Musing While Cruising the Hallyu Highway
For some time now I have been wondering what I should do with my surplus copies of MBLAQ’s 8th mini album Mirror. I have already given quite a few away, and I even donated a bunch (in G.O’s name) to a non-profit organization here in the US that teaches music to underprivileged children. Still, I have quite a few copies left. So an idea came to me today. I am not sure how well it work, but it is the holidays so I thought I would propose an event and see how it goes.
While I have been reserving the Retro Room for songs of days long gone by, indeed longer than three years, I felt the strong urge to make sure G.O’s beautiful performance of John Legend’s All of Me from the I.Callist Idol Vocal Concert back in February is filed securely here in the Retro Room among the others. Legend’s song was released in 2013, not very retro I know, but I bend my rules every now and then when I am compelled to share moments of G.O’s moving and poignant interpretations of songs that surely mean so much to him.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 292”
I know that as we near on 300 days of G.O’s service and, hence, 300 blog posts here on this Soulful Countdown, things can repetitive. As much as I have been dutifully trying my level best to keep things varied, I will never tire of talking about how much I appreciate the way G.O can pan an audience, pause and connect. There are many people who are simply unable to make eye contact. G.O does not strike me as one of those people. In fact, he is quite the opposite. Making eye contact is a form of communication, and a very intimate one at that. I think G.O understands this concept very well. In this short installment of Windows To Your Soul ~ The G.O Eye Connect, I simply want to share some eye connect moments captured at the 31 July 2011 Mokdong fan sighhhhhh er, uh sign.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 291”
Italian and international clothier, Kappa celebrates its 100th anniversary this year (2016). 축하해요!!! In honor of its centennial celebration I think it could use a retrospective of sorts which I am happy to honor here during the Soulful Countdown by way of the gorgeous one himself, G.O. I probably could have coordinated this better by waiting 10 more days . . . At that time, G.O will complete another 100 days of service and thus we could enjoy a double centennial celebration. But why delay?
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 290”
I have always believed that G.O was (and still is) a consummate student of music. Ever learning and perfecting his own art, I have to guess that his music collection is more vast and wide than the oceans between us. Indeed he is extremely well-versed in music and has covered the songs of many music legends, east and west. As many of you know, there were often those times when during a variety show or in-studio radio show appearance, he was asked to sing and I have to believe there were times he was prepared to do so. But there were times when he most likely was not and was asked to sing off-the-cuff as it were. Live. At that moment. During the broadcast. I think the SBS Ten Ten Club broadcast of 15 July 2010 was one of those off-the-cuff moments when he regaled the audience with a few lines from DBSK’s 주문 [Mirotic].
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 289”
When I look at old fan cams of showcases, fan meets and fan signs, I am always so taken with G.O’s genuine and often heartfelt appreciation of his fans. Never one to shy away from speaking, pranking or even fulfilling fans’ requests (no matter how absurd) and often without hesitancy or even protest, he truly is an artist who will go to great lengths to please us, always. If his talent and charm were not already enough, his gratitude and appreciation for his fans has no match. Yes, I am biased but I can also proclaim such based upon my own personal experiences. G.O’s playful affection caught back at the outdoor mini fan meet in March 2012 is the subject of Day 288 (the 1st day of December!) and another installment of G.O’s Fabled Fan Service.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 288”
Remember in those early debut days, the MBLAQ stylists seemed to want to layer G.O’s clothes and cover him up as much as possible? Maybe, just maybe, they were simply protecting the fans. Perhaps his kind of magnificence had to be unveiled slowly. I respect that decision, for G.O never had to resort to shirt-ripping, chest-baring moves to capture attention. Still, they could have styled him a little less layered, don’t ya think? Remember that extravagant feathered-sleeved jacket? The G.O One Shot for today will no doubt remind you.^^
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 287”
Exactly 100 days ago today, I published a post about MBLAQ’s appearance on the KBS2 variety show, Invincible Youth. One hundred days!! It still amazes me how quickly time is passing. I thought it would be fun to revisit G.O’s moments during the first part of MBLAQ’s two-episode appearance, Episode 40 which aired on 6 August 2010. Where G.O and After School’s Joo Yeon’s antics in Episode 41 were perhaps filled with a little sizzle and a lot of humor, G.O and f(x)’s Victoria hit us with a little playful and a whole lot of adorable in Episode 40.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 286”
As far as I am concerned, if a vocalist can hold the melody of a song in his (or her) voice and voice alone, and still sound good, that’s a skilled vocalist. Probably why I admire vocalists who can sing a cappella. Keeping everything in pitch while conveying passion and emotion – yes, that’s a gift. When I come across some G.O vocals with the music track removed, I feel vindicated in my belief that he is an extremely skilled vocalist (in addition to the evident artistry in how interprets music) who is tragically underrated and not nearly appreciated enough – in my opinion any way. So yes, I am hitting the countdown with another Vocal Virtuosity moment. This time I travel back to that playful moment in July 2011 during a MBC’s Shim Shim Tapa radio broadcast where G.O effortlessly belts out one of my absolute faves from Mona Lisa, 알면서 그래 [I Think You Know] and in this particular recording, the music track was removed so we can hear his effervescent, clear, strong and beautiful voice. Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 285”
No fancy words. No elaborations necessary. Just one beautiful selca following the completion of MBLAQ’s Sensation Tour of 2013.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 284”
The Fangirl Lane 