Super Junior's Goodbye Stage

Waaahhh!  =(

This week is Super Junior's Goodbye stage, ending their Sexy, Free and Single and SPY promotions.  The SPY promotions was too short.  I like the SPY song and their suits in the live performances.

What I feel sad about was, I didn't hear anything about them winning on any of the music shows for their Sexy, Free and Single or SPY.  I think when their SPY promotion started, Psy's Gangnam Style exploded all over the world.  He started winning on the music shows.

I think LeeTeuk would have wanted one last win before he goes into the army.  That would have been nice for him.  He should be enlisting soon. =(

I also heard that SJ-M and KRY will start their activities.

Suju Hwaiting!

Here's their goodbye stage on M Countdown.  At the beginning, you see a little glimpse of HongKi (the new MC on M Countdown).

I do not own this video. Credit: Choco Sherrie

Presenting PSYU!

I just had to post this. I saw this and it made me laugh!

If PSY and IU ever had a daughter, I'd imagine that she would look like this.

This is just so wrong! 

Source: Allkpop

Nichkhun's DUI settlement

A statement was release by the Prosecutor's office regarding Nickhun's DUI case:

"Nichkhun already reached a settlement with the other party.  There were no serious injuries, and his blood alcohol level was low, so the case was settled with a summary judgement (settled by a judge with no jury involved).  There were no further investigations."

Nichkhun has to pay 4 million KRW in fines, that's ~$3500 USD.  His blood alcohol level was 0.056%.  I don't know what the legal limit is in Korea but the legal limit in the U.S. is .08% BAC (blood alcohol content) and they did say it was low.  It almost sounds like he had to pay to keep the other party quiet.

I hope this finally ends Nichkhun's ordeal.  And hopefully TV producers will stop editing him out of programs (ie. MBC's God of Victory with Shinhwa and 2pm on Sept 5th) he participated in prior to the incident.  His fans still want to see him.

Article Source: Allkpop

PSY's Dance Revolution

PSY has graced the headlines all over the world in just a few months.

His video has over 45 million views on YouTube.

In the U.S., his song "Gangnam Style" broke through the top 50 songs on iTunes!

He is all the buzz right now that stars like Britney Spears want to learn his dance.

Do you want to learn it? Take a look at the video below.

It's a clip of PSY teaching VH-1 MC's Carrie and Jason how to do it. Good luck!

Oh yea, here we go, "Oppa Gangnam style!"

I do not own the video, credit to VH-1. But I can finally do the dance decently thanks to this.

SHINee's Dazzling Girl, Part 3

At long last, the final teaser photo for SHINee's Dazzling Girl, Onew! Click here for Onew's pic.

Yes! Finally, Onew looks as wonderful as he should.  He looks like he just got out of the shower and dressed himself.  I can now officially say that I do like this concept of theirs.

Even though they still look like young boys, they do look more mature, especially Taemin.  They do look a bit sexy, more so than the Sherlock photos.  I think being sexy is more of a look and attitude than just having less clothing.  The shirtless photos didn't work for me.

What I seem to forget is that this will be released in Japan.   

If you go on their Japan Official Website, it describes what's included in their single release.  CD, DVD,  Photocards, Trading Cards, etc.  Wow.  

All I want is their song.  I just hope they release their single on iTunes.  I think I've only seen their Korean songs on iTunes.  One of their Japanese songs, Kiss Kiss Kiss, was only released on their Japan Juliette single and not on iTunes.  I was fortunate to purchase that single in Japan on my trip there.  I couldn't find it anywhere else, other than a video on YouTube.

So, what do you think of their whole concept?  

Photo source and Official Website: SHINee Japan

Click here to watch Kiss Kiss Kiss a FujiONE Mezamahi live performance in Japan.  I do not own this video. Credit Uploader SilverFishyEunHae.

Typhoon Bolaven hits South Korea

Typhoon Bolaven has hit south and west Korea and is heading towards North Korea.

Unfortunately, 11 were reported killed and hopefully there won't be any more casualties.  The power outage effected thousands of South Koreans and nearly 200 flights were cancelled.  Many were left homeless.

I feel for Korea, there is so much damage to their homes and businesses.  I hope the typhoon dies down soon and they have a fast recovery.

Click here for the full article.

KARA's Handicap Parking Scandal

Ok, I am not a huge fan of KARA, but if I were a fan, I would be a bit upset with a tweet I just read.

According to stories circulating the Internet, their van was seen parked for fifteen minutes or so in a handicap zone. The girls were seen snacking in the back leisurely and taking restroom breaks. And they were even asked to leave, but didn't.

Now, none of the girls were driving. So it's not necessarily their fault. Not really, but I'll get into that in a bit. But driver, come on! Use some common sense! If you can't find parking, keep on driving! And girls, if you have to use the restroom, what is wrong with the driver just dropping you off? Can't the van cruise slowly until parking is found?

Let me say that if the girls and the driver had any compassion, they would have spoken up and not had parked there.

As someone that has dealt with transporting handicapped people, I am outraged! I'm not sure how many areas there are in Korea for handicapped parking, but I'm pretty sure it's way less than there are for non-handicapped people.

If they only knew how hard it is to get out of a car when you're handicapped, how much room you would need for a walker or someone to assist you, they wouldn't have parked there. If they only knew how far some of these folks would have to walk to entrances because someone was parked there, they wouldn't have parked there. If only they knew how it felt to squeeze out of a closely fit parking stall when you're disabled, they wouldn't have parked there.

I'm glad their management company, DSP, issued an apology. They are supposed to be idols and should set an example! So not cool! And come on, what kind of example are they showing when news like this comes out?

KARA and driver(s) will you please keep looking for parking the next time?

South Koreans Prepare for Bolaven

Typhoon Bolaven is not through in the Western Pacific.

After slamming into the island of Okinawa off the coast of Japan, Typhoon Bolaven is on it's way to the Korean peninsula. It is expected to hit at least Jeju island tonight/today (Monday).

As someone that's been through many hurricanes (the Eastern Pacific name for typhoons), I am worried for the people there. 

Roofs of houses peel off, trees are uprooted and there will be flooding, torrential rain and thunderstorms with lots of high winds.

I pray that they will all be kept safe. I am sure they are taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their people, but I ask that anyone that reads this post keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Article on Typhoon Bolaven as of Monday, 8/27/12 8:00 am

SHINee's Dazzling Girl, Part 2

The fourth teaser photo is up, and it's  Jonghyun. Click here to see his photo.

Hmmm...I don't know about the chains and feathers.  He still looks good.

So far, I'm liking this series of teaser photos better than the Sherlock photos.  For my personal taste, I prefer the short hairstyle that they have.  I didn't like the long hair that Key and Taemin had for the Lucifer and Sherlock comebacks.  They did look good in it and I have gotten use to it but I didn't like it.

I think some idols need to be careful about having long hair.  Taemin has a pretty face and will look like a girl with long hair.  So does Key.  And Heechul, from Super Junior.  He did actually look like a pretty girl when he had long hair during the U comeback.

I can't wait for the last photo, Onew, and the song.

What do you think of the photos so far?

Photo source: Shinee Japan

2NE1 Surprises with Will.I.Am

2NE1 fans were shocked during the group's "New Evolution" concert at L.A.'s Nokia Theater on August 24th. (The Nokia Theater is turning out to be a popular venue for K-Pop. Earlier this year, it played host to FNC groups FT Island and CNBlue)

While the girls and fans were rocking out to "I Am the Best", the Black Eyed Pea's Will.I.Am made a surprise appearance onstage working the fans into more of a frenzy.

When I heard this, all I thought was, all riigghht, another star jumps on the K-Pop band wagon!

Akon collaborated with the Wonder Girls on "Like Money", T-Pain is rumoured to want to work with international sensation Psy, and now Will.I.Am with 2NE1.

Looks like the Hallyu wave is extending past K-Dramas, it's sweeping through pop culture as well!

For the article and the video click here.

Who do you think will be next to jump on?

SHINee's Dazzling Girl

Since August 20th, SHINee has been releasing teaser photos for their upcoming Japanese single "Dazzling Girl." The single is said to be release on October 10th.  Based on the teaser photos that the company has been releasing, they look more mature.  I like these black and white teaser photos better than the Sherlock teasers. The Sherlock photos just didn't match them since it showed a couple of them shirtless.  Taemin and Minho really didn't have the bulky muscular upper body to be showing off a look like that.

The first Dazzling Girl photo released was Taemin.  He doesn't look like the baby face maknae anymore.  His face is narrower and mature and he's rid of his "bowl" cut hairstyle.  Although, he still has his innocent eyes.

The second photo released on Aug 22 was Key.  Key, always the Diva, looks great in his short haircut.  I like the dramatic photo.  I think he's the most photogenic of the group. Whatever the hairstyle or clothes they give him, he always seems to carry it off well.

The third photo released is Minho.  He seems to always have the most simplest, cleanest look.  Nothing dramatic or odd or flashy.

Still waiting for JongHyun and Onew's photos.  So far, this style is a lot better than the Sherlock comeback but I haven't seen Onew's photo yet.  They always seem to mess up his looks with haircuts that doesn't match him, even in the live performances.  In my opinion, Onew's last best look was during the Ring Ding Dong release.

Waiting for Aug 26, based on the pattern, that maybe the next teaser photo. I'll update the links when the photos are released.  XD ~gt

Photo Source: SHINee Japan

Psy's Gangnam Style

Well, I know Kpop is popular around the world.  There's SMTown tours selling out in Europe and the US.  Also, other Kpop groups and bands having concerts in the US and around the world and selling out.

I've seen flash mob videos for Super Junior, SHINee and other Kpop groups' songs popping up all over the world.  Now there's a Kpop radio station where I live.  I can listen to Kpop on the radio instead of my iPod. WooHoo!

I think Kpop is hitting it big now, especially when Kpop songs gets played on local radio stations and gets on their play list and it's not even a Kpop station.  That's what happened to Psy's Gangnam Style.  Since I listen to the Kpop station once in a while, it took me a few days to realize that song wasn't only playing on the Kpop station.

After a couple of years hiatus, Psy made a comeback with Gangnam Style and a dance that is becoming the latest hit internationally.

One cool thing I read was Psy at a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game recently.  In the 5th inning, since it was a popular song, Gangnam Style was played in the stadium during the "Dance Cam."  People started dancing to the song.  They even knew the dance moves.  Psy suddenly appeared on the giant screen.  After a moment he got up to dance and entertained the crowd for a bit.  You could hear the crowd cheering.

Enjoy ~ gt

This is not my video.  Credit fancam - JoongAng Ilbo at Nate

http://news.nate.com/view/20120821n14211?mid=e0101

CNBlue In London!

The Olympics are over, but there's still more to come from good ol' London!

South Korean band CNBlue will be heading there to do a concert on September 22nd! How exciting! Makes me kinda jealous, but I will get over it since there are hardly any Asian concerts in Europe.

I'm hoping this will set the stage for more groups to follow suit and thus extend the popularity of K-PopRock.

I think it's absolutely awesome that they are getting out. They had a successful joint concert in March with fellow FNC group, FT Island and had a successful run of promotions for their recent album, Ear Fun. They've also been working hard individually. Min Hyuk and Jong Hyun have been polishing their acting chops in their dramas "You Who Rolled in Unexpectedly" and "A Gentleman's Dignity" respectively. Jung Shin has been studying hard and taking on the occasional photo shoot. (He's getting quite popular with his model like looks) And leader Yong Hwa has been working hard in the studio composing songs, helping out his fellow FNC'er Juniel and (haha) working hard in the gym to umm...better himself.

All the fans in the U.K. are you ready? Make some noise!

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Green Tea and Chai

Super Junior's From U and SPY

Woohoo! Another new song from SuJu.  I didn't over play From U and Sexy, Free and Single, yet, and now a new song, SPY.

Even though their comeback song is Sexy, Free and Single, From U is my favorite of the two.  Actually, I like From U, not only because SuJu is dedicating the song to ELF, their fans, but mainly because of Eunhyuk.  Yes, he's my bias.

I love watching their live performances of From U.  I love watching him dance.  As much as I try to look at the other members, my eyes always drift to him and I don't realize I'm watching him again.  I'm glad they got rid of his platinum blonde hair and swept his bangs out of his eyes.  Sometimes I wish there's a fancam that focused only on Eunhyuk dancing in From U.  I get so irritated when the camera cuts from him.  Don't get me wrong, the others should get their camera time but still...

I'm also happy that KRY are the main singers.  I like them.  I like the evil maknae and the goofy Yeseung, as well as Wookie.  I'm glad they formed a sub-group.  I like the way they sing.

So now, after watching their MV for SPY then watching their live performance.  I'm liking this song.  I like that they are in tuxes,  they look so good in them.  And I'm so glad Leetuek changed his hair style from the MV to the live performance.  Ugh! That split hair was just so wrong.  I'm also happy that most of them went back to their darker hair color.  I think platinum blonde are so wrong for Asians.  But I got to say, when Eunhyuk was platinum blonde, it was so easy finding him in their performances.

I hear people complaining that their video is not as flashy as the other SM artists.  That they didn't have a story line or anything.  That SM are not taking care of Suju as much as EXO or the other new groups.  Well, I don't need it.  I think sometimes it gets in the way of the song, especially if it gets too complicated.  Plus they are a dance group.  I want to see them dance.  I always wait for their dance only version of their songs.  I hope it comes out soon.

For now, here's their SPY MV from SMTown's YouTube.  I do not own this video.  Enjoy. ~gt

Omurice, my food quest

My quest to eat the differents kinds of Omurice in Japan first started with a Japanese drama, of course.  It was called Lunch Queen.  I watched it because I was so into Japanese dramas, that I watched anything anyone suggested. I never knew Yamapi was in it, he had a minor part (playing a younger brother.)  When I found out a couple of years later, I had to go back to see. He was so young and skinny.

Lunch Queen was about a family who owns a small family restaurant.  The father was the owner and chef, he was also the creator of one of his specialty, omurice with a demi-glaze.  His children worked there and was suppose to take over the family business.  Seeing the omurice in the drama looked delicious that I wanted to try it but was not available from where I live at that time.

On my first trip to Japan, I found it in one of the last restaurants we went to. Oh, the joy I had eating it.  I couldn't believe I found it.  I loved it!  Unfortunately, the sauce was not the demi-glaze but just ketchup. =( Delicious, none the less.  This is when I made it my quest to try more of it, if I ever came back to Japan.

On my second trip to Japan, I was all excited to try it again.  But, curses!  I never had a chance to eat it.  The picture above was the closest I ever came to it.  A restaurant that made a variety of omurice.  On my last day, I found out that it's a very common dish found anywhere.  What?!?  I guess we just spent too much time eating the variety of ramens we saw.

Basically, omurice is fried rice wrapped in an omlette and topped with, normally, ketchup. It  has chopped up meat, green peppers, onions, mushrooms or I guess any vegetable you have, mixed in the rice.

Now the new quest is to find out how to make a sauce for it instead of standing over the stove for hours on end stirring the pot just like the father in Lunch Queen.  Ketchup will not suffice.

I must say,  any of the Kdramas and Jdramas make food look wonderfully delicious.

If you have a chance, watch Lunch Queen.  It's a good drama.  ~gt

Dr. Jin - What are you doing?!?

I'm both excited and fustrated about the latest drama with Song Seung Heon, Dr. Jin - Timeslip.  The story is about a "genius neurosurgeon", Dr. Jin, who is transported back in time to the Joseon period.  As a surgeon, he starts off as cold and heartless.   As a person, he's caring and thoughtful with his girlfriend.  

Now, watching the drama,  I just love it because SSH is in it.  I love his acting, how he looks (I got use to the ponytail he sports), and just him in general.  But I'm having problems with 90% of the characters in the drama, including his.  Someone wrote how the drama has alot of irritating characters in all the dramas they've seen.  I'm on episode 11 and I understand that feeling.  (I won't go into too much detail of the drama so I won't spoil anything if anyone watches this).

As Dr. Jin tries to save the sick and injured, he is introducing modern medicine and techniques.  At the beginning, I could understand why he did it.  I believe it's because that's who he is, a doctor who will save a life if he could.  Very admirable.  The only way he knows how to save them is through the techniques that he's learned during his time.  But at one point he realized he is changing history by introducing the new medicines, yet he doesn't stop.  Then he starts teaching the other doctors the techniques and how to make medicine that should not have developed at that time.  How frustrating!  How can he continue to save and educate people around him, knowing he's changing history?

Not only that, he keeps on telling some of the other characters, they can't die because they are important to the future.  I don't know how many times I've yell at the screen, "I can't believe you're doing that!" or "What are you doing?!? Stop it!"

I find most of the other characters irritating because they are the evil mean ones, anyway. There are more evil characters than the other dramas I've seen.  The "nice" ones are unexpectedly irritating.  I think because of the cultural etiquette is so formal and they don't talk out of place.  If they do, they are the "unfilial" sons/daughters or disrespecting royalty. (I must be an unfilial daughter, hahaha).   I think Dr. Jin's love interest's brother and the Queen Dowager are the only "normal" ones.  

Oh, there's also, Kim JaeJong from JYJ/DBSK.  There are moments of what he does that's frustrating but I mostly feel sorry for his character.  His character follows the rules and tries to do what's right based on his position and status but his life is falling apart around him.  On a side note, I must say he looks really good in period clothes.

Well, I think I've vented enough of my frustration about the drama.  It may sound like I don't like Dr. Jin but I like it.  I can't stop watching and if I could watch it until the end without stopping to sleep or work I would. ~ gt

Pray for the Philipines

As the Philippines gets drenched in rains and swept up in flooding, please pray for them that this will pass quickly.

"Loving You" Drum Cover

Hi! It's C here! I came across this cool drum cover on my Twitter page by a friend of mine.

He does a bunch of drum covers, and this one happened to be of a K-Pop song I really like, SISTAR's "Loving You".

Wanted to share his video with all of you! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szTVRaxCKyQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The new Exile???

One problem I have regarding Jpop is that they do not promote their groups and bands as much as Kpop.  Most of the videos I've watched before have been deleted and now it's really hard to find any old NEWS or Yamapi videos.  It's even harder to find any new groups to adore. 

On one of my trips to Japan, I was fortunate to see a mall concert for 10 minutes.  Why? Because our tour was suppose to visit the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and we had a 10 min break.  I was told that this group was really good and they were suppose to be the young, new upcoming Exile-like group.  I've never been to a Jpop or Kpop concert and of course I didn't care who was performing, I just wanted to see them.  Needless to say, in 10 minutes, they got a new fan or I would like to be one.  I don't know the group's name.  I think that sign might have said "No Photos," I can't read Japanese and I was scolded for taking this one picture.  They turned the moment I took the picture.  ARRGGGHHH!  Then I had to leave.  There were some pretty cute guys in the group. 

If ANYONE, just ANYONE knows who they are or tell me where I can buy their CD, I would be really appreciative.  This picture was taken when they were performing on May 18, 2012, next to the Osaka Aquarium, in the afternoon.  

Help, Please?