Musing While Cruising the Hallyu Highway
The third letter of the alphabet is C and admittedly, I could get through this post with ease with any number of words that accurately describe G.O. Cute, charming, cuddly, etc. But, as I mentioned when I began this sub-category to the Countdown series, I want to dig deeper and find unordinary words that describe the extraordinary Byung Hee.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 460”
On 20 May 2014, G.O took his final bow on the Seoul Arts stage following his performance in the closing show of 바람의나라 [The Kingdom of the Winds]. These nine days of Kingdom have ignited so many memories and with those memories, so many emotions. I have enjoyed revisiting some of the G.O moments I have shared these past nine days of his time in Kingdom. Today, I will close this sub-series with a charming curtain call moment with the adorable musical actor whose performance of the sweet Prince Ho Dong filled so many of us with empathy for the tragic young monarch in a dangerous kingdom.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 458”
Taking this journey back to The Kingdom of the Winds has flooded my heart with emotion. It is the poignancy of G.O’s performance that calls me back over and over again to revisit the moments he spent on the Seoul Arts Center stage. Today I am offering a Vocal Virtuosity moment, but not from the stage. I choose the moment G.O and his co-star from the musical, Go Young Bin visited the Culture Bookmark show, talked about the musical, and performed the haunting 무휼과 호동의 노래 [Muhyul and Hodong’s Song].
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 456”
By the end of Act One in 바람의나라 [The Kingdom of the Winds], it was clear that young and gentle Prince Hodong was resolved in his heart and mind to follow in his father’s footsteps, declaring not only to his protective and wise spirit animal the phoenix, Byungari, but to himself, that he could be the king his father wanted him to be. But his phoenix knew Hodong better and what was more important, Byungari knew the dangers and treachery within the kingdom and how unsafe it was for Hodong. She also knew that in his heart he doubted his ability to rule a kingdom. Still, Hodong rebelled against the phoenix and began to emulate his father’s warrior nature. Today’s G.O One Shot comes in .gif form of the young prince making it known to his questioning spirit animal that he will be the warrior king his father wants him to be.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 455”
I loved all of 바람의나라 [The Kingdom of the Winds] from the music to the costumery, to the incredible visuals, music, and the story itself (even though it was sad). It was a feast for all of the senses. And that G.O was a part of it made it even more magical. But I think one of my favorite things about the show was the element of fantasy and the fact that there were spirit animal protectorates for the King and Prince. Even sweeter was the fact that Ho Dong’s protectorate was a phoenix, who although similar in age to the young prince with a playful child-like nature, was still full of strength and wisdom. Today, a Playful G.O moment from the musical stage between Prince Ho Dong and his 병아리.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 454”
As I was so very enchanted by G.O’s performance in Seopyeonje while in Seoul back in April 2014, I almost missed the announcement of him being single-cast in the role of Prince Hodong in 바람의나라 [The Kingdom of the Winds]. Admittedly, I was so focused on G.O’s musical of the moment and it wasn’t until I returned home that it hit me how hard he was working as rehearsals for Kingdom began while Seopyeonje was still running and, even more important, while he still had a number of remaining performances. Still, the buzz of G.O being the first artist from Korean popular music to be cast in the demanding role of Prince Hodong, and the first to perform with the prestigious Seoul Arts Group, was electric.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 452”
Remember when the press sat in on one of the rehearsals for 바람의나라 [The Kingdom of the Winds] and we all were able to watch G.O begin to bring the sweet, playful Prince Hodong to life? At the time, I had no idea what the story was about, but watching G.O begin to absorb the persona of the cherubic prince was exciting and magical.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 451”
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.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 450”
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.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 449”
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.
Continue reading “The Soulful Countdown to G.O’s Discharge ~ Day 444”
The Fangirl Lane 