhat simplistic, yet their lyrics and the tunes have so much depth and warmth.

The members are currently busy touring in cities like Daegu and Busan, they recently finished their encore concert in Seoul as well.

We managed to attain an interview from the members of Blue Paprika.

A special ‘Thanks’ goes out to the Blue Paprika members for their interview. We hope our readers enjoy reading about this talented Korean Indie group.

 

*Hello! Thank you very much for taking the time out for a Kcrush interview. Could we get introduced to the members of Blue Paprika?

Won-young Lee: I am the main vocalist and guitarist of our band, Blue Paprika.

Kihoon Sung: I’m in charge of the drums and the percussion.

Min-gyu Kang: I play the bass guitar and sing back up for the chorus.

 

*How did you come up with such a unique name as Blue Paprika?

We liked the sound of ‘Paprika’ so we combined the wording with ‘Blue’ since blues music is the basic genre of the music we play.

It didn’t take us long time to decide on the name of our band, unlike many other bands and musicians.

 

*When did you start doing music and playing instruments?

We all started playing musical instruments since we were sixteen years old. We felt that playing music was incredibly fun, more than anything else.

That is the ultimate reason we’re still making music to this day.

We believe that having chosen the path to do music for life was definitely the best decision we’ve ever made.

 

*Since you’ve had your single placed at the top in the Indie charts, have you members gotten used to the fame and attention you’ve received from the fans?

We really thank and appreciate everyone for their love and support towards the band.

Being number one of the Indie chart was possible only because of those people who helped to spread and share our music. Thank you!

 

*How would you describe Blue Paprika’s music in a few words?

‘Restrained,’ ‘blank space’ and ‘warmth’ would be quite appropriate expressions to describe our music and sound.

 

*Could you let us know what your favorite songs are?

Because we have so many songs that we love, it’s very difficult for us to mention them all.

If we were to choose one song that inspired us the most, it would be, ‘People Get Ready’ by Curtis Mayfield. We were incredibly touched by the song because we could feel the real truthfulness within the simplicity of the song.

 

*Which artists do you enjoy listening to the most?

We have great admiration for bands like U2, who have been around for many years and they give out such positive energy through their music. We would also like to do the same thing for our band.

 

*What would you say are your hobbies; do you have a unique talent?

Wonyoung Lee: I enjoy learning new musical instruments. Currently, I am teaching myself how to play the blues harp.

Minkyu Kang: I love all kinds of sports. I go see a baseball match once a week and these days, I am taking training in boxing.

Kihoon Sung: I really like playing computer games a lot; I upgraded my graphic card recently.

 

*Where do you most like to hold a concert in the future?

We would really love to perform at the ‘Kokua Festival’ in Hawaii!!

 

*Can you say something nice to the fans of Blue Paprika?

Thank you all so much for the love and support you’ve shown us for the past couple of years. We want to ask our fans to keep with us for our activities in the future!

 

 

– J. Chung

If you enjoy melodramas with a sprinkle of romantic comedy, then 49 Days is the drama for you. Produced with a cast showing good chemistry, aired in 2011. This 20 episode drama is one of my favorites. I first found this great Kdrama on Netflix last year (2014) and could not stop watching it until the very last episode.

49 Days is about a girl that is about to marry someone she believes is the person she loves, but has a car accident and is killed. Her ghost has 49 days to receive three heartfelt tear drops from a non-family member to show that she was really loved in order for her to go to the other side happily. She discovers this only when a “reaper”, very well played by actor, Jung Il Woo, tells her. That is where the story becomes even more interesting. Her up and down struggles to find just three tears is sometimes very heartbreaking and hilarious. The main character, Shin Ji Hyun, played by actress, Nam Gye Ri, had a sister, played by actress, Lee Yo Won, that was taken when they both were smaller. Within the storyline an amazing thing happens regarding her sister. Han Kang, played by actor, Jo Hyun Jae, the “to be” husband is someone you try not to hate because of his actions, but I’ll let you decide!

There’s so much more to say about this wonderful drama, well I’ll say one more thing. The OST is amazing. The meanings and softness of most of the songs follows you even after finishing the story. But, again, you decide!

If you cannot find 49 Days on Netflix, Drama Fever has it now.

We at Kcrush hope to offer “Turn Back Drama Tuesday” every few weeks. We hope you will support us by letting us know that either you have watched the reviewed drama, i.e., liked it disliked it or provide us with one to review.

It seems as though every few weeks there is another group debuting under some unheard of company. I, a self-professed ‘nugu lover, even have a hard time trying to remember so many new names and faces. So, here is my list of the top 10 nugu groups, male and female, to watch in 2015.

1. Bigflo

(Left to right: Ron, Z-uk, Hightop, Yuseong, Jungkyun)

Bigflo is a 5 member male group under HO entertainment. Bigflo debuted June 6, 2014, with the title track ‘Delilah’ from their mini album First Flow. With 3 rappers, you can definitely guess Bigflo is a rap inclined group. Member Z-uk first caused a rise in interest in the group because of his resemblance to Rain. Outside of music, member Hightop made his acting debut in alongside Vixx’s Ken in Boarding House No. 24.

Bigflo are a very funny group. You learn more about them from their show BigfloTV. They are also active on Twitter and respond to fans often. (Once I asked Ron what his favorite song was…..his response “????(Delilah)”. Hilarious.) Recently, they have been doing Japanese promotions and are releasing a Japanese version of “Delilah”

2. Mamamoo

(From Left to Right: Moonbyul, Solar, Wheein, and Whasa)

Mamamoo is a 4 member girl group under WA Entertainment. They quickly gathered interest after their strong debut on June 18, 2014, earning the nickname ‘super rookies’. This group is extremely talent vocally and impress more and more with each release.

They recently announced their comeback, with eSNa confirmed to feature in Mamamoo’s upcoming release ‘Ahh Oop!’

3. Hotshot

(From left to right: Sungwoon, Hojeong, Junhyuk, Timoteo, Yoonsan, Kid Monster)

This 6 member boy group debuted October 29, 2014 under KO Sound. Their debut song, “Take a Shot” is very catchy and displays the vocal talents of each member. Junhyuk and Timoteo are former SM trainees so I expected them to impress and they did. Before their debut they released a show on YouTube called “Hotshot Volumes” and also have a webtoon.

4. G Friend

(From left to right: Sowon, Eunha, ShinB, Umji, Yerin, Yuju)

This 6 member girl group debuted on January 16, 2015 under Source Music Entertainment. Their debut song, “Glass Bead”, is a cute upbeat song. One thing that I really like about this group is how well they pull off the song’s complicated dance. Their entire album, Season of Glass, is very nice and I suggest you check it out.

5. Legend

(From left to right: Changsung, Roi, Listen, Lito, Jaehyuk)

Legend is a 5 member boy group under JK Space entertainment. The main reason I checked out Legend’s debut song “Left Out” was because of their heights: all the members are above 180cm. Member Jaehyuk is also fluent in English and is a frequent guest on Arirang Radio’s Kpoppin’. This group is very talented vocally as well.

6. Lovelyz

(From left to right: Miju, Baby Soul, Jiae, Jin, Yein, Kei, and Soojung)

Lovelyz are a 7 member girl group under Woolim Entertainment. Their debut track “Candy Jelly Love” was released November 17, 2014. A majority of the members have had exposure predebut, including Baby Soul’s solo debut and being featured in various ways with their label mates Infinite. These girls are definitely talented and have a similar image to that of G Friend.

Member Jisoo was involved in a scandal soon after their debut and was not included in promotions and hospitalized because of the shock, according to Woolim. Last official updates state that the accuser is being prosecuted.

7. High4

(From left to right: Myunghan, Alex, Sunggu, Youngjun)

High4 is a 4 member boy group under N.A.P Entertainment. Singer IU accompanied them on their debut track “Not Spring, Love, or Cherry Blossoms”, released April 7, 2014. High4 are called a hip-hop group but are amazing vocally. Alex is Korean-American, and has appeared on Arirang’s After School Club several times.

You can learn a little bit more about them from their mini show “Who Am I?” on YouTube.

 

8. Sonamoo

(From left to right: NewSun, Sumin, Nahyun, Euijin, High D, D.ana, Minjae)

Sonamoo made their impressive debut amidst the announcement of their label-mates’, B.A.P, lawsuit against their company, TS Entertainment. Despite this Sonamoo presented a powerful, warrior type image in their debut song “Déjà Vu”. I really like the contrast in the rappers, NewSun and D.ana, voices.

Sonamoo have also recently made a comeback with their new song “Just Go”.You can see more of Sonamoo in their show “Sonamoo’s Pet House”.

9. JJCC

(From right to left: E.co, Prince Mak, Sancheong,Edd, Simba)

Jackie Chan’s first venture into Kpop is found in JJCC (Double JC). The 5 member boy group made their debut on March 30, 2014 with “At First”. I was particularly impressed with their music video for “Bing Bing Bing” because of the challenging looking dance. Members Eddy and Prince Mak both are both English speakers and have made many guest appearances on After School Club as well.

I also took the time to watch Eddy’s predebut appearance on Master Chief: Korea. You can also check out an interview with them here on KCrush.

10. HALO

(From right to left: Inhaeng, Heecheon, Oon, Dino, Yoondong, Jaeyong)

 

HALO is a 6 member boy group under AYIN Holdings. They made their debut June 6, 2014 with the title track “Fever”. I really like their entire mini album 38?. They also appeared on an episode of Idol School, which you can check out on Dailymotion.

HALO are also active on social media having both a group twitter and vine account.

I definitely suggest you check out these groups. There is real talent to be found in all of them and they deserve some extra recognition.

— Ke’Anna Bullard