seoulbeats

Shinhwa: Legendary Variety-dols

Ambika — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:38:26 +0000

While idols can be charismatic on stage, performance isn’t the only necessity for any idol group. K-pop runs on the devotion of fans, much of which is created through appearances on variety shows. Such appearances allow audiences to learn more about their favorite idols and encounter a more human side to them, one that isn’t usually seen in a music performance. They can see which members can think quickly on the spot and which are athletically gifted. They can learn which members are talented in speech and which ones are awkward in talking capacities. In a sense, idols become closer to their fans; as this relationship deepens through increased knowledge of the personalities of members, fans, in turn, can feel a personal connection with the groups that leads to continuous support for that group.(...)
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SB Chat Box #23: Magical Junsu, idol “artists”

Amy — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:14:43 +0000

Didja miss us? Seoulbeats Chatbox is back for another session with Patricia and myself, where we talk about Junsu’s Tarantellegra (and repeatedly fail at pronouncing it) and whether or not true “artistry” lies in being able to make your own music.

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Juniel’s “Stupid” Brings in the Summer

Bethany — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:35:51 +0000

While the K-pop scene is quite busy right now as we make the transition from spring to summer with the comebacks of strong idols like Infinite, G.NA, and Dalmation, as well as the debut of JYP‘s JJ Project, Juniel, a talented soloist has managed to steal my attention with her first Korean mini-album, My First June. On May 21st, she released a music video for her duet, “Stupid,” with C.N. Blue‘s leader and main vocalist, Yonghwa. While the track is nothing flashy, the flawless harmonization of Juniel and Yonghwa’s vocals as well as the suitability of the song for the beginning of summer had me completely charmed.(...)
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Leaked Songs: What’s It All About?

Maria — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:06:09 +0000

The promotions in K-pop usually follow the same algorithm. The debut or comeback is announced, being succeeded by a waiting period, used mostly for socializing (selcas, various pieces of news of questionable importance). Then, the teasing and trolling begin. It is just a matter of time before the song is finally out and the artists can go and perform live. However, accidents happen and things might not run as smoothly as planned.

Leaking songs is by far a common occurrence. Cite ten consecutive comebacks and it’s very likely that one from the list is a victim of stolen and prematurely released material. Most recently, Dalmatian had a low quality version of the video put out a couple of days prior its official release.(...)
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Becoming The Gang (Kiz)

Paloma — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:25:59 +0000

Core Contents Media revealed some months ago that they would be debuting a new girl group with members from different backgrounds, from actresses to models to former T-ara line-up members. And let’s face it: most of us were skeptical — CCM is not know precisely for having the best management techniques, if you know what I mean. Especially when the appeal in this case was that they forgot they had to include some singers in a group.

After a trip through Europe for the shooting of the MV, Gang Kiz have finally revealed their first mini-album, We Become Gang. Aside from a horrible band name, let’s see what the Gang Kiz have in store for us.(...)
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Kim Jong-min and a Career Post-Enlistment

Jasper — Thu, 24 May 2012 06:02:04 +0000

In Korea, male entertainers of the right age always seem to have an extra burden placed on their backs. It goes beyond all the woes of idoldom — beyond the crazy fans, the hectic scheduling, the lack of privacy and personal time — that have now become in the norm. This burden is one they can’t escape. This burden is the mandatory military service Korea mandates. The order demands all male citizens in Korea, given they are in good health, to serve approximately two years in the military. But male entertainers in particular have an extra worry when they go off to the military. You see, the Korean entertainment industry is very fickle and two years of absence is a long time. Basically, if you aren’t in public eye, you have virtually no relevance. So when entertainers enlist, they have to put into consideration of their careers when they come back.(...)
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© Jasper for seoulbeats, 2012. | Permalink | 24 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 1 Night 2 Days, Baekga, Gilme, Kim Jong Min, Koyote, Shinji

Baek Ji-young’s “Good Boy” – An All-Around Good Listen

Dana — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:33:56 +0000

As nice as it (sometimes) is to have a wellspring of fresh new rookies tossed into the K-pop tidal wave on a regular basis, it’s always great to see a veteran singer make a comeback — especially if said veteran singer does it right. A woman of many faces but always a diva, Baek Ji-young has largely been doing it right since 1999, and her latest mini-album Good Boy does not disappoint. Though it is comprised of just three songs, it is a solid effort that showcases some of the best of Baek Ji-young’s talent while proving that even after all this time, she’s still got it.(...)
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Your Company and Fans Know Best: The Babying of Idols

Fatouma — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:03:35 +0000

A recent photo of South Korea’s resident “little sister” IU surfaced upon the Internet, with IU looking as if she was partaking in some post-concert drinking in Sapporo. Netizens went into a tizzy after seeing what looked like their precious IU drinking alcohol. When it was later revealed that it was simply oolong tea, and not alcohol, that IU was drinking, the K-pop universe breathed a sigh of relief, and all was right with the world.

However, is the behaviour of the netizens truly warranted? Seeing that IU is of drinking age and it shouldn’t come as a shock that she does indeed drink, just like any other young Korean. However, their behaviour is simply a product of idols being pressured to acting younger than they really are.

(...)
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A Pink Tells You to “Hush” About Their Crush(es)

Ambika — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:35:50 +0000

A Pink returned two weeks ago with their first full studio album, UNE ANNEE, which includes title track, “Hush.” The group hit the one-year mark last month, after a successful debut in 2011, two mini-albums, close to a clean sweep of all the 2011 rookie awards, and a M! Countdown win in January for “My My.” Their image up until now has been cute, innocent, almost otherworldly, similar to the fairies of earlier generations, such as S.E.S. or Fin.K.L, aside from that brief dance break in “My My.”

Although I prefer songs and groups that have stronger and more mature concepts, I still have to say that A Pink does cute and adorable the right way. Many girl groups end up seeming too childish or exaggerated when they attempt to act in a cute manner, but A Pink manages to instead be girlish, which is more realistic and less likely to incur negativity. With “Hush,” A Pink takes a step towards a more mature image with their clothing and sound, though the lyrics still remain that of a teenager gauging the right time to confess to her crush. If you haven’t already, take a look at the “Hush” MV below.(...)
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Leessang Finds It Hard to Be Humble

Maria — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:02:35 +0000

Leessang is a duo group that debuted back in 2002, whose unique style as well as their collaborations with a series of artists such as Drunken Tiger, Yoon Mi-rae and ALi were well-received by the Korean public. They are one of the few successful atypical K-pop acts. This month, they will celebrate ten years of activity with their eighth released album. The duo prepared their latest album for three years and their first promoted song from Unplugged is a remake of a song by Cho Young-nam, titled “Hard to Be Humble.”

The plot of the MV focuses on two kids, impersonating Gary and Gil. These children are simply too cool for routine activities, highly implied by their clothing and their mimics. The video starts with them running down some alleyway and switching from one place to another. When they hit the city, they appear as businessmen trying to look for something to suit their swagger. Different shots show them getting bored on the streets or in the parks, so they decide to go for something else. They start fishing from a ditch, proceeding right after to interfere when couples attempt to kiss. Observing the others, playing an instrument for money or performing magic tricks fails to entertain them, so they think of doing something more productive with their talents.

The kids notice that a woman is being robbed and save her from the aggressors, wearing superhero capes. One thing that was a bit weird about this scene was the fact that one of the robbers, the bald man (also the director of the video), was wearing a cap where the word “foreigner” was written. Now, paranoia is no good, but what were they trying to do here? The association between ‘foreigner’ and ‘delinquent’ is obviously made. The humoresque nature of the video acts as a defense, as it seems absurd to look for deeper implications in such a fun and lighthearted video, but it was still uncalled for.

Skipping that, as the rhythm of the song accelerates, the kids continue on following the bad guy and slapping him repeatedly. Another scene shows them while slapping also some curious boys and girls looking at a bicycle. While the last chorus plays in the background, the young boys continue to have fun their way and finish a drawing of them as Supermen, writing also that being humble is hard.

The storyline is enhanced by some ingenious cinematography. The kids’ impatience to stand out is highlighted by rapid shots, skipping quickly from one sequence to another. They are on the lookout for something good enough for them, running down the streets being a recurring motive. Everything happens in bright daylight, and the lightning creates a jovial and playful atmosphere.

The action takes place mostly outside. The backgrounds vary throughout the video: playgrounds for kids, different types of buildings, bamboo fences, little cafeterias and back-alleys. The setting creates the illusion of a small, industrialized city: medium-height glass buildings, houses that require serious repairs — specific of a rural area, the empty staircases, the unpopular public places and the intimate shots of the couples contributing to this image. The decor is randomly placed on the streets, hinting at the carelessness the video shows at times.

The humor results from the children’s acting. They strut and have a confident nature, contrasting with their obvious immaturity. Their boldness is depicted in the most hilarious ways: they glance in the mirrors, arranging their hair and checking their teeth. They put the sunglasses on and some of their outfits are reminiscent of the stereotypical hip-hop attitude. The single shots showcase them looking with contempt at the others around them. When the chorus kicks in, saying how hard it can get to be humble, the children are trying to bow in sign of modesty, but they soon get bored. The authority and the freedom that they have, interrupting the others while suffering no consequences (probably because of their age), represent the main appeal of the video.

The MV itself is childish at heart. It doesn’t have a profound message. Instead, it harmonizes with the lyrics. The song is entertaining, the authors claiming they are the best. This doesn’t occur in the same way as it did in 2NE1’s “I Am The Best.” The aggressiveness is replaced with a funnier approach and also some tongue-in-cheek parody of the current stereotypes:

I’m a successful, frivolous Oppa […]
I’m a clown-like singer but I’m an innocent macho
Who enjoys magic-like art and romance.

The society’s way of dividing people depending on their social status is mocked in the video by the allusions to money and the way someone can believe that it is needed to have fun. But there is nothing dense here. Everything is well-dozed to avoid the useless charging of the song. The main means used to send the message to the public is humor. They oscillate between the mention of more serious topics and derisory bouts of self-praising. The idea is to have fun, and to embrace life wholeheartedly, thinking you are able to do whatever you want to. The man sitting in front of an easel and the two kids playing guitar allude to the duo’s artistic belief:

I lived like this for ten years so I’m not afraid of anything
I’m not jealous, I enjoy living life my way
My color, my lyrics, my music, love, my ideas, my life

The video and the song don’t talk about boasting what you don’t have and unreasonably feeling entitled of more. “Hard to Be Humble” could be called motivational. Taking pride in your work and talent, whatever those might be, is encouraged and legitimate. The reference to “haughty-looking ladies” suggests that arrogance is not the point here, but rather being at peace with yourself and prepared to enjoy life as anyone deserves.

However, this is also a flaw of the video: the emotional delivery. While delightful and lovely because of the participation of the kids, the concept of the song is altered and diminished. The song and the lyrics are indeed amusing and the video doesn’t fail to play on that aspect. But there is something more to the thoughts expressed in the song that the video doesn’t capture that well. While the casual attitude was absolutely necessary, the details could have helped to a more accurate portrayal of the message, going a bit further with their significance.

Although this is not the usual Leessang song, it is admirable that they decided to experiment with new sounds and images. They did a great job for this song and the combination of meaningfulness and humor enhances the sense of coherency that the duo’s artwork possesses. It builds up to the anticipation for the album and pre-releasing the video was an intelligent move. It shows that Leessang is constantly evolving and it shapes the expectations of the audience.

To sum up, the video is entertaining, well put together and it matches the lyrics, having both qualities and flaws. My final rating of it is a 4.3/5. It will be interesting to see what direction will this album have, but so far, so good. What did you think of it? What is your rating for this video?

(LoenEnt)