I spent the weekend in Busan (will post more about this later) but when I came home there was a package waiting for me. Finally, my YGE shop order came in!
little black box~~VIP is the name of Big Bang's fanclub
First item: the BB "paper" photo frame in black. It's not really paper as it is foam.
Picture options for the frame. 12 in all.
And the one I chose. This photo frame is going to come with me to work to sit on my desk. So while my coworkers have pictures of their families up in their offices/desk...I will have my TOP :)
Item number 2 came in that nice cylinder.
It's official~~ my Big Bang light stick!! Can't wait to use it :)
This is for my kpoppers. I didn't do an album review for Big Bang's 4th Mini Album, Tonight, because it came out when I was at EPIK orientation and there was just no way I could manage a proper post. For the sake of consistency, I will only deal with the new songsfrom the Big Bang Special Edition Album.
Big Bang: Seungri, Taeyang, Daesung, G-Dragon, T.O.P
There is a verse printed on the cover: "May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, o Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14
This packaging was smarter than me. I was too scared to lift the plastic cover off for fear I'd snap it in half, but underneath it was the much coveted album book. I really liked how the clear plastic cover had the design of the skull on it, while the book underneath had the shape.
The goods: Album book, insert, YG Family card featuring G-Dragon.
The packaging is really sleek. Push the side and the CD pops out.
The Track List: 1. Love Song* 2. Stupid Liar* 3. Tonight 4. High High 5. Oh Yeah (feat. Park Bom) 6. Cafe 7. I need a Girl (feat. G-Dragon) 8. Somebody to Love 9. 어쩌라고 10. Baby Don't Cry (Daesung Solo)*
* indicates new songs released on the album. All others have been previously released.
I fell in love this song at first listen. YG had previously released a series of teasers for the song, featuring each individual member, and while I had an inkling that I would enjoy the song, I had no idea just how fast I would fall nor how deep. The song itself is an interesting mix of upbeat and downbeats underneath the pure voices of the members. I really have to thank Teddy for the arrangement of the vocals; the boys lend their voices to the song in ways the suit them best, each member highlighted in their strengths. Daesung doesn't have a lot of lines, but the ones he sings are probably the most memorable for me. Overall the song is really fresh and easy to listen to and even if it's a sad love song, it doesn't feel like it--it's light, airy, and uplifting. And "I hate this love song... I hate this love song" is really catchy.
Love Song has joined the ranks for my favorite Big Bang songs, ever.
Stupid Liar
When I first heard the teaser for Stupid Liar, I had an opposite reaction to the teaser of Love Song. I didn't love it at all actually. I had heard GD's cooing, which reminded me of Cafe, and the guitar rifts reminded me of Big Bang's previous "rock" genre attempt: Oh My Friend. And I was a fan neither of the cooing in Cafe, nor the song Oh My Friend. So you can see how I was not anticipating Stupid Liar in the same way as Love Song.
However, I was pleasantly surprised with Stupid Liar. This is another upbeat song that is really wonderfully composed, using more instrumentals during the chorus giving the song a "rock-like" feeling but the verses are laced with a beat that drive the song forward. The boys each take their respective turns with the song, layering fast and slow, high and low, but, much like Love Song, Daesung steals the show. The song is fun & a great demonstration of Big Bang's adapation to genre without compromise.
Baby Don't Cry (Daesung's Solo)
Daesung's solo track was first debuted at the Big Show 2011 back in February. To be honest, I didn't listen to this song until last night, despite hearing how wonderful the song was. The Big Show is still a sore spot for me, and I still refuse to see/hear anything related to the concert.
Basically I've been waiting for Daesung to release solo tracks. And songs of the caliber as Baby Don't Cry. Daesung has a uniquely beautiful voice. He's able to do powerful vocals, but there is a control, a certain depth, a profound quality in his voice that is unlike anyone elses. You hear Daesung sing and you just know that he was meant to be a singer. If he didn't sing, it would be a great loss for the whole world.
So having a voice like this, it's a damn shame that he doesn't yet have a solo album in which he can share it. I said earlier that Daesung doesn't have many lines in the Big Bang songs, but when he does, he leaves such an impression. With this solo track, Baby Dont Cry, I anticipate many things for his upcoming solo album.
The song is a bit downtempo from Love Song & Stupid Liar, and it's definitely something you can groove to. There are these random electro sounds in the background, but for the most part its a simple repetition of a beat and Daesung's voice. And that's all you need. Because Daesung has the quality of voice that can do so many things, that it alone is responsible for carrying the song through different build ups and subsequent releases. And Daesung does it effortlessly.
Overall
If the 4th mini-album was supposed to re-introduce Big Bang back to Korean audiences, I think the Special Edition hints at where Big Bang is headed towards next and what sound they will produce in their next album. The 4th mini album had a lot of electro-pop and the songs were loud and desgined to make a statement. That is not the case with the Special Edition. Things are less showy, less processed, less worked. The boys were not trying to make a bold statement with this release. Instead, the new songs let the music speak for itself, subtly hinting at whats to come.
I for one, am really excited for what they have in store for us in the future.
There are a lot of awesome things about living in korea. The heated toilet seats in the teacher's women's restroom being one of them. But you know what isn't so great here in korea?
toothpaste.
I'm not even kidding. The toothpaste here doesn't really freshen breath. And korean people brush their teeth after meals. I've seen them do it & they teach little elementary school students to do it too.
So it baffles my mind why there's not readily available minty fresh toothpaste that, you know, makes your breath smell minty fresh as well. Because, call me crazy, their breath ought to smell like they brush it as many times a day as they do.
I might have mentioned this before, but deodorant isn't common here either. But korean people smell lovely even if they sweat, so I guess they don't really need it.
But you know what I keep thinking about? I wonder what brand of toothpaste these kpop stars use. If they stick with korean toothpaste or do they use western style toothpaste. Or if they run around not wearing deodorant but still smell fresh...and brushing their teeth three times a day with their breath smelling fresh as well. And what if you are a kpop idol who happens to need deodorant? Because then you'd be smelling all sorts of fresh, and none of it the good kind.
Yeah, I'm THAT girl that's super embarrassing because I flip out if I so much as HEAR Big Bang on the streets (you can imagine what I spazz I am since BB is everywhere right now). So OF COURSE I take pictures of random things associated with them.
This was right outside NB in Hongdae, one of the clubs YG owns. Needless to say, there was a lot of Big Bang playing inside. It was great to see the crowd dance to "High High," to see the guys get into TOP's "Turn It Up," & to listen to the girl's sing Park Bom's part in "Oh Yeah." ^^
"Even the corner store coffee's name is T.O.P..."
Subways..
& I finally made it out to the YG building today. Only, I went at night so there was nothing going on...at least, on the outside. I know how crazy the boys work. There were a few YG stans waiting outside, chillin on the curb outside the GS25 LOL.
Even though nothing at all remarkable happened, it was still a bit surreal to be standing outside the building. It's impressive, although a bit small & underwhelming in person. Still, this is the YG Building. It was crazy to think that Big Bang, se7en, 2ne1, Gummy, Psy, 1tym, jinusean & all the rest are based RIGHT THERE. Nuts.Will return in the daytime...and hopefully often!!^^
In case you are curious, directions to YG:
-Hapjeong Station, exit 8 -When you come out to street level from exit 8, there will be an SK gas station immediately before you. Walk straight on the road until you meet a 2nd SK gas station, turn right. -The building will be on your left, down one of the side streets, so walk maybe 60 yards.
My first true kpop post on this blog is dedicated to Seungri. He's the youngest member of my favoritest of favorite groups, Big Bang, and he just released his first solo mini-album: VVIP. I don't know how to describe Seungri. For a long time he was my least favorite member of Big Bang, simply because I couldn't understand him. He's a decent singer and dancer, but he's famous for his confidence. Or should I say his overconfidence in himself that borders on smugness/selfishness. Some of the things he says about himself, I can't believe someone would say with their own mouth, let alone be completely serious about it. However, I want to stress that he's not a malicious guy, and his boasting never comes at the expense of someone else. He just likes himself a lot haha. I also take into consideration that he left his parents at 16 (c. 2006) to move to Seoul and debut in Big Bang.
Anyway, while Big Bang has been praised a lot for their music, it is usually due to the work of the hyungs (older brother members: G-Dragon, TOP, and Taeyang). Seungri has previously had a solo single in 2008, Strong Baby, and has had a solo song on Big Bang's album, but on the whole, there has been verrry little out there that lays out his musical interests/perspective.
Well, Strong Baby came back in a big way. His mini-album (7 songs), VVIP, has his handiwork all over it--which I know, should be the way things work, but again, in kpop "idols" rarely write/compose/produce their own music. Seungri really stepped up and took charge of his music with VVIP and I for one, was pleasantly surprised and truly impressed.
Seungri made his first performances yesterday on MCD. He performed VVIP & So What, with a bit of Open Window.
I'm not a huge fan of VVIP (the song) but the live performance is fun and.... interesting lol. He's 20 years old, but he's been at this for almost 5 years now, and you can tell. There are other 20 year old's that are just debuting in a group and they are no where near as polished as he is as a performer. The boy is seasoned.
I'm such a fan of this mini-album. I think it was really well put together. And the quality of production was some of the best I've heard from YG in a bit. And Seungri' sounds so great! He gets a lot of hate for his vocals because he's in a group with Taeyang (honey-voiced) and Daesung (powerful pipes). He's constantly being compared to them and is labeled the "useless" member in the group. But I think he's improved a lot and grown up a lot with this mini-album. So kudos to him!
Last thing I want to say is... Seungri is Big Bang's maknae, youngest. If this is the work that the youngest is producing, imagine the hyungs...and then imagine the 5 of them together. Can't wait for their comeback!
I need to do so many things before I leave and a lot of them I don't even know where to begin. Besides applying for my visa, I need to fill out an submit my tax exemption form for the year, need to notify my banks of my departure (possibly cancel my accounts), figure out how I'm going to pay for my loans, which become due on valentines day, and I want to file my taxes early so I dont have to worry about it later, cancel my memberships/subscriptions, register for an absentee voting ballot(?), among other things.
On top of this, I need to figure out my whole living situation in korea. I still don't know where exactly I'll be living in Seoul, and I still don't know when I'm flying out. This becomes particularly inconvenient for me since I am planning on attending a concert the weekend of Feb 25th. My most favoritest of groups in kpop, Big Bang, is having their annual BIG SHOW that weekend and I wouldn't want to miss it for the world. I mean, it's in SEOUL and supposedly I should be there AND they're releasing their new album on Feb 24th so the concert will feature their new songs! I know I should be excited about teaching and moving and all of that, which I am, but I need to attend this concert.
Anyway, I really want/need to take korean classes/lessons. I really wish I could have taken something before I left. I can already imagine how painful it's going to be once I get to Seoul. But more than that I WANT TO KNOW WHEN I'M LEAVING. I actually hope it's earlier February, which is crazy because its mid JANUARY. This all seems so rushed, and I have so many forms to fill out and send. Good thing I LOVE LOVE LOVE me some forms. Filling them out is so refreshing :)
little black box~~VIP is the name of Big Bang's fanclub
First item: the BB "paper" photo frame in black. It's not really paper as it is foam.
Picture options for the frame. 12 in all.
And the one I chose. This photo frame is going to come with me to work to sit on my desk. So while my coworkers have pictures of their families up in their offices/desk...I will have my TOP :)
Item number 2 came in that nice cylinder.
It's official~~ my Big Bang light stick!! Can't wait to use it :)
This is for my kpoppers. I didn't do an album review for Big Bang's 4th Mini Album, Tonight, because it came out when I was at EPIK orientation and there was just no way I could manage a proper post. For the sake of consistency, I will only deal with the new songs from the Big Bang Special Edition Album.
Big Bang: Seungri, Taeyang, Daesung, G-Dragon, T.O.P
There is a verse printed on the cover: "May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, o Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14
This packaging was smarter than me. I was too scared to lift the plastic cover off for fear I'd snap it in half, but underneath it was the much coveted album book. I really liked how the clear plastic cover had the design of the skull on it, while the book underneath had the shape.
The goods: Album book, insert, YG Family card featuring G-Dragon.
The packaging is really sleek. Push the side and the CD pops out.
This was right outside NB in Hongdae, one of the clubs YG owns. Needless to say, there was a lot of Big Bang playing inside. It was great to see the crowd dance to "High High," to see the guys get into TOP's "Turn It Up," & to listen to the girl's sing Park Bom's part in "Oh Yeah." ^^
Subways..
& I finally made it out to the YG building today. Only, I went at night so there was nothing going on...at least, on the outside. I know how crazy the boys work. There were a few YG stans waiting outside, chillin on the curb outside the GS25 LOL.
Even though nothing at all remarkable happened, it was still a bit surreal to be standing outside the building. It's impressive, although a bit small & underwhelming in person. Still, this is the YG Building. It was crazy to think that Big Bang, se7en, 2ne1, Gummy, Psy, 1tym, jinusean & all the rest are based RIGHT THERE. Nuts. Will return in the daytime...and hopefully often!!^^
-Hapjeong Station, exit 8
