Rocking The Cute Voice

I don't usually listen to girls with cutesy voices. Don't mind me and take no offense, I am perfectly fine with them having such tones, but when they sing they often give me that saccharine feeling that I never like having.

(And I listen to Gee.)

But Cheer Chen 陳綺貞, a Taiwanese pop/folk rock cum indie artiste is actually very tolerable. In fact, I think I would buy her latest album.

Why do I say that?

First, she's a singer-songwriter. That, in my book, goes very high in the list.

Secondly, she's does pop rock with some indie flair, which is the music I totally dig now.

Third, I've read her lyrics. If I have recommended you Shadya Lan previously and even Jisun, I obviously have missed out a gem. Her lyrics are so deep that you have to really study it to know what she's writing about.

For example, an excerpt from 魚 Fish (the edge) from her latest album Immortal 太陽:

我坐在椅子上，看日出復活。
我坐在夕陽裡，看城市的衰弱。
我摘下一片葉子，讓它代替我，
觀察離開後的變化。

曾經狂奔，舞蹈，貪婪的說話，
隨著冷的濕的心，
腐化。

帶不走的丟不掉的，讓大雨侵蝕吧!
讓它推向我在邊界，
奮不顧身掙扎。

如果有一個懷抱，勇敢不計代價，
別讓我飛，將我溫柔豢養。

The English translation would only ... translate but not interpret fully.

I sit on the chair, looking at the resurrection of the sunrise
I sit within the sunset, look at the city's weakness
I pluck a leaf, let it become me
To watch the changes when I leave

Once running wildly, dancing and those words filled with greed
Following the cold and damp heart
Rot away

What I cannot bring, what I cannot throw, let the rain corrode it!
Let it be pushed to the relentless struggle me standing at the edge of the world

If there is a hug that is brave enough and unconditional
Don't let me fly away, gently take care of me.

Please tell me if you understand this. At third glance I still don't understand it. I must be very dumb. I would need 5 years at least to learn how to write like she does. Not to mention she pens and produces most of her songs, taking the most unconventional ways like recording in the open (her 4th single 'Pussy') or recording in the wardrobe of her house (her latest album)!

Fish is one of her ballads, and the reason why I let you all listen is to see how cute her voice is. But don't be fooled. She is 33 this year, and has debut since 1997.

Self an older song (from the album Beautiful Adventure 華麗的冒險), is a more rock song, 2nd song I've heard of her. First was her duet with Mayday 五月天 in Elope To The Moon 私奔到月球. I thought she was a new singer, due to her cute voice, and that she is just a pop singer. Turns out I was VERY wrong. This means, never to judge the book by its cover.

Mayday (ft. Cheer Chen) - Elope To The Moon

Overall, on first glance, I think Cheer Chen is the same kind of people I group under the "gem" section. They are incredibly hard to find, but once found, they are like gems, difficult to forget. She might turn into pop later in life to satisfy Mandopop though I wish to say to her "stick to what you do best!". I know if I become a singer, I wouldn't want to conform to pop-sy norms. Thanks to Kpop, I've learned to scurry through the fake plastics (haha. fake plastics.) to the real stones.

Now, I just need to earn some money to learn guitar and buy an electric guitar and a Mac with Logic Studio installed...


Edit: Cheer Chen is a fully independent artiste. But her albums are distributed through mainstream record labels.

He Doesn't Love You

Now I understand why love songs are really hard to write, yet so easy to articulate.

I love this track off Jisun's debut album which I posted a review before. The song just makes you want to scream along with the song. Jisun is seriously a great songwriter. How she can combine that frustration with the rockish feel? Wait. I just contradicted myself about rock music. Haha.


(As much as I love Jisun, I don't know why her live performances seem to disappoint me)

한동안 죽을듯 아팠어
너없는 나락의 일상을 살았어

너무도 아파하는 내가
참 한심했는지 누군가 말하더군
그는 널 사랑하지 않아
참 이상하게도 마음에 닿더라

그는 널 사랑하지 않아
그는 널 사랑하지 않아

(여전히 내 곁에 남겨진 이야기)
하얗게 세상은 부서지고 까맣게 나는 다 타버렸어
여전히 내 곁에 남겨진 이야기 그는 널 사랑하지 않아
아직도 내 안에 남겨진 이야기 그는 널 사랑하지 않아

한동안 미친 듯 울었어
찢겨진 사랑을 믿을 수 없어서
매일밤 너에게 건 전화 너는 받질 않고

(여전히 내 곁에 남겨진 이야기)
하얗게 세상은 부서지고 까맣게 나는 다 타버렸어
여전히 내 곁에 남겨진 이야기 그는 널 사랑하지 않아
아직도 내 안에 남겨진 이야기 그는 널 사랑하지 않아

마지막 내 안에 남겨진 이야기
그는 날 사랑하지 않아

그는 날 사랑하지 않아 그는 날 사랑하지 않아
그는 날 사랑하지 않아


Rough translation:
For some time I was sick like I'm dying
Without you I was like living in hell

I'm really in pain
That it's really pitiful to have someone saying to me
He doesn't love you
Even when your heart is strangely drawn to him

He doesn't love you
He doesn't love you

(Like before, the words that stays by my side)
In this bleakly shattered world I'm all abandoned into the blackness
Like before, the words that stayed by my side, he doesn't love you
It is still so, the words that stayed inside of me, he doesn't love you

For some time, I cried like a lunatic
Because I couldn't believe this love is torn apart
Every night I called you though you won't pick up

(Like before, the words that stays by my side)
In this bleakly shattered world I'm all abandoned into the blackness
Like before, the words that stayed by my side, he doesn't love you
It is still so, the words that stayed inside of me, he doesn't love you

Even ended, those words stayed within me
He doesn't love you

He doesn't love you He doesn't love you
He doesn't love you

(help from baduy@soompi)

As High As The Mountains

"Only amateurs say that they write for their own amusement. Writing is not an amusing occupation. It is a combination of ditch-digging, mountain-climbing, treadmill and childbirth... But amusing? Never."

Rightly said. Never could be better said.

Should I get twitter? Hmm...

Muse. Maybe Not.

When all things fade away, what are we left with?

Lately, maybe due to exams, maybe due to the fact my sleeping habits are so regular (though in the wrongest way), I've been quite stressed out and haven't been able to sort out my thoughts well enough.

In other words, the SAS (Short Attention Span) rabbit within me is charged with triple Duracell batteries.

It's really bad, cause one, I can't concentrate much on studying for exams which leads to demotivation and the urge to distract myself constantly like blogging and Facebook-ing. Two, the prospect of difficult papers just deflate my motivation further. Three, maybe it's just the phase of transition. From a student to a young working adult. It's pretty daunting, come to think of it. I have no idea what to do, and I have no idea how to do it. Yup, welcome to the working world.

To be honest, I do wish sometimes I'm a guy. Not because of anything else but so I can fit in quickly. Though we always have these ladies' night and special privileges stuff like that, guys are rather, quite easy to blend into the crowd and the male-dominated society. Though I know many guys (and probably girls) would beg to differ.

Recently I've been doing a Watson on myself. Then again, I've been doing a Watson on me for quite a while, ever since I started third year. By Watson I don't mean the drugstore.

Then I look back at the mental list, though I'm not depressed or anything like that, I'm just quite frustrated at my own inabilities to be better. Looking at things now, I feel as if I have not grown for the past two years. Rather, I think I quite went backwards. I'm running the wrong way!

Maybe this has really something to do with my obsession to sit in front of the computer and not go out. If this is winter, winter is quite long. The Snow Queen or the White Witch has made friends with me, huh.

Yet, at the same time I do find myself discovering myself in some other ways. It's always interesting to see a discrepancy between my own opinion about myself and others' opinion about me. For instance, everyone has always said how serious I look and how silly I can totally be after they hear me talk for a while. Many have also remarked about some bold vibe I seem to give away, only to find me very fickleminded.

Maybe I've changed. But definitely not for the better. Though I like my hidden silliness but at the same time, I want myself to be wiser. Maybe this transition is finally revealing who I am truly - not always smart, very impulsive and definitely need more wisdom. And probably need to dig up the hidden PR skills somewhere within.

I'm not being harsh on myself, I just seem to see my weaknesses clearer and so able to pinpoint them in order to change. Once you see the plank in front of your own eyes, you'll learn to appreciate God's kindness. Cause seriously, don't you ever wonder, why in the world does God loves fools like us?

Of course, I'll always think the other person is better and get frustrated with myself for not being good at what I can be good at. As they say, "You are what you eat". For me, I think it's more like all those small bad habits you accumulate throughout the years of your life can really suddenly grow into one huge lump and leave you with indefinite amounts of regret.

Seriously, who has time to regret? But don't we all do that?

Oh, such conflicts within.


I know, I'm rambling like an old woman. I just needed to get that off my chest. I don't think Christians should be so mellow as they grow. That's called adulthood more often than not. People always have this mindset that Christians are conservative and things like that. But I'll beg to differ ten hundred times. Christianity is so radical it still sparks the same kind of controversies sparked 2ooo years ago.

Besides, a growing Christian will have joy. Now joy is something we all love to have. God isn't some old grumpy gramps that sit above us and sulk incessantly. And for that, I'm thankful.

Was watching Seoulbeats' old interview the other day with Korean R&B duo Fly To The Sky (FTTS) American member Brian Joo. Liked his down-to-earth attitude, dry wit and how he commented about his ideal girl. I'm a laggard in all these things. I need a quicker processor. Intel Core 2 Quad will be very nice. But won't that be too fast? :)

I'm thinking on how to be more eloquent when speaking. Seriously, I so need a quicker processor.

Sigh.

Back to round one.


When all fades away, what are we left with?

Shadya

I have a love hate relationship with Mandopop. As you all know, I've been immersing myself in Kpop so much so that this whole blog talks nothing else but Kpop.

It's a little turning a back against my roots, though I don't recall that I'm less Chinese. But ethnicity aside, the reason why sometimes I find Mandopop unpalatable is that it's just it. Where Korea has a distinction between genres, Mandopop tends to mix all genres together. And yes, that is, surprisingly, a scholarly issue. The West have criticised Mandopop for its randomness. Switchfoot will sing alternative rock and not jazz. Mariah Carey will sing R&B not rock.

But that's not really the main reason why I don't like Mandopop sometimes. I like the idea of LeeHom's chinked-out cause you've gotta admit, though that idea isn't new, per se, it sure sounds fun. Some Mandopop artistes are singing in a defined genre. Mayday sings rock and rock only. Same goes for F.I.R and Sodagreen.

Taking vocal classes in a Chinese entertainment school (there, I've said it), I got to learn that Mandopop no longer looks at talent (much) but rather whether you can sing with emotions. Look here, I love songs with emotions cause there's nuance, but you've gotta know how to sing well. In here, imo, Cantopop fails totally. Though my friend said that Cantopop have a more rounded sound (same goes for Korean songs, that's why Kpop doesn't sound sharp in their songs), but many of them can't sing.

But perhaps the reason why Mandopop sometimes fail to capture me is ironically, the entertainment value of it. Maybe I'm so drowned in Fluxus that I'm a little off mainstream. But adding up the abovementioned reasons, I feel that Mandopop is just all entertainment and lacks depth. It's the same way I see Taiwanese idol dramas. That's why I've also veered back into Kdramas.

Of course, I would be unfair if I say ALL Mandopop are shallow. Cause like Kpop (which can be quite shallow as well), Mandopop does have its gems albeit not always captivating.

One of them is Shadya Lan 蓝又时/藍又時. A singer who just released her self-composed debut, The Secret (秘密), she used to write songs for singers (like Rene Liu 劉若英 and Sandy Lam 林憶蓮) and have contributed to Taiwanese idol dramas such as White Tower 白色巨塔 OST (not anyway related to the Japan original version).

Shadya singing the ending theme "Once Too Young (曾經太年輕)" of White Tower OST (she's 20 then, she's 24 now)

I would say her voice is in the group in the likes of Tanya Chua 蔡健雅, Sandy Lam...smooth, mellow, but doesn't sound too sharp when reaching the high notes.


Tracklist:

1. 秘密 (The Secret)
2. 沉默劇 (Silent Play/Pantomime)
3. 那天 (That Day)
4. 全世界分手 (The Whole World Breakup)
5. 忘 (Forget)
6. 瞬間 (At That Moment)
7. I Pray
8. Singing
9. 這麼長一段 (So Long A Distance)
10. 詩篇91 (Psalm 91)

(I was thinking how sampat I can be and throw in the Korean translations as well: 비밀, 그 날, 순간, 잊다...)

I like how she wrote the songs. Shadya Lan does not write fast songs. This album is fully ballad with a small mix of bossa nova.

Shadya Lan - Secret/秘密/비밀

Though I won't say she hits jackpot with every song (in terms of voice) but I like her lyrics. It has depth, not like the ones I write. (pfft)

For example, her first track Secret is about the third leg of a love triangle. It's so unconventional, the last time I listened to a similar song was Winnie Hsin's 辛晓琪 Confession (承認). All 9 tracks are suppose to discuss different aspects of love in a relationship. (Track 10 is seriously Psalm 91, the Bible's Psalm 91, the only track in full English)


Shadya Lan - The Whole World Breakup

I think my favorites would be Track 1, 3,4, 9. Her English is quite okay, better than Jisun's "God b(r)ess you". (I really love Jisun but that line just is uncomfy)

Overall, I'd say Shadya's debut is the kind to listen to when you want to drown yourself in good ballads. It has a nice feel but not overly mellow till you fall asleep. And Shadya's voice fits perfectly with her songs so it doesn't shrill, shout but just let you flow along like a smooth current into the wide sea.

Rating: 3.5/5

Err. Okay.

I like fashion like the next girl. I just need to be more hardworking. As the adage says, there's no such thing as an ugly woman, just a lazy one. I belong to that lazy category. Possibly it's just because I'm too otaku to even bother sometimes. Hence the dark eyebags (which I am trying to get rid of... . . .)

But sorry, I don't know what to do if I wear this out to the streets.


This is the Spring outerwear collection featured in Nylon Korea. I know the focus isn't on the pants, but...even the half boots half slippers isn't making anything look better.

Baby And I (2008)

Movie Title: Baby And I 아기와 나 (Ah-gi wa na)

Genre: Family, Comedy
Directed by: Kim Jin-Yeong 김진영
Screenplay by: Lee Seong-Min 이성민 & Choi Won 최원
Released in Korea: 2008/08/13
Duration: 96 mins

Throw in teen heartthrob Jang Geun-Seok, cute Kim Byul, adorable Moon Mason, some light-hearted moments and some touching moments, along with slapstick violence...and you have Baby And I.

I won't say Baby And I is a great movie. It has its cliches, flaws and some what I call hmm? moments, but overall it's a movie to enjoy with a handful of popcorn.



Synopsis:
Han Joon-su is a rebellious 18-year old teenager, son of a rich CEO. As he is continually wrecking havoc in his school, which is suppose to be an exemplary school, even his parents (father) couldn't handle him and therefore one day, they ran away from home so that Jun-su will think about his ways and rehabilitate. Jun-su thought everything was swell until he found a baby abandoned in his shopping cart...and the baby turns out to be his! Jun-su is stuck taking care of the baby Woo-ram and in the course, learn to soften up and truly become a better person.

Characters:


Han Joon-su 한준수 by Jang Geun-Seok 장근석
Rebellious, drives a fast bike, fights with gangs, has a bad temper overall. Only son of his parents, he was not spoiled but exasperates his parents, especially his father, to no end. Although he is tough on the outside, he is actually trying to be obedient to his parents, in a way that for the sake of his parents, he would attend school albeit late and warned over and over again.



Kim Byul 김별 by Kim Byul 김별 (no typo. character's name = actress' name)
A genius school dropout and eldest of her family (having nine children in total), met Joon-su for the first time and fell head over heels for him. She returns to school for him, and in the process, helps him with Woo-ram. Unafraid of the system, she stands up boldly against anything that is wrong. In other words, she has a mind of her own.



Woo-ram 우람 by Moon Mason 문 메이슨
Voice by Park Myung-Soo 박명수
A baby abandoned in Joon-su's shopping cart when Joon-su was out shopping (celebrating his new found freedom), cute, typically demanding but acknowledges Joon-su as his father. He only wants breast milk and loves pretty women. Yeah, this baby thinks out loud.


Ki-seok 기석 by Ko Gyu-Pil 고규필
Joon-su's less affluent friend who struggles to make ends meet, and therefore got expelled from school. Has a sick mother to take care of. Works in roadworks at night.

Choon-seong 춘성 by Choi Jae-Hwan 최재환
Joon-su's another friend. The typical sidekick who is not really bright but obedient.

Tyson 타이슨 by Kim Jung-Nan 김정난
Joon-su's fierce lady teacher who usually dresses in tracksuits (reminds me of Gokusen's Kumiko) but who struggles to make sure Joon-su remains in school.




Review:

I've seen JGS before as a minor character in Lovers in Prague 프라하의 연인 and got to "know" him better due to 2008's Beethoven Virus 베토벤바이러스 acting as musical genius Kang Gun-Woo.

Baby And I was his project prior to Beethoven Virus (explains the hairstyle difference). Personally, I think he is more comfortable playing someone younger or his age than someone in the mid-20s (He's a 1987-er). Maybe because he carries out angst well.

Joon-su moves from being irresponsible and uncaring (wanting to dump the kid in garbage dump and abandoning him at the orphanage) to someone who starts to soften up, knowing how it is to sacrifice himself for his child.


In the meantime, while he was not knowing, Joon-su had also helped Byul to overcome her fear of rejection for being a genius. Ostracized by her classmates and teachers for asking the most difficult questions during class and answering complicated answers, Byul did not find school interesting again until she met Joon-su.


I won't throw in spoilers here. But it's cliched enough to see how it goes.

The highlight of this show would be the effort Joon-su took up to become a father. After realizing how much he has come to like his child, Joon-su goes all lengths for the kid (selling his bike, going door to door just to get breast milk). When all the facade of a cool, rebellious kid faded, Joon-su is a boy who wants nothing else but love, evident in how he cried as he misses his parents and how he softens up with love.

The character of Joon-su can be summed up in this: Deep inside, Joon-su wants to please his parents, but he doesn't know how to do so. Torn between his longing for childish freedom and the desire to be a good person, Joon-su is quite confused. The existence of Woo-ram helped him to break away that tangled web of confusion, to grow up, to learn that kindness is actually better, and to see the world as an adult.


Another highlight is Byul. I loved how Byul not balking at anything but always helping others. Though she's a genius, she doesn't find the smart appealing. Instead, she likes the more human Joon-su with his weaknesses and all. Speaking her mind at every occasion (listing out all the badness of drinking and smoking; pointing out that there isn't a school policy against bringing babies to school), Byul is the opposite of Joon-su: strong-willed despite her painful past.


However, the plot is cliched. The twist is cliched. The ending is cliched. The gripe I have about this film is the scenes that doesn't make cohesive sense. I think it meant to be funny but I found them odd. For instance, Tyson is always mistaken for being the mother of Woo-ram since she always bails Joon-su out from the police station. It's supposed to be funny but I just find it odd, almost believing that she IS the mother. Is this the direction that the writers and director wanted it to go? Turns out it's not.

And another part, Woo-ram is a grown-up trapped in a baby's body (thanks to his voice), but this could just be the copy of those American films, cause I sometimes don't see that chemistry between Woo-ram and Joon-su. Joon-su is good-looking and a ladies' man but he's not a hormonally driven guy. He is a regular Casanova but Woo-ram is hormonally-high (in the arms of a pretty woman, he says something like "I'm in heaven!"). I'd rather see a voiceless Woo-ram.


I watch less movies and more dramas, so 96 mins won't do characters and story much justice, but I would argue with that. You just need to have a reasonable and believable flow. Baby And I has flow and for that part it works. But there are just some points in the film that seemed out of place which then makes Kim Byul's character minor, Jang Geun-Seok's character very complicated though not supposed to be so, the supposed-to-be-funny scenes not funny at all, and the overall that feels as if it's an attempt to cram as much human stories, comedy and cute into one package.


I don't say this film fails cause I enjoyed this more than 200 Pounds of Beauty (which was ehem, the last Korean comedy I've watched), but it does leave a "oh, that's it?" kind of feeling.

Watch it for Kim Byul and Kim Jung Nan's portrayal of their characters. And oh also, Woo-ram's cuteness. And err...maybe for Jang Geun-Seok's eyecandy and more than average acting. Mind you, he's not bad. At least he cries WAY better than Kim Hyun-Joong.



Ratings: 3/5

I Broke My Ankle...

Blessed Easter everyone! Anyone noticed that on every Good Friday it rains? Quite something to think about, eh?

Tim 팀 - 발목을 다쳐서 Wounded Ankle
From How To Meet A Perfect Neighbour 완벽한 이웃을 만나는 법 OST

Lyrics:

발목을 다쳐서 갈 수가 없네요
그대가 있는델 갈 수가 없네요
내 맘이 아파서 죽을 것 같아서
그대를 찾다가 발목을 다쳐서

아무리 넘어지지 않으려고 애를 써봐도
가는 그대를 잡을 수가 없네요
난 너무 울었죠 가지 말라 울었죠

그대가 없는 함께 한 이 길을
아파도 참으며 나 혼자 걸었죠
혹시나 그대가 날 잡아줄까봐
한 발로 우는 날 꼭 안아줄까봐

아무리 넘어지지 않으려고 애를 써봐도
가는 그대를 잡을 수가 없네요
난 너무 울었죠 가지 말라 울었죠

사랑한단 말
그 말을 못 해서 그 말을 못 해서

발목을 다쳐서 갈 수가 없네요
그대가 있는델 갈 수가 없네요
내 맘이 아파서 나 죽을 것 같아서
그대를 찾다가 발목을 다쳐서

English Translation:

Because I hurt my ankle, I can't go
I can't go to where you are
I'm in such pain, it feels like I'd die
While searching for you, I hurt my ankle

Although I tried not to fall
I can't hold onto you as you leave
I cried so much, for you not to leave

This road without you
I endured the pain, and I walked alone
Hoping you'd hold me back
That you'd hug me tight

Although I tried not to fall
I can't hold onto you as you leave
I cried so much, for you not to leave

The words I love you
Because I couldn't say those words,
because I couldn't say those words

Because I hurt my ankle, I can't go
I can't go to where you are
I'm in such pain, it feels like I'd die
While searching for you, I hurt my ankle

(translation by javabeans @ soompi)


I like this song though the lyrics in English is hilarious (think about it. Because I hurt my ankle I can't go to you? kinda gives that "huh?" vibe). I think Tim finally has a song (recently) that fits his voice...and that falsetto at the end...send chills down my spine! Good chills too!

It Must Be The Post-BOF Stress Disorder

I admit, I'm probably a laggard in the diffusion of innovation. When Boys Over Flowers 꽃보다 남자 has already ended a week ago, I was just watching Episode 23 on Sunday (there's altogether 25 episodes). While the rest are recovering from post-BOF, I am only halfway through.

(If you are interested to read the recaps for the whole series, check out Dramabeans' excellent commentaries.)

And I admit, as much as it was hyped, I think it really works the fangirl in me. Its Chinese predecessor failed to attract me due to the awkward acting of the Chinese F4. But though Boys Over Flowers is not perfect (there are so many glaring flaws that if you watch it critically it is SO BAD), but it does score points as one of the most successful Kdramas of 2009. And 2009 is not even halfway through!

It's hyped, it's flawed but as Dramabeans puts it, it's a beautiful trainwreck. KBS has never smiled so widely over the success of the pretty boys of Shinhwa High.

If you just searched Boys Over Flowers, you'd find that almost every Korean entertainment site has mentioned it at least once.

(By the way, for those who have KBS World a.k.a Astro, you can catch BOF in its mid-point on Mondays and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. after News @ 9)

But I'm not here to gush over the curly mop of Gu Jun Pyo's (Lee Min-Ho) hair, Yoon Ji Hoo's (Kim Hyun-Joong of SS501) ethereal beauty, So Yi Jung's (Kim Bum) killer smile and Song Woo Bin (Kim Joon of T-Max) eloquent charm.

I'm here, rather, to talk about the OST.

Many complained that the music was misapplied so badly in the drama and I agree with them. Why ruin a moment with the wrong song?!

But drama aside, the OST is actually worth buying. Just head over to YesAsia.com to buy the first OST or the second OST.

First OST



Honestly speaking, I don't really like the first OST. I find the songs too pop-sy. Maybe it's because I am so ingrained with almost paraddddiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiseeeeeeeeeeeeeee that I just don't want to listen to it anymore.

But there are a few offerings that worked for me.


Tracklist:
1. 파라다이스 (Paradise) - T-Max
2. 내 머리가 나빠서 (Because I'm Dumb) - SS501
3. 알고 있나요 (Do You Know?) - Someday
4. Stand By Me - SHINee
5. Lucky - Ashily
6. 별빛눈물 (Starlight Tears)- 김유경 Kim Yoo Kyung
7. 조금은 (A Little) - 서진영 Seo Jin Young
8. One More Time - 나무자전거 Tree Bicycle
9. I Know (instrumental) with 이정식 Lee Jung Sik
10. Dance With Me (instrumental)
11. Blue Flower (instrumental)
12. So Sad (instrumental)
13. Main Title (Paradise intro) - T-Max

I know many love SS501 and their "Because I'm Dumb" track cause it's probably one of the more decent ballads, but the intro of the song just turns me off. Sorry, SS501 fans.

Let's just say the OST was like its predecessor (same drama director) Witch Amusement (마녀유희) OST which is tolerable, but not great. But if you want the goodies that come with the OST and you really like SS501 and SHINee, why not. I'm not saying it's bad cause I think WA was worse, I just find the overall album not my taste.

Likes more: Track 4, 6, 7, 10


Part 2 OST


The second OST took over the BOF reins at around Episode 17. Though the usage of the music has not really improved, per se, but surprisingly, I like this album. I felt that it was much better than the first.

Maybe I'm bias towards J (제이) and Jisun (지선) who are two of my most favorite Korean artistes, that's why I liked this album. But the overall album was actually something I'd play in my car or my mp3 player.

Tracklist:
1. Say Yes - T-Max
2. Wish Ur My Love (with J) - T-Max
3. 아쉬운 마음인걸 (Yearning of the Heart) - AST'1
4. 애인만들기 (Making A Lover) - SS501
5. 어떡하죠 (What Am I to Do) - Jisun 지선
6. Love Is Fire - Kara
7. Love U - HowL
8. 사랑같은 거 (A Thing Like Love)- Brand New Day
9. 눈물이 난다 (Shedding Tears) - 이상곤 Lee Sang Gon
10. Cellogic (instrumental) - 김영민 Kim Young Min
11. 다가가다 (Going Closer) (instrumental)
12. 낯선 해 (Strange Sun/Year) (instrumental)
13. 사랑을 위하여 (For The Sake of Love) (instrumental)

I highly recommend track 5. Jisun isn't great for nothing.

Why do I like this album way more than the first OST? I think it has a more mature sound (as Episode 13 onwards the characters have already moved on 6 months later) and the fact that the Goong-inspired arrangement is one of the winning points.



Strange Sun/Year 낯선 해 - Boys Over Flowers OST Part 2


It still has that pop-sy feel to it (like Kara's Love Is Fire) but somehow the album have "grown up". Maybe it's the solidness of the ballad tracks. Maybe it just fits the BOF mood.

T-Max (feat. J) - Wish Ur My Love

F4 Special Edition

As if 2 OSTs aren't enough, the dear producers have decided to throw in a special edition featuring Kim Hyun Joong, AST'1 and T-Max.

And what can I say? There's only 4 songs in this album and I love this album to bits!

Tracklist:
1. 행복이란 (Thing Called Happiness) - 김현중 Kim Hyun Joong
2. 가슴이 어떻게 됐나봐 (Something Happened To My Heart) - AST'1 & T-Max
3. 나쁜 마음을 먹게해 (Ballad Version) (Makes My Heart Bad/Fight The Bad Feeling) - T-Max
4. 나쁜 마음을 먹게해 (Dance Version) - T-Max

Kim Hyun Joong - Thing Called Happiness

Kim Hyun Joong is not a singer for nothing. Covering an old song sung by Jo Gyung Soo 조경수, KHJ delivers in his smooth, ballad-y voice.

Kim Joon a.k.a Song Woo Bin (my most favorite F4 - that guy just have charisma overflowing), also a member of T-Max, raps/speaks for Track 3 and 4. Never mind if he's fairly new to the industry.

T-Max singing "Fight The Bad Feeling/Makes My Heart Bad" live on KBS Music Bank 3rd April 2009. Poor Kim Joon - he fainted backstage after performing

The songs (except for Track 1) were also featured in the drama.


I've said enough.

Kim Hyun Joong singing "Because I'm Dumb" (acoustic version) live. I find this version SO MUCH better than the studio version (it doesn't have that weird intro)

If You're Here, I'm Fine

Noel 노을 - If You're Here, I'm Fine (Inho's Theme) 너만 있으면 괜찮아 (인호 테마)

From the soundtrack of KBS weekend drama My Precious You 내사랑 금지옥엽 (which is finding its ending soon on KBS World, ended in Korea KBS already)

The song is called Inho's Theme is because that's the female lead's character name.

정말 그날 같았어
그대 눈 속에 내가 있던 날
아직도 난 오랜 습관처럼 너를 내 삶 속에
간직하고 있는데

믿고 싶었었나 봐
내가 너에게 마지막일거라
그렇게 오래 마음이 아팠는데
너를 지울 수가 없는걸

너만 있으면 괜찮아 하지 못했던 그 말
너만 돌아와 준다면 모두 다 말할 텐데
아무런 말 없이 보내야 했던
너만 다시 돌아 온다면

아무렇지도 않게
그냥 그렇게 웃어도 보지만
너는 나에게 슬픈 세상이 되어
아직도 날 아프게 하네

너만 있으면 괜찮아 하지 못했던 그 말
너만 돌아와 준다면 모두 다 말할 텐데
아무런 말 없이 보내야 했던
너만 다시 내게 돌아올 수 있다면

너 때문에 나 또 다시 눈물 흘려야 해도
너만 돌아와 준다면 모두 다 말할 거야
니가 있어야 할 곳이 바로 나의 곁이라고
너만 다시 돌아 온다면

I will try my best in translating this cause Korean is not my first language. Nor is it my second or third...I think it's somewhere in the 5th or 6th.

Rough translation:
It's really like that day
That day where I was in in your eyes
I still cherish like an old habit of mine, that you are in my life

Seems like I wanted to believe
To you I'm the last one effort
That long time pain in my heart
I can't erase you

If you're here, I'm okay
Those words I can't say
If you come back
I will say everything
Any words that can't be sent/said
If you come back once again

There is no problem
I'll also just smile like that
But to me you have become a sad world
Until now I'm still hurting
(this verse is a little vague...)

If you're here, I'm okay
Those words I can't say
If you come back
I will say everything
Any words that was not said before
If you come back once again

Because of you I'm shedding tears again
If you come back I will say everything
At your place exactly by my side
If you come back

This song rocks because of Noel's sultry voice. Noel is quite unknown, either she's new or really hidden behind the news scenes. The lyrics as I've said, is roughly translated. I'm only taking the gist of the whole sentence. No joke to translate.

I Will Wait For You

What a fever that was.

It's really tempting to go on and on and design headers after headers after headers...unless and until my blog becomes more entertainment site like seoulbeats or dramabeans or even k-popped...it's seriously a waste of time. Haha. Though it is good to flex some design muscles after a while. Haven't been exercising them lately.

--

His voice is not exactly everyone's cup of tea. But it's because of his record label that I give him a try.

And I like deep voices.

And voices that makes you smile even though it's suppose to be a sad song.

But oh well.

Presenting to you Lee Seung Yeol 이승열.



First heard him singing Secret Waltz with Ibadi 이바디. Though at first I find his voice a little unsuitable for Horan's higher and less smooth voice. Her voice is a little more airy whereas his is as smooth as silk. Haha.

Secret Waltz - Ibadi ft. Lee Seung Yeol (from Songs for Ophelia & Daytime Drinking OST)

But the more I listened to it, I find his smooth and deep voice is actually quite soothing. Like his contribution to the movie OST ...ing, it actually made me give a wistful smile. Haha. Yeah, whatever that means. His voice has a bittersweet tinge to it.

Wait 기다림 (from ...ing OST)

But Lee Seung Yeol is a rock singer as well. I like his ballads more though.

Stand For You (from Spotlight OST)

One thing about singers, is that I always want to see how they sing live. When they can sing live better than or as well as singing in the studio, I think it's really an achievement.

Fly High 비상 (from his 1st album: 이날,이때,이즈음에...This day, This time, Nowadays...)

Although I won't say I would go out and buy all his solo albums (currently, he has 2 solo albums, he released three previously with the band U and Me Blue 유앤미블루), it's a voice that you would appreciate when you are nostalgic or want an escape from the busy life. I find his voice like going on a trip in a convertible towards the countryside on a good weather.

I Will Remember 기억할게 (from 2nd album: In Exchange)

He is no eye-candy, but he is definitely talented.

My Rotating Headers

I admit. I am easily swayed by the ideas I see. Especially when I see those ideas in my favorite sites. My current favorite site is dramabeans.com and she has these rotating headers which are contributed by a few graphically-much-stronger-than-me artists, Luv being the main contributor.

And I am itchy-handed. I can't sit still. Therefore I am here to rotate my headers as well. HAHA.

But instead of putting movie stars or drama casts, I have used the Korean singers I listen to, including my favorite Fluxus group artistes and of course Jisun, Lyn and J. It is no joke to sit down and design them one by one. But thanks to the computer and Photoshop, I think the results are quite pleasing. *syok sendiri

Will have more...next time! :)






W & Whale
L2R: Bae Young-Jun배영준 (not Yonsama) [guitar], Whale 웨일, Kim Sang-Hoon 김상훈 [bass + drums], Han Jae-Won 한재원 [keyboard]


Whale


Clazziquai - Horan


Clazziquai - Alex


Clazziquai - DJ Clazzi (He tends to get ignored cause he doesn't sing)


Ex-Loveholic lead vocalist Jisun 지선


Loveholic
L2R: Lee Jae-Hak 이재학 [bass], Jisun [vocal], Kang Hyun-Min 강현민 [guitar]


Loveholic
L2R: Kang Hyun-Min, Jisun, Lee Jae-Hak


My Aunt Mary
L2R: Han Jin-Young 한진영 [bass], Jung Soon-Yong 정순용 [vocal+guitar], Park Jung-Jun 박정준 [drums]


Lyn


J


Ibadi 이바디(with Horan as well. This is her project group)
L2R: Lim Geo-Jung/GJ [drums], Horan [vocal], Justin Kim [bass]



L2R: Lee Jung 이정, Lee Jee Hoon 이지훈, Tim 팀, Shin Hye-Sung 신혜성, Lee Seung Yeol 이승열


L2R: Jo Sung-Mo 조성모, Howl 하울, Lee Ki-Chan 이가찬, Shin Seung-Hoon 신승훈


L2R: Lisa 리사, Byul 별, Girls' Generation TaeYeon 태연, Gavy NJ 가비엔제이 (L2R: Jung Hye-Min 정혜민, Noh Shi Hyeon 노시현, Jang Hee-Young 장희영)
(Reason why I only put TaeYeon and not the whole SNSD is because I like her voice the most)


L2R: Youme 유미, Jang Na-Ra 장나라, SeeYa 씨야 (L2R: Lee Bo-Ram 이보람, Nam Gyu-Ri 남규리, Kim Yeon-Ji 김연지)

And here's some Boys Over Flowers goodies! I won't put up much drama and movie stars cause I write more about music here than drama/movie. But time will tell. :)


Lee Min-Ho 이민호


Kim Joon 김준


Kim Bum 김범


Kim Hyun-Joong 김현중


Gu Hye-Sun 구혜선


Kim So-Eun 김소은


Main Casts of Boys Over Flowers
L2R:
Gu Hye-Sun (Geum Jan-Di 금잔디)
Kim Bum (So Yi Jung 소이정)
Kim Joon (Song Woo Bin 송우빈)
Lee Min-Ho (Gu Jun-Pyo 구준표)
Kim Hyun-Joong (Yoon Ji-Hoo 윤지후)


The Korean F4
L2R: Lee Min-Ho, Kim Joon, Kim Hyun-Joong, Kim Bum


Super Junior
L2R: Kibum 기범, Eunhyuk 은혁, Shindong 신동, Yesung 예성, Donghae 동해, Siwon 시원, Hankyung 한경, Heechul 희철, Eeteuk 이특, Sungmin 성민, Kangin 강인, Ryeowook 려욱, Kyuhyun 규현


Fly To The Sky
L2R: Brian Joo, Hwanhee/Fany 환희

고마워

It's not everyday I write Korean and Chinese lyrics together. I write a lot of English and Chinese lyrics together. But my itchy hands can't suppress themselves. I just love that language. A LOT. Maybe I should write Malay and Chinese lyrics now. Japanese and Chinese lyrics? HAHAHA.

Verse 1:
꿈 처럼
疲憊的我浮在水上
메아리 처럼
漸漸消失了
這感覺

Verse 2:
슬퍼도
懦弱的我必須堅強
맘이 아파도
也得繼續走
這路途

Pre-chorus:
因為你
사랑 알고 있어

Chorus 1:
고마워요
在我無知中
給我智慧
能夠重新生活
잊을 수 있어
需要的只是時間
曾經擁有
曾經愛過
고마워

Chorus 2:
고마워요
在我孤單中
給我勇氣
能夠重新生活
잊을 수 있어
需要的只是時間
曾經幸福
曾經快樂
고마워


Rough translation:
Verse 1:
Just like a dream
A tired me float above the water
Just like an echo
This feeling is slowly disappearing

Verse 2:
Even though it's sad
A cowardice like me must be strong
Even though it's painful
I still need to continue on this road

Pre-chorus:
Because of you
I know love

Chorus:
Thank you
In my ignorance you gave me wisdom
To live again
I can forget you
I just need time
Once had
Once loved
Thanks

Chorus 2:
Thank you
In my loneliness you gave me courage
To live again
I can forget you
I just need time
Once happy (as in happiness)
Once happy (as in clap hands happy)
Thanks