Tag: Korean Musical Theater

The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 450

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

On 11 May 2014, G.O stepped into the role of the gentle and innocent Prince Hodong in 바람의나라 [The Kingdom of the Winds] for the first performance of the show’s run, marking another first: this was the first time an artist from Korean popular music had set foot on the Seoul Arts Center stage with the prestigious Seoul Arts Group in a musical theater production. I recall waiting for the pics and cams – but more importantly, wanted to hear about his performance which of course grew accolades from his adoring A+ in the audience that evening. I want to celebrate that night of firsts for G.O with a short fan cam of his first curtain call on the Seoul Arts Center stage that evening.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 449

~ Michele ~ 2 Comments

It was three years ago this very day when G.O would once again step upon the Korean musical theater stage and make history by way of his poignant portrayal of the young and innocent Prince Ho Dong in the Seoul Arts production of 바람의나라 [The Kingdom of the Winds]. Inasmuch as I truly feel his role as Dong Ho in Seopyeonje was the pivotal moment in his career that made fans and critics alike sit up and take notice of his ability to command an important role in a masterpiece musical, his work in Kingdom sealed it. For today’s G.O One Shot, I honor him on the anniversary of his first performance as the delicate Ho Dong.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 444

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

One of my favorite things about doing this countdown series is that I get to revisit G.O’s musicals over and over. Every time he steps onto a stage to sing, it is magical. This is true. But that magic has been magnified for me in three very distinct instances: his time on the Immortal Song 2 stage, his time on the King of Mask Singer stage and especially, his time on the musical stage. Each of those moments G.O spent on any one of those stages constitutes a Vocal Virtuosity moment. And there are many to choose from. Today, a very short clip from Gwanghwamun Sonata. Ah…but even in the brevity of one stanza, a Lee Young Hoon ballad surrounded by G.O’s honeyed vocals is a soothing symphony to the ears.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 438

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

The more I dig into the background of the music that shaped the story of 광화문 연가 [Gwanghwamun Sonata], the more I understand the level of reverence paid to composer/writer Lee Young Hoon. Gwanghwamun Sonata fascinates me because of the unique way in which the musical was born. To build a story around well-established ballads made popular by singer Lee Moon Sae and turn it into a musical was brilliant. Today, I want to revisit a moment from the Gwanghwamun stage where G.O’s rebellious and charismatic Kang Hyun Woo sings an excerpt from the incredibly poetic, 시를위한시 [A Poem for a Poem].

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 425

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

I particularly love today’s offering for the G.O One Shot. For the past ten days I have sprinkled the countdown with moments revisiting G.O’s time on the musical stage as well as celebrating his arrival to the silver screen with his film debut in 아바는 딸 [Dad is Daughter]. I cannot deny that my favorite aspect of G.O’s artistry is his music; however, I am enamored of his ability to take the joy and pain he has experienced, the ups and downs of life, the struggles and the triumphs, and let them all simmer deep in the well of his artistic soul ultimately manifesting themselves through him as an actor.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 422

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

The sound of a voice that is authoritative, abrupt and cold begins to flood his heart with the memory of a deep and painful loss. His mind is transported back to when she left. His heart is reminded of the void he is still suffering. He longs to hear her comforting voice and not his abusive tone. Dong Ho is devastated. Lost. Heartbroken. The intensely emotional 소리기억 [I Remember The Sound] in 서편제 [Seopyeonje] is a flashback moment from the mind of Dong Ho who relives the tragedy surrounding the death of his mother. A death he squarely blames on his stepfather, Yoo Bong. Continuing on my spring Seopyeonje revival, the heart-wrenching 소리기억 [I Remember The Sound] is the subject of our Fan-Camming Friday today.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 417

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

The road to Seopyeonje was so long ago and yet it seems like only yesterday. Since spring was the season of Seopyeonje (in 2014), I have been feeling very, very nostalgic. I thought revisiting a couple of the early rehearsal videos would be nice for a Sunday. G.O’s voice on a spring Sunday in April? Absolutely.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 404

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

I cannot possibly be the only one who routinely loses my emotional balance when I listen to G.O sing the songs of the musical, 광화문 연가 [Gwanghwamun Sonata]. While writing an original musical (story, music composition and lyrical content) is an amazing creative feat, there is something equally as magical as picking and choosing well-established songs of a composer and building a story around those songs. This fascinates me. I admit that my imagination runs wild with the thought of examining the songs G.O has penned to see if a story can be set to those songs. But, I am getting way ahead of myself here. So let me pull the reins a bit and get back to the focus of this post: Lee Young Hoon’s beautiful and haunting ballad 슬픈 사랑의 노래 [Sad Love Song] from Gwanghwamun Sonata. Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 404” →

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

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

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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