[series] Rain’s World of Endorsements: Refreshing Sereni-TEA – Today’s Tea

November 3, 2013November 6, 2013 ~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

Cloud cover by: Michele, Staff Writer

Tea is definitely a wildly popular beverage in Asia. Likewise, Rain is a wildly popular entertainer in Asia (and around the world). Ok, that sounds like another winning collaboration for an endorsement! And, what a delight to see a fit and serene Rain, dressed in white, going through his morning workout. Is it me or does he look absolutely sensational in white?

We see him stretching and bending and curling those weights – and then the pièce de résistance: he levitates in a very yogic-inspired pose. Well, that just had me squeeing with fangirl joy. I am a huge fan of yoga so when you throw Rain into that mix, it would pretty much be the equivalent of a narcotic!! Hey, don’t judge. We all have that point where we just go over the edge when it comes to Rain. He caps off the…

View original post 265 more words

[series] Rain’s World of Endorsements: Raising the Bar, The Chocolate Bar – Scalar Chocolate

October 30, 2013November 6, 2013 ~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

Cloud USA

Cloud cover by: Michele, Staff Writer

I absolutely adore young, baby Bi!!

His very early endorsements just make me feel all warm and fuzzy probably because he exudes such pure energetic innocence. There is something so endearing and honest about him and that is something that is consistently present in all he does. There is no pretense with Rain. What you see is what you get. I admire that about him. That honesty is always present be it in his live stage performances or on the screen, CFs included. I refuse to believe he has it in him to fake the kind of fun he seems to have in these early commercial films!

In this early CF, however, that innocence I was talking about went right out the window. This here is kind of pushing the provocative envelope, if you ask me!! The only thing remotely innocent in this one…

View original post 206 more words

TVXQ Tuesday – Why Did I Fall In Love With You?

October 15, 2013November 12, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 2 Comments

Ok, you can just put a fork in me after this one because I am essentially done!! I stumbled upon this a couple of weeks ago and went a little mental on Twitter with a couple of Twitter friends about how incredibly wonderful this live version of the song was and how equally gorgeous all five of these men were looking in the video. It is so good for a few reasons.

First, the vocals. I know I sound like a broken record here but these incredible young men never fail to bring their A-game vocally and at times I feel are better live than in the studio. Usually it is the other way around – the magic of a soundboard is not necessary with these five. They each have a built-in soundboard that naturally synchronizes, equalizes and balances all the settings to produce vocal harmony. Yes, it’s pure unadulterated magic, I tell you. This is one of my absolute favorites.

Second, I don’t know what song they finished just prior to this one but apparently it was something which required some heavy duty dancing because all five of them are glistening with sweat. I am not going to go any further with that thought and just say, I like. I like a lot!

Third, I really appreciate how Jaejoong just lets loose emotionally when he sings. Reminds me a lot of Rain in that respect. You can sense that he is feeling what he is singing. I have noticed that about Jaejoong – there always seems to be a lot of emotion simmering beneath his performance.

Finally, Junsu. Shall I go on? His beautiful voice, his delivery, his gorgeous large hands (yes, I notice these things) and his smile. His adorable smile. Daebak!!

Enjoy!

[Image credit: mingcho/Video credit: HDBSK]

Yoo Seung Ho

October 14, 2013October 18, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 37 Comments

The smoldering gaze of Yoo Seung Ho can most definitely render a fangirl of any age weak in the knees. Partner that with maturity, poise, intelligence, and affable charm and he becomes downright lethal! In fact, he becomes a fangirl dream. When I watch Yoo Seung Ho, I always have to pause a moment to remind myself that he is all of twenty years old! Building his acting resume since the age of 7 and settling into that wickedly intense smolder by age 16, I could no longer deny his rightful place here as a worthy K-Shot of Hot.

Continue reading “Yoo Seung Ho” →

TVXQ TUESDAY – One

October 8, 2013November 12, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 7 Comments

The way these young men can bring the steady and harmonized vocals in their more upbeat and dance-oriented songs is wonderful. But, when it is ballad time, there is simply nothing sweeter. Each voice unique, each one having its rightful place, each one stellar on its own yet when combined with the other, a synergistic feast. So lovely.

In this offering I will have to honestly admit that Jaejoong and Changmin were working their vocal magic on me. And, Changmin’s soulful glances while singing kind of stirred a mini spaz in me and he is not even my bias. But I am not going to deny that he’s looking right cute in this video!! From their third studio album “O” – Jung.Ban.Hap., released in 2006, this TVXQ Tuesday song for you is One (not to be confused with Rain’s One – you knew I’d sneak him in somehow)!

Anyone else crushing a little on Changmin after this one??

[Photo credit: koreanstar-gdragon.blogspot.com/Video credit: kat2wierdo]

[announcement] A very special New on the Block.

October 5, 2013October 5, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 10 Comments

DAEBAK!! I am so excited to be joining the Cloud USA team and look forward to letting the world know how much I admire, respect , support, and am inspired by the amazing Rain!

Cloud USA

We are pleased to announce that community member Michele DeMarco has accepted a Staff Writer position here on our Cloud USA media blog.

She started her own Korean-interest blog several months ago, and wholeheartedly admits to being a K-Drama addict. K-Pop? Absolutely, she digs it as well. 🙂

Being fairly new to the K-World, she’s having a great time seeing and hearing and absorbing new things, especially about the world star who has truly lit a fire under her—Rain. Not only did she fly in to support him at his Army discharge in Seoul, she also made some Cloud noise at the Arirang World Peace Festival in Washington D.C.

Please join us in welcoming her, and support her well as she eases into her new role.

Thanks, everyone. Congrats, Michele!

— Stephe ^@@^ and Terri :-}

View original post

New Orleans or Burst….Cloud Burst, That Is

October 2, 2013October 2, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 23 Comments

When Cloud USA announced that it was going to have its next meeting/fan gathering (aptly called a Cloud Burst) in New Orleans I thought to myself, hmmmmm, a group of Rain fans gathered together to celebrate Rain in a city known for its festive atmosphere pretty much every day of the year? That sounded like a complete win-win situation to me. And, it was.

Continue reading “New Orleans or Burst….Cloud Burst, That Is” →

TVXQ Tuesday – Wrong Number

October 1, 2013November 12, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 2 Comments

So last week I was cracking out on Mirotic – which is easy to do. I woke up again this morning with TVXQ on my mind and thought ok, I see a pattern here. Seems TVXQ likes to invade my mind space on Tuesdays which is ok since it seems every other day of the week my mind space is duly occupied by Rain. Tuesdays then will be my time to pause and show some love to TVXQ. And by TVXQ I mean the group as a whole as they once were. The five of them. The five voices united in what is probably the best combo of voices I think K-pop has ever heard.

If you take some time to listen to these five work together you will notice a synergy that is so in place – and not just vocally. They even seem to navigate the stage around each other while dancing with a telepathy all of its own.

Seriously, in that one I can’t even pick a favorite and you all know I am generally partial to Junsu!!! But in that performance, they are all working the hot factor pretty well!

[Photo credit: http://ddramatards.wordpress.com/Video credit: Titus88]

The Back Up Dancer That Could

September 22, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 8 Comments

I know that this is going to come as no surprise, but I woke this morning thinking about Rain. I was thinking how awesome it must be that he finally completed his military service and that he is able to enjoy his time exactly the way he wants to enjoy it. I was thinking about how hard he has worked to get where he is today and how his rise to fame was no easy task. Of course, I am ALWAYS thinking about how handsome he is and how his beauty both inside and out just takes my breath away.

Then I remembered this video. He was only a back up dancer at this point and this only a rehearsal, yet all the signs were there of what was to unfold.

[Video credit: maruborarain2]

When I watch Rain in these early clips, I am constantly reminded of how he performs from somewhere deep within himself and how he never fails to give 200%, even when just a back up dancer. So, I wanted to come here to share it even though I am quite sure every Rain fangirl out there has seen it (and likely more than once)! It is still a potent reminder of his incredible talent and that his hunger to succeed and be the best is a constant source of inspiration not only to himself, but to many of us who admire him so much. Dance on, Rain….

K-Shot Postscript: Rain 비 – Speed Racer

September 8, 2013September 8, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 10 Comments

Ok, I really liked Speed Racer. And, no not just because Rain was in it although it was really cool that he was. But even more importantly, he landed on the Wachowski’s radar and THAT resulted in Ninja Assassin. I concur that Rain would make an incredibly good action film star with a healthy side of brood and insolence mixed in. I rather enjoy him in broody, insolent roles where you ultimately end up liking him because somewhere buried beneath those layers of insolence is a decent guy who upon discovering his own decency, lets us in on it. Rain’s Taejo Togokahn is one of those guys.

Continue reading “K-Shot Postscript: Rain 비 – Speed Racer” →