Tag: MBLAQ Mona Lisa

The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 285

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

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” →

The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 272

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

After MBLAQ’s rather successful Blaq% Asia Tour in 2012 (and particularly so in Japan), it was decided that the group would release a Japanese version of Mona Lisa and it was sensory overload. The one thing a physical CD can give us over its digital counterpart is beautiful packaging coupled photo books and photo cards that are artfully produced and which become treasured artifacts. For Day 272 of G.O’s service, I feel like revisiting the Three Shades of Japanese Mona Lisa.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 237

~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

Of course everyone remembers MBLAQ’s participation in the Idol Athletics, right? One part competition, one part fan service, and all parts entertaining. It seems G.O was always a willing and competitive participant. But he was always quick to engage and entertain the fans. It seems that the deeper I get into the Countdown series, the more sub-categories I discover. Quite simply, G.O’s fan service should have always been here, and shame on me for waiting this  long! To get started, I am going to keep this one short and sweet by taking a quick look at a moment during the 27 August 2011 Idol Athletics where G.O, along with Seung Ho took a bit of a dance break much to the delight of their fans.

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The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 211

~ Michele ~ 1 Comment

Is anyone else left unhinged after watching G.O’s Special Angles version of MBLAQ’s Mona Lisa Style First Special DVD? It is almost impossible to survive the sensual broodiness G.O repeatedly throws at the camera. Even more disarming is the way in which his eyes bore into the camera’s lens with absolute intensity and emotion. G.O possesses the kind of gaze that penetrates every defense and barrier you could possibly muster if you wanted to avoid losing all sense and sensibility after being catapulted into the fiery passion of his art.

Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 211” →

[series] 116 Reasons to Love Byung Hee: #11 ~ It Takes Deux

~ Michele ~ 1 Comment

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Duet. A performance by two people, especially singers. Two voices locked in perfect harmony, emotion and delivery. But, it is more than that. In a July 2012 interview with ABC News about sharing the stage with another vocalist in a duet, R&B singer Robin Thicke summed it up nicely when he said:

“It’s not about singing with perfect pitch or timing, it’s about feeling. All art is supposed to create feeling and if you sing with passion and you sing from your soul then people will feel it.”

People will feel it. I think he was talking about G.O, right? There is perhaps no truer way to describe the type of vocalist G.O set out to become and thus accomplished: A vocalist who sings with passion from the soul. Indeed. It may seem that all of the passion, emotion and feeling he brings to a song could not possibly be tempered (or matched) when partnered in a duet. I assure you, however, there is something special about the way G.O settles into a duet and lends his passion, emotion and feeling to the dynamic. For me, this is yet another reason to love this very talented man and his incredible artistry as a vocalist.

Continue reading “[series] 116 Reasons to Love Byung Hee: #11 ~ It Takes Deux” →