Arist's Corner (Week 39): BEAST

BEAST.... IS BEST.

A group with a motto like that cannot suck, and BEAST (or Boys of the EAst Standing Tall; B2ST) does not dissapoint. While the group is relatively young, formed only in late 2009 under Cube entertainment (alongside labelmate 4minute). Because of their close relationship, BEAST regularly appears in 4minute's songs and videos.

The group consists of Doo Joon, Hyun Seung, Ki Kwang, Jun Hyung, Yon Seob and Dong Woon. The group is known for having experienced members: of special note are members Hyun Seung (Former Big Bang member), Jun Hyung (former XING member), and Ki Kwang (who had previously debuted as solo singer AJ). Most of the members have also been Ki Kwang's backup dancers during his days as AJ- something he still feels guilty about.

Their cheerful image in their debut single Bad Girl later gave way to a more popping and techno-focused gritty image that they exhibited in their single SHOCK of the New Era, followed by a more militaristic and powerful image in their newest single, Mastermind.

These guys definitely give 2pm a run for their money :D

Mastermind - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iReqU4F0OPg&feature=player_embedded

Soom (Breath) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5n8sXkxwsY&feature=player_embedded

SHOCK - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXxGo1MvNls

SHOCK LIVE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLWuqI0_oUg&feature=related

Beast being cute - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUEDjEbmagM

Ps. Been busy moving to London for uni, so couldn't update (more lame excuses coming up later :D).

Artist's Corner (Week 33): 4MINUTE

(It's been a long time since my last post, so I think I should explain just wtf happenned during the past few months- Well, in short, I went to China on holiday. Now to those of you who don't know, China blocks facebook and blogspot and youtube and etc. Hence I apologize for the delay :D)

4MINUTE is an amazingly awesome girl group which consists of 5 (NOT 4) members- Jihyun, Jiyoon, Gayoon, Hyuna (ex-Wonder Girl), and Sohyun. They gained fame after the release of their debut single in 2009, Hot Issue, and later their mini-album For Muzik. Afterwards, member Hyuna went solo for a while for her single Change, which was then followed by the group's second album HuH. The group stands out due to their grittier appearance when compared to other Korean girl groups, their amazing choreographies, as well as due to their electro-discopop style of music, which is upbeat and catchy, yet not excessively sweet.

Though the group is relatively young, it's rapidly gaining fans all around the world, a phenomenon helped by the fact that member Hyuna used to be in the Wonder Girls, before having to drop out due personal and health problems.

Without further ado, the links!

Huh- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRbIZtUS2Ag
Muzik- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNYImwBU4f4
Hot Issue- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPPKwg5eQ4o&feature=channel
Change (Hyuna)- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t34uvjH0Gqk&feature=related
Cool and Natural- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYEROQu--AE

and of course, the FUN LINKS

Hyunah as a farmer- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES7hEouE3zU
4minute vs male 4minute- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ2kVP0B2qc
(WARNING GRAPHIC)

Artist's Corner Week 27: Brown Eyed Girls (BEG)

Why did I choose to do a group made up of almost-and-over-30-ish-"oldies"? Partly because their still damn good at making music, and partly because of a recent lucky encounter I had with a group of BEG cosplayers at a convention.Suffice to say, I was deeply impressed by their skill and conviction to pull off the ABRACADABRA-effect, even reproducing the original costumes with painstaking care and learning every small movement of the hip-shaking-choreography that is ABRACADABRA.

The Brown Eyed Girls (henceforth known as BEG) were "formed" already in 2003, when the first group member Jea went around and hunted for the other members herself, until she found rapper Miryo and high-school friend Narsha. The youngest member of the group, Ga-In, was later added through company auditions. Since they were formed 7 years ago, all of the members are considered to be "old idols", with Narsha being the oldest at 30, and Ga-In the youngest at 25. To compare, Yoona of SNSD was is 20, and during her debut she was still in her teens.

BEG released their first ballad-oriented album "Your Story" in 2006, which was mildly received commercially. Their second album, "Leave Ms.Kim", had a more dance-oriented approach, however due to the release of "Tell Me" by the Wonder Girls coincidentally, it too didn't fare too well. However their first mini-album in 2008, L.O.V.E., was a great success, with the title track "With LOVE" reaching first place in billboards throughout South Korea. Capitalizing on their new-found success, BEG hit their fans with another mini-album," My Style", at the end of 2008, which also became a hit.

In July of 2009, the group released their third album, Sound G, which was a more synth-oriented approach compared to their earlier albums. The title track, Abracadabra, was a hit, and has inspired many parodies as well, including one by male K-pop artists (not for the faint of heart :D). Ga-In is also famous for UNFOURTUNATELY being virtually married/annoyed to 2AM member and hamster Jo Kwon.

Without further ado, the LINKS!

"You" (From My Style)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNffXpb0-jk

"How come?" (My Style)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1Tg0uJf6F0&feature=related

"Abracadabra"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6UfrV-hAiU

"Sign"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9piskaSt6Y&feature=related

ABRACADBRA PARODY (NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, CAN BE LETHAL :D. Includes Highpitched hamster Jo Kwon)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGn_wttkzI0

Artist's Corner (Week 26) : T-ara

Today, we will be introducing a relatively new arrival to the K-pop scene, T-ara (pronounced "Tiara").The 6-member girl dance group which aimed to go for the "cute and sexy" look, and currently is known affectionately as the fart-idol group by fans due to member Hyomin's accidental overnight outburst, debuted in 2009 after 3 years of hard training.

Though they were known as the "super rookies" due to their high level of training and hence were closely followed by the media, their debut was plagued by the departure of members Ji-ae and Jiwon due to differences in musical style. Their current lineup (consisting of leader Eunjung and members Hyomin, Jiyeon, Boram, Soyeom, and Qri) debuted with the single "Lies", followed soon by "Like the First Time" and "Bo Peep Bo Peep", all with corresponding music videos (Note that the video for Bo Peep is explicit and rated 19+ for audiences in Korea).



Their newest single, "I go Crazy Because of You" continues their line of synth-relying dance tracks with sexy MVs, though you can definitely notice a maturing of style while going through their discography.

Without further Ado, it's FANBOY/GIRL TIME!

I Go Crazy Because of You-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIsfh8okcFg

Bo Peep-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NosR5k6tDnE

Like the First the Time-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjtYsVQV0bM

Lies-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr3_l1xhdEw

And of course, the FARTIDOLS-excerpt :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APPIcghaQck

Artist's Corner, Week 24: DBSK/Tohoshinki!

Ah, these guys are definitely famous and therefore shouldn't have their own corner, but still since they were chosen as representatives of Asia to the world I guess they deserve a "short snippet of text".

So, Dong Bang Shin Gi, which is Korean (and Chinese) for "East Gods Rising" (minus me), is one of the oldest still-promoting male groups in Asia, who've broken numerous selling records and possess the largest fan club in the world (Guinness Book of Records) called "Cassiopeia". The members, U-know, Max, Hero, Micky, and Xiah, have released 10 albums to date, 5 in Korean and 5 in Japanese, all of which have broken selling records. Unlike most groups, some of their best songs are slow ballads or even acapella, a change of pace from the regular dance K-pop we're used to (though they do that too)

Some slow songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT9IKj5kqEA -Why did I fall in Love with You?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqsYtWiytOk&feature=related- Bolero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmgHexwW_jo- Taxi



And of course, the required dance dosage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSGGquVXchg- Are you a Good Girl?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv4_HhQnzPY&feature=PlayList&p=0C240DF261CE7F90&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=25- Wrong Number

Enjoy :)

SPECIAL: Extra Artist's Corner: SuJu

Why is there an Artist’s Corner ahead of schedule, and why is it a Special Artist’s Corner? Because, simply put, Super Junior needs no introducing! The originally 13 member-group that just performed at the Shanghai World Expo has been recently beset by the departures of many members due to contract conflicts and military service, but still remains strong and popular throughout the world. They experiment in all forms of group music, though dance tracks are their main speciality.


Formed in 2005 under the SM entertainment label, the official roster includes Leeteuk, Heechul,, Han Geng, Yesung, Kang-in, Shindong, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Siwon Ryeowook, Kibm, and Kyuhun. SM’s strategy was to create a group that large amounts of fans could admire and identify with, and so they decided to make the group twice as large as most groups at the time. They have released and contributed in 20 different kinds of records, either as the whole SuJu group or as the smaller Subunits M (Mandarin or Mi), T (Trot), Happy, and K.R.Y. (A R’n’B trio consisting of Kyuhun, Ryeowook, and Yesung) After breaking out in South Korea with “U”, they’ve continuously released new albums, such as the famous “Sorry Sorry” and the oven-fresh “Bonamana”-album.

After bumping into many of their songs, one song that struck me as amazing is the SuJu-M track “到了明天 (Blue Tomorrow)” or in English “When tomorrow comes”. It’s an amazing ballad that showcases the vocal skills of the members well, along with their exceptional Chinese pronounciation- Kyuhun deserves a special mention here. The video is simple but exceptional: check out Hang Geng’s tears at 3.14! The message of the song is about a sad, but accepting breakup process, something that I’m sure many fans will appreciate during some point in our lives. SO CHECK IT OUT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCHIjWQQpc0&feature=channel



English Lyrics

When it’s tomorrow, we agree not to meet again
Sitting in the shop at the end of the road, I ordered a cup of missing (you)
When it’s tomorrow, we can only let love pass by
Before daybreak, two persons’ smiling faces become a yellowed photograph
Around me (Loneliness is spreading)
Vision (is being blurred by tears)
I left “I love you” at the bottom of my heart and put them on the tip of my lips

*Chorus
When it’s tomorrow, you will leave my side
When it’s tomorrow, I will wish upon a shooting star alone
Just like the ending of a movie
Our ending fulfilled the prediction of tears
Broken promises all over the ground, the yesterday that cannot be pieced together again
But I still look forward to the appearance of a miracle, oh no
Your shadow is drifting further and further away.

Love is still lingering in my room
Before the memory becomes real, in a moment
It felt like you were in front of my eyes
Around me ([H]loneliness is spreading)
This vision (is being blurred by tears)
A sentence “I love you”, I left it deep in the bottom of my heart and put it on the tip of my lips

*
When it’s tomorrow, you will leave my side
When it’s tomorrow, I will wish upon a shooting star alone
Just like the ending of a movie
Our ending fulfilled the prediction of tears
Broken promises all over the ground, the yesterday that cannot be pieced together again
But I still look forward to the appearance of a miracle, oh no
Your shadow is drifting further and further away.
Without you, love starts to hibernate
Loneliness will occupy every day
I stand under the streetlight, on the side of the cold street
That place where we once embraced
Is the roof under which we once seek shelter from the rain together, oh

*
When it’s tomorrow, you will leave my side
When it’s tomorrow, I will wish upon a shooting star alone
Just like the ending of a movie
Our ending fulfilled the prediction of tears
Broken promises all over the ground, the yesterday that cannot be pieced together again
But I keep looking forward to the appearance of a miracle, oh no

I still reminisce the past when we were in love
I’m still waiting for you to come back to my side
Tears are falling on the side of my cold pillow
I hit pause on time until you appear again
I cannot stand each of the days without you, oh no
I love you, it will not change
I’ll be loving you till eternity

Other tracks worth checking out:
It’s You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPUJZONmMPY&feature=related

BONAMANA (For Sure)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSOSxwEWFA4

7 Years of love (Cover by Kyuhun of SJ)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p9EedH0gYE

Epic pranks and EVEN EPICKER Laughter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGCkVFhqPn0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1A1nNk7azY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZX8UQfEQW4&feature=related

Artist's Corner Week 22: Big Bang

Next up is a definite Korean classic group- Big Bang. Formed in 2006 under the YG entertainment label, the group consists of Seungri, Taeyang, T.O.P., Daesung, and G-Dragon. It was the first Korean group to win the Japan Cable Broadcasting award and Japan Record award, mainly for Best Newcomer.

Though they started out with lots of dance songs with powerful choreography, newer releases tend to be more ballad and pop-influenced. The group is also credited with starting a trend in fashion known as Big Bang Fashion, which has evolved over the years. The group was credited as being the most searched group in South Korea in 2009, and hopefully with individual members branching out with solo albums and drama series, soon they will be recognized around the world.

SAMPLES!

Koe wo Kikasete
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQjcJBGIFsA

Lies (Orchestrated, hard to make out the music from all the screaming fangirls)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr2QgjvcJOU&feature=related

Big bang and broccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twj708xtCIM&feature=related

Next-up.... Something about the recent raid on civilian flotillas by our friends in Israel!