DBSK - Love in the Ice

This will never not be funny to me. Here's a proper version of them singing live.

Answer Me, 1997

Finsihed watching the second last episode (ONE MORE EPISODE TO GO!!! *CRIES*) and there was a kiss in the preview. Guess who GIF-ed it :D

EDIT:
I've said it once, and I'll say it again. I'm obsessed with this drama. Here's another video I decided to sub. Sigh, if only someone could sub their variety show appearances. They're too long for me to do.


EDIT (16/09): Got some more subbed videos! This time, I used Aegisub instead of Subtitle Workshop. I never bothered with Aegisub cause it looked so bloody hard to learn. I got the basics down, just gotta get better at it now :D


EDIT (17/09):

Answer Me, 1997 - Behind the Scenes

This drama owns me. I've already re-watched the aired episodes at least 5 times. That's quite significant when you factor in how easily I lose interest in K-dramas these days. Anyway, I decided to sub a video for the drama fans out there, and thought I should post it here too.

CHALLENGE: DO SOMETHING NEW EACH MONTH

This month, I decided to attend my first gig to support a friend! The video above belongs to an act that were on before him. They performed covers and I could only recognise a few of them.This is their version of Rolling in the Deep. Unfortunately, I only recorded half of this performance. Needed to save the battery!

The experience made me very determined to see artists that I like in concert. The obvious difference between watching a video on youtube and seeing them live in person is well, you see them there in front of your very eyes. But the performance. I can't even begin to imagine the atmosphere or the sensations of watching a performance live (I remember being able to feel feet stomping during the gig). And of course, how the artists themselves interact with the audience and how they try to engage us and make us feel for what they are doing.

I've watched a lot of performances throughout the years (via youtube) and the most engaging ones are when the artists are having fun on stage or when they lose all sense of themselves to the performance they are giving. It doesn't matter if they forget some part of the lyrics or aren't in sync when dancing. The overall effect is so much greater than the individual sum of its parts.

Flower - Still + Sakura Regret

I used to listen to Japanese music more than Korean. Eventually they balanced each other out, but Korean music has become more dominate these past few years. However, I would like to blame it on the availabity of Japanese music compared to Korean music. Despite how popular it is, there aren't that many sites dedicated to providing new Japanese music. The few that are, which I did follow, have now closed. I'm currently in the process of going through my bookmarks and realise that a lot of sites have died. Cleaning it up and finding new resources will be such a chore.

Anyway, I'v recently started listening to Flower. Yep, Flower. I've got nothing against their name, but finding anything related to them is kind of hard. They're one of EXILE's sister groups, three in total, and probably my favourite one. What's unique about these groups is that there are two singers and the rest are dancers. When I first started listening to EXILE and decided to check out their promotional video, I found it odd that only two people were singing and everyone else just danced. It was a foreign concept, acknowledging that these dancers were part of the group. Over time, I thought it was a brilliant idea.

Now I would like to present to you the two songs that I've had stuck in my head this week. Underneath is just a part of the translation that I liked.

Flower - Still

I’m still in love with you
Even if the scenery that I saw together with you that day changes
I continue to shake with love for you I still remember you
Surely I’m the way I am now because of those days
If possible, I want to tell you “thank you”
credit: verduistering @ LJ

(the song begins at around the two minute mark)

Flower - Sakura Regrets

If you live your life alone no one can betray you
Nothing is certain, I know, but I want something to believe in
credit: verduistering @ LJ

SHINHWA IS BACK.

I've waited 4 YEARS to say this -

SHINHWA IS BACK BITCHES!

Yeah, not very eloquent but I don't care.

Music represents different things for all of us, but there's probably always a song that will remind you of a key moment of your past. A song that may be flawed but is precious to you for reasons unknown. Or maybe it's the artist themselves that have spoken to your very soul that endears them to you.

There have only been 2 groups that I care for on a personal level. My interest for them stems further than just their music. Sometimes I think it's unhealthy to care for an artist beyond their music and take an interest to other aspects of their lives; but it's part of the fan culture breed in kpop. The way in which kpop is conducted unconsciously creates this belief that you share a certain bond with an artist. This probably explains why some fans are willing to spend most of their income (if not all) and time on these artists. (I'll stop here or else I'll ramble on. Maybe I'll make a post about my insight of kpop another day)

Anyway, SHINHWA and DBSK are the only groups that I care for on an intimate level. I follow many other groups but Shinhwa and DBSK will always have my loyalty. Sure, things are complicated with DBSK right now, but when they come back, I'll be there to cheer them on. Which is exactly the case for Shinhwa right now.

They have been inactive for 4 years, and in terms of kpop that's a lifetime. Most groups can't survive unless they do continuous promotions in kpop; which I believe is due to the fast-paced and ever-changing world of kpop. Fans have short attention spans because kpop is just saturated with idols right now. If you disappear, another will surely come to replace you. To last in kpop, you need to be unique and stand out among your fellow peers.

And well, Shinhwa definitely fits that criteria at least. But it's what Shinhwa has gone through, together, that has me loyal to them. They will always have my respect and admiration.

This is how my adoration for Shinhwa began.

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I was around 9-10 years old when I was first introduced to Shinhwa. Their existence was made known thanks to my cousins who were into kpop at that time. They shared with me songs from many other groups that are now considered legends by today's standards. However, they were just another idol group back then.

Out of all the songs that I heard, it was Shinhwa's Perfect Man that I took a strong liking too. And that, my friends, is how my love affair for them began. It shouldn't be too surprising when I admit that despite whatever awesome new material Shinhwa may ever release, Perfect Man will stand at the top as my favourite song. It will stand there, full of pride, and serve as a reminder of all the sentimental feelings and memories that is attached to it.

Of course, one song does not warrant undying and unconditional love. (This is probably where the kpop fan culture comes into play). My love for them was cemented when I started having access to their appearances on variety shows and reading articles about them. Through these various medias, I saw for myself their souls laid bear for anyone who cared to see. I saw just how much their group and members meant to them that they went through extremes to protect and save what they deem as the most precious thing in their lives. They fought for everything most groups took for granted and against everyone who didn't believe in them.

It is for their perseverance, music and brotherhood (which is so much more than fanservice) that I hold them with utmost adoration and awe.

Therefore, after 4 years serving their country, they are back. And this girl right here is one freaking happy fangirl.

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Lam Truong - Katy Katy

EDIT: Alright, I'm probably insane but I decided to sub it. It's really simple. I haven't subbed in a long time and just couldn't be bothered to put in too much effort...plus, it's 2 in the morning..



I don't tend to listen to Vietnamese music because it's really not my thing, well, the pop is anyway. While I was in Viet Nam, I spent quite a lot of time watching Vietnamese music videos. Some were just really lame, some were decent, some were trying way tooo hard to look cool. But I just generally didn't like the music I was hearing.

So when I do hear something I like, it tends to get stuck in my head. I had completely forgotten about this song until now. It took me a while to find the song because my only memory of it is at a night bar kinda thing where the pronunciation for the English name 'Katy' wasn't great... at all. But I always remembered the phrase 'Em hãy vui lên (Please cheer up)' After a quick talk with Tuyen, I've found my song!

I've just realised how hard it is to translate Vietnamese to English (song-wise). Maybe it's because I suck at Vietnamese, but I've found that even as a child, it's quite hard to understand the meaning of a Vietnamese song (when interpreting it into English..does that make sense?). Okay, let me explain.

To help my Vietnamese, my uncle got me to translate into English song phrases of a song. (Back story, we were in a car, driving 4-5 hours to the airport. This was back in Western Australia) I could translate it easily, but understanding what it means was another story. It's because most of the time, the lyrics were all metaphors.

So anyway, this song is easier for me to translate... but why do that when I can find the translations online! So, without further ado, here's the english translation~

Credits go to libratbunny

The evening sun, the empty street
You, with a few of us,
sat down to chat
Oh, there's so much I want to sayhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

But your smile seem to hold some troubles
And a sadness from somewhere else hidden in your eyes
When in love, fighting and bickering will come and go
But still causing those tears to fall
And I want to (say)

Katy Katy
Please cheer up, try to cheer up and smile.
Your sadness will slowly fade away in your memory
And just love, don't worry or think about it too much

So I can always see,
Katy Katy, those bright smiles
upon your lips, like fully bloomed flowers
You are most beautiful when you smile
And please don't forget my words
And let the your youth slips away.

>> If I can be bothered, I think I'll sub this.

Maroon 5 - If I Ain't Got You

ZE:A "covering" Lazy Song

This made my day.

Harry Potter in 99 seconds