Movie Theater Movies 2014

There have been numerous movies that were released in 2014 and I would like to introduce you to a couple of my favorites!

Hot Young Bloods

This movie is set in 1980’s background in Heongseong, South Korea.   Young-Sook is the leader of a gang at her high school.   She is known for being tough and mean, but she secretly has a crush on Joong-Gil.  Joong-Gil is a player.   He tries to get with all the girls at school except for Young-Sook, because Gwang-Sik, a leader of another gang group has feelings for Young-Sook.   One day, a new female student transfers to their school who is very pretty and was different from the rest of girls at school.  Joong-Gil likes the new girl and Young-Sook gets jealous and tries to keep the girl away from her crush.  Trouble starts to occur as Gwang-Sik finds out Young-Sook is trying to get in between Joong-Gil and the new student.

The Admiral: Roaring Currents

In 1597, it has been six years that Joseon Dynasty has been attacked by the Japanese. As things started falling apart, in order to defend the country, Admiral YI is once again chosen as the Chief of Naval Operations.   Japanese Chief Commander Kurushima is known for his cruel and clever strategies.  He destroyed the Turtle Ship, which was Joseon’s last hope to win against Japan.   With only 12 battleships and an army of soldiers, Admiral YI faces Japan in the battle known as The Battle of Myeong Nyang.

Man in Love

Tae-Il is a criminal who goes around the town in Gunsan collecting debts and harassing people for money that he owes to a small gang he works for.   Tae-Il is 42 years old and he lives with his brother Young-Il.   Tae-Il has never been in love and wasn’t very interested in it until he meets Ho-Jung who is a bank clerk that is busy taking care of her debt, which was spent  on taking care of her ill father.   When they first meet, Tae-Il forced her to sign an agreement that required her to sell her organs if she wasn’t able to pay back the debt on time.   After getting her to sign the agreement, Tae-IL cannot stop thinking about Ho-Jung.   He wrote her a new contract that said he will free her from her debt if she went on dates with him.   The more she goes on the dates, the less debt she has to pay back.   At first Ho-Jung declines it but when she realizes she’s not able to pay back the debt , she agrees to the new contract.   As they start going on dates, the two start to have more and more feelings toward each other.   As a serious relationship begins, Tae-Il tries to leave the gang but it doesn’t work out too well and unfortunately, he is diagnosed with cancer, which leaves his relationship with Ho-Jung in limbo.

Another Promise

When Yoon-Mi graduated from high school, she looks for a job to support her family. What she wanted the most was to be able to pay for her younger brother Yoon-Seok’s college tuition.  Sang-Gu, Yoon-Mi’s father, was very happy and proud of Yoon-Mi when she go hired as a worker at the Jinsung semiconductor factory.   Two years later, Sang-Gu finds out that his daughter is diagnosed with leukemia.   After four years of having leukemia, Yoon-Mi dies.   Her father later learns that Yoon-Mi’s coworkers at the factory are also suffering from diseases and he is convinced that the disease was from the factory.   Sang-Gu visits a labor attorney and filed a claim against the company.   The company used many different methods to keep Sang-Gu’s and other families’ claims from becoming public.   Jinsung workers would spy on and approached the families and offered them money to keep the problem from being exposed to the public.   Despite what the company is doing, Sang-Gu is determined to get the truth out for his daughter.

On Saturday 13th September, I headed off to Kintex in Ilsan to attend a fashion show, plus to see some of the big names in K-pop perform live. ((Kintex stands for Korean International Exhibition Center and Ilsan is in Northern Province of Gyeonggi-do, located an hour from Central Seoul)

This three-hour show starting at 5 pm that day was to be a combination of fashion runway shows and K-pop performances of pop acts including DJ DOC, 2PM, Teen top, 100%, B.A.P, After School, BOYFRIEND, Girl’s Day, Stellar, Dynamic Duo. And other and solo acts like Kyebum Zu and a Japanese group called Sweet Bullet and others were to highlight the concert with fashion shows by various designers. 2PM’s Taecyeon and girl group Stellar’s member Hyoeun were the main hosts for the events.

Since I’ve been to KINTEX many times previously for concerts or various events, so of course I expected to have a seat especially since I had a ticket with a seat number, but surprisingly enough the seats were not really visible except for some seats for the camera crew and their staff.

Inside the concert hall, before the actual concert took off, I saw that there were half a dozen tents where people were queuing up to receive free lollipop sticks and yogurt drinks from companies who were promoting them.

There was also a tent that was getting people to sign up to bring awareness towards treatment for people with burns and scars. I learned that this whole concert was held to raise funds for the victims who suffer from accidents resulting in skin damage, rash, scars and etc.

Later, in-between the concert performances, Taecyeon and Hyoeun informed the audience about the cause the importance of the charity.

Overall, the atmosphere inside the hall was very vibrant and diverse to the usual concert experience.

Kintex consists of multiple halls; the one this event was held in was hall number 5, busy with people from different parts of the world who came to watch their stars on stage. The audience got super hyper and excited, cheering and dancing when DJ DOC appeared on stage singing ‘Run To You’, their hit song, which was released in the year 2000. And the Noraebang’s favorite tune was enough to keep people singing along and happy.

DJ DOC’s vocal sounded very much like playing a record, the main vocal Changryul’s voice was not in the least shaky and it came out very loud and clear. DJ DOC has existed as a band since the 90’s and have produced dance and hip hop music, with the ‘Run To You’ probably being their biggest hit. After three of their songs were performed, runways for everyday outfits began – the clothes shown were targeted for both women and men for the coming fall season. The outfits the models displayed were themed very differently, but they were all very casual wearables.

After one designer’s show was through, a K-pop act came on stage and sang two or three of their songs live. Then another fashion show by a different designer would begin. Boyfriend, Stellar, 100% and After School sang their newreleased singles and their debut singles, which were well-received and cheered on by the fans in the audience.

Boyfriend sang their most current single called, ‘Startup!‘ As well as their 2011debut single ‘Boyfriend.’ Stellar is a four-member girl group formed in 2011 and they performed their song, ‘Marionette’ along with a couple other of their
songs.

For those who are not aware of who 100% is, 100% is a seven-member boy band who debuted in 2012, created by the Shinhwa’s member, Andy Lee. Their performance was very energetic with up-beat music.

After School sang their hit singles, ‘Because Of You,’ ‘Bang’ and ’Diva’. And, because it had been quite a while since people were able to see a performance by the girls together, the crowd was particularly excited to see them.

The most popular acts were saved until last that night, since it was obvious the most anticipated artists for this audience was notably B. A. P. and 2PM. The crowd got louder and the air got more intense when B. A. P. appeared. Fans sang along to the lyrics to ‘One Shot,‘ ‘Angel’ and ‘No Mercy.‘ Many hands were raised to take pictures of the group. The name B. A. P stands for ‘Best, Absolute, Perfect’ and their performances were nearly fitting to their name and they displayed a lot of professionalism in their live vocals and choreography.

One Shot – B.A.P Live @ SGC Super Live In Seoul (???????)
David Lee ???
http://youtu.be/6juoPODq9jU
Recorded Live @ Kintex Hall, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
Jinyoung Park.

??????? ?? ???. ??? ???. (2014.09.13)
www.newskorea.info

As the very last performers of the night, 2PM wrapped up the concert with their hits, ‘Ten Out Of Ten,’ ‘Put Your Hands Up,’ ‘Go Crazy,’ and ‘Hot.’ 2PM’s main vocalist, Jun. K put in a few words that he wrote the lyrics and music to the latter two songs mentioned above, and the crowd was heated upby the fast track of the songs, very diverse from their previous singles, which were written by J. Y. P’s head, Jinyoung Park.

Hands Up – 2PM Live @ SGC Super Live In Seoul (?? ?? ???)
David Lee ???
http://youtu.be/x6AXStxme0A?list=UUXMJRQXLUMz4G3-eO9WBk_Q
Recorded Live @ Kintex Hall, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
??????? ?? ???. ??? ???. (2014.09.13)
www.newskorea.info

The whole concert with the fashions shows were executed brilliantly and very entertaining, and the crowd – even though they were all standing for 3 hours were all civil and very much organized.

The entire show offered fashion, music and entertainment in one night. It was well-planned out and definitely a win-win situation for a lot of people; for the fashion designers, the performers and the fans within the crowd. It’s always agreat cultural experience to be among so many people who gather to see live performances and watching different bands and artists in one show made the concert even more elaborate and fun.

Kcrush wants to thank Stephanie from “HallyuBack” for attending the event as our special guest. What a treat it was to have her there. Thank you Stephanie! Watch Stephanie’s great and sometimes hilarious shows on her channel.

—- J. Chung

Photo credits: Ye Ryu. Thank you for allowing us to share your great photographs with our Kcrush fans.

Dear K-Pop Industry and Fans,

Let me start by stating the obvious: It hasn’t been a good year for you.

2014 is going to go down as one of your darkest years. To be honest, it’s for good reason.

I’ve been a fan of your artists since the late 1990s.  Over a decade of my life has been dedicated to you. I’ve seen the rise of H.O.T and Sechskies; I’ve seen their ends.   I will forever stan Baby V.O.X as my favorite female group despite their scandals and unfortunate demise.   Relatively quickly, I fell in love with B.A.P and became a dedicated fan with my undying love for Yongguk and Himchan.  I’m still waiting for a Big Bang comeback and remain hopeful Wonder Girls will dominate once more despite Sohee leaving and Sun living in Haiti with her family.

Notice how I never mentioned stanning a company.

2014 has been a shocking year for you, Companies.   I always suspected that, once the perfect makeup, sequins, aegyo, and glamour of the stage are stripped away, all that remains is a dark entity.   With scandals exploding forth, you continue to show how cruel of a world and how shady of a business you are at the expense of the artists you signed.

The week of September 15 brought accusations of rape and sexual harassment by former trainees, reminding me of 2012’s Open World Entertainment scandal; the reemergence of the Nine Muses documentary showing the possible abuses against the then-trainees; and now the Star Empire Entertainment issue with ZE:A’s Junyoung (Lee Hoo) threatening to expose company issues. I hope somewhere along the line he does so everyone can see the issues that exist.

Let’s not forget Wu Yi Fan versus SM; how Korean fans feel YG Entertainment is covering up for Park Bom’s issues; actress Jang Jayeon’s 2009 suicide; and how many feel companies don’t do enough to protect artists following the accident that killed Ladies’ Code’s EunB and RiSe.

These massive scandals aside, let’s talk about what everyone knows about you:

• Idols may be forced to have plastic surgery before they debut in order to fulfill an ideal, often looking like fragile, mass-produced porcelain dolls.  This even extends to your pageant contestants who many point out look too much alike.
• Many companies have food and weight restrictions for idols which often verge on unhealthy territory. Sarah Wolfgang, formerly of Tahiti, Ladies’ Code’s Sojung, and IU are among a few of the idols who’ve admitted to eating disorders (Writer’s Note: K-Crush’s September issue covers this topic more in-depth).   How many more are there who haven’t come forward?
• Performance schedules are unrealistic.   Thankfully, there are now some rules in place for minors. But overall, performers are often overworked running from show-to-show and doing everything you ask.   Yes, this is their jobs, but artists shouldn’t be worked to illness like in the case of EXO’s Luhan and B2st’s Dongwoon recently.
• Artists do not get to see the money they make on album sales, concerts, and merchandise. There are times when artists see a small amount of money and have to split it among the  members.   The performers should be able to see more of their proceeds so they can support themselves and their families.

And these are the stories we know.   What isn’t known about you is what’s the most frightening.
This is where I have an issue with you, K-Pop.   I despise the treatment of many of your idols.  They’re not robots. They’re not people who deserve to be abused.  They’re people who should be free to pursue their dreams while you help promote them and provide the tools needed to succeed.

As an international bystander and supporter of your artists, it seems like you take advantage of the dreams of young people. These people will do anything to achieve their dreams even if it is wrong like the trainee who discussed rape allegations to eNews:

“I have to do what I’m told by my company, because if I don’t, they’ll release me.”
You take advantage of kids and young adults who want to succeed, who don’t want to be failures in the eyes of their families and society, then they are threatened to keep quiet or lose their dreams.   Where is your shame, your humanity? What did these people do to earn the abuse?

Of course, this is not all companies… at least I hope it’s not.

And, there will be those who will defend your actions saying it “builds character” or “prepares the artists for the pressures of celebrity life.   ”For that, I have to ask where these people’s hearts are and ask why the “glitz on stage” is better than the artists’ mental, emotional, and physical well-being.   The artists endure company mistreatment and demands for their dreams and fans.   Fans need to realize this and stand up for their artists.
My wish is for all fans to come together to stand against you, K-Pop companies, and for fans to realize their favorite artists deserve better.   I hope fans will put aside their fandom-alliances, stop the fanwars for a while, and unite as one.

eNews World 24 conducted an interview with two former K-Pop trainees about abuse in the industry./ via Naver

While the artists perform for our happiness, we need to stand for them and their happiness to show we care about them as people.   Please, fans, let your voices be heard for the fair and uncruel treatment of idols.   Extend this cry for fair treatment to the actors and actresses in the industry, too. Let the companies know you will not stand for sexual, physical, or mental abuse.

I also hope the Korean National Assembly will look deeper into the issues plaguing you, K-Pop industry. They passed laws this year for minors and their schedules, but I hope an internal investigation occurs to put a stop to the shadiness.   With this, I hope anyone who was and is abused by you will show their courage the way Junyoung and the anonymous trainees have to help shine a light and what goes on behind the scenes.   I hope companies who show signs of wrongdoing will be taken down for the sake of the people behind the acts we fans love.

K-Pop industry, you need to see your artists as people.   You need to help them, not hurt them. If you don’t change your ways, I will have to walk away from your world because I cannot support unfair treatment of idols or anyone else in the entertainment industry.   I love the people our idols are, and I stand by them.   Why won’t you?

Fans, will you stand beside your idols and show solidarity toward them and fair treatment?   Do you love them enough to help them?

Sincerely,

J. H.

 

Introducing a newcomer singer-songwriter, Dabit

Dabit  is a Korean-American  who was born and raised in the State of Ohio.   Dabit’s real name is David Kim and his Korean name is Jungwook Kim.    Dabit’s name was an innovative change from David and has no set meaning.   Since his friends started calling him Dabit to differentiate him from a friend who was also called David, he thought it would be fun to name himself Dabit, switching a couple letters around resulted in this unique stage  name.

Dabit has always been passionate about music and has been singing since an early age as a hobby.   He used to record himself singing when he was in elementary school and that was his way to release stress and be at ease with himself.   He states that because his older brothers all excelled in studies and sports, the one thing he could outdo them in was singing.    He decided to take the path to music, what he was best in, so despite his parents going against the idea, he enrolled into Berklee College of Music in Boston when he received a renewable scholarship.

After  two years of attending the school, he decided to visit his motherland to pursue his dream of becoming a singer-songwriter.   He has now been living in Korea for over three  years and due to the fact  he spent most of his vacation every year in Korea, he feels  most comfortable living in Korea.

When he first arrived in Korea, Dabit auditioned at different entertainment companies where he became a trainee at Choeun Entertainment and later became a member of the boy group called 24K.   Not long before the debut of 24k Dabit began to realize that idol music was not suitable for his voice and he knew he had to make a different type of music for himself.

Soon afterwards, he joined his current management company, KoffeeDream Entertainment to help him to launch his career as a solo singer-songwriter.   He maintains a still close relationship with the former band members.

Dabit released his first digital single “Whoo Whoo Whoo” on his birthday on December 5, 2013, and the digital single is written and composed by Dabit himself.  The song introduced Dabit’s style of music, which could be described as pop with a light swing and  overall very breezy and easy to listen to, compliments Dabit’s voice well.

On December 21st of 2013, Dabit held his first meeting with his fans in Apgujeong, in the Gangnam area of Seoul.  The following year on June 27th, Dabit had his first international fan meeting in Tunisia – tickets were sold out in less than 6 hours.

Currently, every Wednesday at noon, Dabit gets on the air on Arirang Radio’s “Hot Beat” where Dabit and the main host, Kevin Kim (From the boy band, ZE:A) co-host.  Together they discuss their personal lives and give advice for those who request.  The radio show has loyal listeners and has shown great response from international fans.

Dabit is, also taking lessons to pursue a career in acting and he has already made his first cameo appearance on the TV drama called “Endless Love”.   Dabit is a young and indeed a  talented artist who wants to take charge of his own music and is moving forward to evolve his sound.

We have Dabit’s interview for our Kcrush readers, we hope that you’ll enjoy reading and show much interest to his upcoming album which is on its way very very soon.

 

Interview with the new starlet singer-songwriter, Dabit

Hello Dabit…Thank you very much for taking the time to do our Kcrush America interview.
Could you say hi and put in a few words of introduction about yourself to our Kcrush readers?

Hello my name is Dabit!  I am a singer-songwriter who debuted last winter!

 

How would you describe the music you write and who has been your biggest musical influence?

I love music with a swing beat.   My music ‘is” a lot of k-pop, mainstream jazz with a little influence of R&B.   When I was younger, my biggest musical influences were artists like Wheesung and Jason Mraz.

 

Could you briefly describe what your personality is like and what do you usually like to do in your free time?

I think I spend a lot of time laying low by myself.   I like to stay home and watch movies or go outside and find a new place to chill out at.

 

What is your favorite song or record that you listen to often?   And when and how did you decide to become a singer?

My favorite song would  depend on my mood.   Currently, I’m hooked on Sam Smith’s , “I’m Not The Only One.”     And, I have always loved singing ever since I was young.   Although the dream was always there, I always felt scared to come forward with it.   I took my first step in high school when I decided to apply to the Berklee College of Music.

 

Who do you miss the most back home in America?

My family.

 

You stated eating as one of your hobbies, what kind of food do you like to eat?

Foods from different countries!   I recently had Tunisian food when I went there for a performance. It was delicious!

 

What do you like most about singing and writing songs?

I am a very independent and sensitive person.   I am not good at expressing in words what I’m feeling to my friends or even to my family members.   I feel like music gives me that outlet to release and express those emotions in a controlled manner.

 

Do you get stressed or put under pressure when you are writing your own songs?

Only when I have a deadline!   Otherwise, it’s a very fun and natural process that I love doing.

 

Name three things that matter to you mostly in your life.

Purpose, Companionship, and Food

 

What kind of person are you attracted to?

I am attracted to people who I can be comfortable around.   It usually tends to be people who are a bit quirky.

 

Where do you want to hold a concert in the future?

Wherever I have fans.

 

As an artist, who do you set as your role model?

When I was younger, I used to have some very serious role models.   I would become inspired by them and try everything that they did.   I still admire and take inspiration from so many artists and it would be unfair to only name one.   Since I am an artist myself, I am humbly trying to take more inspiration and influence out of my own daily life.

 

Do you have any hidden talent that you’d like to tell us about?

I completely forgot about this talent until my friend reminded me yesterday.   I have monkey ears that allow me to fold them multiple times… haha…

 

What are your plans and goals for your career?

Nothing fancy.   I just want to keep performing and making music for a long long time.   In the long run I would also like to discover other art forms to express myself through!   Eventually I shall master the art of expression!   Muhahah!

Dabit, thank you so much for your time and please, say a few words to your fans reading this interview.   We wish you all the bes t in your career and hope to hear more new music from you soon!

Thank you Kcrush America and all my fans for your support and interest!   I will be coming out with my digital single this late fall, so be on the look out for that!   See you guys very soon 🙂

 

— J. Chung

On September 13, 2014, Muzik MuzikAzia is a new Spotify-type site that focuses solely on Asian music./via MuzikAzia’s Facebook.

Azia, a new music streaming service specifically for Asian music, officially opened.  Described as Spotify for Asian music, users can stream Korean, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese music, and users can stream music from their favorite artists if they choose to do so.

MuzikAzia sounds like a promising concept right now, and a lot of users may find it helpful once a few kinks get worked out for long-term enjoyment.

First Impressions

Entering the website may be off-putting for many users as the initial language is in French. There is a language option on the upper right of the page to change the text to other languages, so you can do that, or you can simply add /en to the end of the URL.   Since I read and understand French, I didn’t bother to change the language settings.

The homepage promises listeners many choices for their music experience.  Each time I entered the page, I got a menu of different artists though CNBLUE was the most common,  but content does change daily it seems.  There are images of Korean, Japanese, and Thai artists, so it’s clear the site will cater to different listeners.  It seems that no matter what a person wants, it may be available.  This was especially true when using the “Library” tab, but it leads to some pros and cons of the site.

Pros and Cons

Pro and Con- The Library

Right of the bat, I noticed the site has some older artists listed like 1Tym, and a good mix of artists people will be familiar with overall like T-ara, TVXQ, Miyavi, Koda Kumi, and AKB48, as well as some obscure artists fans may have forgotten about like A.cian.  Seeing some of these artists, I felt a bit hopeful I would see some other older, defunct, or obscure groups like Baby V.O.X, S.E.S, Seo Taiji and the Boys, SpringS, Sound Horizon, or Do As Infinity, but they’re not included.  Maybe in the future?   One could hope!

Con- Misleading Content

There are some confusing elements for some of the menus though.  For example, “Find Out” suggests users can get news on different artists.  Instead, there is a list of artists and users can play different songs from them.  So don’t click on the link expecting news.  Perhaps this is something the developers are working on to fix.

Pro- Navigation

Most of the menus and links are easy to navigate, another plus for MuzikAzia.  Many of the tabs and menus work well and load quickly when clicked, especially the “search” and “library” options.  Searching for music is relatively easy, so users will not struggle with scanning the menus and entering the artist or song names users want.

The only downside is the links located at the bottom of the page.  If users try to open them in a new tab, they’ll open the homepage instead, which isn’t intuitive.  But, if you click on the links without opening in a new tab, they’ll work just fine.

Con- Not All Language Converts

Another tab, “Listen That,” has promise, too.  It shows a biography for a recommended artist, and it’s a nice way to discover a new artist.  But, regardless of language settings, the biography defaults to French, so users will have to use Google translate on Chrome to figure out what it says if French isn’t the understood language.  If you don’t mind the awkward Google translation, it will suffice, but again, this is an element that may need work.

Pro- Sound Quality

MuzikAzia boasts some good sound quality.  There are other Asian radio stations that have poor sound and bad connections which really impact the listening experience, but this isn’t an issue.  Even when jumping to different pages on the site, sound isn’t interrupted.  The only time the radio player stops is when I navigated to the home page, then I get a red warning across the top of my screen.

Con- Radio Player Doesn’t Say Who’s Playing

I’ve been around K-Pop and J-Pop a LONG time, but there are times I don’t recognize what artist is playing, and that happened a few times while listening to the radio player.  There are other music sites that will tell you who’s playing at the time, which is an edge these sites have.  MuzikAzia tells listeners what songs are playing if they choose a specific artist.  If artists and songs are shown to users using the radio, it would be awesome and helpful.

Pro- The Potential Blog

While there are still many sections that have the default text, the blog has potential if the post focusing on photographer Aki Yukigawa is any indication.  The content is informational, easy-to-digest, and a learning experience.  Once this section expands, it feels like it will become a go-to source for readers to learn about the arts, culture, and even news.  I know I already have the blog bookmarked!

Pro- Subscription Costs

Users won’t have to break the bank in order to enjoy a subscription.  The launching offer is one euro (about $1.30 USD) per month.  That small amount goes a long way for access on mobile devices, tablets, and computers, access to “thousands” of songs, and an ability to create playlists ad-free.   However, when I went to click on the subscription link, the link doesn’t work, which is a shame for anyone wanting to support their site right now.

Overall

MuzikAzia has potential to be a great site for Asian music lovers of all kinds.  There are a few kinks that need ironed out, but with growth, these may be eliminated.  For a new site, it has a lot going on and enough to keep users happy.  Over time, the site could assist the spread of Asian music to the world.

—- Joelle Halon

The queens are back!

After some time away, T-ara has made their triumphant return to the K-Pop scene with And & End, an album that shows some signature tunes and musical growth.

But, the album is not without controversy as it seems T-ara is nothing more than a target for hullabaloo anymore.   Sadly, in this case, decisions made by composers and their company overshadow the efforts of otherwise good performance abilities on the six-song mini album that is sure to please T-ara stans.

“Sugar Free”

There are two versions of “Sugar Free” included: The original and Big House version.  The differences between both can be heard starting around the 30-second mark (and it’s really cool to play the two songs together at the same time!).   The original version with the female voices around the 30-seconds in sounds more interesting while the Big Room version just sounds like a club standard.   The remix of the girls’ voices in the original give “Sugar Free” more depth too, so Big Room is definitely less interesting in comparison.

“Sugar Free”  gives fans the T-ara they all know and love.   It connects to 2013’s “Number 9” with exuberant sound and vocals, but the music does give the song more life.  The chorus is enough to hook listeners and draw them in for multiple listens.

One aspect that may surprise some listeners is the addition of LE’s (EXID) vocals.   LE is proving to be a jack-of-all trades in the K-Pop industry lately, having been featured on HyunA’s “Blacklist” and Jewelry’s “Look at Me” (2013), which she also composed.   LE’s voice adds something a little extra the song may have been missing otherwise, so it was the sugar on top of the “Sugar Free” cake.

“Sugar Free” earns an A, while the Big House version earns a B.

“남주긴 아까워”(“I Don’t Want You”)

“I Don’t Want You” doesn’t sound much different from other female idol groups’ songs, especially those who are more apt at the style presented.   The song sounds like it should be sung by Girl’s Day or Dal*Shabet.   Because it sounds so much like other songs available, it’s not really memorable.

The French influences in the instrumentals add oomph, giving it a cute, worldly feel.   While the “cute” feel doesn’t exactly fit T-ara, their voices sound pretty and show a different layer that might be refreshing for some fans.   Even the rapping portions are softer, which is exciting!   Sometimes having rapping that isn’t “in your face” can improve the appeal of a song.   That was the case here.

“I Don’t Want You” earns a B-.

“지난 달력”/”Last Calendar”

“Last Calendar” is a ballad that feels dreamlike.   While short, the song captivates and paints an image of pretty ballerinas swirling around a canvas, telling a story rich in artistry and emotion.

The song provides T-ara an opportunity to show off their delicate sides.   They’ve done ballads before like “Holiday” and “Cry Cry,” but “last Calendar” takes their gracefulness to a new level.   Hyomin sounds wonderful.   The song does wonders for her vocal range and shows how talented she is, something her solo song, “Nice Body” did not do.

If it wasn’t for how addicting “Sugar Free” is, “Last Calendar” is definitely the best song on the album.   It earns a solid A+.

“ORGR”

With a mix of dance music and slow bridges, “ORGR” is a multi-faceted song although it sounds familiar in some regards, especially the “na, na, na” portions.

Normally, songs with too many components—prominent rap, slow bridges, and quick verse pacing—crammed in sound sloppy, but the composing with “ORGR” didn’t make it feel that way.   However, it does get too repetitive to where it feels like no creativity went into creating a song with so much potential.   Lyrically, there could have been some improvements, but instrumentally and execution-wise, it just works.

“ORGR” receives a C+.

“그녀를 보면” (“When I See Her”)

“When I See Her” has shades of Jiyeon’s “Never Ever,” but it works since it has T-ara’s full backing.   The harmonies paint a pretty picture, once again showing T-ara is more than a dance-machine.

While the vocals are lovely, the piano in the background gets obnoxious because it’s one note being pounded out throughout the song.   This one note detracts from the song because, after a while, that’s all that can be heard.   Variety with the piano would help, or maybe just toning it a down would make a difference.   The focus should be on the vocals, not the background.

“When I See Her” grade: B.

Overall

And & End is a decent T-ara comeback with many strong songs that show their improvements as a group.   While there are a few weak songs, the songs that stand out will make the album worth listening to over-and-over again.   For once, the ballads stand out more than the dance tracks, and this could indicate T-ara’s march to maturity.
And & End earns a solid C+ for an overall grade.

—- Joelle Halon

 TEEN TOP’s EXITO Worth it Even for a Non-Fan

I need to get this out of the way: I am not a fan of TEEN TOP.

Save for “Supa Luv,” “To You,” and “Rocking,” their music isn’t my style.  However, teasers for EXITO caught my attention since they sounded more mature.

I am pleasantly surprised by the growth Changjo, Niel, C.A.P, L.Joe, Chunji, and Ricky underwent coming into the album. The music improved making this album smooth and enjoyable.

“Cry” and “Love U”

The best songs on EXITO are, by far, the ones composed by the members.

“Cry,” composed by L.Joe and C.A.P, and “Love U,” composed by L.Joe, have outstanding emotion.  The music arrangement helps with the vocals to help carry a listener away.

“Cry” has a haunting quality with the echoing vocals. The falsettos truly touch the heart. The piano at the beginning of the song matches the mood perfectly before other instrumentals join to make the song feel a little more upbeat.
As “Cry” builds, vocals also become more powerful adding additional layers. Even the rap felt necessary. The rap didn’t take away from the emotional impact and served as perfect closure.

“Love U,” like “Cry,” opens with a piano before adding more instrumentals. Like “Cry,” the buildup to the chorus touches the soul with a beautiful use of falsetto to add to the emotional appeal.

The best part of “Love U” is the chorus.  At times, I found myself wiping away a tear at the gorgeous vocals. Voices blend seamlessly and didn’t overpower the music’s message. This song is one that needs a live stage performance because it shows off how talented they are, and the raw emotion can win them some new fans.

“Cry” earns an A while “Love U” earns an A+!

“Missing”

The album’s title track, “Missing,” is not to be overlooked.  The song’s beat makes it memorable and suits TEEN TOP’s style well. High and low notes mix well to generate excitement. The rap blends well with each verse, avoiding the clichéd, pronounced rap K-Pop songs possess.

Stripping the vocals, the music has a nice groove that makes “Missing” a decent dance track.  This element also helps make the song memorable since the bouncy-feel makes the lyrics stand out and even easy to learn so listeners can sing along to it. Plus, it helps the TEEN TOP pronunciate lyrics well and are clear to understand, so the song is useful for fans even learning how to say Korean words!

 “Missing” has a nice arrangement and setup to make the song among one of TEEN TOP’s best title song releases.

“Missing” earns an A.

“Love Is”

The lounge and Bossa Nova beat for “Love Is” creates a coffee shop feel. The water drop sounds in the instrumentals make the song peaceful. The sell-point is definitely the high notes in the chorus.

The rap is a bit more pronounced, at times overwhelming the softness of the vocals that make the song enjoyable.  Because the rap is louder than the vocals, it feels like something was off with the sound mixing that made the quality feel a bit off-balanced. This may have been a song where fewer rap portions could benefit the final product. But, the chorus is well done and sounds good paired with the instrumentals.

“Love Is” receives a B-.

“Alone”

 “Alone” continues with “Missing’s” more upbeat sound, but the song lacks finesse. It begins with a child’s laughter which is a bit jarring with headphones. Other random sound effects feel distracting, ruining the mood.

“Alone” also feels messy. Others provide nice arrangement and harmonies. Here, it felt like TEEN TOP members weren’t on the same page, so I wonder what happened during the composing and arranging process. It is nice hearing each member’s individual solos, so no complaints here, but the quality just isn’t here.

“Alone” earns a C+.

“Remote Control”  

Almost every album has a weakness, and “Remote Control” is the weak link The first verse showed the song had promise, but the chorus and subsequent verses fell apart. Mostly, the song sounds whiney and forced.

The issue is the vocals lack the soul the instrumentals suggest for the song. Like “Alone,” vocals feel all-over-the-place. With some better direction, it is possible a good song is hiding. Right now, sloppy execution has me reaching for the remote control to turn this song down.

“Remote Control” earns a D.

Overall

Despite the misses with “Remote Control” and “Alone,” EXITO is a nice album with some spectacular elements. It is an album that could earn TEEN TOP some more fans, and it’s great to see L.Joe and C.A.P composing! Hopefully they will compose a whole album in the future!

EXITO earns an overall B-grade.

– Joelle Halon

Nightlife in Seoul – Where To Be In Seoul At Night

One of the defining characteristics of the nightlife in Seoul, in my opinion, would be that you can always find something to eat, drink or do.  And, another great thing is that the city is pretty safe to walk around when it’s past midnight.

It is safe to claim that Seoul has definitely a more vibrant vibe and energy at night than in the daytime.  If you know where to be that is.  Below are some suggestions as to where you can experience the Korean nightlife.

Do not expect to see every shop and restaurant open all night, but many restaurants are open very late, past midnight.  Certain restaurants, “Noraebangs” and “Jjimjilbangs” are open for business 24 hours.

The Korean karoke rooms known as the “Noraebang” (which means Song Room in Korean) pay a massive role in Korean night life since singing is a favorite entertainment for many Koreans.  The Noraebang fee would depend on the quality of the accommodation, the room capacity and the hours you choose to stay singing.  Alcohol drinks and snacks are often available.  You can also order additional fast food from elsewhere and sing the hours away with your friends or even by yourself.  Under the age of 18 must have their parent’s permission to be in a Noraebang after 10:00 p.m.  Noreabangs are open practically all night as most Korean pubs are open for 24 hours.

“Jjimjilbangs” are like public dry sauna houses in Korea.  It’s not just a great place to recover from fatigue and revive the body and mind, it often works as a great place for dating and hanging out with family and friends.  Jjimjilbangs are usually open all night.  For people who need affordable places to sleep and rest, are all welcome and should be comfortable there, since the environment accommodates you to take showers, use gym facilities, watch TV and take a nap there.

Hongdae – The Hongik University area being famous for its artsy, unique bars is a place you can watch indie bands performing underground or in the streets.  Hongdae is known for its artsy, fun fashion shops, art galleries and overall, it’s a great place to browse at night.

Shincheon, which is only a street away from the Hongdae area mentioned above, is well known for being the spot for Universities like Ewha Woman’s Uni, Yonsei Uni and Sogang Uni.  This region is famous for its number of popular bars, restaurants and Noraebangs all quite vibrantly packed at night.

Itaewon would offer you a global cultural experience you will not get any where else in Korea.  Numerous foreign restaurants like Greek, Turkish, Indian and European restaurants are located in Itaewon.  Most shops and stores accept U.S. dollars when you purchase something, even if it is something sold in the streets.  Most of all, Itaewon is notorious for being loud and bright during the night due to its many night clubs crowded with people from all parts of the world.  You can find unique clubs for latin music, Hip Hop, house music and so on.  You need to be 19 or over to be admitted inside the club legally in Korea.  Clubs will, normally check your ID before letting you in. (The legal drinking age is 20, for Korean age, 21)

The place I would personally recommend you visit at night is Gwanghwamun, City Hall and the nearby Myeongdong shopping area.  These places are in the Central area of Seoul, all located within walking distance.

It might just be my imagination, but the air feels fresher at night in Gwanghwamun, the lit-up statue of “Sejong the Great” who created the Hangeul and the canal called “Chunggaechun” that runs through the downtown and connects to the River Han is worth seeing.  The recreated canal was a $900 million dollar project completed in 2005, which is currently a very highly visited tourist destination.  The canal decorates “itself” differently every season, holds festivals and various kinds of events, concerts and public shows there.

Night outdoor activities are not unique in Korea, due to the nation’s abundant and climbable mountains, its rivers and lakes that have links to the sea.  70 percent of the land in Korea is mountainous, so hiking is a very popular hobby for a large population, many take their hobby to the extreme and camp out in the mountains at night.  Both the metropolitan area and the other rural regions have parks and for hiking, running and all kinds of sports.

Overall, Korea is at its peek at night and there is always something to do or see.  Why not visit or re-visit soon.

— J. Chung

Studio Ghibli, Inc. is a Japanese studio founded on June 5, 1985, in Tokyo, Japan.  The studio is known for producing animation movies, short-films, anime series, stage productions, music vídeos, exhibitions, TV commercials, etc.  Ghibli was founded after the success of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), which had its funds by Tokuma Shoten.  The highest-grossing movie that the studio produced was ‘’Spirited Away’’, which won a Golden Bear Award and an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.   Many of the films Ghibli makes have won the Animage Anime Grand Prix award while four of them won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year.

The name ‘ghibli’ is derived from the Arabic name for ‘sirocco’, which means ‘Mediterranean wind’.  The idea of the name is to symbolize that the company is like a new wind blowing through the anime industry.  The headers of Studio Ghibli are: Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata (directors) and Toshio Suzuki (producer).  They created it after Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind became a huge success.  That movie was inspired by its two manga volumes, which was written by Miyazaki.  Other directors, who were invited later to work on the studio, include: Yoshifumi Kondo, Hiroyuki Morita, Gor? Miyazaki and Hiromasa Yonebayashi.  Most of the soundtracks were composed by Joe Hisaishi and Michiyo Yasuda takes part on the design and helps in the production of the movies.

In August of 1996, Disney and Tokuma Shoten Publishing made an agreement, which was estabilished that Disney would start to distribute all the movies from Studio Ghibli internationally.  Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Japan distributes the movies via home video, while Toho distributes them theatrically.  Other Ghibli’s international distribution partners are: GKIDS (North America), StudioCanal UK and Madman Entertainment (Australia). The studio has strict rules about its films: no cuts or editions when distributed internationally. Studio Ghibli also has a close relationship with the magazine, Animage, which has been reporting news about the company since its beginings.  That happens, because the studio is a subsidiary of Tokuma Shoten, aka the publisher of Animage.  There’s also a museum dedicated to Ghibli, in Tokyo, which was founded in October, 2001.  Two of the movies created for that museum were shown during the Carnegie Hall Citywise Japan NYC Festival, in March, 2011.

In February, 2008, Toshio Suzuki decided to move away from his position of Ghibli’s president and gave it to Koji Hoshino, who is the former president of Walt Disney Japan.  Suzuki was selected president back in 2005.  Toshio Suzuki also retired from producer, in March, 2014, and took over the position of general manager.  The new producer selected was Yoshiaki Nishimura.  In 2014 was also announced that Gor? Miyazaki would direct his first anime, Sanzoku no Musume R?nya, a computer-animated series produced by Polygon Pictures, and co-produced by Studio Ghibli.  Unfortunatly, it was also announced that Hayo Miyazaki would retire and that the company would take a hiatus due to his departure.

Here are all the movies that Studio Ghibli produced:
1984: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Kaze no Tani no Naushika) – pre-Ghibli
1986: Laputa: Castle in the Sky (Tenkuu no Shiro Rapyuta)
1988: Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka)
1988: My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Totoro)
1989: Kiki’s Delivery Service (Majo no Takkyuubin)
1991: Only Yesterday (Omohide Poro Poro)
1992: Porco Rosso (Kurenai no Buta)
1993: Oceans waves (Umi ga Kikoeru)
1994: Pom Poko (Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko)
1995: Whisper of the Heart (Mimi wo Sumaseba),
1997: Princess Mononoke (Mononoke Hime)
1999: My Neighbors the Yamadas (Houhokekyo Tonari no Yamada-kun)
2001: Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)
2002: The Cat Returns (Neko no Ongaeshi)
2004: Howl’s Moving Castle (Hauru no Ugoku Shiro)
2006: Tales From Earthsea (Gedo Senki)
2008: Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (Gake no Ue no Ponyo)
2010: The Borrower Arrietty (Karigurashi no Arietti)
2011: From Up on Poppy Hill (Kokuriko-Zaka Kara)
2013: The Wind Rises
2013: The Tale Of Princess Kaguya
2013: When Marnie Was There

Short Films:
2000: Ghiblies (TV short film)
2001: Kujiratori [The Whale Hunt], The Ghibli Museum
2001–9: Film Guru Guru (short film series), The Ghibli Museum
2002: Anno, Hideaki, K?s? no Kikaitachi no Naka no Hakai no Hatsumei
2002: Ghiblies Episode 2 (shown theatrically before The Cat Returns)
2002: Koro’s Big Day Out, The Ghibli Museum
2002: Imaginary Flying Machines, The Ghibli Museum
2002: Mei and the Kittenbus, The Ghibli Museum
2005: Looking for a Home, The Ghibli Museum
2005: The Day I Raised/Harvested a Planet, The Ghibli Museum
2005: Water Spider Monmon, The Ghibli Museum
2006: The Night of Taneyamagahara (DVD)
2007: Iblard Jikan (DVD and Blu-ray)
2010: Chu Zumo (shown at the Ghibli Museum)
2009: The Theory of Evolution
2010: Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess (shown at the Ghibli Museum)
2011: The Treasure Hunt (shown at the Ghibli Museum)
2013: Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo (shown at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo)

Happy Chuseok everyone!

Today is supposed to be a day of family and happiness in Korea. Hopefully, for many, it is a happy day full of food and joy, although we know some recent events may not make it so.

While Chuseok festivities go on in Korea, many foreigners may not know what it is. Don’t worry: We have you covered!

What is Chuseok?

Chuseok is what is known by many as “Korean Thanksgiving” and goes by other Korean names like “hangawi,” “gabe,” or “jungchujul.” Like American Thanksgiving, the holiday celebrates a bountiful harvest, family, and even to provide thanks to ancestors for the harvest they are about to enjoy.  Workers and celebrities often go home for Chuseok in order to celebrate with loved ones.

When is Chuseok Celebrated?
Korea often uses the Lunar Calendar for important holidays and events. Chuseok is one of those important holidays that use the Lunar Calendar to determine where it falls.

Unlike the U.S. Thanksgiving that always falls on the fourth Thursday in November, Chuseok falls when the Harvest Moon is at its fullest.  For 2014, the fullest Harvest Moon appears on September 8; in 2015, the fullest Harvest Moon will be September 27.

Are There Any Chuseok Customs?
In the United States, there are a few things we’re accustom to with our Thanksgiving: Turkey, football, the National Dog Show, and maybe some feel-good TV movies. In Korea, Chuseok has many customs families may engage in to celebrate the holiday.

Beolcheo
Ancestors play a large role in Chuseok festivities. One of the first customs is beolcheo. Families visit the graves of ancestors to clear out plant debris as a sign of respect. Families are important, and cleaning the graves shows the living still respect those long gone. It is a sign of faithfulness to families since leaving graves unintended sends a negative message that a family does not care or do not want to perform their duties to appease ancestors.

 Seongmyo and Charye
Seongmyo involves celebrating ancestors by visiting their graves. Celebrations involve bringing food such as fruit, meat, and soju.

A family celebrates Chuseok with a traditional charye meal/via Epoch Times

Charye is where families set up an altar of food in the home for ancestors so they can eat well in the afterlife. The food for charye is often fresh foods from the harvest. After the ancestors “eat,” families then sit down to enjoy the food.  In Reply 1997, you can see a charye celebration done by Shi-won’s (A Pink’s Eun-Ji) parents.

Fun and Games
For Chuseok, there are even traditional games and activities such as ssireum and ganggangsullae.

Ssireum is Korean wrestling. Competitors get in the ring to show their strength and prowess while trying to pin one another. The competition keeps going until one man prevails as the strongest in the village.

Women take part in ganggangsullae, a traditional folk dance. To perform the dance, women join hands and dance in a circle while singing, celebrating the harvest moon. According to UNESCO, it is a dance to “relieve remorse and anger.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D73WBzzEG4

What are the Outfits Worn During Chuseok?
Chuseokbim (Korean dress) are new clothes worn for Chuseok. While some opt for traditional dress, others may purchase brand new Westernized clothing for the event. Some choose to forego hanbok due to cost, but those who do wear them often purchase one in neutral tones in order to stretch out their use for years to come.

B.A.P and Secret show off their traditional hanbok back in 2013.

During Chuseok, you may see images of actors, idols, and regular people wearing a traditional hanbok as their Chuseokbim. Hanbok come in many different colors, but it’s often recommended to wear one that best compliments skin tone and even the age of the wearer!

What are Some Chuseok Foods?
 
Since Chuseok celebrates harvest, fresh fruits, veggies, and grains are common Chuseok food.
One traditional food is songpyeon, a small colorful rice cake made with rice powder and filled with red beans, sesame, or chestnuts among many other tasty ingredients. The night before Chuseok, families gather to make the treat, which is also layered and steamed with pine needles to make it aromatic.

Songpyeon is an art in itself/via vaiguoren.wordpress.com

Eating songpyeon is supposed to bring good fortune to the eater, and legend says songpyeon may even help women find a good husband and give birth to pretty daughters.

Soju is also part of the traditional meal as it’s shared with family members to celebrate their ancestors.

Although Chuseok is a Korean holiday, foreigners can take a chance to experience the wonders of the holiday! Throughout Korea, you can take advantage of Chuseok events so you can see what it’s all about!

– Joelle Halon

Misheard Adventures Part One

K-Pop brings a lot of joy, but sometimes the lyrics cause a pause to say “what?”  Misheard lyrics are common when listening to music since my ears don’t work.  Checking my Kiss This Guy profile provides a slice of what I mean.

But, I’m not the only one mishearing lyrics.  Who can forget Taemin’s “Soy un Dorito”, Super Junior’s “Sexy, Free, and Single” bridge, or Girls’ Generation’s “I got a boy on my chin.  I got a boy chicken”?  So, in honor of misheard lyrics, here are some of mine.   Feel free to share and add to the list!

Taeyang ft. G-Dragon “I Need a Girl”

Girls’ Generation “Flower Power” (Japanese) 

Girls’ Generation “Run Devil Run”

Super Junior “Spy”

TVXQ “Humanoids”

4Ten “Tornado”

SHINee “Why So Serious?”

T-ara “Bo Peep”

EXO-K “Mama”

Super Junior “Superman”

B2st “Shadow”

M.I.B “Only Hard for Me”

Block B “Her”

– Joelle Halon

Even in 2014, tattoos are considered taboo in South Korea. For parts of the 20th Century, tattoos were only worn by gangs and the Korean mob, sending the message that tattoos are not an art form but a sign that someone should not be trusted. According to the Korean Herald and Global Post, tattoo artists in Korea are often underground (but open in plain sight in many instances) and move around often in order to avoid being caught by authorities and potentially raided. Tattoos are only legally allowed to be applied by doctors in Korea.

Today, the tide is turning on how tattoos are viewed in society. Young people view tattoos as a form of expression and art despite the old feelings toward tattoos that may remain in some aspects of society. With the change of attitude, many K-Pop idols are wearing their tattoos proudly for all to see, and companies have even taken to applying fake tattoos on their artists to show artistry and rebellion. Out of the idols that are out of the “tattoo closet,” whose tats are the real deal and whose are not?

2NE1
Clockwise from Left: Park Bom, 2NE1, and Minzy sport their “tattoos.” The card suits have yet to be confirmed./via YGLadies

Various MVs and promotions have boasted some fake tattoos such as Minzy’s tattoos in “I Am the Best” and Bom and Dara’s temporary tattoos for different promotions; let’s not forget the tattoos they sported in the “Ugly” MV. In 2013, CL posted a picture of all four girls sporting different tattoos representing a different suit in a deck of cards. Dara has a few pics of her Club tattoo, but it appears to change in size in each image.

So far, there is no indication the girls have real tattoos although they appear convincing.

Jooyeon, Jungha, and Nana flaunt their tattoos for “First Love.”/via Instagram, “First Love” MV

After School (Jooyeon, Jungha, Nana)

In the MV for “First Love,” the lovely ladies of After School sported different tattoos on their legs, shoulders, and arms. The tattoos show the girls’ tougher sides when paired with their sensual and innocent personas showcased in the MV. While convincing, these tattoos were fake and only for the purpose of the video and “First Love” promotions. Jooyeon sported a Henna tattoo, while Jungha and Nana either had theirs drawn on or had some high quality peel-and-stick tats.

Amber (f(x))

Amber’s tattoos focus on her faith./via OneHallyu

Amber’s tattoos—one on her wrist, the other on her back—are both real.  Amber’s wrist tattoo —“Faith/Pray”— forms a cross. Her back tattoo has writing on it, but it’s rarely clearly displayed, so it’s unclear what it consists of other than it looks large and has a cross too.

Bang Yongguk

Yongguk recently added another tattoo to his growing collection! In addition to his new “viva la revolucion” tattoo on his chest, he also has “do what u like and luv What u do” on his left shoulder and “mark art, not war” on his right arm.

The Yongguk tattoo collection/via Wattpad and Bangstagram

As for fan reaction, many tend to agree his back tattoo is the best, even inspiring to many who later got similar tattoos. His latest chest tattoo has experienced a split of love and hate. It’s his body and he can do what he pleases, though, regardless of how fans may feel.

Block B (Zico & Taeil)

Zico and Taeil both have real and interesting tattoos adorning their bodies. Zico’s tattoos have stories associated with them.

Clockwise from Left: Taeil’s images as seen on fan photos; Zico’s chest tattoos; Taeil’s “MVP Lucky” tattoo/via

OneHallyu

His “John the Apostle” is his baptized name, and the woman is an image of his mother. Fans seem to be divided on his “mom” tattoo calling it “sweet,” where others feel it makes him unapproachable. In addition to these, he also has the Shroud of Turin on his arm; one below “John the Apostle,” one near his left wrist, and some bees along his side.

Taeil has several tattoos on his chest and arms. For the most part, he does well covering them up since there are few pictures with them. However, he has tattoos ranging from tigers to roses to his “MVP LUCKY” tattoo on his arm.

BoA

The forever-fresh-faced K-Pop queen does have a tattoo of a large, fancily-adorned “B” on her upper back. In the center of the “B” stands an angel, a sweet homage to her name’s acronym “Beat of Angel.”

BoA’s ornate “B” features an angel and clean lines./via Ningin

G-Dragon
GD has eight confirmed tattoos:

• “Too fast to live, too young to die” on his back
• “Vita dolce” and a Keith Haring running heart on his right arm
• A Dragon ball on his left shoulder
• GD’s tattoos on display/via loveartandstylish.com
• “Mind control”  on his left side
• “Moderato” on his left arm
• “Forever Young” on his right side
• Two X’s right above his belly button

In MVs for “That X” and “Crooked,” GD wears Henna tattoos on his chest, fingers, arms, and face to help match the mood of the MVs.

Henry

Henry felt “trapped” by his bad boy image, so he ditched the fake tattoos/via WorldWideELFS
Followers of Super Junior M may have been shocked when, in 2013, teasers showed a heavily-tattooed Henry Lau for his “Trapped” solo debut. At subsequent fan-meetings, Henry was sans tattoos. Even without the fan-meetings, the tattoos for “Trapped” promotions appeared to be elaborate Henna and peel-and-sticks. So far, it doesn’t appear

Henry has any tattoos at all.

HongKi

HongKi gets tattoos added to his collection/via Tattoo Korea

FTIsland’s leader and resident fashionista, HongKi, has a few real tattoos dotting his body. Above both elbows, he has “FREEDOM” inked. His forearms have a pair of skeletons, showing his love for skeletons and skulls. One skeleton skateboards, while another sits on a martini glass blow-drying its flamed hair. Some images on the Internet show he has his Skull Hong logo tattooed on his shoulder, but it’s unclear whether this one is real or Henna.

Hyorin (Sistar)

Both Hyorin’s tattoos are visible for once./via RealKpoptattoos.tumblr.com

Sistar has two tattoos: A small one on her right arm, and a large cross on her stomach. The cross tattoo has a story around it as she got it to hide some scars she had from surgeries when she was young.  However, these tattoos are rarely seen on music shows since the producers require her to cover them up using tape or makeup. Many of the music shows are on the conservative side, so tattoos are seen as a potential bad influence on young people. But, you can see her tattoos in a few MVs and during concerts.

HyunA

HyunA’s tribute to her mother is one of K-Pop’s most recognizable tattoos./via Ningin

HyunA’s tattoos, may be polarizing for fans and anti-fans alike since tattoos are more taboo on females than males and because HyunA gets a general bad rap due to her image. Despite this, she does have five tattoos: “Fatum” (lower back), “Tempus” (right upper arm); a cross (left upper arm); and a tattoo on her shoulder.

Her biggest tattoo is on her back and says “My mother is the heart that keeps me alive.” Many fans actually love this tattoo and adore its sweet meaning, but the K-Pop community is torn on liking the other ones.

Jay Park

Jay Park could probably boast that he’s one of the most-tattooed artists in the K-Pop industry!

Jay Park’s notable tattoos include stars on his neck; a lion on his hand; a lion on his chest with “I am truly blessed” and “Always come proper” across it; “Heart of a lion” written on his chest; the “AOM” tattoo behind his ear for his “Art of Movement” B-Boy crew; and “JWalkerz” on his back for his fans.

While there are fans who feel Jay Park should lay off the tattoos a bit, they are pieces of art unique to him.

This is only a handful of Jay Park’s tattoos!/via AllKPop

– Joelle Halon

Some children’s books today rely on bathroom humor in order to be entertaining to young readers. This is a sad testament of where books have headed the past few years. But, that’s how the times have changed and keep changing. Sometimes it is nice to return to simpler times to try to recapture the innocence of childhood.

Recently, while sorting through books of my youth, I came across Aki and the Fox by Akiko Hayashi and immediately felt nostalgic.

Aki and the Fox
Akiko Hayashi

Story:       

Illustrations:     

Readability:      

Complexity:     

Themes:      

Overall:      

The story, released in 1989 in Japan and 1991 as an English translation, is delightful for young children while the illustrations may induce laughter for older individuals. If you’re looking for a piece of nostalgia, Aki and the Fox may be for you!

The Story

The story opens with plushie fox Kon waiting for new-baby Aki to come home. The narration opens with him thinking about where he came from and what he misses, then shifts to his relationship with young Aki. This section goes by quickly, but helps to set the tone for how important Aki is to Kon as the two grow.

The story shifts to show how important Kon is to Aki after stuffing pops out of his arm and they adventure to Aki’s grandmother’s home. They meet several issues along the way, especially since Kon seems to be quite the unlucky fox!

Hayashi’s writing is simple and innocent, so children will not have a hard time understanding what’s happening. What I like is how the writing isn’t dumbed down. The narrative is engaging since Hayashi breathes life into Kon and Aki, giving them individual personalities that complement each other and help drive the story forward.

Theme

The book’s theme is also something parents and children can relate to as they go through the tale. Parents may see the story is about Aki and Kon’s solo quest to grandma’s house as a journey of independence. Parents may be reminded of how their kids are growing up and may soon be doing things on their own and figuring out solutions much like Aki and Kon.

For young people, the theme of independence may help kids see how to figure out situations for themselves even though today’s children may not relate to solo rides on trains and going to grandma’s house alone. If parents take the time to discuss the story’s actions and how to react in scary situations, then the story’s point can be driven home further.

Friendship is the other theme. The book covers how true friends will be there for each other no matter the situation. In an age where many friendships are disposable when things get rough, Aki and Kon weather the storm. Aki and the Fox can show young people how important friendship is and that no matter how bad things get, being a true, helpful friend can mean the world to someone.

Illustrations

The book’s soft colors are peaceful and attractive for all readers, recalling drawing styles of days gone by where hand-drawn pieces captivated the storybook and animation world. The action depicted in each scene is easy for young readers to grasp while older readers and parents may chuckle at the images portraying poor Kon in unfortunate situations!

The amount of detail in even the simplest of drawings will amaze! Each person has a unique face; sand looks wavy and grainy; and trains and people have movement. Hayashi strikes a balance between complex situations and child-friendly faire with her use of soft features and bold colors. A reader’s eye will surely want to scan the pages to see everything each has to offer.

Overall

Aki and the Fox by Akiko Hayashi should be considered “an oldie but goody” by many. It is a book that should be shared with children of all ages, because of its simplicity and themes of friendship and independence.

The one downfall for Aki and the Fox is how difficult it is to find! The book, sadly, is out of print, which is an injustice in the world of children’s publishing, but it does exist in the worlds of Amazon and eBay as a used library book available for purchase. A quick trip to WorldCat or even a library’s InterLibrary Loan (ILLiad) system will help you track the book down for borrowing. If you have young children or you’re just nostalgic for an adorable children’s story, track down Aki and the Fox. You will not regret it!

– Joelle Halon

 On September 4, KBS already announced that 2PM’s upcoming single “Go Crazy” is already banned due to “inappropriate lyrics.” Never mind how a tracklist wasn’t shared with the public yet or how audio teasers were not released until later in the day; nope, the song needed to go and KBS offed it. The lyrics in question are:

“Let’s go for a second round”

“These guys are planning to go crazy”*

*Apparently, the Korean is a vulgar expression.  As Naver commentators say, the lyrics are not necessarily bad, but the term used is a “rougher term for ‘guys.’”

In honor of 2PM’s ban (since getting the axe from KBS seems like a badge of honor anymore), here are some of KBS’ most ridiculous bans over the years!

Akdong Musician “Galaxy”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFTTWlwAy48

Apparently KBS didn’t get the memo that there is a galaxy outside of a cell phone and that all of us actually live in said galaxy.  KBS deemed AKMU’s play unfit for broadcast due to the repeat of the word “galaxy,” which listeners may have confused as an advertisement for the phone.  I guess that’s the side effect of living in the digital age?

Orange Caramel “Catallena”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Med2XipHJJM

Wrapping people in plastic is a bit extreme and shows a disregard for human life, so I’ll give KBS that. But, that’s beside the point here.  Orange Caramel are mermaids and sushi, so they’re mythical creatures and a yummy meal. Unless KBS wants seafood to be unwrapped!  Then we have a disregard for human life if it’s advertised seafood should be left out in the open.  Food poisoning isn’t pretty, KBS.

PSY “Gentleman”

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

This ban is funny, because it was banned for what wasn’t expected: A kicked traffic cone.  You can pick your backside, pull chairs out from underneath people, and incorporate sexual innuendo with food, but do not, I repeat, DO NOT kick a traffic cone no matter how squirrely it may be!

Hot Potato “Pillow”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-8WAsdWvWI#t=16

Being artistic and symbolic in an MV is a punishable act; just ask Hot Potato. Walking the wrong way on the moving sidewalk is a misdemeanor in KBS-land, so is littering.  Littering is bad and people shouldn’t do it, but is it a ban-able offense?  Apparently so back in 2010, but not so much in 2012 when “Gangnam Style” was the craze and crazy-amounts of trash blew past PSY.

Real trash a la PSY’s “Gangnam Style?” Okay.

Embrace the trash, PSY. KBS thinks it’s okay!/via hancinema.net

Dropping portions of your memories to drive home the point of the lyrics?  Don’t even try it.

GD and TOP “Knock Out”

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

For years, KBS hasn’t been too fond of Big Bang, and that’s no secret.  While fans were outraged, they weren’t surprised by “Knock Out’s” ban.  Reason: “It’s damaging to national psyche.”  The Korean title “Bbeokigayo” is slang.  I’ve heard that listening to this song may cause you to rebel against society and might cause you to kick traffic cones, walk the wrong way on a moving sidewalk, and dance on buses. Maybe KBS was right to remove this song from its playlist?

So what KBS “strange reason” bans were your favorites?   Let us know in the comments below!

– Joelle Halon

At 10:10am September 7, 2014, another tragedy struck as Ladies’ Code’s RiSe passed away. She turned 23 August 16.

RiSe sustained critical injuries from the September 3, 2014, accident that took fellow Ladies’ Code member EunB’s life. Doctors operated on RiSe for seven-to-11 hours, having to suspend further surgery after her blood pressure dropped.

During surgery, RiSe’s heart stopped, and doctors needed to perform an internal cardiac massage to get her heart pumping again.

Since the surgeries, RiSe had been in a coma. Her family members stayed by her side.

Since RiSe’s passing, Polaris released a statement to the public stating, “RiSe received a critical injury to her head and was moved to the hospital. She received surgery for as long as possible but ultimately passed away. Her parents, who came from Japan, and Polaris staff stayed with her until the end. We are so sorry to give you the sad news. Since EunB has also passed, we cannot hide our sorrows.”

We cannot hide our sorrows either.

Information has not been released regarding funeral plans or how the other members are doing.

As our thoughts and prayers remain with EunB and her family and friends, our thoughts and prayers go out to RiSe and her family and friends and Ladies’ Code members during this time.

Rest in peace, lovely angels.

In a world full of aegyo, happiness, and hard-working performers, it’s difficult to announce when tragedy strikes the K-Pop world. Sadly, today, there is tragic news to report as Ladies’ Code’s EunB passed away following a tragic vehicle accident September 3, 2014 in South Korea. She was only 22.

The accident occurred after 1am KST.  Rainy conditions caused the girls’ van to ram into a wall on Singal Intersection of Yeondong Expressway heading toward Incheon.

The other Ladies’ Code members and staff were in the van also and were rushed to St. Vincent’s hospital. Sojung and RiSe are in critical condition. Two stylists had minor injuries.

Reportedly, Zuni and Ashley were not in the vehicle.

EunB, 22, passed away September 3, 2014 following a tragic car crash./via FanPop

MBC news shared images of the crash on their news report and on their website. Star News broke the news first.

The crash is currently under investigation. More information is sure to be released in the coming days.

Our thoughts and prayers are with EunB’s family and friends as well as the other Ladies’ Code members as the coming days and weeks unfold. We cannot imagine the incredible pain they must be experiencing right now.

Ladies Code experienced a tragic lost September 3, 2014./via Wikipedia Commons

We are most definitely in shock as we’re sure family and friends are.

 

Who doesn’t love candy?   Sweet, tasty candy is what is right in the world sometimes.   In Korea, they seem to feel the same way I do about candy, so they blessed us with pumpkin caramel chews which sound promising and delightful just by the name alone.   But, do the candies live up to their heavenly-sounding pumpkin-ness?   In the spirit of the upcoming fall season, let’s unwrap a few in a taste test!

 

Initial Impression

Each piece of candy is individually wrapped, so it’s nice for individual snacking.  Plus, the wrapper helps to keep your fingers from getting sticky since it is a taffy-type treat.

When unwrapped, the candy resembles a lemon Jolly Rancher: It has a yellowish hue, but it’s not as opaque.

The package I had might have been older, but it wasn’t soft as advertised.  When I bent it to test the softness, it cracked instead of pulled as expected.  Soft things shouldn’t crumble.

There isn’t a distinct pumpkin scent attached to it.   It has a waxy scent that’s mixed with some nutty notes.  There’s more fresh peanut butter than anything, so it’s hard to tell where pumpkin actually plays a role in the whole candy.

 

Taste

Biting into the candy was a bit of an adventure, but that’s because I have crowned teeth and my dentist recommends I no longer eat these types of foods.  The candy isn’t that sticky on teeth, but it does crumble.   Just like with the “bend test,” don’t expect this to be a soft caramel.  When warmed in your mouth, it does become softer, but it is a bit of a workout for your jaw because it is really chewy!

The little candy bursts with flavor as it touches the tongue, but none of those flavors resemble anything pumpkin.  There’s a taste of peanuts with sweet caramel notes that make the treat incredibly tasty!  The caramel taste isn’t overwhelming, so it’s more of an accent flavor.  However, it is more like eating peanut fudge.  I tried several pieces to see if there was anything pumpkin-flavored, but there is none.  It doesn’t matter because the candy is addictively delicious!

 

Final Verdict

The candy’s flavors mixed with the sweetness of the caramel make for a delightful flavor adventure.  I recommend warming the candy in your hands first since it is on the hard side.  If you have dental work, I would bite it with caution unless you warm it up.  The candy is tasty and addictive and oh-so-worth it despite its disappointing lack of pumpkin.

 

–Joelle Halon

Today, I would like to introduce you to Grace, who is a great friend of mine and I’m going to be interviewing her about her favorite Kpop idol group.   Before we get to the interview, I want to talk more about her, so it kind of gives you an idea of what kind of person she is.   Grace loves to write stories and she actually has her own blog where she writes a lot on.   The stories are about her favorite idol group, which we’ll talk about soon, but she has a lot of people who read her stories and her blog is getting more views each day.   We’ve been friends for about 6 years now and we know pretty much everything about each other.   Anyway, lets get to the interview now before I go on and on about my friend and I.

Who is your favorite idol group?
“My favorite idol group is EXO!”

What made you become interested in them?
“I wasn’t into them at first, but when I watched their ‘Growl’ music video, I was really surprised by their dance performance and half way into the chorus I found my self singing along with them.”

Are you a member of their fan club?
“YES.   A few weeks ago their company SM Entertainment made an official fan club page for the fans and EXO members.   For the first couple of days, I couldn’t sign up for a membership, because so many fans were trying to sign up all at once so I had to wait a couple of days.  They have over 2 million fans signed up for the page!   How crazy is that?”

Have you ever been to their fan meetings or concerts?
“No I wish!   If they held concerts or fan meetings in my state, I would totally go.   I can’t afford to travel.”

Who is your favorite member out of the group?
“I like all the members but Sehun is my favorite!   He’s just so dang attractive!”

Have you bought any of their songs, cds, posters, backpacks, clothing, etc.?
“I have all their songs Korean and Chinese versions on my phone and also on my computer.   I don’t have any cds, posters, or backpacks, but I do have a shirt that matches with one of their performance shirts.”

What is your favorite song from their latest album?
“All their songs in their new album are really good, but I think I’ll go with ‘Overdose.’ Overdose is their title song for the album and it has some really cool beats.   Oh, and their dance is amazing too.”

How long have you been a fan of EXO?
“For about a year now.  Like I said before, Growl is what got me interested in them and that song was released last summer.”

What do you like about EXO?
“I like how it’s such a big group with 11 members and every one of them has their own unique style that makes people just fall for them.”

Which member is the funniest?
“Baekhyun for sure!   He’s the loudest, craziest member out of EXO.   He always imitates Tao, because he likes to whine a lot and Baekhyun does a really good imitation of him.”

Have any members been in a drama or movie?
“D.O is in a drama right now called ‘It’s Okay, That’s Love’ and he also has a movie coming up called ‘Cart.’   Recently, Chanyeol was cast for a movie called ‘The Last First Love.’

Who is the best singer out of EXO?
“They’re all good singers, but the best one would have to be Chen!   Chen is such a good singer; his voice range can either go really low or very high.  He can pretty much sing any note he wants, it’s crazy.   He also sang his first solo OST for a drama ‘It’s Okay, That’s Love’ that D.O is in.”

Who was the first member that got you interested in this group?  Is this person still your favorite?
“The first member that got me interested was Kai.  I’ve always been into dancing and when I saw Kai dance, I instantly fell in love.  He has very good dancing technique and is the main dancer of EXO.  He did ballet for a couple of years and people say that if you do ballet, you can do any kind of dance.  No wonder he’s so good!  I still love Kai but now my favorite member is Sehun like I mentioned before.”

What was your thought on Kris leaving the group?
“It was very selfish for him to leave the group like that.  If he had problems with SM, he should have tried to work things out.  For him to ditch the group especially right before their first concert just shows he didn’t care about the members or the fans. Kris leaving the group was a shock to all the EXO members and to fans.  But in some ways, I guess it’s a good thing because now, the 11 members are stronger than ever.”

Well, thanks for letting me interview you!  Even though I’m a fan of EXO myself, it was cool to get to know more about your thoughts, because from my point of view, I would have answered every single one of those questions differently!

 –  Juyeon Oh

The K-Pop industry is dominated by many big names like Girl’s Generation, Big Bang, Super Junior, SHINee, 2NE1, and many others dominating fans and the media. All the while, groups with potential who lack a big name company or are victims of poor promotion cycles get lost. Let’s help some of these groups not get lost and show them some support since they’re performers you should know!

Note: all groups debuted prior to 2014.

Never Mind

 

Members: G-One, G-Hoon, Ino, and Chang Ha
Company: Toeast Music
Debut: January 2013
Debut Song: “Shooting Star”

Their debut song “Shooting Star” provided K-Pop with a refreshing sound, but “Hoi Hoi” wasn’t the most memorable of follow-ups. But, two of the songs from their debut album, Hoi Hoi, “Rain of Tears” and it’s ballad companion “Rain of Tears Again” are among 2013’s most underrated songs. The pop-punk quartet promote in South Korea and Thailand.

GB9

 

Members: Gilgu and Bonggu
Company: WS Entertainment
Debut: April 2013
Debut Song: “Going Crazy”

GB9 doesn’t have the typical idol look, and it’s so refreshing! It’s nice to see beautiful, strong, and worthy vocals take center stage over the glitz and glamour. Since they’re a duo that’s about singing and not dancing, you can really hear the emotions in their vocals and every high and low note they hit.

“Going Crazy” was a flawless debut, because the song shows their range and their ability to tell a story through music. Simply put, Gilgu and Bonggu have soul. You can hear them currently making the rounds on the music shows with their comeback song “DalAh” and the Trot Lovers and Cunning Single Lady OSTs.

Yell,O.W.

 

Members: Hye Jin, Hyun Jung, Hyun Joo, and Mari
Company: Big Brain
Debut: August 2013
Debut Song: “This is My Story”

Yell,O.W was one of the girl groups leading the charge of more refined vocals and stronger stage presence before falling into K-Pop obscurity in the latter half of 2013. Their debut video featured the girls with obscured faces because the focus was supposed to be on vocals. The company thought this would attract more attention, but this seems to not be the case. Their Facebook page is now defunct and little information is available for them. Hopefully they’ll comeback soon, because they deserve plenty of love and attention.

Odd Eye

 

Members: Yi Eum, Miki, and HaYool
Company: Fair Music
Debut: June 2013
Debut Song: “Catch Me If You Can”

Dubbed as a “creepy debut,” Odd Eye is multi-talented: They sing, dance, and play their own instruments to become K-Pop’s first, if not only, string-pop idol group. Watching the MV for “Catch Me If You Can” is a bit of a trippy experience, but it’s worth it.  Subsequent releases, “Follow Me” and “Never,” maintain Odd Eye’s signature string instruments and odd, haunting voices.

They have released songs in English in an attempt to cross over into the U.S market, though this venture seems to have stalled for now.  Either way, they bring something different to K-Pop that needs noticed.

M4M

 

Members: Alen, Vinson, Jimmy, and Bin
Company: United Cube/Xing Tian
Debut: March 2013
Debut Song: “Sadness”

Made up of members from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, M4M is a crossover group that sings in both Mandarin and Korean, giving them global appeal.  Their dance track for “Sadness” is anything but sad, and neither is their talent!

M4M, which stands for Mystical Formula, has strong dance skills that could potentially make them a top-tier male idol group.  Their clear pronunciation of English words in their songs can also reach out to international audiences.   With more promoting and visibility, M4M can really stand out.

Veloce

 

Members: Shin Ji Hyun, Kim Soo Jin, and Kim Chae Rin
Debut: October 2013
Debut Song: “Round and Round”

Veloce has a beautiful R&B soul that has a soft, mellow, peaceful quality.   Ji Hyun, Soo Jin, and Chae Rin harmonize well, but their voices are so different you can pick out each singer, and that’s a massive sell-point for their music!  “Round and Round” has a lullaby, waltzy-feel to it that lends to their soothing sound.   There needs to be more female groups like this in the industry to show K-Pop is more than just bubbly tunes with great dancing.

SKarf

 

Members: Jenny, Tasha, Ferlyn, and Sol (Debut, left in 2012), Hana, JooA
Company: Alpha Entertainment
Debut: August 2012
Debut Song:  “Oh Dance”

SKarf has a special meaning behind their name since it is derived from “scarf,” but the S stands for Singapore and the K for Korea; they are the first group to have Singaporeans break into the K-Pop industry.  And, with the addition of Hana, the group is made up of Singaporean, Korean, and Japanese members to create a global affair worth celebrating!

When they debuted, “Oh! Dance” was a catchy song, but may not have been enough to get them noticed. Their first mini album, Luv Virus, showed how strong and sweet they are as a group. Tasha and Ferlyn both serve as great ambassadors for the Singaporean community with their bubbly, charming personalities, which helped them in hosting and variety show activities.

What underrated groups exist in your world? Let us know so we can help spread the word!

– Joelle Halon

Korean news portal Naver reports that on August 22, 2014, singer and actor Kim Hyun Joong was accused of allegedly assaulting his girlfriend of two years.

He is currently facing a lawsuit for assault and battery.

Acquaintances of the woman known only as A have reported that she was assaulted multiple times by Kim at his apartment between the period of May and July 2014. Acquaintances said that after each alleged assault, Kim became apologetic, but each act of violence grew worse over time. According to reports, A suffered facial bruising and lacerations and bruising on various other locations on her body. The July incident resulted in a fractured rib and a recommended six-week recovery time for the alleged victim.

Even though the violence was supposedly bad, acquaintances of Ms. A said she went back to him due to his apologies.

Ms. A has filed her first testimony and allegedly submitted proof of her and Kim’s relationship. It has not been released what proof that may be.

Kim has yet to testify but prosecutors say his testimony is expected soon. Kim is expected to still perform in Bangkok, Thailand August 23 for his “2014 Kim Hyun Joong World Tour.” But with this news breaking, this may not be a wise decision since Knetz are already reacting negatively.

Comments on “Dispatch” via Naver:

1. [+3,879, -76] This b*****d was trash all along too
2. [+3,465, -41] How did he beat her that her rib cage is all broken?
3. [+2,216, -224] Hul… Kim Hyun Joong, what a disappointment
4. [+2,008, -51] Dispatch is scary.
5. [+1,997, -52] He had a girlfriend..?
6. [+819, -38] I never took him for the type… the worst type of man is one that beats his girlfriend.
7. [+774, -14] He was a woman beater? It also seems like he only beat her because he got caught meeting another woman too…
8. [+696, -14] He made his image so positive and went and ruined it all ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Comments on Nate:

1. [+498, -5] He had such a nice boy image… wow… daebak scary…
2. [+432, -11] Men who beat women are hopeless!!! You pathetic b*****d!! Farewell!!!
3. [+382, -6] You should never continue dating any man who hits you once. It’s a habit that’ll never be fixed.
4. [+66, -1] I’m sure there are two sides to every story… but after seeing stars like Kim Hyun Joong, Song Hye Gyo, Kim Soo Hyun, Jun Ji Hyun, and Han Hyo Joo.. you can’t be fooled by their manufactured images.
5. [+43, -0] Of course there are two sides to every story but that doesn’t change the fact that he beat her~

Key East Entertainment has yet to release an official statement on the matter as they’re looking into the situation to either confirm or deny the news.

Right now, this is an alleged assault. There is still a chance this information is not true, but A says she has proof. Right now, we’ll have to wait and see what happens as the story continues to break.

 – Joelle Halon’s

K-Pop has been breaking barriers in almost every country over the past few years, and with good reason. Catchy songs, enjoyable dances, and all the hard work idols put into performances all help with K-Pop’s appeal.

But, K-Pop artists have tried to appeal to Western audiences, and one of the ways is by creating covers from Western artists. Many of these covers are very well-done, and listeners should give them a chance. Here’s a nice little fusion of East meets West with some covers you should definitely check out!

   1. Bella “Don’t Let Go” (En Vogue)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6KsyON5Vww

En Vogue released “Don’t Let Go” as a powerful R&B tune in 1996. The original has so much soul, it’s impossible to top, but Bella definitely tries in the 2011 debut cover! Their cover has soul and strong vocals that pay tribute to the original beautifully. The stronger beat is a bit of an improvement on the original, but En Vogue is still tops. Plus, you can hear Kiss&Cry’s Bohye since this was her first group; she debuted as Miu.

2. Eric Nam and Kim Boa “Say Something” (A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U6jdIjA3Qo

While A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera had the power, Kim and Nam’s voices have a stronger amount of emotion than the original. The MV can be a bit distracting with the movie scenes, but the black and white enhances the feel of the song.

3. Lunafly “Wake Me Up” (Avicii)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PMIsfwG5Xc
Sam, Teo, and Yun always have great covers, but “Wake Me Up” helped put the oft underrated group on the map for many K-Pop and non-K-Pop fans. The boys show off a lot of personality in the MV to play up the upbeat tune. Listeners should use this song as a launching bad for getting into Lunafly as a whole.

4. Taeyang “Don’t Wanna Try” (Frankie J)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6oKnT6Xdj8

Taeyang’s voice is smooth and velvety during his cover of Frankie J’s hit, and that’s what makes the song totally worth it. It does have its Engrish moments, but they’re easy to overlook given his voice. Plus, later videos show many improvements with pronunciation.

5.  LC9 “Just a Dream” (Nelly)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acpeRv_AR00
It’s cool to see a group try a soloist’s song, and LC9 does a nice job with the cover. There are times when the lyrics sound a little muddled, but the chorus sounds amazing with all the guys blending in harmony well.

6. Tiffany (SNSD) “The Way” (Ariana Grande)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s63W_bhcBU
The Girl’s Generation ladies often sound good by themselves, and Tiffany shows off how pretty her voice is with her Ariana Grande cover. She has some nice control with her vocals, making her a shining star. Her other covers from singers and groups like Aqua and Carly Rae Jepsen have also caught listeners’ attention.

7. Lee Hi “Rolling in the Deep” (Adele)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNF6puPEvuU

Sometimes Lee Hi has difficulties displaying emotion especially in songs that don’t exactly fit in her age range. But, the girl can really belt out the tunes! Her rendition of “Rolling in the Deep” is bluesy and on-point, especially toward the end of the song. Nicely done!

8. Megan Lee “Perfect” (P!nk)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrSn4hFJXno

Lee is the perfect mix of mature and adorable. Her youthful take on more adult-songs have a certain innocence that music is missing at times. Her pure vocals have an ability to touch the heart. Her take on P!nk’s “Perfect” has “young person anthem” written all over it.
9. SuPearls “Fame”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLxMJQeclaU

It’s such a shame SuPearls never became a group, but each of the members have found other success thankfully. As a group, they brought the house down on K-Pop Star with their rendition of “Fame,” a fitting song for the divas who could have brought the K-Pop world to its knees if they remained together.

10. Roy Kim “All of Me” (John Legend)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvZuugqkkuo

Roy Kim’s high notes are enough to provide chills. Kim maintains the integrity of the song which will makes fans of the original happy. Legend’s version has a bit more soul, but Kim’s acoustic version feels more raw at times. In either case, both are beautiful.

-Joelle Halon