Category: From The Korean Musical Stage

The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 350

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

I suppose it is rather obvious that I have been having deep (and perhaps emotional) longing to travel back in time to the spring of 2014 when everything seemed to be wonderfully in place for both G.O in his independent pursuits on the musical stage, as well as with MBLAQ as they settled into promoting their 6th (and truly brilliant) mini album, Broken. I left Seoul in mid-April of that year after a lengthy stay, and therefore missed the impromptu meet & greet G.O held in the lobby of the Universal Arts Theater on 5 May 2014. I was momentarily disappointed when I learned of that meet & greet, but that dissipated quickly as I reminded myself how fortunate I was in any event to have experienced not only G.O’s amazing fan service, but his incredible performance in 서편제 [Seopyeonje]. It is Day 350 and seems like a great day to celebrate G.O’s Fabled Fan Service as he met with fans back on that sunny day in early May.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 344

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

There were many intense scenes played out on the musical stage during 서편제 [Seopyeonje]. The combative battle between stepfather and son during the argumentative 철없는 혈기 [Immature Passion] was particularly explosive. Imagine living day to day under the suffocating control of an abusive father, devastated by the loss of an adoring mother, and longing for the freedom to pursue a happier life. Watching G.O interpret the pain, confusion, and desperation of the tormented Dong Ho was simultaneously harrowing and magnificent; particularly so in the violent argument with an equally angered and volatile Yoo Bong.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 343

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

I cannot seem to let go. I cannot move the memory of G.O’s tender and brilliant performance of Prince Ho Dong in the musical 바람의나라 [The Kingdom of the Winds] during those wonderful warm days of May 2014 from my heart or mind. A little bit of a musical-inspired few days here for this Countdown series. Even as another year is set to begin (the Lunar New Year, that is) and we continue to move further and further from those amazing performances, I am unable to forget and am compelled to also have you remember. The early rehearsal moments captured of G.O effortlessly falling into the fragile psyche of Kingdom’s child prince were exciting and breathtaking. And yes, it may have only been his third musical over a three year span, it was nevertheless clear that a musical theater star was gently but with great passion, being born.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 342

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

Perhaps one of the reasons why Gwanghwamun Sonata and G.O were such a perfect fit on the musical stage was because the story of the musical was built around ballads. I think it was brilliant of composer Lee Young Hoon to choose songs from his songbook and create a musical around them. Using the songs, the beautiful ballads he wrote, to tell a story. Along with the title song of the musical, 해바라기 [Sunflower] is one of my favorite numbers from the show. As always, G.O’s voice captures the heartfelt sorrow and regret of a man whose choices leave him alone reflecting on a love lost.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 327

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

Although hours, days, months and years may pass and the spring of 2014 become more and more of a memory, the one constant that will always bring me back to those amazing days will be G.O’s voice. Yes, the voice that captured my heart and imprinted itself upon my soul. Because the first time I was introduced to G.O’s voice live upon any stage was through Seopyeonje, I find myself revisiting the music and the moments of the musical over and over. Today, the sweet and achingly beautiful 연가 [Sonata].

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 325

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

Every day is a good day to celebrate G.O’s congenial fan service, no matter how he serves it up. True, I have missed experiencing these memories real time, but to be able to relive and watch his gregarious interaction with his fans remains a never-ending pleasure for me no matter how long ago in past or relatively recent these moments have occurred. Reliving them through the many days of this countdown often times makes them feel as if they have happened only yesterday. So many may remember the subject of today’s post, the Yeongdeungpo fan sign during Blaq% promotions in January 2012.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 321

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

As time continues to move further away from the year 2007 – a year that I am going to deem remarkable in and of itself simply because the world formally met G.O and his gorgeous vocal artistry that year, I continue to hold on to every note and every lyric seared into tape then expertly produced in the form of Ty Project No. 1. I cannot and will not let go. The music is too good and the vocal synergy between G.O and Baek Su Kyung far too perfect to store away and forget. As such, I choose a moment, almost ten years old now, for this 321st day of G.O’s service, a vocal virtuosity moment where he and Su ripped into Alicia Keys’ If I Ain’t Got You on Nam Kyung Yeon’s radio show back on 2 June 2007.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 319

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

 

Happy New Year to all who have patiently been on this countdown journey with me. We are nearing on one full year completed of G.O’s service but with the onset of 2017, we are now beginning the second year and final year of that service. Yay!!! You must agree that year one has moved swiftly and that our brilliant and gentle music man remained lovingly in touch throughout his first year away. Only G.O knows what cute and covert ways he will decide to use to connect with us throughout 2017. Nevertheless, I think it is safe to say he will stay in touch. May the new year bring all of you peace, happiness, health and love. And . . . continued patience as we wait for G.O to return.

~HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR~

~♥~

The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 318

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

It is officially the last day of 2016. My Countdown log states that it is a G.O One Shot day and as I shuffled through the many pictures I have crowding my hard drive of this gorgeous man, I stopped dead in my tracks when I hit a few shots of G.O in the . . . well, I am going to suggest, iconic blue pin-striped suit of the Sexy Beat era and said to myself, ‘oh yes, I found my New Year’s Eve One Shot.’

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