The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 522

I wanted today to be another Vocal Virtuosity day after hearing One recently. Even though it is a MBLAQ group effort, Mr. Main Vocal proves predominant throughout the song. As you know, when that happens, I like to bring it to the forefront here on the countdown because as much as I adore all of MBLAQ’s music, when my lovely bias takes the vocal helm in a song, it rapidly moves up my fave list. I forgot how feel good One is and how crystalline and powerful G.O’s vocals are throughout the song. Even though I have been diligently searching, I could not find an actual live version or performance. If any of you are aware, please post a link to in the comments section. I did recall however the 13 September 2011 KBS broadcast of The Lord of Magic show wherein our fab five performed a wonderful and remarkably sweet LED light show using One as a backdrop music to the performance.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 478

Today I reflect on the release of MBLAQ’s wonderful Mirror. It is the anniversary of the release of the group’s 8th mini album, but their first as a trio. As such, it will forever remain special, a memento and turning point marking a new chapter for the handsome young men carrying on the name and tradition of MBLAQ. I don’t know if G.O being away in the Army has made me extra special nostalgic or if it is simply a by-product of this series as I continue to pull moments and memories of G.O’s journey. On 9 June 2015, MBLAQ released Mirror, met the press, and met ever briefly with their loving fans. For today’s Fan-Camming Friday, I will rely on thegopygmalion who captured about two minutes of  G.O-focused cam during the showcase held that warm Tuesday evening in June.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 410

I knew at some point in this countdown series that I would get a chance to completely love on one of my favorite performances of MBLAQ’s Smoky Girl . . . ever. The 26 June 2013 MBC Music Picnic Live performance was probably about as sultry and steamy as that summer day (it reach 86°F/30°C…I checked) itself. Once again a group effort back by a live band, there were still some delicious G.O standout moments nevertheless which give me rise to place the Picnic Live performance of Smoky Girl securely in the Vocal Virtuosity category. It is Day 410 and perhaps a bit sinful to get this steamy for Sunday, but I cannot help myself. And really, the steam comes early and cools off into an energetic and fun upbeat version of this killer song.~.^

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 369

Don’t you just love the G.OMir dynamic? It has to be one of the most playful inter-group relationships in popular music (Korean or otherwise) today. I really have no foundation on which to build that statement as I have no idea what the dynamics are in other groups since I follow none other than MBLAQ; but I think theirs would a standard by which I could measure all others. I am so ferociously biased, aren’t I? Bottom line with MBLAQ though (in my opinion) is that G.O is the special ingredient in the mix that always brings the playful out in others. Pairing G.O with the equally playful Mir as disc jockeys in charge of a radio studio lays the groundwork for good entertainment, albeit wrapped in mischief.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 349

It is pretty clear if you peruse the past 348 posts contained in this countdown series thus far that you could easily deem the majority of them as being nostalgic. With the exception of any that pertain to G.O’s actual enlistment and profile and/or selca picture updates that came thereafter, the series is kind of a retrospective on G.O’s career. Lately, I have been feeling particularly nostalgic for 2014 and I guess it is with good reason. The year 2014 was particularly meaningful for me as it was during that year I fell squarely (and safely) into one true bias land having discovered the irrepressible talent and charisma of G.O. It was my good fortune that not only was G.O prepping to hit the musical stage, MBLAQ was about to make a comeback with the release of their 6th mini album, Broken.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 333

I admit that I have not always watched variety show appearances at the time of airing (of course, many I have missed having come to the fandom late) so I don’t experience the excitement perhaps real time. Watching at a later date can work out better actually though because often at initial airing, there are no subtitles. So although it is a thrill to watch our biases engage and interact on a variety program, if we don’t understand Korean, we are not going to have the full  experience. And a full experience is exactly what you would want from Episode 96 of JTBC’s variety talk show program Witch Hunt, when G.O and Mir dropped by to share their views on relationships.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 331

As we near on the one year mark of G.O’s service, I have been wondering if I should do anything different for the final days here on the Countdown. I thought about scaling back a little and really making it simpler – as was my original plan until the series took on a life of its own. I keep telling myself that any little bit will still be amazing since, well…it’s G.O! So I think my best option is to just go with the flow and let the series decide ~ let the inspiration that G.O gives to me continue to be the barometer that dictates what I do and how I honor him during 2017, and that last month and two weeks in 2018. Sounds like a good plan, right? For today, Day 331, it’s a Fan-Camming Friday and I wanted a cam that was a little more recent. My choice is some G.O-focused Mirror from MBLAQ’s June 2015 Showcase.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 316


I am not going to lie. I can pair (ship), whatever you want to call it, G.O with anyone and find something interesting or special about the dynamic. Apart from his actual family members however, I would be hard-pressed to find a relationship as special or delightful as that which G.O has with MBLAQ’s maknae, Mir.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 312

Merry G.O Christmas!!! It is Day 312 of G.O’s service and Christmas Day. This is the first of two Christamases we will celebrate while G.O is serving and it is still amazing to me that soon he will complete his first year. One Christmas down . . . one more to go! Just something very light and simple today, a flashback to Christmas 2009, Sukira Red Christmas, and a few sweet captures of our darling main vocal.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 310

It is Day 310 and time for another installment of  Fan-Camming Friday. This fan-camming moment is actually a sequel to Day 303 where I visited an early G.O-focused fan cam moment from the 24 December 2009 TBS Christmas Special. In two short days it will be Christmas so I thought I would keep in line with the season by sharing another focused cam of our beloved main vocal. I am calling this post G.O.O.D Christmas Luv.

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