Still Waiting :: BIGBANG World Tour

Sorry for the lack of posts still...I'm kinda still in a funk but trying to work myself out of it..

I swear the more and more I listen to Alive the more frustrated and antsy I get about the LACK OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORLD TOUR. Like geez... you've teased all of us long enough! Announce the cities and dates already [as if they need the publicity]!! 

 (btw my favorite songs on Alive are "Blue" & "Ain't No Fun")

Well while I was scouring the web trying to appease my need for BIGBANG I decided to check out the entries for their cover contest & omgeeeez. Some of these contestants got skillz! 

Here are my top three (these people are sooo good, I just had to share!)

IzzyLovesMusiCk's

This girl is just sooo cute! How can you watch this video and not love her version?! The best part? THE UKULELE!! If it was just up to the boys I think her winning would be a sure thing.

Terry He (何天宇)

Another English version...yet what makes it so good is that its believable. I can't tell you how many "translated" videos I've watched that just come off straight corny and/or hilarious. Terry He's version is legit in the fact that I still feel that emotional connection to the song just like when I listen to BIGBANG's version.

OfficialDmeanor님의 채널

remixeeeeeee.. I love this version because it slows it down and really emphasizes the emotions behind the lyrics. Slow'n steady. Its definitely a jam. My one grip would be that I wished he would changed it up a bit more. Take Lil Wayne for example, he always grabs tracks from other artists and basically OWNS THEM. I would have liked to see D.Meanor do just that. Just tear this track up!! He comes close to doing but falls short. Definitely like his vibe though.

Like I said befre, there is a bunch of extremely talented people in this contest so it'll be interesting to see who wins the grand prize. So until we get some more information about the world tour I would suggest you check this competition out, you might find a few YouTubers worth subscribing to. 

    

btw I just wanted to leave you with one example of Lil Wayne tearing up a track...this is a song by the artist Miguel called "Sure Thing"... its a nice song. Actually it was one I really loved....take a listen. 

then Lil Wayne had to go and be a show off...totally OWNING the original version...

thats the jam right??? Thats what I was hoping D.Meanor would have done with the "Blue" track. Just devour it. He's got potential, he's just got to take it to another level...

Netizens :: Why They Suck Part II

In this post I want to share my love/hate relationship with the netizens of Korea (speaking figuratively of course, since technically netizens could live anywhere in the world.) You can read about my frustration with US netizens [here].

In Korea...

...netizens generally have standards. Shocking, right?

It might have to do with cultural differences or maybe just industry differences but their is no denying that the netizens of Korea hold their idols & celebrities to some insane standards. Some of these standards are good in my opinion while others are bizarre, borderline crazy.

Looking at Korea right off the bat there isn't "standard" controversies like there is in America. If someone has a sex tape, drug problem, or disrespects it generally signals the end of their career. 

Point blank.

The droves of people who signed up at your fan meet or sent you fan letters are gone. Once you shame yourself it can be extremely hard to win over your fans again and even others in the industry. 

First off. This is kind of a good thing. It can help remind idols/celebrities not to take what they have for granted and keeps them focused.  Those who do create scandal, while I understand that everyone is human and makes mistakes, I will admit that its nice to hear them apologize and actually face some consequences instead of just getting a slap on the wrist [if that] like they do here in America.

Out of all these celebrities - only G-Dragon faced serious backlash for smoking marijuana (via DailyBeast, NYTimes, & AllKPop)

On the other hand, netizens can use their so called power - for evil. Case and point  Block B & the Thailand debacle. 

I don't know why but the way they are being treated by netizens bothers me soooo much and I'm not even a Block B fan. I mean up until this point I had no clue who they were...yet despite me being unfamiliar with them what they're going through really resonated with me. 

Yes, they screwed up. Yes, they shouldn't have made such careless comments. Yes, they were wrong. 

But can anyone seriously watch that apology video and not feel the massive amount of guilt and sadness these boys are bearing? The 90 degree bow? The heart felt words of apology? I mean Zico (their leader) even shaved his head.

Yet the shade they are suffering from netizens is so distorted from what it out to be. These guys have shown such humility and grace in a situation that should have never been amplified to this level. I think its so sad that despite Block B's actions to rectify the situation they have only been received with anger & hatred. I really can't even get into the suicide petitions because its just so awful it doesn't merit any extra attention. But I really don't understand what more can these guys do to actually receive netizens forgiveness? At this point I wish they could just brush this off but its beyond that now.


So if I had one thing I could say to these guys it would be a Bible verse brought to my attention by Jeremy Lin, (haha - hey! who doesn't read up about that guy?!)

 "Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." - Roman 5:3-5

 

Fat Cat's New MV

Have you guys checked out Fat Cat's new single "Is Being Pretty Everything?" [thanks to @Dramafever for sharing!]

When I saw the teaser I thought the MV would be along the lines of Gwen Stefani's "What You Waiting For" but it actually wasn't which was kinda a nice surprise. Along with being very visual appealing the song actually has message that I think most girls can relate to.

So who is Fat Cat? 

I asked myself the same thing after I checked out the video. I really hadn't heard about her until earlier this week when I saw the teasers.  She is still a relatively new artist having only debuted in September (2011) yet has a commanding stage presence that has people talking. 

These days there aren't many artists (KPOP) who debut without a group. While there are many idols who choose to go solo after working with group, I think the fact that Fat Cat is able to generate such interest in her solo act is something in itself.

BTW I tried to access her Official site today but couldn't because it crashed, but you can check out her twitter account :: FatCat0_0

**Pictures are all from Fat Cat's Twitter Account**

Who is Kyary Pamyu Pamyu?

The other day TokyoFashion.com posted this image to their flicker account and I thought it was a really neat ad, and I wanted to know more about the girl in the ad, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.

 
She started out as a highschool fashion blogger whose popularity grew rapidly mostly due to her "strange face." However gone are the days of just blogging, she also has a line of beauty products, models, has a debut mini album coming out on August 17,and just released this music video.

 

Its kind of amazing how popular she has become... She is sort of the current "It" girl of Japan. After looking her ads and pictures online, you can't help but like her.  I even want to try some of her false lashes! With her album coming out next week I am sure we'll be hearing much more from her in the future..

I tried to find her blog or official site but couldn't.  Do any of you know it?

Hatsune Miku

I only just recently discovered who Hatsune Miku is and I must say I am a fan! I might still be a newbie to her music but the whole idea/concept of a vocaloid intrigues me. **for those who don't know what a vocaloid is {click here} but basically Ms. Miku's voice is created by synthesizers, aka she's not real**

The craziest thing is that she actually performs live and I totally want to see her.  She made her US debut at AnimeExpo this year and hopefully she will start to perform more here in the US...

Check out this video the KTLA news did about Hatsune Miku

Super Junior 슈퍼주니어

Okay so I shared my love for Girls Generation awhile back and now they are absolutely blowing up...! I guess good, catchy music transcends language barriers! I wanted to share another soooo addicting song by this group called Super Junior, another South Korean Band.  I've never heard of them until surfing youtube but I thought I would share.. I think they are already super popular but I thought I would show them a lil love too!

**largest boy group  in THE WORLD with 13 members! (tho only 10 are currently active)
** the members are :: Leeteuk, Heechul, Han Geng, Yesung, Kang-in, Shindong, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Siwon, Ryeowook, Kiburn, Kyuhyun

Girls' Generation/SNSD 少女時代

 So a few months ago I posted about the Korean band Girls Generation and how they would make their debut in Japan in August... while unless you've been living in a box, you'd know they are a HUGE hit!! Yay! This makes me happy for some reason.. I dunno, I like them and I'm glad Japan does too =)

Genie placed 5th in the daily Oricon charts... here is the song! hope you enjoy =)

Hikaru Utada

In my quest to like Japanese music and learn the language it has been suggested that I listen to some Japanese music…

enter Hikaru Utada

okay so I may have defeated the purpose by listening to her English music but I honestly really started to like her

THEN…according to her blog… she will go on a “indefinite hiatus” starting next year…

WHATTTT!?!?

great. exodus is right. grrRRr

sadness.

Girls Generation

This post is not necessarily “Japanese” but I really like this group.  In August they are supposed to be starting to promote their music in Japan (they’re a South Korean group) so it should be interesting to see if they will be well received.

 Girls Generation <--- their website

SNSD (Girls' Generation) - Run Devil Run from supiya on Vimeo.

I am definately a fan tho!  Each are so cute and pretty its hard not to like them.

In August they will make their debut at the Tokyo Ariake Coliseum, so we shall see if Japan feels the same way.