I was only 8 years old when I watched this drama, but I remember loving it with all my heart. Of course, I don't remember anything at all, but it must have been really great to have left such a deep impression on me.
To this day I still remember a pivotal scene. I remember crying myself to sleep after watching it and always hoping to have a love so passionate and pure. The drama was based during WW2, before Japan invaded the country of Taiwan/China. The hero left our heroine to fight in the war. He lost his memory but eventually gains it back. However, he was hit by a bomb (not directly...) which has left him with severe burn scars etc.
I remember when our heroine found him, he was wrapped like a mummy. He told her to leave him be, that no one would ever want to be with someone like him. What happens next? The most romantic back hug I've ever seen.
To this day I have not yet found a drama that can replace this backhug.
For years I have been looking for the English/Vietnamese title of this drama. And finally, I have found it. It's 105 episodes long but hell, I swear I will find it and re-watch it. Oh, and I think this drama was the reason why I never really liked watching dramas based in this time period... my couple had to go through so much :(
EDIT:
Oh man, apparently my romantic backhug is from another drama :/ BUT, it's not my fault I got confused. This main couple has acted in 3 dramas together. And I'm pretty sure I've seen them all...which explains why I was so confused. And all 3 dramas are around the same time period with the similar clothing and hair styles...Oh wells, this means I get to enjoy this pairing in 3 dramas :D The only downer is that I'm pretty sure they're all tearjerkers :(
I love this couple so much. They are so freaking adorable, pretending that what they feel for each other is nothing beyond "childhood friends". LIES I TELL YOU. I felt kinda weird shipping this couple in the manga, cause Shinchi is in kid form.
No, not as a chibi for a moment, but in kid form. For who knows how long. He was caught interfering with some criminals doing...stuff, and they drugged him and the next thing he knows, he's a kid again. That's the gist of it anyway, it's been a while since I've read it.
But man, I L.O.V.E Detective Conan. The mysteries and cases are soooooo intriguing. Anyway, have two gifs that I made cause I was bored, and the scene cracked me up to bits.
I'm planning on buying this album for my love of one song - In Heaven. It's so beautiful and amazing. I'm definitely forever in awe of Jaejoong's composition skills. It's such a lovely song and it's made even more heart-breaking when I think of his reasoning for this song. (It's a song written for his deceased actor friend Park Yong Ha)
I'm so proud whenever I think of the obstacles they've had to go through to get to this stage. To the point where they can finally release an album in their own country and the high possibility that they'll actually be able to perform live. If they do, I swear I will watch EVERY.SINGLE.PERFORMANCE. Who knows when something might happen and they won't be able to perform again?
Also, because this shows just how much they've grown during their time apart from SM Entertainment. Comparing it to their compositions in The Beginning and Their Room, you can tell that they've taken the knowledge and experience they've gained and created something even better. I think they've finally been able to use their strengths to the fullest and worked out how to fully compliment their compositions to their vocal abilities. I've only really heard two songs, so I can't be confident that they've nailed it, but they've got time to and progress has already started.
While I've been spazzing over the potential possibility that I will pre-order this, I've started questioning why I wasn't this enthusiastic about HoMin's album. Why didn't I feel this urge to buy their album too. Sure, Junsu is my bias but I love every member. My answer is that because I've been given a chance to listen to their released album, I've realised that despite how much I may like them, the material they released doesn't feel... right. I felt as if they're still experimenting and getting used to the fact that they're a duo now. When you've been working as a group of 5 and suddenly you're only left with 2, everything changes. The dynamics, the distribution of lyrics and of the notes. The album doesn't sound right which is probably why I never felt the urge to buy the album. I liked a couple of songs but they weren't what I needed them to be so that I would spend $50 bucks on it.
It's been pretty much 2 years since the lawsuit fiasco hit. And after everything that has happened, I truly believe (and hope) that JYJ is getting the most out of this. Sure, they've lost the backing of one of the most powerful music houses in Korea, but they might've lost this after returning from the military anyway. They've even lost their right to claim the songs that they've sung throughout the years - let me tell you, that's ALOT of songs. JYJ has lost their roots and history. But in exchange, they're given creative freedom and the freedom to do what they truly want. You should never underestimate this creative freedom - it's the driving force why JYJ has been able to (and continue to) grow as artists. Following this trajectory, they'll (probably) be able to have a lasting career in the music industry. If not as singers then as composers, lyricists, songwriters etc. The point being is that they have a career in music after their life as idols end because they've taken a major risk. They're essentially starting their careers again, only differently. And this is what I'm most excited to see - how they're changing kpop history. One step at a time. Painful as it may be, but the rewards that they can reap is profound.
I don't think the same can be said for HoMin. They may occasionally be given the opportunity to participate in their songs, but it's not to the same degree as JYJ. What will happen to them when they come back from the military? Will SM Entertainment still be backing them if the DBSK name is not as profitable as it once was? I don't know the answer to any of these questions but there's something I know very well. The life of an idol is short. So far, the only idols that are still promoting after their military service are some members of the legendary kpop idol groups (ie. Kangta, Minwoo etc.) Even with their fanbase in Korea, they're still not making much of an impact on the charts like they used to and honestly, the general international kpop population could care less. I'm scared that this is the fate for HoMin. I'm worried that when they do return they'll no longer have a place in the music industry - after all, the music scene moves fast and makes no apologies for any casualties. Case in point, BoA's comeback for her 10th year in the music industry.
Sigh, I think I've written about stuff that's really not even related to what I wanted to say in the first place. Anyway, another reason why it's taken so long for me to actually pre-order this CD is because I'm not exactly sure which cover I should buy (blue, red or brown) and where. I want my purchase of this CD to C-O-U-N-T. I want it to effect the music charts, I want it to help JYJ get the recognition they deserve. I want this album to be one of the contenders for The Album of the Year award. I want it to matter. I already know that they'll benefit from the money I'm spending on them - afterall, they're able to purchase these gorgeous houses/apartments with their activities as JYJ - but I need to know that my purchase will aid their way to performing freely in their own country.
Also, it pains me to think of the monetary gains they're making as JYJ. I have this feeling that they're earned more promoting as JYJ in this short amount of time compared to the years spent as DBSK. I know they got paid working as DBSK, but was it a fair and just amount? Especially for the amount of time and suffering they had to exchange it with. I just hope that HoMin is getting a more just wage for the hard work they're putting in.
I would like to end with a quote from the blog - callmepatrica. I find that she's able to eloquently express everything that I can't. A lot of what she writes has been a thought of mine but I was never able to coherently express it.
To be honest, I think that the only ones who will emerge victorious from this ordeal is Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu – because they risked it all to pursue their dreams of being artists, not idols. They realized the power of time and popularity working against them, and they decided to fight for what they loved. And right now, they’re succeeding.
