Musing While Cruising the Hallyu Highway
“O, swear not by the moon, th’ inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circle orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.”
GOT7 is back and they are more romantic than ever. All I have to say to that is this: I would gladly be Juliet to any one of these seven Romeos and willingly surrender myself to the apothecary of music and visuals they are serving up in their latest release, Not By The Moon.
If you were to ask me one word to describe the Korean group, Winner, I would say FAMILY. I would challenge anyone to show me a closer-knit group. To me, Winner has elevated past the general colleague-based relationship most professional groups have. Moreover, this feeling of family is not exclusive to the group itself. No. I think the group’s fandom Inner Circle would agree that it not only encompasses the relationship Yoon, Jinu, Hoon and Mino have with each other but, that it also extends further to their fans. Winner’s latest, the title track Remember on their newly released full album, brings the family together, soothes my fangirl heart, and waxes nostalgic in a way only Winner can.
When I said I was opening up to other artists, somehow I knew I would end up somewhere east of the eclectic highway. I never thought it would mean getting lost on Bang Yongguk’s Orange Drive, but indeed it was . . . and I am loving it.
Continue reading “On My Playlist ~ Orange Drive [Bang Yongguk]”
Listening to Jackson Wang’s recently released single Bullet To The Heart solidifies the fact that GOT7 will not, nor probably ever will, let me settle on a bias in the group. And, I’m okay with that.
On 20 September, Jackson returned to social media after a short hiatus to begin promoting his upcoming solo album, Mirrors, with news of a single from that album being released in the coming days. On 24 September when Bullet To The Heart dropped, I was intrigued, ripe with anticipation, and looking forward to what Team Wang was going to bring. I have to say, the song successfully whet my appetite. I want more. Moreover, I feel the new song is just scratching the surface of something really big coming our way and I can only hope I will be prepared.
Continue reading “On My Playlist ~ Bullet To The Heart [Jackson Wang]”
I do not even know where to begin. Because, in all honesty, I am not sure I have been this wrecked by an artist. I don’t know when it happened or even how it happened because I was adamant after I slowed my pace with my all-encompassing support of MBLAQ’s G.O. I was staunch in my belief that I would not fall deep ever again for an artist. I wanted to keep my interest and involvement varied, light, mild and carefree. But the more I watch, listen and experience GOT7’s enigmatic leader, Lim Jaebeom (JB), the more I descend into his artistic lair. I am trapped my friends. And, if he continues to write, produce and record songs like today’s offering, Fade Away, there will be no escape.
Continue reading “On My Playlist ~ Fade Away [JJ Project JB]”
I did not see it coming, but am pleasantly surprised and absolutely thrilled. Winner’s demure eldest brother who is nevertheless, and indeed, the thread that binds the group together, has released his first solo single, 또또또 [Call Anytime], and it is every bit as charming as the man himself.
Continue reading “On My Playlist ~ 또또또 (Call Anytime) [Kim Jinwoo]”
Friends, I’m shook. You know when you listen to a song on an album and yes, it sounds and feels good but you never fully understand the impact of it until you watch and listen to it by way of a live performance? You know, when the visual concept coupled with aggressive choreography, stinging lyrics, and powerful vocals take the song to another level, whisk the group with it and make you pause a moment to say, ‘oh my god, what just happened?!’ This is exactly the mind-blowing experience I had when I watched Winner performed Mola from their latest EP release, We.
I need a moment.
I know that Winner is getting ready to drop new music like any second now, but in waiting for new music it is always fortunate when a group or artist has a catalog of exceptional work in place to keep fans satisfied while they wait. In my opinion, one of those past offerings has to be one of the most beautiful love songs ever written but, to my knowledge, never officially released: Kang Seung Yoon’s 0 더하기 1 [0+1] from the web drama series We Broke Up. Seriously. The first time I heard this song was in the context of the drama and it left a deep and emotional impression on me, one that remains to this day.
I have to admit that over the past year I have been listening to more and more Korean R&B. So it stands to reason then that when a K-pop group, member(s) and/or sub-unit(s) within those groups take a trip on the R&B highway, I have been finding myself boarding that bus. Got7 is one of those groups. And even though they have been pumping out music since 2014, my sheltered, single-focused fangirl ears never wandered to have a listen. All I can say is this: I missed out . . . like in, missed the bus completely! Specifically where leader JB is concerned.
Have you experienced the vocal stylings of Sam Kim yet? If not, please get on board because you will not be disappointed. This young Korean-American singer-songwriter-composer-guitarist has some serious talent wrapped in his very young yet amazingly mature 21 years (or 22, if you are playing by Korean age rules). Sam barreled into my lane about six months ago when he released a three song EP, Sun and Moon, Pt. 1 and I have not wasted any time gobbling up everything he has recorded and released.
The Fangirl Lane 