Happy Holidays!

   Me and my amazing photoshop skills, uhm, totally unbiased brein wants to wish everybody reading this a Happy and Peaceful Holidays. Spend it with the ones dear to you (laptops included).

I wish you all in next 2013 year more Kpop scandals (oh hay, panda^^), more European tours, more nice albums (or EPs), more derps and herps.

I wish everyone could incorporate a little nonsense from Kpop to yer lives, because nothing helps as much as a bit of idiocy.

In a year of big elections, Japan’s was Godzilla

   I have quite an obssession with Japan, spanning through over half of my life. Obssession swinging from delight to absolute hatred. Last Sunday I spent 8 straight hours glued to the main page of Asahi.com following the voting. Although the results didn't surprise me, I had this eerie feeling of witnessing something weird, something dangerous and kind of mental.

Below is Reuters article on the latest election in Japan.

My note: Japan Restoration Party is a nationalistic party led by Hashimoto Toru and Ishihara Shintaro, both very... erhm, unique men. OK, let's call them lunatics. 

Providing Korea will have Miss Park as the President, talks won't be nice and fluffy, me seems. Well, maybe less heated as with president Lee, but still.

Korea's New President

   I swear, I was never much interested in politics, until Far East Asia came. Asian politics are quite different from usual, western one and after some bewilderment and shock, I came to one conclusion, similar to the one Indiana Jones said once: Nothing shocks me. I'm a scientist.

Korea ranks 108th in gender equality yet yesterday the country elected first female President.

I'm not jumping from joy though. It will be hard for her because of few reasons - she's a woman (and hello, we're in Korea afterall) and she's the daughter of general Park Chung Hee who held Korea in tight military regime.

Anyway, I gathered few articles presenting the new President of South Korea coming from conservative Saenuri Party.

Celestial Cat releases a solo

   Jaejoong will release a mini album next year (prove that Mayans were damn wrong, the power of Celestial Cat overpowers that) and it will be a rock one. I'm not a fan of jrock but his Maze made waves here and there and fandom now lies defenseless without breasts, ovaries and probably wallets too.

I will judge when I listen to.

 

A school for fathers

By Oh Jung-hun

A few years ago, I enrolled at a school for fathers run by a nonprofit corporation, which issued an honorary certificate after completing the designated courses.

I went there because I couldn't deal with the unexpected friction as my son reached adolescence. In fact, I constantly told my son the same message that every Korean father is forced to work like a slave to provide sustenance in these economically hard times.

One day, soon after I rattled out the verbose advice, it dawned upon me that it would require more time and energy to become a ``qualified” father.

More music^^

   I know, I'm a horrible blogger recently. But one of my new year's resolutions is to write more often. I won't promise anything since this year is really a hard one.

I put most of the dramas on hold, and since some new ones came into play, probably will make a new post over the weekend gathering all that's on my plate now.

Right now, some music.

Santa's music

   Right now I have some break between classes so not to waste time, I decided to write few words about music. I listen to tons of music, good, better, great and... well, less good. But I listen no matter what because at least I want to know what I have to trash. One exception, I couldn't listen to The Diva's full album because, afterall, I have some dignity, and as we were taught by Gene Kelly - "dignity... always dignity".

Blue Dragon Awards

Winners under the cut.

K-Entertainment Part 5

   The most important event for the past week would be without any doubt MAMA Awards ceremony, beating Oscars in "Length category" even.

Anything else?

Some good Junsu for December

Eh, I have huge catching-up with everything. And I put all my dramas on hold even.

It's simply NOT possible to not love Junsu.

SNL's 19+ skit

This is only for mature viewers, for those who know SNL is always balancing on a narrow bridge and for those who can stomach Jay Park.

MAMA's good to you!

  On Friday, in-between classes, I managed to watch MAMA show, and fortunately for me, I caught some nice ones. 

JYJ and SMEnt reach the agreement

  The world is surely going to end this year. Over three years of bitter feud came to an end, although it's not actually the end of the whole issue.
Someone in SMEnt got really tired of this, I think. Finally.

Kim Jong-un named Sexiest Man Alive for 2012

   I'm a big fan of parodies and satire. I like to relax by watching all good "literal versions" on YT, because they show the nonsense of some MVs out there (I'm torn between some of them in naming the winner though).

I'm a big fan of SNL institution and humour, not the newest one, but the seasons with good ol' cast like Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch and Darrell Hammond, and I must say SNL Korea has picked up the nice flow too.

Yet sometimes satire falls flat in the Land of Morning Calm. And we all know, when satire is not understood, it ceases to BE a satire.

K-entertainment part 4

source

   Nothing major happened. I'm kind of busy, so I barely have time to bitch blog about anything. With all what is happening in real life, I adopted new attitude to everything that surrounds me: fuckit happy-go-lucky. And with that upbeat mood, I present you 4th installment of news roundup regarding our lovely kindergarden that is K-entertainment with me as the Marry Poppins from hell.

November Rain

Pic from here

So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
Even cold November rain

Not much of rain this Novemeber over here, but last weekend we had a horrible fog. Musically - I have a small harvest as I started to go one song after another from the list of 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. Lots of them are alredy known to me (or most of the people, I guess) but it's always great to listen to some new stuff. I side-eyed Nancy Boy though so much, because Placebo has handful of other better songs, so why put there a song from their first album? Eh, whatever, I'm glad they made it anyway.

Them Arirang

   I know Arirang is a slightly propaganda, but I still follow their YT channel, because, unlike KBS World, Arirang is really global. However, their taste is... well, weird at best. It's them who have my beloved Pops in Seoul with its outstanding polls like "Which male stars who would look great, dressed as a woman", "Which stars who seem fragile and weak?", and my favorite: "Which star do you want to raise as a pet?"
Anyway, last Monday they released a new one, and of course it pissed me off (belately) very, very much.

K-entertainment part 3

   Three days' absence from Kpop crazy world equals to a month in a normal world. A lot happened, to be honest, and the funniest thing happened around my writing the previous round-up.

So here we go.

Kmusic frustrated musings

Reigning ball of sunshine - Dongwoo - shares brightness^^

   Infinite's leader Sunggyu is ready to go solo, within Woollim borders. Although I do find this as a quite bold move for a member of a group that exists for little more than 2 years, I'm not happy with Shine which was leaked. I explained my reasons, there is overpowering in this song, and although I like how Sunggyu sounds there, chorus ruins this (still not on the level how Minho ruins E-V-E-R-Y SHINee song, hang me).

Korean Shamanism

 
 

   I know, the article is long overdue, and because of some problems and deadlines hanging above me like sword of Damocles, it's also not that long.

One thing needs to be stressed out before delving more into fascinating world of shamanism - this is live tradition in South Korea, not just folk custom displayed for tourists, or obscure rites for some initiated elite of practitioners.

K-entertainment Part 2

From some tumblr, don't remember, but applies here.

   Weekly round-up of whatever happened in K-ent and its fandom. I may be slightly out of touch, but as for me, nothing major happened.

Our Lord and Saviour, that is Heechul is still in the army.

I Need Coffee (Prince) 2.5

   Note to self - never make any plans that reach beyond 6 hours. On top of that I run out of coffee and if anyone needs to know something about me is the fact I drink enormous amounts of coffee without any apparent effect. Yet I'm drinking it because I like the smell and taste. Plus, when drinking at a cafe, barista can make those state-of-art pictures on foam, and you just sit there smiling at a cup like a brain-devoided idiot thinking how NOT to ruin this.

Since my day was ruined from the start and I didn't plan it, there came rain and steel-grey clouds that made this kitty very, very sleepy.

Confined to my chair that screeches worse than Alien Momma, I report on whatever goes around Kdramaland.

1st Korean Woman to Lead Vienna Boys' Choir

The Vienna Boys' Choir has gotten the first Korean conductor in its 500-year history. Kim Bo-mi has been appointed director for the Mozart Choir, it announced Sunday. 

Kim Namgil random pics

   It was really hard for me to click those keys on the keyboard and make a coherent post. A man I'm openly and shamelessly admiring. There are hidden ones too.

Pictures from latest Baek Jiyeon's People Inside and to add - very random, because to post all good (and derpy ones) would be to snapshot the whole show.

K-entertainment Part 1

   This is something I have been planning to do for some time. A weekend round-up of whatever weird, shocking or funny happened in K-industry. I don't plan to write it with something up my nice we-know-what, but in a fluffy way. I'm not a Debbie Downer, I'm not going to dissect everything with pessimistic suction.

Anyway, first post is having Heechul as the anchor pic because he's not here *a moment of silence to commemorate million ELFs hearts that just crumbled* and because he's Heechul, love him or hate him, but he's "unique".

New Standards of Fair Trade Commission - KBS

   Is this a first step to a normalization of this insane and sick situation we have in entertainment? Let's hope so, but let's hope it won't have a backlash even worse than situation nowadays.
Also, if it wasn't for the world-shattering thing JYJ did, there would be no such talk around. Yet no one seems to voice their opinion and it looks as if only 3 men had problems with their company. And I believe it's the same situation everywhere, under every label, not only monster SMEnt.

Jeong Jaeyoung's Day

   There is a reason for everything. For me staying weirdly up until 1.30 am too. So that I could read 2 tweets regarding my men, kkk^^

Chosun Ilbo:

A day of cinema dedicated to actor Jung Jae-young will take place at the CGV Apgujeong multiplex in Seoul on Monday.
Movie Collage, an indie movie brand operated by CJ CGV, will screen Jung's top films including his latest movie "Confession of Murder," and hold a Q&A session with the star.
Other films to be featured on the day are "Someone Special" (2004), "Welcome to Dongmakgol" (2005), "Going by the Book" (2007), and "Moss" (2010).

No title

Where politics meet magic

   Out of frustration that I'm unable to finish what I'm writing, lack of time to do it and lack of sugar in my blood, I decided to write some of my (hardly any) thoughts on drama that lately became kinda crack for me. Let's hope I won't have the compulsory rehab when all goes wrong, but so far, The Great Seer kicks ass. Literally. Some of the character settings remind me of Gyebaek, but it's understandable, because it all falls neatly in the pattern of "Birth of a Hero", so I'm not complaining. Can't complain about archetypes anyway.

Weapon of mass destruction

   In the previous post I gave links to 3 funny fancams. Two are of SuJu's and one BB's. And one doesn't have to be a sociologist to predict a shitstorm that followed the last one, mostly so-called "clash of cultures". Let me just explain myself. I do believe in this clash of cultures, it happened in 19th century when white man came to Pacific islanders who never saw any other people than themselves. I believe in clash of cultures in the middle of 20th century, when the whole world was recovering from WWII and Cold War started shattering old alliances and forming new ones. But I hardly believe in clash of cultures in 2012. 

S. Korea ranks 108th in gender equality: WEF report

   I read WTF report, but when I read what kind of neighbours on the list Korea has, I probably stay with WTF. Not that it's something new anyway.

But before slamming, ebbrybody, better to remember that Korea is around US in 60's right now.

The revolution will come. First harbingers of it were thrown already both at Super Junior and lately at Big Bang. So that young korean boys would know (if they haven't already) what condom is and what bra is.

Immortal Song 2 miraculous update

   Miraculous because one little gem reappeared. On October 20th, Immortal Song 2 featured Ryeowook's appearance, and if you are still unfamiliar with my close-to-obssession state over this crystal ball of talent, well, you haven't been reading my spazz for long, that's for sure.

When you're good to MAMA

MAMA's good to you.

Ever since few years I've been high-browing (is this a word or am I just in some kind of delirium?) MAMA awards, knowing they're just popularity ones. But! I'm a firm believer that even popular things can be good. I don't reject a song that is liked by half a billion people like them hipsters or other insane creatures do. Good things can be popular and popular things can be good.

Yet this list...

Little drama to defend myself

   Can't complain, we had beautiful October this year, and the sunshine "slightly" disrupted both my work and drama-watching. But since last Sunday one wheel of my bike almost exploded, I'm confined to the room, actually doing something. Not because I want to, I have to. *slurps coffee*

I'm trying to keep up with dramas that started last weeks, but will plunge more into it next week, I guess. So far, I put on the list The Great Seer and anticipating few more.

It takes a man to kill gumiho

If they don't get "Best Couple Award" of 2012 I don't know who will. But I will forgive you.

   I dare say that The Thousandth Man is one of those little gems that pass below the public attention because of not flaunting stars-studded cast, heart-wrenching revenge or well tailored suits that underline men's but... built. It's a fact, it had two idols as the main cast: Namslut Namstar and Hyomin (from T-tanic drama). And as much as I saw Namstar being a little nervous because of his first acting job, I like Hyomin and I don't care. This drama had me from the first episode. Normal characters (oh yeah, gumiho as "normal", nice standards, E.!), lots of funny situations, yet lots of bitter remarks that looked as if the writer had a beef with so called "real life".

The grim reality behind the rise of the entertainment market

   We know BTS (behind the scenes) in K-entertainment are ruthless. We know what kind of treatment actors/singers have to put up with. There are no Unions there, and one may only hope there will be a day when such organization will start to defend their rights.

October music

   I lost all hopes for a certain album this year already. Please, dear Mr. Ahn, do something crazy and release something, anything, huh? Reading recipes for a coffee can count, really. *sigh* But that doesn't mean I'm music-less. Oh no, there are old albums, and tons of new music to test.

And I still hope for KRY album, because all latest movements around them suggest it. Or I want to interpret things this way.

Junsu blocked

   Grass is green, water is wet, nothing new. So this is what his tweets were about... Now all becomes clear.

Which is kind of weird this comes from SBS, because I thought this is the broadcast that doesn't give a squirrel's tush about such issues. But maybe SBS drama and SBS music show department are different and at war. I dunno.
Fans are praising Junsu for staying positive, but in all honesty and my loving him - was he left with any other choice? He has to stay positive to not go insane. That's all.
But I guess it's the new fad to cut out some best performances lately. Yeah, MBC, you better watch your back, cause I ain't gonna forgive!

Marry in a hurry

Picture from here.

   Usually it's a shotgun marriage leading to home disputes, fights and bloody divorce. Marriage between music and politics. Whenever politics is involved in art (be it music, literature or movies) the art ceases to retain its own principles. It becomes another tool implemented to turn the masses into kneadable dough.

JoongAngIlbo posted an article about comedy gag character singing the song "Animunida". The artistic values of the song are close to zero, since the very performer of it, Gyaru described the second song as “neither rap, nor a song, nor music.” But the problem lies elsewhere.

Fall dramas

   This season is the answer to all of our previous wailing and complaining about too much free time. These weeks and few more to come are on the polar opposite, would be glad to have some time to sleep.

Some may say - why you complain? Then don't watch.

Those who say that never felt the powerful gravitational field of Kdramas. They are like black holes, nothing can escape. Yes, if few years ago someone said this to me, I'd laugh them off.

Dancing Cat

 
    This is not supposed to be another movie review. I watched Dancing Cat some time ago, both smiling and crying throughout 1.5h of this movie. If anyone expects fluffy little kitties prancing around and chasing after the dot - those aren't the droids you are looking for, move along.

Because this little film is a bitter story.
Oh, but I love sad movies, so...

SM Entertainment and the birth of the Hallyu

   There is a long stormy relationship between me and SMEnt. I fiercely hate some aspects of this particular construction, but some are still embossed in my heart and mind and I'm unable to let go, unwilling to let go.

Every Kpop fan has own, personal opinion on SMEnt, be it favorable or negative. And as much as I appreciate their efforts to make korean music global, I do see horrible strategy mistakes they are making now.

If only they could listen to international fans.

1000th Man of Arang

   I wanted to wait with The Thousandth Man when some dramas end, but no, my evil friend I. said the first episode was funny, so... Plus, my slutty greasy baby Wuhyeonnie is in it, so I planned to watch it, but was unsure about his acting. And I didn't want to cringe everytime I'd see him. He's not an actor, that's a fact, but he's cute. I'm not cringing (this is biased nuna speaking, don't pay any attention). And he's in nuna-love relationship. I'm on board!

Naul Rides the Wind

   The winds of online charts too. Usually r'n'b singers are able to secure place in listeners' hearts but not on music charts. The success of Naul is the combination of few factors in fact, in my opinion. First, some people may be already tired with constant spewing debuting of nugu groups singing the same and dancing almost the same (100% recent debut is painfully average and proves this) so people tend to go for more "music-in-music" as I call it. Second, Naul is not nugu, he was in Brown Eyed Soul along Jung Yeop, so he's not completely stranger to music world. Third, the song is captivating. And fourth - the MV is pure form of art. And last but not least - it's sad. It's Autumn, we like sadness.

Confession of Murder

One of them is creepy here. And it's not my JJY this time...

   Well, that would be mine, if this movie doesn't come my way any time soon. I realized that it takes a lot of patience to be me, waiting and waiting. And waiting some more. For movies, series, albums... Or maybe it's just that I really have no luck with men whatsoever. However, I prefer them doing one drama/movie per year (or one album every 4 years!!) than releasing anything/touring which just keunsucks. Whatever.

Hoya's Answer to 1997

Quite big interview, provided kindly by infiniteupdates.
Really, really interesting read.

South Korean host bars - for women

Article found on BBC Website, and there is one true statement all wanking people should read if they intend to keep miaouling why Korea is not "as liberal and open as Western countries". Statement that socially S. Korea is around social revolution of the 60's is perfectly worded. 

BTW. that's a long read, beware.

For all ye mates!

Music report - September 17th

   I desperately need few albums of some men, desperately, but I don't see it happening any time soon. Eh. 

End of wailing. So I'm after listening to Melon Charts TOP 100, which is a brainwashing process, believe me (yet I still do it every two weeks). And since I need to renew my Naver music account (haven't used it since 2010) and phone number is not accepted, I'm a bit pissed right now. Among those TOP 100 there were 2 (sic!) new songs that caught my attention. Urban Zakapa's song is not that new though, I probably mentioned it on twitter some other day. But I list it here nonetheless.

I'm seeing wooden people...

   They don't know they're wooden...

I understand some people may not like me, I wouldn't like me too if I was a 15-yo who can barely read more than one page. The thing is, when I like/love/admire, I do this with every cell in my body. But when I hate, it's exactly the same. I don't usually write much, or very little, on those whom I admire to the end and beyond (I like a lot of people, but admire a handful), but I vent my hatred on those I dislike. Why? Because it amazes me how on Blue Mother Earth such talentless creatures can get popularity. Oh well, popularity we're talking about.

Non-traditional families on the rise in South Korea

   An interesting article (translation to be precise) from Asiancorrespondent. 

What I find really amusing though with such articles, is that it's usually demoralized and bad Westerners who are excited if news about Korea show this country is slowly shedding their Confucian skin. There are tons of articles about how women are ineaqually treated, how multiculturalism is crooked, how social/family life is messed up - but in English. I wish half of those articles could be translated into Korean and read by the people there. Maybe then some would finally get that Joseon has already ended some time ago.

Boys Over Contracts

I wrote quite a few stories inspired by our one and only sandbox on 150th floor without the fence that is Kpop. This came easily, nice voice on the looped playlist, plot already turned into makjang drama. This is a pure fiction, though. So much fiction that you don't see any spoiling tag under this post (and so I won't be sued, just in case). Every similarity to the people alive or dead is purely coincidental^^. At first, stories came as a suggestion for writers/PDs since our Megalomania-infected-Diva claimed some project. And part one and part two of another story was also inspired by the thing I mentioned earlier. Maybe that means I'm back to me being a ferocious hater? 
U mad, SMEnt? Oh shit... 

JYJ vs. SM Entertainment

Celestial Cat is judging yer peasant ass...

   JYJ drama-llama episode 2625. Recapitulation of the previous episode: we were left with (another) cliffhanger suggesting that on September 13th the decision regarding the feud would be reached. In today's episode, predictable and cliched to the maximum, we got to know that Grandpa Jury got dementia. Grandpa Jury forgot somehow that if two parties can't reach any agreement for the last freaking 3 years, they won't reach it in next 2 hours. Or maybe he prayed to Shisus for a miracle?

Miracle didn't happen, and Grandpa Jury needs to either start taking anti-Alzheimer meds or step down and give reins into the hands of someone with much more vital brain functions.

Tablo's Neverending Story

   Don't get me wrong, it's good they're admitting they were wrong and ruined Tablo's activities, but somehow I can't believe the sincerity of it. To get out of prison I'd say "I'm sorry too". Especially that for somewhat around 2 years they were adamant on their speculations.