TVXQ Tuesday: Tonight

December 24, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 4 Comments

All it took was the opening note by Junsu in this one and I was catapulted into orbit and left spinning on my own axis trying to grab onto something and catch my breath long enough to listen to the entire song!! My dear sweet Junsu…seriously my love, must you be so vocally superior every waking moment??? And then, Changmin trailing right behind you with his plaintive cry? Aieesh! Just another example of why these men are so respected and heartily missed in their full five man form. Just, wow.

And dear me, there is just something about a man at the piano. Yes, Yoochun, there most certainly is! Maybe coming fresh from the K-drama, Five Fingers, I am still having a thing about seeing a man at the piano (Ji Chang Wook wore the piano as a pretty hot and enticing accessory if I do say so). But before we see our Yoochun at the piano, he whispers in that smooth deep velvety tone: “Baby right now, right here.” I thought oh yes, I think we are in for a sultry ride!

I love this slow, easy jam with the ever-present killer vocals these men consistently bring. Such a sensual ride. Yoochun’s deep spoken words, the gorgeous harmonies – ALL of it! And oh my goodness when Yoochun and Junsu trade off at about the 2:31 mark. Absolute heaven! Love it! These guys and their voices never fail and are nothing short of perfection each and every time (studio or live). It’s just unnerving sometimes!! Still, I keep coming back for more. ♥

[Image credit: yeuamnhac.com/Video credit: HDBSK]

TVXQ Tuesday – Proud

December 10, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 9 Comments

Awwwwwww, I love me a tender-hearted man, indeed I do. And what we have here is a group of five truly tender-hearted young men. This is such a moving performance with the group being moved to tears and still delivering a vocal feast. When Yoochun can’t sing through his tears and Junsu comes over to comfort him, I just melt. The only ones who seems to be able to hold back are Jaejoong and Changmin as even towards the end Yunho starts to break. I love this tender song – one they seem to be serenading their devoted Japanese fans with and do it with respect, tenderness, love, and a whole lot of emotion.

I never tire of their trade-off pairings and when Jae and Changmin go at it together in the second verse…..chills!!! So lovely. Jae’s voice in this song is ethereal and tender. I still think Jae and Junsu put forth the most emotion when they sing. But this song is clearly touching each one of their hearts. As it touched mine.

So very sweet.

[Image credit: fanpop.com/Video credit: idie2013]

TVXQ Tuesday – “O” 정반합

December 3, 2013 ~ Michele ~ Leave a comment

[Image credit: dramafever]

Oops! I missed last Tuesday because I was in Rainland!! Yes, I went to Tokyo and had my first experience of seeing him perform live, uninhibited – so I was a little verclempt, so say the least. I completely forgot about my fave five here but am back to love on them once more!

“O” is an intense dance number and I love it! Yoochun in dreadlocks….OMO!! His voice is like a deep caress even in a number like this. I am feelin’ ya, Yoochun. I can’t help but notice how the dancing is so tight in this one. Not a step out-of-place, out of beat, or out of synchronicity. Obviously in the early days of TVXQ (as I am sure is still a mainstay in all Korean K-pop groups today) hours and hours were probably spent perfecting the dances that accompanied the vocal performances.

I am still really new to the current K-pop scene but I know the dance is very much a part of performances for the groups. Even Rain still utilizes the dance in his live performance to the maximum effect. I love a man who can dance and Rain reigns supreme – but these five can bust a move proper – especially my beloved soul machine, Junsu. I would say that he and Yunho are probably the most fluid of the bunch here.

[Video credit: MBCkpop]

In watching the various performances of this song, I had a difficult time finding it performed live. These boys do not need to lip sync a thing so I was shocked that many of the videos of this song that I came across, they were actually lip synced. Perhaps the choreography was too intense and it was difficult to combine the two and get a solid performance. I still don’t buy that as this performance clearly shows. Yeah, they sing to a track that has a backing vocal but they are still able to sing this live with no problem AND keep in sync with the dance.

And doesn’t Junsu look absolutely delish? I could not hide my bias even if I tried! ^.~

Oh…and TVXQ, JYJ and the boys individually were ALL over the place in Tokyo’s K-town. I saw Junsu EVERYWHERE (no, not him personally – heehehe)! It was pretty awesome.

TVXQ Tuesday – Forever Love

November 19, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 1 Comment

I have to admit that when I listen to these guys sing, I get very emotional. This is the very serious power of music and the effect of a well-sung song. You don’t have to understand a word of it and it still translates. I really love this gorgeous ballad. I think I tend to favor those where beautiful Junsu opens the song up. This one is sung in Japanese and that amazing soul machine (still thanking Evez for coining that term!) Junsu wrote the lyrics to this beautiful song.

In this MV I don’t know who is shipwrecked. The girl. The guys. Both. Are the guys trying to find the girl? Is she just a ghost? Maybe I should take a look at the translation. Really though, I just like to listen to the song and feel it. Interpretation aside, it is film gorgeously. The color palette is almost monochromatic with muted tones and goes from golden hues to deep blues. I love the contrast. And our five handsome men are looking quite handsome.

But Junsu……..Junsu is so very lovely in this MV. My bias is quite evident, yes?

♥♥♥

[Image credit: mylollipopworld.blogspot.com/Video credit: Ming Lee]

TVXQ Tuesday – Love In The Ice

November 12, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 6 Comments

Does anyone else end up in a puddle of tears after watching and listening to these five beautiful men sing? This song had me blubbering like a baby by the end of it and I didn’t understand a word of it. It really is true then that music is able to bridge all language barrier gaps because, on a vibrational level, music speaks a common language to us all.

This lovely rendition starts off like a lullaby and builds to an incredible crescendo and softly dissipates. I will always love the way the five of them bring their own vocal styles singularly but then pair off and create a synergistic vocal magic show of grand proportions. Changmin’s soft entry at :39 is like a gentle breeze kissing the skin followed by Yoochun’s deep caress. Oh my….

But when Junsu arrives with Yunho, that is when my tears started to fall. And they just kept coming. At 2:40 when Junsu and Jaejoong pair, well there are two powerhouse emotional singers colliding right there followed by Jae and Yunho whose voices are smoother than smooth together. I had to scream WHY?? Why can’t you all be together again??

Then Junsu pushed me over the edge at 3:40 and I was done. So.beautiful.

[Image credit: timetoshop.fairycorner.net/Video credit: HDBSK]

TVXQ Tuesday – Picture Of You

November 5, 2013November 12, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 9 Comments

Ethereal. Angelic. Sublime. This MV has all of that AND the gorgeous vocals. If you haven’t fallen in love with these five young men yet, this could be the tipping point! Likewise, if you have, but haven’t chosen which one of them could possibly be your own particular bias, you may be hard-pressed to pick one from this MV. All five of them are softly styled in muted white tones against the lush greenery and oceanic views of the Saipan, Japan. All five looking so handsome. I read that my TVXQ bias, Junsu, wrote the lyrics for this song. And Junsu’s voice…..oh my. So lovely, Junsu….just like you!

<Sigh> To have all five back together again……

[Image credit: imop.wordress.com/Video credit: FahrenheitJonas]

TVXQ Tuesday – Whatever They Say

October 29, 2013November 12, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 4 Comments

When I first started to explore TVXQ, I kept coming across information that the group performed quite a bit a cappella-style in its early days. It is interesting that the word itself, an Italian word, means “in the manner of the church” or “in the manner of a chapel.” You know, sacred music. Music that is generally unaccompanied by any musical instruments. The only instrument used is the voice. For a pop band to come blazing out singing without instruments is pretty ballsy. But someone knew what they were doing because TVXQ takes you to church with this song.

In the pop world today, and specifically here in the US, I think you would be hard-pressed to find a singer or group that could go au naturel. In this day and age of auto tune and the likes, many singers have to rely on electronic cosmetics to make the finished product listenable. I know there are many excellent singers out there, Josh Groban, for example, that could sing without musical accompaniment. But these true vocal phenoms are few and far between.

Then there are Yunho, Changmin, Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu, five beautifully tuned musical instruments. When I listen to Whatever They Say, I am once again reminded why there are so many of us out here in fanland who would sell our first borns to see these 5 amazing singers reunite and regale us once again with their incredible and synergistic vocals. When Jaejoong hits those high notes at around the 2:44 mark in this one, it sends chills down my spine. Each one of their voices has an intonation and mellifluous quality all of its own and this song showcases each one of them beautifully individually, and when together, magnificently. So very, very lovely.

[Image credit: neverend.scm.com/Video credit: kristinaxox2]

TVXQ Tuesday – Purple Line

October 22, 2013November 12, 2013 ~ Michele ~ 5 Comments

Sexy.Hot.Sexy.Hot.Sexy.Hot. That is the best way to describe this performance of Purple Line. I wanted to get up and dance but I could not peel my eyes away from the hotness unfolding on my screen. Inasmuch as I think Yoochun looks fabulous with short hair….this long hair in the ponytail look was making me scream!!! I think this is the most fluid I have seen Changmin move while dancing – just discovered here that not only does he have hips, he can move them! And there is so much movement going on this number and STILL they are able to sing effortlessly. These five guys never fail to impress me.

I love the funky dance feel to this one and I love the way they all dance here – they really seem to be feeling the beat, the rhythm and the energy of the crowd. And don’t they all look so freaking spectacular in silver and white??? All five so handsome. I have noticed that with each of my Tuesday posts one of them tends to jump out at me (if they can manage to take my attention off of Junsu….and he is so fine in this one) and surprisingly, Yunho was able to divert me a little here. He is looking pretty hot and I like the way he moves -they all actually rock the dancing pretty well in this one, Changmin surprising me the most.

From the up through the floor entrance to the final pose, this one is just plain HOT.

[Image credit: vyunnie.files.wordpress.com/Video credit: DBSKwithlove]

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]

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)!