Waiting For Donghun ~ Day 8

If you were just getting to know A.C.E and asked Choice who the main dancer or dancers are in A.C.E, odds are they would most likely say Wow and Byeongkwan. They are, after all, the group’s named main dancers. But if you asked me, I would say all five. Just because he does not carry the title main does not exclude the fact that Mr. Lee can cut a rug. It is easy for me to sing praises about Donghun’s vocal prowess. It’s a given that the man can sing. However, it is also a given that the man can dance. And when you put him side-by-side with one of the group’s mains, Donghun proves he is just as main as the main!

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Waiting For Donghun ~ Day 7

I love fan art. It’s true, I am not even remotely artistically inclined when it comes to drawing, sketching, painting and the like. But it is also true that I do have a huge appreciation for the visual arts. While I am arguably jealous of those who are able to draw, sketch and paint beautiful renditions of their favorite artists, I am always inclined to share their work when and where I can. This little countdown is the perfect place to showcase wonderful and creative fans and their Donghun fan art.

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Waiting For Donghun ~ Day 6

A.C.E came into my K-pop fangirl realm in the fall of 2019 when I saw they were going to tour the US and Chicago was on the list. In fact, Chicago was the first US city on the tour. I had no idea who A.C.E were and, at the time I saw information regarding the tour, I had never even heard a single song. Yet, because I am impulsive and relatively adventurous, I decided to buy a ticket. Oh, and not just a get-you-in-the-door ticket. No, I went full VIP which included a hi touch and photo card packet. So like any procrastinating student, I had to cram to get to know them and their music before stepping into the venue on what turned out to be an amazing, albeit chilly, wet and snowy December night. I wish I would have been more cognizant because when the group arrived a day or two before show night, there were out about in the city, often times blocks away from my office.😳

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Waiting for Donghun ~ Day 5

Not sure if you are aware, but Mr. Lee opened up a personal Instagram account prior to heading off to the military. In fact, both he and Wow both did. Since both are going to serve as public servants during their military duty, creating those accounts was a fantastic idea as they will have some leniency in using social media as they serve, but in a very limited capacity. This little sub-series will pop up over the course of the countdown if and when Donghun updates his IG account. Before he left, he did christened the newly minted account with two updates.

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Waiting For Donghun ~ Day 4

I have only been a Choice (A.C.E fan) for a little over two years. I am not quite a baby Choice, but I am still relatively new seeing how the group debuted in 2017. Sigh . . . I am always late to the party. Anyway, I learned very quickly that it was easy to be visually captured by this talented quintet, and I don’t mean this in a shallow way. From the get go, I found A.C.E to have an incredibly powerful stage presence. They are very dynamic dancers and early on, I took in many of their power title tracks to get to know them. When I really began to peel back the layers of all of their fantastic and artistic attributes, specifically by listening to their mellower B-sides and covers, that is when I discovered how truly adept they were as singers. They all sing well. But there is something a little extra special (to my ear anyway) in Donghun’s voice. I describe it as an added depth of emotion which can be heard in many of his solo cover pieces like SWJA’s beautiful ballad, 도망가자 (Run With Me).

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Waiting For Donghun ~ Day 3

The good thing about having completed a countdown series in the past is that it provides a bit of a road map for future endeavors. I like the One Shots because they are quick posts with the simple purpose of sharing a favorite picture or playful gif of our featured military man, Donghun. And, because I was teetering as to whether I should attempt another countdown series, I am a little behind on my planning and a short quick post will keep me on schedule. Today, a One Shot in picture form.

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Waiting For Donghun ~ Day 2

I decided the first post of substance for this countdown should start with a sub-series I am simply calling Hunnie Cam. I will scour the interwebs for glorious fan cams of Mr. Lee in full performance mode. I think I picked a good one to get the party started by choosing A.C.E’s performance of Do It Like Me from the 200th episode special of SBS MTV’s music show program, The Show.

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Waiting For Donghun ~ Day 1

Woah. Well, I guess this is serious. I never thought I would attempt another countdown series here on the blog after that 730 day blogging journey I took when my beloved G.O went off to complete his military duty back in 2016. When I hit the publish button back on February 16, 2018 and posted the final blog entry for The Soulful Countdown, I felt accomplished. At the same time, I wondered if I would ever be encouraged or better yet, inspired, to try something like that again. Fast forward to September 2021 and here I am ready to give it another go for the next 21 (or so) months. Seems main vocal Lee Donghun of A.C.E has worked some magic on my fangirl heart. Hmmm . . . and so begins Donghun’s first day of service to his country, and my countdown to discharge, Waiting for Donghun.

Wish me luck!!

~~

[Image cr. A.C.E Official Twitter]

On My Playlist ~ Changer [A.C.E]

As I sit and contemplate the reality of 2/5 of A.C.E heading off to the military this month (Wow went in on the 10th, and Donghun will go on the 23rd), I also find myself perplexed over how this talented lot is not more of a global sensation. Then I pause and realize that I must be part of an extremely exclusive club of impeccable taste and sensibility. Ha! I know there are many of you out there who feel similarly about your respective groups that fall on the lesser known and under appreciated spectrum. And it is perfectly okay. In fact, I don’t know about you, but I rather love being part of a small fandom. I feel as if I am in on a secret. And being a Choice, well that just feels like family. Especially when the guys repeatedly include songs that uplift and comfort. A.C.E has found this incredible balance in their title tracks over years: sometimes explosive, sometimes refreshing and light. In the title track, Changer, from their latest repackaged release, Changer : Dear Eris, we get refreshing, light AND comforting which is EXACTLY what we need as we send Wow and Donghun off to the military.

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On My Playlist ~ 도깨비 (Favorite Boys) [A.C.E]

September seems to be gearing up to be quite the comeback month, at least as to those groups and artists on my personal radar. The dance powerhouse quintet, A.C.E is one of those groups. Even though this is the group’s fourth mini album, it is my first A.C.E comeback. The anticipation level was high and when they dropped the title track to their HJZM:The Butterfly Phantasy mini album, I wasn’t  sure if 도깨비 (Favorite Boys), was supposed to shock or seduce me. Confession: it did both.

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