Tag: Bi

TVXQ TUESDAY – One

~ Michele ~ 7 Comments

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The way these young men can bring the steady and harmonized vocals in their more upbeat and dance-oriented songs is wonderful.  But, when it is ballad time, there is simply nothing sweeter.  Each voice unique, each one having its rightful place, each one stellar on its own yet when combined with the other, a synergistic feast.  So lovely.

In this offering I will have to honestly admit that Jaejoong and Changmin were working their vocal magic on me.  And, Changmin’s soulful glances while singing kind of stirred a mini spaz in me and he is not even my bias. But I am not going to deny that he’s looking right cute in this video!! From their third studio album “O” – Jung.Ban.Hap., released in 2006, this TVXQ Tuesday song for you is One (not to be confused with Rain’s One – you knew I’d sneak him in somehow)!

Anyone else crushing a little on Changmin after this one??

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[Photo credit:  koreanstar-gdragon.blogspot.com/Video credit:  kat2wierdo]

The Wonderful World of a Rain Endorsement

~ Michele ~ 2 Comments

Well, hey now…..THIS is kind of maybe just a little bit AWESOME!

Michele's avatarCloud USA

— Cloud cover by: Michele, Staff Writer

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I used to think that it was kind of a sell out when celebrities both in the entertainment and sports worlds would lend their image to a specific product – otherwise known as the ‘endorsement.’    It is clearly a win-win situation for both the endorser and endorsee  – I get it!  It’s a true moneymaker for both as well as exposure.  But I have to tell you, when I saw the kinds of endorsements coming out of Asia, I had to pause and say to myself….maybe this endorsement thing is not such a bad gig, especially when Rain is attached to the product.

In my ever-growing quest to know all there is about Rain I would be remiss and certainly selling myself short if I didn’t have a look at his endorsements.  And with his recent activity for Mentholatum and upcoming appearance…

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[announcement] A very special New on the Block.

~ Michele ~ 10 Comments

DAEBAK!! I am so excited to be joining the Cloud USA team and look forward to letting the world know how much I admire, respect , support, and am inspired by the amazing Rain!

Cloud USA's avatarCloud USA

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We are pleased to announce that community member Michele DeMarco has accepted a Staff Writer position here on our Cloud USA media blog.

She started her own Korean-interest blog several months ago, and wholeheartedly admits to being a K-Drama addict. K-Pop? Absolutely, she digs it as well. 🙂

Being fairly new to the K-World, she’s having a great time seeing and hearing and absorbing new things, especially about the world star who has truly lit a fire under her—Rain. Not only did she fly in to support him at his Army discharge in Seoul, she also made some Cloud noise at the Arirang World Peace Festival in Washington D.C.

Please join us in welcoming her, and support her well as she eases into her new role.

Thanks, everyone. Congrats, Michele!

— Stephe ^@@^ and Terri :-}

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New Orleans or Burst….Cloud Burst, That Is

~ Michele ~ 23 Comments

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When Cloud USA announced that it was going to have its next meeting/fan gathering (aptly called a Cloud Burst) in New Orleans I thought to myself, hmmmmm, a group of Rain fans gathered together to celebrate Rain in a city known for its festive atmosphere pretty much every day of the year? That sounded like a complete win-win situation to me.  And, it was.

Continue reading “New Orleans or Burst….Cloud Burst, That Is” →

TVXQ Tuesday – Wrong Number

~ Michele ~ 2 Comments

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So last week I was cracking out on Mirotic – which is easy to do.  I woke up again this morning with TVXQ on my mind and thought ok, I see a pattern here.  Seems TVXQ likes to invade my mind space on Tuesdays which is ok since it seems every other day of the week my mind space is duly occupied by Rain.  Tuesdays then will be my time to pause and show some love to TVXQ.  And by TVXQ I mean the group as a whole as they once were.  The five of them.  The five voices united in what is probably the best combo of voices I think K-pop has ever heard.

If you take some time to listen to these five work together you will notice a synergy that is so in place – and not just vocally.  They even seem to navigate the stage around each other while dancing with a telepathy all of its own.

Seriously, in that one I can’t even pick a favorite and you all know I am generally partial to Junsu!!! But in that performance, they are all working the hot factor pretty well!

[Photo credit:  http://ddramatards.wordpress.com/Video credit:  Titus88]

The Back Up Dancer That Could

~ Michele ~ 8 Comments

I know that this is going to come as no surprise, but I woke this morning thinking about Rain.  I was thinking how awesome it must be that he finally completed his military service and that he is able to enjoy his time exactly the way he wants to enjoy it.  I was thinking about how hard he has worked to get where he is today and how his rise to fame was no easy task.  Of course, I am ALWAYS thinking about how handsome he is and how his beauty both inside and out just takes my breath away.

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Then I remembered this video.  He was only a back up dancer at this point and this only a rehearsal,  yet all the signs were there of what was to unfold.

[Video credit:  maruborarain2]

When I watch Rain in these early clips, I am constantly reminded of how he performs from somewhere deep within himself and how he never fails to give 200%, even when just a back up dancer.   So, I wanted to come here to share it even though I am quite sure every Rain fangirl out there has seen it (and likely more than once)!  It is still a potent reminder of his incredible talent and that his hunger to succeed and be the best is a constant source of inspiration not only to himself, but to many of us who admire him so much.  Dance on, Rain….

K-Shot Postscript: Rain 비 – Speed Racer

~ Michele ~ 10 Comments

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Ok, I really liked Speed Racer.  And, no not just because Rain was in it although it was really cool that he was.  But even more importantly, he landed on the Wachowski’s radar and THAT resulted in Ninja Assassin.  I concur that Rain would make an incredibly good action film star with a healthy side of brood and insolence mixed in.  I rather enjoy him in broody, insolent roles where you ultimately end up liking him because somewhere buried beneath those layers of insolence is a decent guy who upon discovering his own decency, lets us in on it.  Rain’s Taejo Togokahn is one of those guys.

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K-Shot Postscript: Rain 비 – Full House

~ Michele ~ 6 Comments

I guess it is painfully obvious by now that I will never shy away from an opportunity to talk about Rain.  It is also clear that he manages to show up in every post even when it is not about him!  Yes, it’s true, I am a full blown Rain fangirl!  Luckily, this post IS about him.  When I posted Rain as my first K-Shot of Hot, I was in the process of watching his 2004 drama, Full House.  At that time, I had no idea how the drama would play out but what I did see of it at the time of writing was enough to convince me that Rain’s Young Jae would make some kind of transformation.  Now that I have long finished watching Full House, traveled to Seoul, and watched Rain walk through the West gate a fully discharged ROK Army sergeant, I am finally able to sit down and share my thoughts on his turn as bratty, loud, petulant, but eternally cute, Young Jae.

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Continue reading “K-Shot Postscript: Rain 비 – Full House” →

KIM “XIA” JUNSU

~ Michele ~ 30 Comments

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A man with an incredible voice who sings with unabashed emotion, has a provocative stage presence AND a beautifully pure and boyish smile? Sounds strikingly familiar, doesn’t it, Rain?  Hmmm, maybe I have a K-type after all.  My trip to Seoul  exposed me to so  many things and resulted in repeated visits to Korean music stores which subsequently got me a little more acquainted with K-pop.  It was during this time I discovered Kim Junsu after a fangirl swoonfest over TVXQ.   I admit to being duly smitten and immediately knew Junsu would be my next K-Shot of Hot.

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