Musing While Cruising the Hallyu Highway
If you want to witness greatness, I think you are going to find it right here. I have been putting off featuring Bolero because I have felt that I could not possibly do it justice. It is my favorite. And, it is mind-boggling how perfect this live performance is, truly.
I wish all Korean drama musical directors would woo G.O into singing a song on their respective OSTs…and often! His voice and range is so perfect and lends itself well to any genre of music from smooth R&B to upbeat pop like his latest offering for the I Need Romance 3 OST, You. Yes, I am pretty biased, but he truly has a wonderful voice.
And, he is so dreamy……LOVE!! ♥♥♥
There is something so subtly seductive about these five guys. They are all handsome, to be sure. But I think there is more and it most probably has something to do with their voices. Jae’s voice in this performance is like velvet wrapped in silk. The tone of his voice is naturally so rich and soothing and in this performance, even more so.
Yes, I am having a full-blown shallow fangirl moment. When I watch the video for MBLAQ’s January 14, 2012 Music Core performance of This Is War, I admit I am highly distracted by the sixth member of the group, the pants. These pants are interpreting a reality all right – Real men built really well, wearing really close-fit pants (heck, these are nearly man-tights) really nicely. For reals! I am so mesmerized by the pants that I felt compelled to honor them here.
When I decided upon one of the MBLAQ boys as my next K-Shot, I thought I would have immediately gone straight to Yang Seung Ho who I always felt was my favorite. And true, I could have chosen any one of the members as they all have that special something. If they didn’t, Rain would not have singled them out and groomed them as he did, right? Then I watched the Cry MV and G.O just did me in and promptly stole me away from Seung Ho. In my opinion, he has a lot of Rain quality about him. The way he moves, the way he plays to the camera, the way he delivers a song – all reminiscent of Rain. Furthermore, I think he resembles Rain very much. And, G.O is sexy. And so, of the five that could have made their way here, it is G.O who out-ranked the rest as my next K-Shot of Hot. ♥
Ok, you can just put a fork in me after this one because I am essentially done!! I stumbled upon this a couple of weeks ago and went a little mental on Twitter with a couple of Twitter friends about how incredibly wonderful this live version of the song was and how equally gorgeous all five of these men were looking in the video. It is so good for a few reasons.
First, the vocals. I know I sound like a broken record here but these incredible young men never fail to bring their A-game vocally and at times I feel are better live than in the studio. Usually it is the other way around – the magic of a soundboard is not necessary with these five. They each have a built-in soundboard that naturally synchronizes, equalizes and balances all the settings to produce vocal harmony. Yes, it’s pure unadulterated magic, I tell you. This is one of my absolute favorites.
Second, I don’t know what song they finished just prior to this one but apparently it was something which required some heavy duty dancing because all five of them are glistening with sweat. I am not going to go any further with that thought and just say, I like. I like a lot!
Third, I really appreciate how Jaejoong just lets loose emotionally when he sings. Reminds me a lot of Rain in that respect. You can sense that he is feeling what he is singing. I have noticed that about Jaejoong – there always seems to be a lot of emotion simmering beneath his performance.
Finally, Junsu. Shall I go on? His beautiful voice, his delivery, his gorgeous large hands (yes, I notice these things) and his smile. His adorable smile. Daebak!!
Enjoy!
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??
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!
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 :-}
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”
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!
The Fangirl Lane 