Drama "Reply 1997"

Now I'm watching a popular drama, Reply 1997 or Answer Me 1997.  It's about a girl Sung Si won who is a huge fan of H.O.T. and she's obsessed with them when she was in high school. It shows her and her friends in 2012 at a reunion and flashes back to when they were coming of age in high school in 1997.

Even though I didn't live in Korea, the flash back bring back memories of the style of clothes and hair that happened not only in Korea but in the U.S. too.  Cassette tapes, walkmans, Tamagochis, baggie clothes and I'm only on episode 8.  

What is really entertaining to me is her obsession with H.O.T.  For a while last year, I too, was obsessed with H.O.T. and looked up the music videos and replayed it over and over again.  I loved Candy.  I wanted the song and I couldn't find it on iTunes, Amazon.com or YesAsia.com.  I was so upset.

Even if you don't know who H.O.T. was, you'll enjoy it. Chai, who vaguely knew of them because of me, liked the drama and told me to watch it.  Watching the drama again with me was a whole new level.  Because I watched the music videos, I had pointed out things Chai didn't catch because she didn't know them.  I think it became more hilarious because I squealed and got all excited when the songs played and I recognized H.O.T. references.

Tony An makes a few appearances in the drama.  Also a couple of characters in the drama are from the H.O.T.'s rival group SechsKies.  They play a couple of high school boys who are friends of Si Won.  Hoya, a member of boy group Infinite, is also in the drama.

Find and watch the drama.  So far it's fun to watch.  ~gt

Reloading the Candy MV. Watch and enjoy HOT.

Video Uploaded by misquesie

Photo source: Korean Drama.org

H.O.T. - debuted 16 years ago

After my first post on H.O.T., I didn't realize that it's been 16 years since their debut, Sept 7, 1996.  A fan had sent Jang Woo Hyuk an anniversary cake celebrating their debut.

The boy band is considered the forerunners of the Korean idol groups.  They were created by the chairman of SM Entertainment.

Members "Sexy Guy" Kangta was the first member and the leader.  "Radiant" Moon Hee Jun was the second member to join and he also had his friend "Shy Guy" Lee Jae Won to audition and then became the third member.  "Wild Guy" Woo Hyuk became the fourth member of HOT after he won a dance contest.  "Mood Guy" Tony An auditioned in LA along with Andy Lee and won the fifth spot.  Andy Lee later became a member of Shinwha.

There's talk of a reunion since last year, since the final member completed his military duty . It would be really nice to see them together.  I don't know if it will come true since there were issues between the company and the members when they disbanded after 5 years.

In any case, in celebration of their debut, here's Full of Happiness, just because Super Junior did a remake of this song.  We are the Future was considered one of their best songs.  My favorite song is Candy.

I don't own this video. Credit: mutjinnamja88 from SM Entertainment.  Sorry for the quality. =/

Photo Source: Allkpop

H.O.T. Candy

I just needed to share as I was looking at some videos in YouTube.

I had this one as one of my favorites.  H.O.T. - High-Five of Teenagers.  They were so popular during their time.  I think I found this last year because SHINee did a cover of this song on a SBS show.  SHINee looked so cute in their big puffy mittens.  Too bad they didn't sing the whole song.

So, of course, I had to find the original group who sang "candy".   I came to love this song as well.  The members are Kangta the leader, Hee Jun, Woo Hyuk, Jae Won and Tony.  When "candy" first came out they were so young, younger than their performance in this video.

When I first saw Hee Jun I thought he was just a MC or Korean comedian.  I didn't know he was an idol.  I just saw him in so many variety shows.  He was funny so I thought he was a comedian.

Kang Ta still sings for SM Entertainment and still tours with SMTown.

Tony, just left his 1.5 year position as MC for Mnet's M! Countdown.

They had many hits after Candy, We are the Future, Warrior's Decendant, Haeng Bok Full of Happiness (which Suju redid).

I wish I had their song on my iPod but I just have to settle for this YouTube video.

There were many covers of Candy from Big Bang, Infinite, TeenTop but my favorite is SHINee. Too bad JongHyun didn't perform.

I do not own these videos.
Credit: misquesis for HOT video and mrsrehmacmd for SHINee cover.