Musing While Cruising the Hallyu Highway
I generally follow the rules when it comes to comebacks. That is, I jump all over the title tracks and want to shout their brilliance into the stratosphere. With SuperM’s latest release Super One which is their first full studio album since the group’s inception last year, I feel more compelled to talk about a B-side which happens to be my personal favorite on the album, Wish You Were Here.
Continue reading “On My Playlist ~ Wish You Were Here [SuperM]”
Truth be told, every song on Taemin’s Act One: Never Gonna Dance Again is in shuffle mode looping endlessly as I pass these quarantine days in this current work from home environment. It has been my constant companion since its September 7th release. At this point, I should simply succumb to the desire to gush over every track and am considering it because as far as I’m concerned, each deserves its moment in the spotlight. However for now, I choose to honor Nemo because in a recent commentary, Taemin intimated that it is his favorite track on the album.
September seems to be gearing up to be quite the comeback month, at least as to those groups and artists on my personal radar. The dance powerhouse quintet, A.C.E is one of those groups. Even though this is the group’s fourth mini album, it is my first A.C.E comeback. The anticipation level was high and when they dropped the title track to their HJZM:The Butterfly Phantasy mini album, I wasn’t sure if 도깨비 (Favorite Boys), was supposed to shock or seduce me. Confession: it did both.
Continue reading “On My Playlist ~ 도깨비 (Favorite Boys) [A.C.E]”
So I took a quick look at the fangirl rule book and it seems there are no penalties issued for being a first generation fan of a second generation idol. Lucky for me as I seem to be turning into a repeat offender. Not too long ago I was discovered by Nu’est. Now it seems SHINee’s maknae Lee Taemin has located me. I am next to 100% positive that Taemin’s stalwart fans would stand proud, but not surprised, in knowing that 12 years post-debut, he still attracts new fans. With K-pop, I have been slow to win over in general, and while Taemin has a very robust discography both with SHINee and as a solo artist, his latest release 2 Kids sounded an alarm I was not able to avoid. I’m talking about the kind of alarm that wakes up the senses and triggers emotion kind of alarm.
Where do I begin? I am having a difficult time trying to pull it together long enough to talk about this lovely song, its thoughtful message, and the five talented and charming men behind it. I think if you give A.C.E a chance, you will agree that they bring something a little different to the K-pop table. Their latest, 편지를 써 (Stand By You), really feels like a love letter to their fans (Choice) who they clearly deem a sixth and integral member of the group.
Continue reading “On My Playlist ~ 편지를 써 (Stand By You) [A.C.E]”
Back in February (which seems like ages ago now) I went to my first of what I thought would be many Kpop concerts in 2020: Stray Kids. I went without knowing anything about them other than they were part of the JYP family. I have been following them since and have to admit that their latest comeback has hit me like a wrecking ball, and that’s a good thing.
Sometimes you have to step away from big agency K-pop and allow yourself to fall in love with something a little off the beaten path. I recently took a detour, found, and fell promptly in love with M.O.N.T. And oh my, they certainly turned out to be the mood-lifting breath of fresh air I have obviously been craving.
Continue reading “On My Playlist ~ Rock Paper Scissors [M.O.N.T]”
If you were to ask me one word to describe the Korean group, Winner, I would say FAMILY. I would challenge anyone to show me a closer-knit group. To me, Winner has elevated past the general colleague-based relationship most professional groups have. Moreover, this feeling of family is not exclusive to the group itself. No. I think the group’s fandom Inner Circle would agree that it not only encompasses the relationship Yoon, Jinu, Hoon and Mino have with each other but, that it also extends further to their fans. Winner’s latest, the title track Remember on their newly released full album, brings the family together, soothes my fangirl heart, and waxes nostalgic in a way only Winner can.
Friends, I’m shook. You know when you listen to a song on an album and yes, it sounds and feels good but you never fully understand the impact of it until you watch and listen to it by way of a live performance? You know, when the visual concept coupled with aggressive choreography, stinging lyrics, and powerful vocals take the song to another level, whisk the group with it and make you pause a moment to say, ‘oh my god, what just happened?!’ This is exactly the mind-blowing experience I had when I watched Winner performed Mola from their latest EP release, We.
I need a moment.
I often wonder when G.O became MBLAQ’s official main vocal if he realized how much dancing he was going to be required to do. Choreography is part of the Korean pop idol package but he is primarily a romantic balladeer. As we all know, ballads do not really require choreography. I can only hope G.O surprised himself with how well he could . . . move. I pretty much view dancing as a sport, and much of MBLAQ’s choreography was quite athletic, especially in aggressively intense dance tracks like Run. Along with its searing vocals and powerful rap, Run was designed to be visually spectacular. And indeed it was when our gorgeous men in black brought their fierce martial arts themed performance to the K-Collection Fashion Concert stage back on 11 March 2012.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 428”
The Fangirl Lane 