The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 403

One of the many recurring themes and/or thoughts I have shared in quite a few blog posts I have written about G.O has been that you can set any song in front him and he will be able to sing it. And not just sing it, he will feel it. Or better yet, absorb it by allowing it to mix and mingle with his own history, experiences and emotions. So then, it does not surprise me that he gave a Celine Dion song a try. No, it does not surprise me at all.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 402

Just tell me how . . . how I can rid my heart of this pain? Just tell me how, how did I not see the love right here in front of me? Just tell me how, how it is that I have only seen you as a friend? Just tell me how, how is it that I love you now? This seems to be the running theme of Tykeys’ gospel-infused R&B song, 말해버려 [Just Tell Me], one of my absolute favorite cuts on the incredibly rich and neo-soulifric Ty Project No. 1. Every song on this wonderful album that features G.O’s expressive and impassioned vocals is a Vocal Virtuosity moment and I am thrilled to have the time to expose all of them before he concludes his military service.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 400

Happy 400th Day of G.O’s service!! Four hundred days . . . can you even believe it?! Honestly, the time is moving so quickly. Before we know it, G.O will be discharged and his military service complete. For this day, which actually on my countdown calendar is a G.O One Shot day, I want to share the ethereal fan art of Woorugo, particularly her Prince Ho Dong series she has entitled Believe. Her renditions are simply breathtaking.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 397

 

My infatuation with G.O’s eyes continue, even if he dare only show us one. For some reason, showing only one eye during some of the Mona Lisa promotions and performances in the summer of 2011 proved to be ever mysterious and absolutely alluring, particularly at the MTV Cyworld Music Festival Dream 2011. Lucky were those who pointed their cams and cameras on him and were able to capture the attention of that one very lone soft and mesmerizing eye. I would like to ease into this Monday, this 397th day of G.O’s service, with the soft gaze of his eyes, the windows . . . or in this case, window to his soul.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 396

Before I add any G.O-inspired episode excerpts from Kim Soo Ro’s 명문대 특별반 엠블랙 [Special Class In An Elite University] to the countdown, I just want to enjoy the promotional pictures that were being circulated back in July 2010 when it was announced that MBLAQ would be joining Soo Ro on his program. It is Sunday and I don’t want to over do it!! Studious looking (once again those eyeglass frames – I think I am a little bit obsessed at the moment), wearing a cheeky vest and bow tie, G.O embraced his inner quirky college student persona and let all of that cute wrapped in some ridiculous handsome come out to play during the promotional photo shoot.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 393

I admit to not being well-versed in Korean popular music. I further admit that my vision and hearing have been focused on and tuned into MBLAQ since I discovered who they were and what they were about. I felt then that I was experiencing the cream of the crop. That there was no need to explore further because MBLAQ, and specifically G.O, were satisfying all of my Korean music needs and yes, I was hooked. I dabbled and listened to other Korean pop groups here and there, but I always found myself returning to MBLAQ. To me they sounded different. Better. Honest. And although I love so many of their songs – so much so that it is next to impossible to choose a favorite, I have to agree that Oh Yeah,  전쟁이야 [This Is War] and Mona Lisa are perhaps some of their most iconic ~ at least in the non-ballad category of their extensive catalog. There are many performances of these three songs worthy of revisiting. For today though, I am choosing the 21 October 2012 GS & Concert performances because in addition to sounding fierce and intense, G.O’s stage presence was equally powerful and disarming.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 387

It is Fan-Camming Friday and time to submerge ourselves in a moment of pure G.O joy. So I will travel back to the Men in Blaq Tour of 2011 where there was nothing but pure happiness pouring out of G.O in the energetic moments captured during One Better Day. To be at the Jamsil Arena that sweet summer evening in August 2011 must have been like soaring through the magic land of G.O charm, sweet smiles and unimaginable delight.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 385

 

If I had my choice of the kind of variety programs I would most prefer seeing G.O grace, it would have to be those that are focused on utilizing his voice, intelligence and humor. His voice is a given. Any time G.O is given the opportunity to sing off the stage is going to thrill me just as much as if he is on the stage. Letting the man use his wit and intelligence pushes his attractiveness quotient up exponentially. G.O’s humor will accompany him each and every time, no matter what the forum, this is true. But those shows that have an eye towards thoughtful subject matter that call upon knowledge say, over opinion . . . well, I love to watch G.O exercise his mind power. When he and Joon guest MC-ed on KBS2 TV’s 위기탈출 넘버원 [Crisis Escape No. 1], we got to see G.O tap into his reasoning and knowledge bank a little, and do so with charm and humor.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 227

I think if I were to sit down and begin writing a list about all of the things I love about G.O, I would not be able to complete it in the 504 days left of his service. Definitely high on that list would be his playful nature. I think following Curtain Call he lost much of that playfulness but I think his recent appearance in Mir’s chatroom in MBLAQ’s Daum Cafe not too long ago is a promise that his playfulness has not disappeared entirely, and has simply been on hiatus. Back on 28 March 2014 however, he was as cheeky and playful as ever at the Yeouido Fan Sign and that is the subject of today’s One Shot .gif.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 226

I realize that every time I sit down to write about G.O for any one of these Countdown posts, it becomes an exercise of pouring out my love and admiration (and bias) for him and usually with absolute abandon. I admit my heart has no filter when it comes to expressing how I feel. But let’s face it, there is much to be admired. Today I simply want to revisit both the Samsung and Seoul Sangnam World Cup shows on 15 June 2011 and 19 June 2011, and drink in the beautiful sights and sounds (and light) of G.O looking iridescent and amazing in white.

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