All Sorts of Wonderful

[Rock Your Day] SPYAIR - Last Moment

2012-01-04T07:30:00.000-08:00

I found them in the weekly Korean music chart show, of all places. I don't know what they're doing in M-Countdown, but their image during the performance lulled me into thinking that they were a k-band. Well, I was listening to the 4 Non Blondes in my laptop at the time, while watching M-Countdown on TV, while burning files to a DVD...hey, multitasking is the mode of the future~

Anyway, the words filtered through my headphones enough to make me realize, wait a minute...these are japanese words I'm hearing. So I listened and thought they're pretty good. Then, as is the natural progression of how these things are done, I went on the net and googled them and was pretty pleased that they're indeed j-rockers and not a k-band belting out their japanese release.

They've been around for quite sometime, although I haven't got to finding out whether the band still has the same members or they've been playing that musical chair sorta thing like all the other jrock bands I've liked previously (i.e. disbanding > forming new bands > shuffling members around as they pleased. I mean, look at the updates in this blog today...this band and that band are disbanding, what even *facepalm*).

Here they are: SPYAIR with a theme song from an episode of Bleach, my (only) favourite shonen manga~

Celebrating my New Year with Kim Hyun Joong~

2011-12-31T03:51:00.000-08:00

Let's see, what was he up to after winning Best Male Solo Artist in MAMA11 and KIA Soul People’s Choice in SIA11?

Lots! Hyung has been beeezzzzy... so I have to pick and choose. I haven't been updating as diligently as I should, but there are better blogs that are more dedicated to hyung out there, so I'm not inclined to feeling guilty about this.

In SBS Gayo Daejun alone he gave us many performances:

29.12.11

He's owning this performance now.

Love the show, hate the lighting (arrgh, my eyes!). Anyway, I've never heard this version of the song before. Or maybe it's in the LE, you know... that LE that I've had for months now still within the bubble plastic it's wrapped in. Uhuh. He looks like a Vampire Prince, or Alien Prince, or something ethereal and not of this earth. I think he should totally play a cold-blooded psycho killer in a movie some day, he'd be perfect for that role.

Hyung's getting all the gurlz! First, it's Miss A (Suzy), now two After School ladiez (Nana and Kahi)! Oh, and I vote for no glasses in all hyung's later shows, unless they're the stylishly classy transparent kind. Did you see those eyes?? They're not meant to be covered, dude. Let us see them next time, kay~

I found this video. Thank you, fellow fan koreanlover1fan2.

I purposely put the opening teaser last coz hoshizlookathim *jaw dropped*. He looks very good in black. Or in anything and nothing, I guess. Yes, I'm remembering that shower scene right now.

30.12.11

I think this is the performance where I've seen him smile the most and the longest. And he's very playful towards select members of the audience, namely pretty ladiez. Sorry boys. This one likes us too much to swing your way. Of all his performances, I like Lucky Guy the best (esp when coupled with Do You Like That). And of all his solo songs, I like I'm Your Man the most.

I knew this performance is going to go somewhere! I made a post about his Rainism dance in my blog, and I'm so glad he's showing it to us again. You know what will top this? The Baek Brothers dancing to Rainism. Oh oh, better yet: Hyung and Rain perform it together in a concert...his or Rain's, I don't care. That'll be epic. At least, for me it will be. I wish the lighting here is brighter though.

If I miss any other video from the SBS Gayo Daejun, please lemme know.

O yeah, just wanna say that even though I'm not a Seung Gi fan, I thought he's holding up the SH show really well without Kang Ho Dong. He's really good at this hosting thing. I found hyung's subbed cut in a recent ep:

That's it for now. Happy New Year evewwyone! *confetti* \(^o^)/

Another shining gem of Ireland

2011-12-30T10:51:00.000-08:00

Dr. Crane just pops out and grabs your eyeballs, doesn't he? The first time I saw him, my jaw dropped and then I was sputtering completely incomprehensible words. Or maybe they were squeaky noises, I dunno.

He has that dark hair, pale skin, piercing eyes thing that is sorta familiar to me by now, ever since I got a bit obsessed with Merlin. I mean, it's either that or flaming red hair, pale skin and piercing eyes with the Irish lot I get on my TV. I wish I had done the whole road trip bit in Ireland when I was studying in the UK. But hey, poor student equals no money nor time for traveling. Meh.

There were these two guys in my class in univ that caught my eyes, and thinking back... I think they're probably Irish lads. What is this? Am I psychically geared towards being attracted to Irish guys? :P

Anyway, here's a bit about a film where his character is a transsexual woman. I have to admit, even I don't move that femininely (and was in awe when I was watching the clip).

Isn't Cillian Murphy delicious? I shall never be able to input into my head that this is a husband and a father of two.

I have no idea where to get the film here, and short of downloading it, I'm not sure I'll be able to buy it online coz I'm on a tight budget in 2012... want to start saving again (I want to buy a Mac~~) so am cutting a lot of my entertainment budget since I have been spending like a headless chicken this year.

O hey, look. Tomorrow is the last day of 2011!!!

Sukkie in drag! MKMF 2007

2011-12-23T13:37:00.001-08:00

Hey thar, pretty~

Well, for someone whose all-time favourite picture of Gackt is that one with him dressed as a blonde geisha, it's easy to take this in my stride. Jrockers are usually heavily made up and as pretty as a pretty thing anyway. But it's funny looking at the audience. Some looked overwhelmed, poor guys. The girls all seemed really excited though... :P

Happy Belated Birthday to Me!

2011-12-09T22:19:00.001-08:00

Let's celebrate with cake!

Well, since hubby did not fulfill his promise of buying me cake and a big bunny stuffed toy by conveniently falling sick after he got back from a 3-day work thing, I'm rebelling by staying down here with a muted Harry Potter movie on TV and 5 lovely men topped with icing.

Why is he so quiet? I'd better get back upstairs and see if he's still alive.

ETA:

He's not even feverish. Men are such babies. I'm cooking his comfort food and then I'm off shopping by myself, if it doesn't rain, that is. After so many years of being married, I still find my own company more exhilarating. How sad.

Belated birthday wish time! Things I want to have by 45, if I'm still not dead yet (what is the point, I'm asking ya??).

Manga Cafe
Japanese degree
Translation diploma
Some kind of Arts certificate (not sure about how and what to get, must do more research)
A published fiction (self-published is also okay)

I didn't even complete my Nanowrimo...heh. I feel like I have no business concocting goals in my blog coz that's a rather surefire way for me not to go and accomplish them.

Real life feels so much more exciting when they're captured in a 31" monitor and compressed to 1/3 of a billionth its size.

More slow songs from Kim Hyun Joong (solo)

2011-12-09T18:51:00.001-08:00

I'm in the mood for collecting his slow songs in one place today. Look out for the "hyung slow songs" label to find them all.

Aaaaand a bit of rap on the side. When I thought I can't possibly love him more, I found clips like this.

Wait a minute...he still remembers that song?? WGM fans will be very pleased (and that includes me!)

2011-12-09T18:32:00.001-08:00

This is the first time we've heard him sing it in full, ladies. So enjoy it!!!

Chibi Kim Hyun Joong!

2011-12-09T17:35:00.001-08:00

Well, not so chibi considering he's like a head taller than I am. But this is the full video of that high school concert when he was still playing bass. I bet he was very popular back then, and as oblivious about his charm as he is now.

Army Boys

2011-12-09T16:02:00.001-08:00

Why is everyone I'm following joining the army this year?? It's like a massive co-ordinated effort to deprive me of eye candies! *wails selfishly*

Let us look at the pretties who have left the bright lights only to emerge in the future at a time when I'm too old to care anymore...maybe.

On the other hand, how can I ever not care about Lee Jun Ki? And he's gonna be released in February (man, these news reports. 'Released' makes him sound like a criminal, or something)

Heechul may not be my most favourite member, but Super Junior feels incomplete without him. I will especially miss him during Mr. Simple since that's the song & performance I really really like right now. He just got in, so it'll be a long time before he comes out.

Okay, so maybe there's no such thing as forgetting Rain no matter how many years he's out of the public eye. He's just too awesome for his own good.

And today I just found out that my favourite Jae Wook has already joined the military too. Well, that's a surprise. And I'm sort of maybe quite irritated for not knowing about it sooner. I hope he'll always be in good health while serving his country. I got interested in him when he played Sun Ki in Coffee Prince. Then I watched Antique and I knew about The Walrus, and the love happens. I've been following him on and off for awhile now. I just never thought that not looking up his fan page for a few months would end up in me finding news of him going off for his military venture. Demmit.

Hyun Bin is in the army too, but too lazy to paste pictures since I'm not too much into him.

Did I miss anyone else?

Gong Yoo is going strong after his release from the army. His new movies are Second First Love (film and theme song), and now The Crucible. I have to get the DVDs since I dunno how else am I gonna get to watch them here. And anyway, I hate going to the cinema to watch movies of actors I love a bit too much. The sombre atmosphere (or maybe that's just in Malaysian cinemas) is too suffocating. I miss him in dramas though. Yeah, us fans are selfish creatures who want the guys we love to be in the spotlight 24-7.

Joo Ji Hoon has been released! Wow, that sentence made it sound like he's some kind of production. But honestly Ji Hoon, please don't make us worry again, kay. Have a healthy life and work hard!

(I wonder when hyung is going off for his military service. He's 26 next year, so maybe soon. Just the thought of it makes me wanna cry buckets.)

Love Kim Hyun Joong

2011-12-09T15:49:00.001-08:00

Remember the post where I said my favourite hyung's songs are the slowass ones, despite my usual preference for loud rock and dance music? Here's another one and it's a cover song:

Anyway, I think his voice is suited to rock. I wish he'd form a band on the side, you know...like Johnny Depp or Kim Jae Wook. I wanna see him play the guitar again. And singing while playing the guitar, pretty please?

Kim Hyun Joong - Kiss Kiss music video (?) and performing with glasses!

2011-12-09T07:10:00.001-08:00

I found this video and it looks official enough. I know I've bought the LE months ago and if there's an official video like this, it ought to be in that LE. But I'm this weird person who seems to always be reluctant to unwrap the parcel of goodies she was excited about when she purchased it...a year ago. So yeah, no clue about its existence until a few minutes ago.

And I know he wears glasses, but I've never seen him perform wearing them on stage before so forgive me for shrieking like a banshee when I stumbled across this clip:

[Video] Awesomest entrance eva! by Kim Hyun Joong

2011-11-30T01:33:00.001-08:00

His image for the 2nd mini album seems to go in a really different direction to his 1st. Not that his 1st mini album has a destination it's fixing its sight on, since it's a mix of styles that feels more like hyung going through several phases on a whim rather than him trying to get a fix on where he's going next.

But when you're Kim Hyun Joong and looks as good when he's a badass leather-and-chain type guy in Breakdown as when he's a bubble-gum, beach-going boy in Kiss Kiss, I don't think he'll get any complaint from his legion of fans. Certainly not from me. And noises from critics don't count...after all, they're not the ones buying his songs and albums.

The styles for the songs in the 2nd mini album seem to have a theme though, judging from the looks on the album cover and the performances. When I watch him in Do You Like That and Lucky Guy, I think of a cool, bratty and sexy mafia playboy entering a casino or cabaret with a bevy of beauties and men in black at his beck and call. I wonder what hyung was trying to say, but my bothersome conscience is distracted by the creamy expanse of smooth flesh in display from unbuttoned shirts he put on in every show.

There're 5 songs in his 2nd mini album, and my favourite has to be no. 4 (I'm Your Man). I dunno why, but despite me disliking ballad, R&B, slow songs, I find that when hyung sings them, they turn out to be the ones I got completely bawled over by. He may not be the lead vocal in SS501 and may never win Best Vocal in a MAMA award, but he knows his strengths and weaknesses and he's always managed to pick songs that suit his range the best.

So far, all his non-dance songs are my favourite: Because I'm Stupid (solo version), Never Again (concert solo version), One More Time, Please, and now I'm Your Man. Love his voice when he sings these songs. I don't care if I'm not supposed to sing I'm Your Man coz it's supposed to be sung by a man and I'm obviously not a man...I want to learn to sing this one!

Anyway, back to the main topic, which is the title of this post: his performance at the 2011 Style Icon Award. Love love love his entrance:

And he won the Popularity Award. It's his 3rd time in a row, and I'm not surprised. Look at him, how can he not win every year?The commentators were talking about the entrance too, wish I understood what they were blathering about.And I found his rehearsal videos too! Thanks ultra Hyun Joong fans...or whoever you are who filmed this! You gals rock~

[Music Video] Kim Possible Theme Song

2011-11-19T16:27:00.000-08:00

Coz she kicks ass. She's also a cheerleader who doesn't hang out with the cool crowd and best friend with a tech nerd and a cute wierdo who has a ferret as a pet. What's not to like?

[Song] Kristal - Memikat Hati

2011-07-22T04:21:00.000-07:00

Song in Youtube

Memikat Hati (R. Azmi)

Pakai baju kanchinglah suasa

Pakai mari babalah melaka

Biar saya rosaklah binasa

Kerana dia tidak mengapa

Dari mana mahulah ke mana

Sayang che mamat menjual padi

Dari mana mahulah ke mana

Sayang che mamat menjual padi

Cantiklah pun tidak sebagailah mana

Sudah tersemat di dalam hati

Pakai baju kanchinglah suasa

Pakai mari babalah melaka

Biar saya rosaklah binasa

Kerana dia tidak mengapa

Pucuk pauh di atas batu

Anak sembilang di tapak tangan

Pucuk pauh di atas batu

Anak sembilang di tapak tangan

Pucuk pauh di atas batu

Anak sembilang di tapak tangan

Sungguhlah pun jauh di negeri satu

Hilang di mata di hati jangan

dari Kuad JPA

[Rock Your Day] Kitade Nana - Kibou no Kakera (JROCK)

2011-06-18T22:49:00.000-07:00

I want to start this feature post coz I've always wanted to get to know all the interesting music out there in this genre.

And also coz there're so so many good bands that I know nothing about simply because they're not mainstream enough to catch my attention.

It doesn't help that they disband and regroup every 2 months. Okay, I exaggerate, but what I mean is... it's very difficult to keep track of them.

I'm gonna do this by randomly picking any group that pops up in my search whose songs I like.

[Investigation File] Lee Ji Ah - the mystery revealed

2011-06-18T21:50:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not her fan... but I do like her ex-husband's music kind of a lot. Uhuh, apparently the 'Alien' did not appear out of nowhere in 2007 as we thought. I'll just copy-paste what I found this morning here. Ami shock!

Legendary rock star Seo Taiji, known as an iconic musician in the 90s and dubbed by his fans as Korea's "culture president", stunned the public after the daily SportsSeoul reported on Thursday that Seo has secretly been married to actress Lee Ji-ah for the past 14 years and they are in middle of a divorce. (link)

I don't know why the love life of the artists I'm obsessed with should be any of my (or any fan's) concern, but there you go... apparently his fans are disappointed because he lied to them about his status. It's easy to see why he lied, you eejits. Coz else, you people will never leave him and his family alone.

Interestingly, Lee filed for divorce in 2006, about a year before she debuted. Too much stress? It's not easy to be a power couple, I guess. 14 years of marriage and now they've got an alimony suit to show for all the memories they shared together. Divorce proceedings suck.

[Update] Kim Hyun Joong in SBS "Night After Night"

2011-06-18T21:36:00.000-07:00

I hope it will be uploaded (and subbed) as soon as possible.

Request for English sub - KHJ TV (2)

2011-06-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

Done

[Update] Kim Hyun Joong at Music Countdown, Music Core and Music Bank

2011-06-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

(Hear the cheering in the audience? They used to shout the names of all the boys when each sings his part in a song. Now all the voices call out his name. Awesome.)

His subbed speech is here.

[Song] Please - Kim Hyun Joong

2011-06-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

Sing it the way I hear it:

(Lyrics)

Hey Yeah

Sule chiyeso I cried
Noye jibapeso norul gidaryo
Bulikkojin jiburo dulokanun
Gewa norul bogo sumi makhyosso
Nunul makchugo ibul makchugo
Gurul aggo jamidul
Nega nomu miwoso
Ipsul kemulgo nunmul samkigo
Jongshin nagan saramchorom so isso

Nan ojik norago
Yongwoni norago
Tojoborin nunmulle jujoanja bullo
Nol bullo
I just don’t get it, get it,
Why don’t you get it, get it,

Jebal no gu saram bomyo utjima
Jebal no gu saram ip makchujima
Cuz you’re the cheater, a liar,
and a killer

nunul gamumyon Baby
ajikdo nega gyoteitnun got gata
ne sumkyoli ne sarangi neaneso
domanggaji mothage butjabgo issulle
biga neryoso modu shitgoso
ibyolan ge kiokdurul sarajige hago shipo
odum sokero do mon gosuro
ne apun nunmuldurul deryoga jo

Nan ojik norago
Yongwoni norago
Tojoborin nunmulle jujoanja bullo
Nol bullo
I just don’t get it, get it,
Why don’t you get it, get it,

Jebal no gu saram bomyo utjima
Jebal no gu saram ip makchujima
Cuz you’re the cheater, a liar,
and a killer

pojinun dambe yongi sairo
norul hutojige hedo
hayage nega do-uk gipge segyojo
norul monijo

Oh Girl
hey hey ho

Dashi negero wa

Michil det soricho nomanul saranghe
Norul bonen jalmote
Huwihamyo biro
Nan biro
I just don’t get it, get it,
Why can’t you get it, get it,

Jebal no gu saram pume anjima
Jebal no gu saram saranghajima
Cuz you’re the cheater, a liar,
and a killer

Oh Baby, I need you

You took my love
and killed it girl

You took my love

You took my love
and killed it girl

You took my love
and killed it girl

irojima

You took my love
and killed it girl

Why my heart cries
Oh Girl, (It’s) like you killed me

You took my love
and killed it girl

Baby you killed it
Jebal nal donakajima

[Song] Confession - Kim Kyu Jong (SS501)

2011-06-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

Thank you amazesing!

[Investigation File] Sexy stage - Kim Hyun Joong

2011-06-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

This is the performance he did when he said in an interview how he wanted to create a 'sexy stage' but he didn't think he succeeded to do it as he wanted it.

This is the 'sexy stage' he created years after that. What do you think? Has he succeeded? (I think he has, but let not my opinion sway your decision).

If you must know, I think the sexiest stage he has ever created to date was when he ripped his shirt off during 'Please Be Nice to Me'. That was... mmm, very nice.

Oh, did you notice he said in the Section TV interview how he's managed to do the 'free stage for fans' performance that he's kept saying he wanted to do ever since his SS501-DSP years? Isn't he all sorts of awesome?? I wish I were part of the audience when that history was made in hyung's life.

[Archive] Today's YTvid collection - Kim Hyun Joong

2011-06-15T05:43:00.000-07:00

English-subbed:

Kim Hyun Joong's Entrance Cut at KDG
Kim Hyun Joong Interviewed by Children
SH Kim Hyun Joong Cut
Kim Hyun Joong Talks about Bae Yong Joon
Kim Hyun Joong @ Inki
Hyun Joong at MBC Sports Interview on 15 April 2011
20110607 SHOWCASE BREAK DOWN PRESS CONFERENCE ONE, TWO

Unsubbed:

Kim Hyun Joong on E!TV StarQ10 Cut News
Kim Hyun Joong (SS501) Break Down @ SH

[Engsubbed] MBC Section TV Interview with Hyun Joong on 12 June 2011

2011-06-15T04:05:00.000-07:00

Yeay! My request was fulfilled (well, I'm sure it's purely coincidental but I'm grateful nonetheless). It's subbed!!! Thanks so much!

I want to write letters to him (in Korean, a language I have not learnt yet)! And I can say I love him more than my hubby too! With hubby's permission... of course, since he's a fanboy who totally asked me to buy a SS501 concert DVD the other day and pawed at it like a kitten when we got back home so I could put the video on because he doesn't know how to work the new player no matter how many times I tried to teach him. I watched hyung's new MV with him sitting beside me trying to look all bristly and jealous coz I was openly salivating at too much sexiness. Awwww...

You can find more subbed video here. Watch them quick! Before it gets taken down by the self-righteous copyright defenders~

Yoshiki (X-Japan) at Anime Central 2011

2011-06-15T02:13:00.000-07:00

You know, if you had died circa 2000 and one of your biggest regrets in life was the disbandment of X-Japan, you can rest easy in your grave now coz this day has finally come.

The guy looks like he hasn't aged at all. Friggin' amazing.

[Investigation File] SS501 forever~

2011-06-13T13:35:00.000-07:00

Did they co-ordinate their outfits (and performances) or something? Hyung and Yeong Saeng seemed to mirror each other.. the single glove, the sunglasses, black on white theme, shades of gray in alternate places. *ish a happy fangirl*

Request for English sub - KHJ TV

2011-06-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

Please??

[Update] Kim Hyun Joong SBS "Strong Heart" Teaser ...and other UPDATES

2011-06-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes... I'm updating again. Now that hyung is back and looking sexier than ever, how can I resist blabbing about him all over the place?

Kyaaaaaaaaaa! Another show! Okay, this makes all the months of not having KHJ on my screen worth the wait.

Hope they sub it quickly... thing with hyung, if we can't enjoy his 4D talk then it'll be like soooo frustrating.

Doesn't he look so grown up now? He's lost most of his chubby face, all lean machine now. I keep going "Wow, he looks so much more like a dancing mannequin," coz of his excessive prettiness. The mature look suits him, even if I did wish he had a cuter-styled hair. Well, at least it's not a bowl cut or dyed platinum / strawberry blonde hair. Eeeep.

Speaking of pretty, hyung confessed to having a nose job. Ha! I could almost hear a cacophony of "We told you so!!!" LOL. He said he did it after his nose was hit (smashed? thwacked? tapped?) by a stone, but I dunno why that should distract antis and their grandmothers from the fact that Mr. Perfect had his nose done.

Oh, I just looked this up coz I'm not into fanclubs so I'm very sorry I missed it. I'm still a TRUE FAN~~~ (whatevs). I'm just trying to imagine what antis will make out of Henecia... there are some interesting words that rhyme with it out there, if you have all the time in the world as antis do to indulge in that sorta past time. Anyway, does that make us Henecians, then? That sounds pretty rad, actually. I think we should start looking up a potential home planet.

As usual, I like to torture myself by reading reviews on albums by artists I like, knowing that these critics write them by focusing solely on the songs and performances with no regard for the artists' hotness factor. Of course that kind of dry objectivity is permissible with some artists, but not with Kim Hyun Joong.

It's like trying to say Madonna, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, George Michael and Lady Gaga should rank lower in the chart coz they have limited vocal range but hey they're skilled at working with what they've got to make themselves sound good. (Duh. I wonder if these critics ever realize how redundant their columns are before they publish them).

Despite KHJ not being anywhere in the vicinity of those pop deities, it still holds true that an idol is a complete package and somehow KHJ just exudes idol charisma. I used to wonder about it too, until I saw him for myself from afar. He's just such a blinding light and I was floating from happiness despite being squashed by hundreds of screaming fangirls throughout the meet-up session. Borrowing a line from his new song... "I just don't get it, get it."

I tried to watch the highly-rated Oh! Ah! and Girl by Kim Hyung Jun (a.k.a. the other KHJ)... mmm, nope. No feeling whatsoever. No to Jung Min's Not Alone either. I guess it depends on what you like and whom you like. No amount of ratings from even the most seasoned of critics can make you feel for a song or a performance or an artist. But I'm a masochist, so I reserve my rights to continue reading those review columns as much as I want.

By the way, Break Down just nabbed 1st place on the Hanteo Charts, Korea’s largest record sales chart.. so yeah, if someone were to tell me how that is not indicative of a good song, I'll ignore the stupid.

(have you ever tried to sing 'One More Time'? He goes from very low to screaming without his voice sounding like it's experiencing much range. I didn't realize that until I tried to sing it. No matter how I tried, I still can't get the pitch right. It was then that I realized how good he is as a singer. Try it and see, maybe you're a better singer than I am and can get it at first try)

Found a talk where he was asked about that nose job thing he disclosed in the previous TV program and hyung conveniently admitted to suffering from insomnia (video here). I love the way he can twist questions around in interviews and make it work in his favour with apparently no prior planning or scheming. He's a genius at handling obnoxious and belligerent hosts. And when they're nice to him, he'll turn on that mega-wattage charm that has even the male talk show hosts melting in puddles of goo at his feet.

Found a translated interview by Brian Joo where he was asked about hyung. Were they close?

He was in this show too! What is this SBS 'Every Night'? Must look it up later, hope someone uploads it (with sub, please?).

Finally, a (very very short) subbed video...

...and hyung vs. Yeong Saeng at the chart. Woah.

[Song] Broery Marantika - Biarlah Bulan Bicara

2011-06-13T07:02:00.000-07:00

(lyrics)

Bulan sabit
Yang jatuh dipelataran
Bintang redup
Tanpa cahaya gemintang
Langkah tanpa arah
Sesat di jalan yang terang
Aku yang terlena dibuai pelukan dosa

Chorus:
Ingin pulang membalut luka hatimu
Ku pun tahu betapa pedih batinmu
Beri kesempatan atau jatuhkan hukuman
Andai maaf pun tak kau berikan

Air mata tulus jatuh di sudut bibir mu
Tak terlintas dendam di bening mata indah mu
Aku yang merasa sangat berdosa pada mu
Masih pantaskah mendampingi mu

Biar lah bulan bicara sendiri
Biarlah bintang kan menjadi saksi
Tak kan ku ulangi walau sampai akhir nanti
Cukup derita sampai di sini

[Song] A Song Calling For You - SS501

2011-06-13T06:41:00.000-07:00

Making of clip

Sing it the way I hear it:

(Lyrics)

Morunun chokago chomjom nega to pyone jigo
Kakkum tarunyoja bogo
Saljak kyot nunjildo e bogo

Ije toin kot kata nega neyoja toil kot kata
Nodo ne ma wumal kot kata

Keroke midosso
Karago haji mayo karago haji mayo
Dashi hanbonnal pondamyon

La 5x ...nol burunun norega iron no rega... la 4x
La 5x ...nol burunun norega iron no rega... la 5x

Chepal tonajinun ara ijen twessoyo
Tu bon dashi nun geron marun marayo
Moduchung bune ijen nega al kot katayo
Dashi nun geron marun haji marayo

Han bon punirado chaggu chonado kwoaro bogo
Sarangiran malha naro ne mam dolyo boryo he bogo

Kutnejanun mare chonbu chilyot danun mare
Nega shiro jyot danun ge mare

Amu mal mothe do
Karago haji mayo karago haji mayo
Dashi kedega ondamyon

La 5x ...nol burunun norega iron no rega... la 4x
La 5x ...nol burunun norega iron no rega... la 4x
La 5x ...iroke bullo bado nol bullo bado... la 4x
La 5x ...iroke bullo bado nol bullo bado... la 5x

Chepal tonajinun ara ijen twessoyo
Tu bon dashi nun geron marun marayo
Moduchung bune ijen nega al kot katayo
Dashi nun geron marun haji marayo

Mojilge keroke amurochi anke
Mudomdom hage damdam hage
Ne kyotultona ganayo
Morochil surok chomjom chakajil surok chomjom
Kedemanto ulla nan amu maldo amugotdo

La 5x, La 5x, La 5x, La 5x

La 5x

La 5x ...nol burunun norega iron no rega... la 4x
La 5x ...nol burunun norega iron no rega... la 4x
La 5x ...iroke bullo bado nol bullo bado... la 4x
La 5x ...iroke bullo bado nol bullo bado... la 5x

Chepal tonajinun ara ijen twessoyo
Tu bon dashi nun geron marun marayo
Moduchung bune ijen nega al kot katayo
Dashi nun geron marun haji marayo

110605 Running Man Ep46 - Kim Hyun Joong (Guest)

2011-06-11T14:13:00.000-07:00

...okay, I screamed.

I think maybe I should wait until someone sub this first.

The rest are here.

110609 [HD] Kim Hyun Joong - Let Me Go + Please + Break Down [Solo Debut Stage]

2011-06-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

Maybe I was wrong about the sunglasses. Maybe hyung didn't wear it because of some image issues. Maybe he wore it to protect us fangirls from swooning en mass from too much hotness. Case in point - the "Please" performance in this clip:

...and I found the fancam where he was reading the letter to the audience (and it's for all of us fans, of course) in that cute way and crying and, ok... by that time, I'm a goner. It doesn't matter that I was a goner before.

Maybe with Kim Hyun Joong, one is destined to be a goner more than a coupla hundred times in one's short life. Not that I mind.

ETA:

Psssst, did any of you notice that Baby Jun put the KHJ initial on the cover of his CD? I know that their names have the same initial, but everyone sorta takes it for granted that KHJ is hyung's. Don't believe me? Google 'KHJ' and see what turns up. I don't know what Baby meant by it, maybe nothing. But I did go "huh?" when I saw it.

And please don't wank all over my blog about this. Don't kill the messenger. Go PM Baby at his official website to ask him if you feel so strongly about it.

He made me remember why I loved him...

2011-06-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

There's a channel in Unifi... my new favourite channel because it's on Korean Entertainment and all the programmes are subtitled: tvN 360.

I was watching MNET KM MUSIC FESTIVAL 2007 when suddenly Gackt was announced. Huh? Huh? And then I screamed with the audience. It's things like this that reminds me why I loved him. I just can't follow him nowadays. Maybe it's just me. My preferences have changed, but I still love the Gackt I've loved before.

His performance:

GACKT will be going on tour in Europe for the second year in a row, traveling through nine countries to perform 14 shows.

YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz 2011 EUROPEAN TOUR
2011/07/20 - Le Bataclan, Paris [FR]
2011/07/21 - Le Bataclan, Paris [FR]
2011/07/23 - E-Werk, Cologne [DE]
2011/07/26 - Melkweg, Amsterdam [NL]
2011/07/27 - Forum, London [UK]
2011/07/29 - Bikini, Toulouse [FR]
2011/07/30 - Razzmatazz, 1 Barcelona [ES]
2011/08/01 - Backstage, Werk Munich [DE]
2011/08/03 - Huxleys, Berlin [DE]
2011/08/04 - Syma B, Budapest [HU]
2011/08/06 - Stodola, Warsaw [PL]
2011/08/07 - Haus, Auensee Leipzig [DE]
2011/08/09 - Arenan, Stockholm [SE]
2011/08/09 - Arena, Moscow Club Moscow [RU]

How can one not fall in love with perfection?

2011-06-10T23:49:00.000-07:00

The boy is back!

2011-06-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

And how he's grown. I hardly recognized him. If I hadn't been reading his name, I would not have known who he is. I wish he'd lose the sunglasses though. I miss his entire face after so many months not having him sing his own songs in public appearances.

I'm buying the CD! Errrr... next month, coz I hardly have any money left to splurge after iPad2 hijacked my pocket.

Performances for his Comeback Stage are here.

[Video] Asmaradana - Tiara Jacquelina (from the movie 'Puteri Gunung Ledang')

2011-05-13T22:19:00.000-07:00

I fell more than a little bit in love with her after watching her dance to this song in an award ceremony. She looked so young, beautiful and lively there and by the time she was up in the air, I was clapping like mad despite not being one of the audience in the hall. I wish we'd have more of this kind of choreography... male back-up dancers dressed only in hakama-like pants flanking the properly dressed in sexy-red girl prancing around with silat-based moves and looking absolutely hot that they give me goosebumps. I go berserk every time she flicks that long tail-whatchamaycallit of her dress. It was perfect.

I wish Merong Mahawangsa could be turned into a musical too. I mean, if Cuci could be turned into one... why not Merong, right? If the lead is still Stephen, I think I'd most most probably go and watch it. I didn't go when he was in Puteri Gunung Ledang the Musical, to my ever lasting regret. KRU needs to call up Tiara Jacquelina and collaborate on this theatrical production, seriously. I feel so strongly about this that I'm actually considering giving this suggestion to them via KRU's official website.

[Update] All sorts of wonderful people I've been looking up lately

2011-04-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

I knew that dude in Spiderman is someone special, coz Harry's never supposed to be that captivating (have you guys read the comics?) and yet next to him, Spiderman becomes almost an insignificant entity. Or maybe that's just coz I hate Tobey McGuire as Peter Parker and it's concentrating on Harry is my coping mechanism. But I never knew how special he is until I accidentally read about him and his academic pursuits that he does in-between his many and various acting and production jobs. Did you know he already has a PhD? Considering how hard it is for me to go on with my study, without having any additional jobs that require me to travel all over the place and presenting me with a gajillion other deadlines on top of my academic ones, he has all my respect.

He's currently taking classes at (gasp) several (!!!) schools with the possibility of pursuing another PhD, all of this while still continuing on with his acting work, and various other pursuits that are too many to list down here. I don't believe it. James Franco, I've always liked to follow overworked celebrities but you are way waaaay up there in that list. Ignore everyone who says you're spreading yourself too thin, a favourite phrase spouted for the purpose of setting limits on other people so they won't get too far ahead. Shah Rukh is kilometers behind you eating your dust, and that's saying a lot. What's more, he gives nice screen-kisses too.

Have you watched the 2011 Oscar Roundtable? How rad is it that we have James Franco AND Colin Firth sitting at the same...well...table and talking about all sorts of things? I want them in a movie together so that afterwards they'd have to do a promo tour where we can hear them talk a mile-a-minute about all sorts of nonsensical things. I think all the other stars are great too... I've loved Nicole Kidman like forever, or at least back when I first caught her in 'Far and Away'. And Natalie Portman as Queen Amidala is the only thing that endears 'The Phantom Menace' to me, although not enough to make me follow the arc to the end. It does seem that they have quite a number of actors (or maybe all of them?) who have previously played real-life people winning the Oscars this year, but I think Colin has played the most real-life people in his dramas as well as in his movies. And who can forget Bridget Jones' Mr. Darcy, where he played a character inspired by his Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Darcy. Who is not a real-life person but still deserves a mention in every blog post that talks about Colin Firth in it. Coz he's teh awesomest, that's why. And for the record, Colin doesn't mind at all that we dredge Mr. Darcy up from the lake all the time.

Oscar Roundtable (part 1 of 7)

I could listen to Colin Firth talk for hours. He doesn't have to do wild antics to amuse me (or the audience), all we need is a good host whom Colin is comfortable with and he'd talk our pants off. I was literally rolling around the floor of my living room listening to their conversation. I was going... what?? what?? and ROFL until I nearly cried when he says, "I think an overly streamlined Scotsman would be very dubious." And that talk show was just beginning.

with Craig Ferguson (part 1 of 2)

There's another awesome person I expressly went on the net to find today, and that is our wee lad from Merlin. I've always been fascinated with the kid who played Mordred, and I just knew that he was also in Nanny McPhee (the sequel). After watching him in the "The Beginning of the End" episode of Merlin, I can't seem to be able to get him out of my mind. Especially that stare... and those eyes. I bet he got a lot of offers without having to audition just by turning that megawatt gaze on the Casting Director. I thought those were contacts, until I watched this interview.

I want to see more of this kid. It's pretty exciting to be able to catch all these talented people so early in their careers and to be able to sort of follow them through their works. I'm not fond of going into their private lives, so I suck at gossiping. But I love to gush about the stuff they do on-screen. Good times.

On the music front, I'm currently listening to Taylor Swift discography. I've got them in my thumbdrive and play them everyday when I commute to and from school. The thing with Swift's songs is they're pretty inspiring. I always find myself listening to them and thinking... hey, this is easy enough. I can write this. Just the lyrics though coz I don't know how to play any musical instrument. They're miles away from my jrock stuff, which get my adrenaline pumping but can never be played at the volume they deserve in polite company. Or in any company, really. Even my friends who are jrock fans would cringe at the volume at which I play them. Swift's songs face no danger of having my friends cringe at them coz they're so non-provocative that I can get even my little sister who can't abide my (loud) taste in music to talk about her songs up to the extent of striking a deal with her to do a little Taylor Swift-home concert once she's good at her guitar (she's recently taken lessons). And I love her music videos... they're so Mills and Boons, aren't they? For a jaded old woman (shut up), the sweet sentiment in them make me go... awwwww, all is probably still alright with the world then.

[Fandom] Yep, still in Merlinland

2011-04-18T07:05:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry for flinging this post onto little children. Anyone below 15, please avert your eyes.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I do believe that if I go on like this, it is quite possible that I'll flunk my study. Or maybe I'm halfway there.

But all my reading has strengthened my resolve to write. And the ideas in my head have nothing to do with subjects remotely academic. Unless I'm studying anatomy. Which I'm not.

It's rare to actually find myself learning when I'm reading fanfictions, but apparently there's a vast difference... as deep as an abyss (which I have never stared down into, so forgive me if the analogy is unsuitable)... when you're in a jrock or jpop fandom and when you're in a European one. Or in this case, Brit.

Words just flow without the restraint of not knowing much of the culture, the people, the language. Authors are not writing in English about non-English people having impossibly complicated English conversations in a completely non-English setting while drinking something that's made in a country entirely populated by mostly non-English speaking people.... and I relish the freedom.

Also, since I studied in the UK (though I didn't have enough money to travel to Ireland, to my everlasting regret) for a bit and watched hours and hours of British telly in defiance of my busy undergraduate schedule, I do get a bit of the jokes... although not most. But enough to make me howl with laughter and splutter saliva all over my laptop monitor.

However, I have to say that after more than a week of intense reading, I have yet to find a single bondage fic... much less S&M, or any plot that doesn't involve fluffy romance and happy ever after. I was so used to at least finding a story with one of the characters dying. And that's RPS, mind you... not even AU. Hmmm, what does that say about jrock/jpop fandom... IDEK.

The strange thing is, all the stories in the Merlin fandom I found... and I do mean ALL!... were so well-written that I'm not even missing those intense, dark, OTT-menacingly-whispered-professions-of-love-while-being-tortured-with-black-candles, nearly suicidal relationships I was so used to bump into while maneuvering the messy j-ent fanfiction corridors.

Obviously I've been missing on a lot of things. I have Colin/Merlin and Bradley/Arthur to thank for this massive discovery. I've yet to move to Season Two because I'm still determined to explore Season One for a second time. And this time I'm to take my sweet time about it... while reading fanfics, watching interviews, looking up making of clips... taking in everything.

O yeah, this mission must be accomplished while churning out technical papers for supervisors and bosses on time. Tricky, that.

[Fanvid] Merlin/Arthur

2011-04-04T10:07:00.000-07:00

This fanvid reminds me of that fic. It's most awesomely done. Actually, they both are.

[Fandom] Merlin

2011-04-02T20:37:00.000-07:00

Secrets & Magic [1]: Merlin Time

....and the rest of the S&M episode.

It feels weird... and kind of special... to fangirl over an actor who is not Asian in this blog. I think Colin Morgan is only the 3rd western crush I pimp here. The 1st being Lee Williams, and the 2nd is the ever evolving Colin Firth (Oscar!!!FTW).

I did catch Merlin when it was first aired in Malaysia...what, a year ago? But at that time, I was all... meh, what's this story about? And why is the title character so thin and bony?? Obviously I had no clue of what and who I was talking about coz a few weeks ago, upon watching this one episode of which I no longer remember what it's all about, suddenly a lightbulb went off in my brain and I went... this show is so gay! LOL. Yeah, I'm a slow learner... ^^;;

The show is full of layers and ...mmmm, layers *cough* ...and what with Merlin / Arthur forever looking at Arthur / Merlin like he's the most delectable dish the guy's ever come across while Arthur / Merlin is always looking back at the other dude (I'm not choosy really, whoever's staring hungrily at whoever is good enuff for me) with this pseudo what, what expression... I'm in BL haven... and for once, it's not coming from a japanese / korean / taiwan / hindi source. Loving it.

(note: They do this off-set too. Don't believe me? Watch that roadtrip video, or the S&M video, or their interview videos... or any videos that have CM and BJ together. Or if you're impatient... just watch this~)

After watching a few incomplete episodes (I promise I'll download the whole seasons later, mkay) I concluded that the Brits do BL waaaaaay better than the Americans can ever hope to do. Is it because of their stronger European connection? I was ready to generalize about the whole western cinema not having a clue about subtlety when it comes to boyxboy content before this drama came along.

I mean, seriously... look at Heroes and weep over the loss of having so many hot-looking guys running around and not giving each other suggestive stares even once! At least not that I'm aware of, and sometimes I can be rather dim about these things. But only sometimes! Anyway, I don't watch Supernatural (have a fear of horror) or Prison Break (don't like convict/war/violent stories much), so can't comment about those. But look at Smallville and imagine how much better it would be for us if Clark and Lex have a more super-charged, electrifying bond.. eh? Clark just keeps on chasing after Lex, and Lex can't get enough of doing bad stuff that will keep Clark eternally chasing after him. And all those gorgeous super heroes and super villains and kryptonite-mutants who can come in and play havoc with their ~~love~~ life. Right, I want to cry now.

It's pretty hilarious how Hollywood gets to be morally upright in TV shows that it makes me roll my eyes every friggin' time like... come on people, we already know, ok?

I found these cast videos. Colin Morgan ish so cute!!! Freaks me out when I got to know that he's 25 years old, though. Why? Because I seem to have a harem of boys born in 1986 (hyung, Kame... and now CM). Furthermore, they're all in the lust/love-at-first-sight category so it's not as if I planned any of this. Am I psychic?? Or is the universe trying hard to tell me something????! (But what?)

ETA: I apologize to everyone who got eye burn after staring at so many bolded words. IDEK what happened. Blame it on the crappy modem connection, but I have to check out of this hotel now (hubby's getting antsy.. any minute now and he's gonna confiscate my laptop) so can't go on an edit spree. And once I'm home, it's a different universe so I doubt I'll ever get around to edit it then. But hey, just think of it as squee-ing with bold rather than CAPS... kthxbye~

[Fanfic] Accidental Memory In The Case Of Death by derryere [NC-17]

2011-03-31T00:26:00.000-07:00

Tell me I did not just flunk almost one whole day of work coz of this fic. And an entire night too. It's all Merlin's fault, really. Well, Arthur too... but mostly it's that guy. Merlin, Merlin, Merlin... why now?? Why when I'm having the mother of all deadlines, which I'm ignoring rather nicely right now.

But seriously, how can a guy look ugly one moment and breathtakingly gorgeous the next. Drives me crazy. I don't even bother knowing his real name... I wonder if this is just temporary?

Is it just me or does Arthur remind you of Jensen Ackles??

Anyway. About that fic "the size of a house". It's so cool and epic and made me go, "Man, I could never write like this. Ever. Not in a million years.." Btw, I've bookmarked the Merlin tag in her LJ... (lol)

I hope she doesn't mind me linking it here in blinking neons. Or maybe bolded and in red font.

SLASHY MERLIN/ARTHUR GOODNESS. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.

...and this just gives more fuel to imagination:

I swear Colin Morgan looks more and more beautiful the longer I watch him smiling in those breeches.

I should go to work and fill up that compulsory 4-hour a day thingy. Absolutely not feeling guilty about this coz.. hey! Long weekday hours and occasional weekends! They'll make up for the hours I'm flunking right now.. *ish in denial*

Happy reading, and welcome to my new obsession! (am planning to scour torrent for past episodes) ...oh! And they're continuing the season! After that scare about Season 3 being the final season. Are they actively trying to give me a heart attack??

I really should go now.

Kamenashi Kazuya is ♥

2011-03-19T05:49:00.000-07:00

I miss him, so I went to youtube in search of teh hotness...

Great fanvideo:

My most fave CM of his coz of the extreme yumminess:

...and its making of:

An old video with their senpai that I can't believe still has not been snatched away by the ebil youtube filter:

[CRUSH] The next generation of Takeshi Kaneshiro

2011-03-05T18:19:00.000-08:00

Although Takeshi mostly does movies, is fluent in 5 languages and reclusive like nobody's business.. it's a good thing he's a workaholic and he's popular in Malaysia, so we have a lot of his DVDs/CDs available in video stores here to feed my Takeshi-addiction.

Dean Fujioka has a long way to go before he can even touch the ground Takeshi is walking on, but he's young and hungry. I bet he'll get there and beyond in no time.

Anyway, japanese actors rarely get this big outside of the j-ent circuit (i.e. acting in foreign dramas/movies) or even speak languages other than their own mother tongue this fluently (Gackt, I'm looking at you) so this is quite a find, if I have to say so myself.

The moment I got attracted to him at first sight in "Miss No Good", I knew I have to check him out online. I can't believe it... he's japanese! I thought he's of mixed parentage (coz they bothered to make Si Le's mother a foreigner). Dean Fujioka... will you be my next obsession?

I read that the drama that got him attention is "Corner with Love" ...I'll bookmark that one for later viewing. Right now, I want to finish watching Miss No Good coz it looks interesting.

I don't normally get hooked on dramas I watch on TV.. coz I rarely watch dramas on TV.. or any program on TV (who need TV when you have internet?). It's hubby who usually switches on the TV nowadays. This weekend we had breakfast with the TV on... and coincidentally, this drama was airing right after I finished eating.

View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

It has 14 ep, which is just nice for me... a bit longer than japanese dramas but shorter than korean ones. I normally get turned off by dramas with tens of episodes.. which is usually the case with chinese dramas. Or maybe those usually come out of Hong Kong.

Found this on his Twitter account and went... EEHHHHHHHHH?? NANI KORE????? LOL

By the way... has anyone watched "Perhaps Love" (Takeshi Kaneshiro, Jacky Cheung and an actress who looks familiar but whose name I forgot)? Saiko da! It reminds me of Moulin Rouge... hehe. I want to buy the DVD!!! *hunting mode on*

[Drama Upload] Aiba Masaki - Bartender Ep 1

2011-03-04T21:49:00.000-08:00

Bartender ep01 A
Uploaded by kkftw2. - Classic TV and last night's shows, online.

It's definitely not as still as the anime.. there're movements everywhere, and we get to see the Bartender outside of his bar.

Demo, since it doesn't present an arc right in the 1st ep... I don't feel any urgency to watch the 2nd ep. However, if you're an Aiba fan.. his presence is enough to make you impatiently wait for the next story, right? :)

And I'm not happy that it doesn't have a cocktail-making session with recipe at the end of the story, the way it is in the anime. They should get a real bartender making an appearance and make a cocktail in front of the camera. I want to see the honmono no baatenda at work! ^^

Watched the drama up to ep 3 and got curious about the difference between the bar in Kami no Shizuku and the one in the Bartender drama. So there are specific bars catering to specific people/serving specific drinks? Omoshiroi...

[CF] New The Face Shop commercial

2011-03-04T19:56:00.000-08:00

He's so mesmerizing.. I can't take my eyes off him when he's on screen, even though it's just for a (too) short clip. I've seen this guy live in front of me, albeit from so far away... and even from that distance, his shining aura was blinding.

I miss hyung... wish he'd take up more TV projects (aside from drama) after his album debut so someone can upload them to the net for KHJ-starved fans like me to watch.

[Subbed] Coupang coupang coupang..la la la la coupang... COUUUUPANGGG!

2011-03-04T19:25:00.000-08:00

Looks like that song is gonna stuck... it's currently playing like a broken record in my weird brain... LOL

"What's Coupang?" hubby asked me when I dragged him to watch the clip with me. I told him I have no idea. And this CF doesn't give me much info either (too lazy to Google it right now)... is it like COUPON or something? O hey, there's Mr. Baek being excited about Coupang too! See him? Too bad Clark Eun Jo isn't there with him... I miss the kid.

Finally the interview on hyung's "Smile Project" is subbed! I've waited so long for some kind soul to translate the clip for us... thanks so much, whoever you are! *mmmuaaah*

..can't wait for that album he promised! And then drama!!! or movie? *hyper*

[Movie Release] The Malay Chronicles: Bloodlines (Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa)

2011-02-28T15:31:00.000-08:00

Release Date: 10 March, 2011

(another NINE days to go! WoOhOo!!)

Link in IMDb.

I think this is the Official Website of KRU Studios.

[Rambling] All sorts of wonderful updates

2011-02-20T20:36:00.000-08:00

I still have a flu and cough despite resting through 4 absolutely work-free days courtesy of MCs and gobbling all sorts of medicine since a week ago. I have to organize a meeting in 2 hours time with another working paper still undone. I have a deadline for 4 papers hanging over my head like the Sword of Damocles and still managed to finish re-reading up to the 21st volume of Kindaichi Case Files (the malay-translated paperbook version). I have a date with all my supervisors to present my progress report and my slide is yet to be done. I bought a stack of CDs and DVDs that I still haven't listened to/watched that include KAT-TUN's World Big Tour, Tamaki Hiroshi's MW, Kame's Gokusen The Movie & One Pound Gospel drama, , Gong Yoo's Biscuit Teacher & Star Candy, SS501's 1st album DVD and Mansai Nomura's Ran.

Overall.... life is wonderful. That was what I felt as I listened to KAT-TUN's songs while I was driving to school this morning. Kindaichi's right. As long as we're alive, we still have something that can turn our lives around again. That 'something' is time. So, I hope everyone who still has some lingering suicidal tendency in his/her heart to... as Kyouhei in Yamnade says... look towards the future and move forward. Everyone is struggling in his/her own way. Never underestimate other people's problems. Even those we envy have problems that can drag them down any second. Appreciate what we have now so we won't have any regret in the future. Okay?

Hope this picture will cheer you up today~~~

[Investigation File] Detective Academy Q manga

2011-02-05T21:15:00.000-08:00

My most favourite manga of all time. No matter how many times I read it, I still feel so motivated by how Q faces life within and outside of his detective work. If I can say a fictional character is my idoru, that'll be Q... a kid much more alive than the real people I have around me.

I've just finished re-reading all the 22 malay-translated volumes I collected a few years ago, despite having a stack of other still unread manga volumes languishing on my shelves. I wonder what sort of life the japanese mangaka face that they can come up with so many stories that inspire and, at the same time, entertain readers from all walks of life from all over the world. Maybe it's because of that magical place they're living in... Nihonland.

Despite knowing the storyline, I still cried and felt the same emotions I felt when I read it the first time. Will I ever be able to write something this good one day? This time I want to write down the things I 'learnt' from the story. One day, when I re-read it for the 3rd time... will I learn something new?

Raja Hades boleh berfikir untuk bermula semula walaupun umurnya dah sangat tua. Q class semuanya muda-muda belaka tapi mereka yg tumpaskan musuh utama En. Dan sedangkan pembantu-pembantu En. Dan yg pro pun tak dapat selesaikan kes-kes yg dirancang oleh Pluto. Umur memang tak sepatutnya dijadikan sebab untuk mengehadkan pencapaian kendiri
Tak boleh sekali-kali berputus-asa, tapi mesti juga tahu bila tiba masa untuk undur diri. Undur diri bukan setiap masa bermaksud kalah
Walaupun dikelilingi oleh organisasi yang hebat dan sahabat yang berbakat, akan tiba beberapa masa dalam hidup perlu membuat keputusan sendiri dan bergantung kepada keupayaan diri sendiri. Tidak boleh sentiasa bergantung kepada manusia lain
Takut sampai menggigil tapi maju ke hadapan tetap dalam jalan yang telah kita pilih sendiri dan menyelesaikan apa pun masalah yang timbul, itulah keberanian yang sebenar
Walaupun kurang berbakat... walaupun menjadi diri sendiri yang mungkin cuai, suka bergurau, dan kurang berdisiplin tapi walaupun bersifat begini, tanggungjawab yang telah diamanahkan kepada kita mesti dilaksanakan menurut kemampuan sendiri dengan bersungguh-sungguh sehingga selesai
Jangan sekali-kali memandang rendah masalah atau kesusahan yang dihadapi oleh orang lain, walau macamana sempurna pun dia di mata kita (macam Ryu dan Ukon) kita tetap juga perlu bersungguh-sungguh mendengar dan menjadi sahabatnya pada susah dan senang
Walaupun impian kita boleh menjadi bahan gurauan orang lain (macam Q yg nak masuk sekolah detektif padahal keputusan akademik sekolahnya rendah), tetap kena percaya kepada impian sendiri dan teruskan usaha. Bila kita dah berjaya nanti, impian kita tu takkan digelakkan lagi. Oleh sebab tu juga, jangan gelakkan impian orang lain walau betapa tak logik pun bunyinya
Lebih berbakat bermakna kena lebih berusaha untuk menonjolkan bakat supaya dapat mencapai impian (macam Kazuma). Selepas berjaya sekali, mesti nak berjaya beberapa kali, lepas tu mesti nak berjaya setiap masa. Ini lah sifat tidak mahu kalah yang mesti dimiliki
Walaupun dah mencapai kejayaan tahap gaban sekalipun, masih ada lagi kejayaan tahap yang lebih gaban untuk dicapai. Analogi panjat gunung boleh digunakan... dah panjat Gunung Kinabalu, ada lagi Gunung Everest. Jadi jangan melengah-lengahkan usaha. Masa yang berlalu takkan kembali lagi

Even though the malay-translated version I have is complete and can be found in one of my favourite manga shops and can be mail-ordered too, the english-translated online version is still ongoing:

DETECTIVE ACADEMY Q

Since I've collected all the 27 volumes of the malay-translated Kindaichi Case Files and several other later Kindaichi volumes as well, I consider myself a fan of Seimaru Amagi sensei's works. But only today I went on the net to know more about him and I found something so shocking that I nearly fell off my chair. He wrote another story I'm interested in under a different pen name. This one:

KAMI NO SHIZUKU

He also wrote Psychometrist Eiji and GetBackers, the two manga I'm collecting. Is this a coincidence?? I don't believe in coincidences though. I believe that you will always be able to find the things, or people, you're looking for... if you look hard enough. Ma ii ka. I know now that I have to hunt down the rest of sensei's works. Maybe one day if I search hard enough, I'll even be able to meet him face-to-face.... errr, and get his autograph... :P

Other works by sensei I found online are below...

Disclaimer: Please buy his original works. This list is only to introduce you to some of his works so that you'll be interested enough to go and buy them later:

Remote
Psychometrer Eiji
GetBackers
Oniwaka to Ushiwaka - Edge of the World manga
Psycho Buster: ONE, TWO
Bloody Monday
Bloody Monday Season 2
Area no Kishi
Gakkou no kowai uwasa: ONE, TWO, THREE (These are download links. I'm not sure if the link is okay or not, so download at your own risk)
Shibatora
Kunimitsu no Matsuri

The ones in the wiki list that I couldn't find online (so anyone who have found them, could you please please give me the links in the comment section? Thanks!):

Tokyo Eighties
Snow Dolphin
Gakkou no kowai uwasa
Asobotto Senki Gokū
Psycho Doctor
Psycho Doctor Kai Kyousuke

I found sensei' profile page.... HERE and HERE!

[Feature] Najwa Latif - cover songs

2011-02-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

Stumbled upon her videos and I just have to spazz about her a bit in my blog. One word... awesome.

The original song by Wang Lee Hom...

There are other cover songs in her channel, the English ones are amazing by the way. I like this one the most (original by Bruno Mars):

[MyAikido] Katate Dori Shiho Nage

2011-02-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

Finally.. today sensei taught us beginners our first technique. Okay, since I'm the only beginner in the class (the other girl learnt Aikido when she was younger)... essentially it's MY first Aikido technique.. :P

Found a video of it. Also, I realized at class today that no matter how much you think you can move correctly, it's pointless without a sparring partner. The feeling of being attacked is just different when you're doing it by yourself (just by simulating the attack in your head).

Notes: (link)

KATATEDORI 片手取り means "One hand grab"

SHIHONAGE 四方投げ means "Four-corner throw". It's a technique where defender passes under attacker's arm, then lifts it overhead, pivots 180 degrees and throws. This throw originally included a pin with the arm barred in the shihonage position to complete the technique. It is commonly executed in AIKIKAI HOMBU-style aikido with the arm released after application of the shihonage pressure without a pin.

[Random] Lettuce couple Get Hot on the dance floor

2011-02-02T08:31:00.000-08:00

The video I inserted in a post before got deleted... and I found new ones. Hopefully they won't suffer the same fate...

[MyAikido] Basic Attacks

2011-01-28T22:59:00.000-08:00

The lessons reminded me of why I stayed away from Aikido at first. But despite my misgivings about sparring with guys at close counters, in reality... most attacks do happen at close counters, and female bodies are usually not strong enough to counter-attack or defend themselves against physically strong intent from men without any martial arts skill. (my sentence sounds weird.. hmmm, ma ii ka)

Thankfully, my sparring partner in the class was a girl. But because it's a girl, I couldn't do shomen properly for fear of hurting her since I'm still very unskilful. I hope to ASAP be good enough to spar properly. Unlike Karate, Aikido immediately puts us in a battle mode practice (this week was only my 2nd class). I had to attend months of Karate class before I was made to spar against somebody.

I learnt 3 attacks and Sensei taught me two types of moves against them: omote (inside) and ura (outside). The first attack taught was shomen. The omote move I learnt is this:

I couldn't find ura.... however, if you watch the slo-mo ura move in this video, what I learnt was only upto 0:51. By watching Tissier-sensei, I found that the footwork will be different according to where we move next... and look at his hands, they hardly form a claw or fist and instead always be open and ready to act for the next move. The way he charts every step is like a go player. Saikou desu.

Sugi wa, yokomen desu. For the omote... I found this video (part 1 of 6). He even talked a bit about the history of Aikido. What I learnt was only upto 3:16, but here I found that the blocking left hand (for a left hand attack) can be in a position to throw someone off-balance.

I couldn't find the ura move but I think the one he showed at 3:14 in this one is it, right?

I wasn't able to learn much on tsuki coz class ended before I could practice further. Maybe I get to learn more next week.

Sensei said:

We attack to distract, not to hurt. I like that. It appeals to my non-violent nature.
It's all about the way we move. Do not get into the habit of memorizing which foot goes with which hand coz there are too many variations that memorization is impossible.

[Investigation File] 1582 performance in Break the Records 2009 concert (solo for Kamenashi Kazuya of KAT-TUN)

2011-01-28T20:05:00.000-08:00

I read someone talked about Kame's performance in Break the Records as if he acted as the man and the woman in the song. Me, I like to interpret it more literally. That it's about the forbidden love of two guys in the year 1582. In fact, if I wanna take this further, I'd say it's a tragic love story between a japanese and a foreigner.. because Kame in the cage wore a western suit, right? But Kame in kimono acted like a warrior... swinging his sword and fighting as if he were in a battle.

If you look up this article, it says that Chapter 2 in the book is about Japan and its Chinese and European worlds (1582-1689) and it's on the foreign trade in East Asia in the seventeenth century. I'm pretty sure kimono!Kame is a taikomochi, or known as otogishu the 16th century, who were 'sounding boards for military strategies and they battled at the side of their lord' (wiki). To further look into my otogishu-european theory, we have to brush up a bit on japanese history.

What happened in the year 1582? The assassination of Oda Nobunaga. From wiki:

Following Nobunaga was Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉), who ruled over Japan from 1582 to 1598. Anti-European attitudes began under Hideyoshi, whose suspicion of the Europeans first began with their intimidating appearance; their armed ships and sophisticated military power produced doubt and distrust, and following the conquest of the Philippines by the Spanish, Hideyoshi was convinced they were not to be trusted. The true motives of the Europeans came quickly into question.

Those who converted to Catholicism were questioned about their loyalty to Japan, and in 1597, Hideyoshi ordered the crucifixion of nine Catholic missionaries and seventeen Japanese converts. This was only the start of the hostility towards European influence and interaction; persecutions, beheading, and forced secessions would all but eliminate the Christian community over the next few decades.

I also looked up the translation of the lyrics. I mean, why else would the person singing this song wish (with love) that he will never wake up if he isn't involved in a forbidden relationship? And the uncertainty of their future together is voiced out (Where will we go tomorrow, I don't like it) that probably if he were to live... they will be torn apart anyway. So he'd rather die than stay alive and be separated from him.

I'm pretty sure the water fountain and the scroll at the end meant something important too. I remember Gackt made a big deal out of being able to make 'rain' fall on the stage during the Rain live, so the water fountain in Kame's performance was definitely not just for show. Just using my imagination, I'd say him being pushed upwards on an umbrella by water probably means he was on a ship (travel by sea).

Hmmm, donning a disguise (mask), battling a bunch of people, traveling on a ship... maybe he was fleeing from Japan to meet his lover? What does the spinning upwards in the middle of a fireworks display mean then? That he's in China? Or is it a symbol of his elation at having arrived at his destination? The scroll probably was a note his lover left behind with the fountain a symbol of his tears after he read it (must not be good news then). The fountain formed a wall around him... a wall of misery? Flying from scroll to scroll probably means he didn't know that his lover was dead and he waited for news after news about him. Meh, I'm making myself sad with my own rambling.

Anyway, I just realized that the way I interpreted this... it's like... the lyrics are supposed to be the words from the dying european lover's side while the performance shows the actions by the japanese lover's side. Looking at it like that... ish a pretty awesome concept. Well, unless I was wrong about the whole thing, of course.. haha *hides*

I think the most romantic verse in the song is this:

Even this heart littered with wounds
Is healed by watching you
It's not about desire
I know this even unconsciously

...to me, what he's trying to say is that what he feels is not mere lust. What he feels is a love so strong, even the pain of dying becomes healed just by looking at his beloved. I think it's probably not 'unconsciously' ...hmm, maybe it should be 'subconsciously'? I doubt unconscious people can 'know' anything. Or maybe if we want to stick to the translation, 'unconsciously' probably means he's in a near-death state? I wish I could write something this good one day.

The lyrics and the performance immediately reminded me of Winter Cicada, a story inserted in the Haru wo Daiteita yaoi anime. I checked out the year it was set in and it's in the same period (1862–1869). Look it up... it's a nice, albeit a bit depressing, story.

So, the real question is... was the Kame in the cage the same Kame in kimono, or was it all just camera trick? I think it's really Kame doing both stunts... because of the harness, he could move to span the entire stage pretty quickly. This is evident when he flew with the scroll at the end of the performance (by the way, all the stunts he did here were dangerous so I'm happy that he didn't get hurt). And I know that in concerts, they often dress themselves up in clothes that can be taken off with just one yank. The kimono was worn like a robe and the yukata was probably modified so that a waist string was not needed. The obi probably just needed to be fastened. What I think happened was, the moment the light went out, he flew to the platform... changed into the yukata and kimono... pinned his hair... wore the mask... sat down all pretty with a fan in his hands... and still have a second to spare.

Kame saikou~ ...aishiteiru yo.

[Song] Give Me Give Me Give Me by KAT-TUN

2011-01-22T20:49:00.000-08:00

Currently my favourite song from the Change Ur World single. I have to paste it here coz I love singing along to this song and it took me some time to find the romaji version.. so I don't want it to get lost again.

LYRICS

[Feature] 中村中 (Nakamura Ataru) in Cartoon KAT-TUN ep 37

2011-01-22T17:26:00.000-08:00

Kame and Koki interviewed her in the Love Disc segment. I got suddenly interested in the singer when she said she wrote the lyrics to one of her songs, Friend's Song, at the age of 15. And I was stunned too when I looked it up. What was I doing when I was 15? Certainly not writing something this heartbreaking. I was too busy trying to pass my exam with flying colours so my brother wouldn't decapitate me.

I looked up another of her song too.. Dirty Underwear. The lyrics is depressing. Just the kind of emotion I hate simply because I can feel it too well without any need to experience it for myself. Me and my empathetic nature. I'm just glad I was saved all those years ago.

I just finished reading a very long and involved fanfic and the story is by no means finished. Before this, I stumbled on this one and the story (Fragments) is still ongoing too. It's weird how fiction can change the way you look at real people, despite your head telling you the whole thing is not real... that it's all made up. I guess that's why gossips are bad for our mental health. Anyway, the stories make me wonder whether I'm cut out to be a writer. I doubt I can have as much patience as these two fanfic authors have.

[Investigation File] アゲ♂アゲ♂EVERY☆騎士 - DJ OZMA

2011-01-19T10:39:00.000-08:00

I stumbled on the Korean version when I watched the Making of clip for You're Beautiful. This is another case of 'stumbled on'... a short clip of this was inserted at the very end of Cartoon KAT-TUN ep 36.

Well, if a song is good.. it's good in any language, I guess. I tried to find the original version by Boney M. (supposedly) but couldn't. Maybe it's too old... and I dunno what the title is for that version.

By the time everyone takes off their clothes, I just had to stop dancing and I spent the rest of the time gaping at the TV monitor. Errr.. coz I heard 'hadaka de' being mentioned and thought that I have to concentrate on the visuals instead of prancing around my living room at 2.30 in the morning.. *cough*

[Martial Arts] Aikido is all sorts of awesome... errrr, I think

2011-01-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

Was thinking where I should I blog about this and decided to do it here... since this is where I write about most of the crazy shiz I get myself into that doesn't have anything to do with work. Actually, most of the things I do are crazy shiz coz I hardly do work... even when I'm at work. Okay, Aikido is not crazy, or shizzy. That's just a figure of speech *hides from angry Aikido practitioners*

Just had my first class tonight and the experience of seeing people being thrown about like rag dolls right in front of my eyes, as opposed to in youtube clips. My face responds very fast to my surrounding and I think I made so many weird faces at class today when sensei started sparring with the other students... and a lot of hitori-goto too.. haha. Hope I'll control myself better once I get used to the idea that one day the rag doll will be me.

Today, I spent too much time learning to tie the uniform and hakama... geh. I'm hopeless (I'll do better next class, I promise!). Then, sensei just taught me and another new student (who has learnt Aikido before.. so I'm the only total newbie there) just a few basic stuff and told us to practice them at home at least 10 times a day:

- Ukemi

- Mae Ukemi (at least I think this is what it's called coz he just called it 'rolling' in class)
- Hidari-Hanmi
- Migi-Hanmi
- Irimi Tenkan (I think this is it, but I have to confirm the name again coz I forgot): link

Mae Ukemi is the toughest mental challenge ever for me. To actually let my body fall forward from pure will is... SO HARD!!! I have to really practice this one. The others are pretty okay. Sensei said these are just warm-ups, not even like... real techniques yet... eeep. Anyway, I just stumbled on this clip and suddenly all was made clear to me. I was an idiot! I understood the whole rolling thing wrong!! *facepalm* ...no wonder I couldn't do it. Just tried it in my living room, and I could do this thing... albeit blunderingly, but at least I could do it. As opposed to not at all when I was in class. Meh. Anyway, Waite Sensei doing Aikido reminded me of Capoeira... so graceful, na. And I like the whole rasta hairstyle thing. Cool.

I think Aikido is very suitable to women and children coz we're naturally physically weaker than grown-up men (usually our potential attackers are from that species). However, I'm learning this mostly for self-improvement... hopefully I'll never ever get attacked.. yikes! So yeah. I'll be going to class once a week... plenty of time to update in the blog. My next post may not be as longass as this one, hopefully.

Another clip on Waite Sensei:

[Rambling] KAT-TUN verdict and a Maximum the Hormone insert

2011-01-18T19:45:00.000-08:00

I found a livejournal account that uploads KAT-TUN discography (which I will not disclose here in case it gets abused by trolls. Anyone who wants the link can request and I will email it to you). I didn't download their full albums coz I want to buy them, but I did get all the singles and Kame's audio-ripped performances.

I take back what I said in this post, that KAT-TUN serves a meagre fare. I've listened to about 50 of their songs and I can honestly say none made me bored or wanna go to sleep (Sayonara - Gackt, anyone?). Which is usually an indication that the songs I'm listening to rank from good to excellent. Now I can understand why their singles keep getting number one at the chart. Despite losing an important member, they still rock at the chart and keep having sell out concerts. Keep up the good work, guys!

I'm currently loving all the songs in their "Change UR World" single. Please don't argue with me over production quality, song composition skill, audio presentation, pitch value or whateva technical issues with it coz I know none of those. I just know that they sound good to my ears, and that's good enough fer me. I'm easy to please, na? hehe

Interestingly enough, I love Niito Man (second after Give Me, Give Me, Give Me) and that's by Ueda Tatsuya. And Girls is cool too (what does it mean by NTT presented by Junnosuke Taguchi? I don't get that). I wish each member gets to sing almost equal portion per song. Despite my ~~lust~~love for Kame, I really want to hear the others' vocals scattered all throughout KAT-TUN songs too.. like in Never x Over. That'll be nice. Anyway... MARU SAIKO!!! There, just wanted to get that out of the way before I go slobbering over Kame again in my next posts.

* * * INSERT * * *

Yesasia has just mailed me a sparkling new CD... yeay!! It's Buiikikaesu by Maximum The Hormone (2007). The first time I heard their songs ("Zetsubou Billy" and "What's Up, People?!") was in the Death Note anime, and I just fell in love. Took me years to buy their album though *cough* ...but hey, at least now I got it! I went berserk when I found out that those two songs are in the CD (so shoot me for not knowing that before I bought it).. *hyperAmi* ..LOVE LOVE LOVE their song:

[Random] Akame stuff that made me go ....ehhhhhhhhh???

2011-01-14T19:26:00.000-08:00

Since I just cared about KAT-TUN very recently (thanks to my Kame obsession).. I just stumbled on this. Granted, veteran fans (or those more obsessed than I am) have known about this a gajillion years ago. I just want to record it here in case I go berserk in the future trying to find the evidence again.

I got this from here.

Then I looked up the songs (Kizuna & Care) and needless to say... I was speechless.

[Fanvid] Kame ga hoshi.....

2011-01-09T08:07:00.000-08:00

...the sudden transformation from ero Kame to romantic Kame on guitar made my head spin... ♥

I've always been obsessed with turtles every time I dive, to the point where my diving instructors looked around to find me whenever they spotted one near them just so they could take my pic with it. A diving buddy once took a video of me chasing a turtle and I got scolded by my instructors for that stunt *sweat*. I guess now my obsession with turtles takes a different meaning. I'd be going, "KAME!!!!" and chasing it everywhere.. LOL. Or maybe I'd just wave at it and go, "kame..." from a distance until it goes far far away.. *ish scared of kowai instructors* :P

[Random] Hyun Joong hyung-chama.... I miss you!!!

2011-01-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

Is this what that BYJ fan meant by... "when BYJ became so famous we hardly see him anymore"? When hyung was with SS501 in DSP, they're all over the place doing all sorts of shows and interviews. Suddenly when they're not together under the same agency, I see less and less of his updates. Sabishiiiiii to omoimasu.

I wish KeyEast will put him in some variety shows (hyung loves being in them, right?) instead of sending him to about 5 countries in the space of like.. two weeks.. and all we got to see was his back entering and leaving the various airports. I know they're all big projects and award shows. I'm happy for him and all that... demo, I miss seeing his weird side. Let me just confess this.. if hyung is just a good-looking, talented artist and nothing more, I would not have been obsessed with him. I don't think I would have been a fan, even. I like him because he's.. well, different.

KeyEast no minna-san, don't keep Kim Hyun Joong hyung-nim under wraps like you did BYJ. Let him out more.. we want to see his colourful sides again. And hyung, you don't have to restrain yourself so much just because you're becoming more serious about your work. Please... just be yourself and have fun~ ♥

I'm being a very patient fan right now coz he promised us an album in ...mmm, May... I think. So yeah, am patiently reading his updates in other people's blogs. Hopefully he'll be in 1 movie and 1 dorama this year. He doesn't have to be the main character... that way, he doesn't have to spend so much time and face too much pressure. Hyung-chan.. you can do it! Ganbatte neeeee! \(^o^)/

[Random] In which Gackt (or rather, GACKT) finally exposed his basement...

2011-01-08T04:22:00.000-08:00

When I wrote about Gackt going normal on me, I didn't mean that he's become 'ordinary'. I think Gackt has lived too long being different, he'd purposely try to do something different than what everyone else is doing even when there's no need to.

Nope. It's because I feel that he's becoming like any other artists... aimlessly taking jobs that they feel like doing. To understand what I mean by this, you must be obsessed enough about his Moon Project to collect at least all his CDs, Platinum Boxes, concert DVDs and any of his interviews on it you can find on the net. And have discussed it endlessly with anyone willing enough to put up with your crazy theories. I even won a forum writing contest with a story based on the darkside inhabitants.

Oh, and try to translate at least the prologue to his Moon Child-related novel, Requiem, with a paper dictionary and only 3-months intro to basic japanese. I even wanted to buy one of his jewelery dakedo, bimbo dakara.. okane ga nai. So yeah... imagine how I felt when he said he was REBORN and all that, which also means that the Moon Project will be discontinued.

Gackt-san, I will not buy any of your future works! *is sulking* ...and any further posts I write about you here will consist of more rants until you give me something so interesting I'll forgive this 'normal' period you're going through. Please hurry up and experience all those 'normal' things you've always wanted to do and come back with something that can make me happy again, o-ke?

Anyway, so many TV shows want to be the ones that report on his house. Up to now.. I think I've watched... three? or is it four? ...different shows that interview Gackt about his living quarters. But I think this is the one Gackt gave the most access to. Well, despite the 'night mode' camera. And I love his dojo-exercise clippies. The 2nd clip is still not fully subbed though.

[Random] Kamenashi Kazuya Poledancing on Utawara

2011-01-06T17:26:00.000-08:00

Maru.. that idiot. Without his "chotto, chotto", who knows what Kame would have done next.. (STRIP! STRIP!). Nakamaru's and Koki's faces were like.. O.O!!!

It's plain to see why it's so easy to love or hate Kame. He's like a box of chocolate, you never know what flavour you're gonna get.. :P

EDIT:
Uwaaaaaa... my excellent online surfing skill landed me on a livejournal account that copied my post (THIS one) almost word for word and passed it as her own. Should I be flattered or offended?? I'm really confused. But at least she got plenty of comments. All I have are silent lurkers... LOL. Not that it's a bad thing. I'll take lurkers over trolls any time.

[Dance] Koichi+ KAT-TUN DANCE PJ 2001- 2 BAD

2010-12-28T02:01:00.000-08:00

Welcome to JRock! ...and Kamenashi Kazuya (if you still read my blog after this post, we should be friends)

2010-12-26T18:38:00.000-08:00

I guess this post has been germinating in my pervy brain (there, I said it) after I read this post about Kame last night. It's true that after being raised on practically nothing but rock music (it was my first and most enduring love) and later finding my way into JRock, watching Real Face made me go... "geh, pretentious little poseurs".

But I'm always game for a new experience, and I thought Johnny's experiment with merging pop and rock was.. (and I'm trying very hard to suppress my cynical side here) ... amusing, enough to get me to take notice of the group that performed the song. I promptly put my interest in the pretty marionettes dancing to jarring guitar riffs at the back-burner though and went back to jrock right after the performance clip finished playing.

I got dragged into KAT-TUN's world again not through their songs, but through their acting... well, namely by the acting stint of two of the group members. What else, Gokusen 2 of course. At the time, I was very... I mean, verrrry... interested in Jin. But after realizing what a bad actor he is and having no interest in the meagre fare KAT-TUN dished out, I promptly dropped Jin and his group along with him. To be fair, it's not just KAT-TUN... it's the whole Johnny Jimusho idoru concept that I (still) can't stomach.

This happened with another actor I had mad crush with... Tomoya Nagase. I really really liked him, and I wish he had left TOKIO & JJ and gone out to pursue his own path.. gah! Have you seen the idoru groups' backup dancers? They're barely out of their diapers yet there they are up on a big stage performing fanservices for the world to see. How sick is that? It's like a bloody slave factory in there. I guess I would have felt differently had it not felt so contrived and forced (maybe I feel this way because they're so young).

Eh, I digressed. Anyway, I'm back into watching KAT-TUN clips now because of Kame. I have no idea why people call him a bad actor, but they must have watched some of his old dramas that I haven't watched yet. That's why I get it when E.G. said in her post that Kame has two facets to his personality. In fact, now he has a 3rd facet... that of a sportsman... ha! Have you seen him play? How can he be so many different people at once? Makes you wanna go.. "Will the Real Kamenashi please stand up?!" This guy is too interesting to ignore, seriously. I have no problem with his stage performances either. Me guessing that KAT-TUN tries to emulate rockers in their performances is what makes it easily acceptable to me. Why? We've come to the real reason of why I wrote this meandering post....

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF JROCK!

And I was obsessed with this jrocker dude for two years. He's the one I listened to, read & wrote on, discussed the music/live performance/PV/movie/etc. with my friends about from the moment I opened my eyes till I went to sleep. Even there I wasn't really safe because he regularly invaded my dreamscape. Yes, for two bloody years... before he suddenly went normal on me. (He said he was ~REBORN~) Meh. Normal artists are so... normal, ergo uninteresting. Wanna know which performance that got me hooked on him? It's this one...

So, you can understand why I find Kame's performances to be pretty ...ermmm, how to say this without exposing my pervy self further... mild? In comparison. I like his self-abandonment when he's on the stage. It's pretty obvious that he's conscious of all his gyrating movements, but it seems like.. he just pushes every little gesture beyond the border of what he feels is safe for him. It's fun watching him watch himself performing.. LOL. Mesmerizing shtuff.

And if you think Kame's pole dancing is gay and so not on, what do you think about Rain when you watch this, huh? :P

Kame's more controlled when he's acting though, staying in character despite showing familiar mannerisms. I like him in dramas when he has to deal with love issues. I think it's how he looks at the girls. To me, a guy is sexiest when he looks at a girl perplexedly, trying to decide what is the best course of action to take regarding anything and everything about her. Maybe I'm just projecting my feelings onto the characters he played, but they all seem to have that quality in their eyes. Eager to please, yet not knowing how, but still trying his hardest anyway. Don't you think a guy like that is sexy? ♥

[Uploaded Movie] Kamikaze Girls - Kyoko Fukada & Anna Tsuchiya

2010-12-26T01:16:00.000-08:00

I got interested to watch this movie simply because I've read the manga...

Most probably, it's because I was hypnotized by all the frills on the Baby dresses, but I love the manga. So when I stumbled upon the video, despite not liking female-bonding stories (Thelma & Louis scarred me for life), I unhesitatingly watched it.

Ami's Rating: 3/5 stars

K1 Vidéo EvilYuli sélectionnée dans Paranormal

One thing I love about japanese dramas and movies, they don't hesitate to use any kind of visuals to put their messages across. I find it refreshing that they simply ignore all thoughts of the discomfort they may cause their viewers with their unconventional method of story-telling and, in so doing, skip all the beating about the bush and convey every detail with clarity. At one point, I was wondering whether they'll combine some animated characters with live action. You know.. like, making Himiko come into the frame and talk to her followers... or something.

Suspend all disbelief and delve into the world of Momoko & Ichiko.

Kamikaze Girls is a self-indulgent story that tracks the not-quite-friends-but-definitely-something-special relationship of two girls from very different worlds. Momoko Ryugasaki (Kyoko Fukada), a Lolita girl, and Ichigo "Ichiko" Shirayuri (Anna Tsuchiya), a Yanki, met in very bizarre circumstances that can be tracked back to Momoko's father's life before he even knew her mother. Strangely, it was the Yanki who keeps coming back to the Lolita at first, a gesture that exposes us to Ichiko's (or Ichigo as Momoko prefers to call her) warm and generous nature.

Or probably it's Momoko's seeming indifference to her surrounding, which seems to Ichiko as an act of defiance and courage, is the magnet that pulls the rebellious Ichiko closer and closer to her. In her absolute determination and pride to live as she wants, be as solitary as she wants, dresses as she wants... Momoko represents the spirit of freedom that Ichiko has never been able to capture in all the years she is in the biker gang, Pony Tail. This is made obvious in the admiration she expresses towards Momoko during an argument with her gang members:

Momoko always relied upon herself, believed in rules she made by herself, compared with you (Pony Tail members) who can't do a thing without a group, you're not even in the same ball park, idiots!

The departure of the leader whom Ichogo idolized is the turning point for her as Pony Tail changes into an organization that craves for structure and regulations, the very things that Ichigo has always tried to step away from. Her speech about it during the punishment scene hits the nail on the head:

We gather from all over, wasn't it to get away from the so-called "face value" and "common sense"? Now, saying things like "it's decided and you'll do what you're told", "it's the rule and therefore must be obeyed" etc., how is this different from the world we escaped from?

Momoko, on the other hand, is made to look like such a facile character that she would call the dressmaker of her favourite brand (Baby, The Stars Shine Bright) her God, may seem to be an uncomplicated and simple-minded girl to the viewers if not for some of her uncommon insights that she dispenses liberally, namely to her mother and Ichigo, whenever she feels like it. When you hear her version of 'the truth as Momoko sees it', you'll realize that within the world everyone knows and lives in, Momoko has built her own world that only she can see and understand.

I don't think she's built it out of her desire to protect herself from pain or to run away from reality, though. It's just that, to Momoko, her world makes more sense and therefore more livable, that's all. Which is why, before Ichiko forces her to venture out of it by literally dragging her all over the place searching for the legendary embroiderer who doesn't exist, she has always talked to people around her as if she's an outsider looking in.

I find nothing pitiable in the way both girls have lived their lives before their encounter, nor afterwards with Momoko still undecided about her stint at Baby and Ichiko aimlessly riding her moped up and down the Shimotsuma road. On the contrary, it made me think.. ah, so we can live like this too and still have value(?). I always call that kind of vagabond lifestyle: 'lounging around waiting to die'.. but I guess I've been conditioned by the society to accept 'our way or the highway' lifestyle for far too long.

In another lifetime, I would have felt depressed at the ending of this movie. It's the kind of story I've always avoided in the past... open-ended, conclusion-less, and anticlimactic. But in my present frame of mind, I rather welcome the uncertainty and the question marks Kamikaze Girls throw at me at the end.

About the main leads:

Kyoko Fukada - my most enduring onscreen memories of her are when she gave Gackt that puppy bag for his birthday on Domoto Kyoudai and the topless tomboy princess trembling in Mansai Nomura's arms during a scene in Onmyouji II. Her kawaii image belies the fact that she is a very hard-working actress, as can be seen from her wiki.

Anna Tsuchiya - I encountered her magnetic onscreen presence in Sakuran. If you haven't watched that movie, you're missing out a lot on japanese culture *cough*. She's also a singer, and reading her wiki made me think that this girl has lived 10 times my lifetime at her age.

[Upcoming Drama] Bartender - Masaki Aiba

2010-12-25T21:22:00.000-08:00

I mentioned this anime in this post and said that despite it being super boring, I enjoyed it very much. So imagine my surprise when I got to know that they're making a drama adaptation of it.

YEAY!!!

It stars Masaki Aiba, a member of Arashi. I have always tried to avoid dramas/movies by idoru stars with the exception of Kame and Jun... oh, and Tomoya... coz they're all sorts of awesome in practically all the dramas/movies I've watched them in, so by virtue of being in a drama I'm definitely going to watch when it airs, Masaki Aiba will be the 4th idoru star in my drama list.

I love it when the actors learn all sorts of skills for the dramas they're in. It simply adds authenticity and makes me appreciate them all the more coz they're worked so hard to make the stories come alive. Here's a preview of the drama. The release date (tentatively) is January 2011. Be looking forward to it!

An extended version of the CM can be found here (embedding is disabbled)

I'm too smexy for you to hate.... so love me~

2010-12-22T10:26:00.000-08:00

(Ha! You gave me an excuse to paste this pic in my blog... thank you antis~)

[Uploaded Drama] Kami no Shizuku - Kamenashi Kazuya

2010-12-22T09:27:00.000-08:00

"Using one's own strength to bring out the best"

Can wine teach you about life? Can wine bring you closer to your family? In my opinion, Kami no Shizuku gives us more understanding of the humans who pursue the path of wine than the wines they introduce to us in each episode.

Despite working on a script based on a still unfinished manga (it's still ongoing), I thought the drama wraps up everything very nicely. I can understand why Maki-san's behaviour was so erratic and bordering on self-destruction and I learnt to appreciate her feelings for what it is (although, she should have been honest with it from the beginning as that would have saved Issei-san and herself a lot of anguish), from being mesmerized with Issei-san's seeming fascination with the dark side in the first few episodes to liking him a lot more than Shizuku by the final episode, I cheered for Shizuku all the way despite screaming at him occasionally when he tries to run away yet again, I like his nakama and wish that I had such a supportive bunch at work too (but I think that's asking too much), all the while being able to stare at various beautiful shades of wines in various beautiful settings... I think this is a drama I can watch over and over again. I think I want to try finding it in a video store. Kame is pretty popular in my country so hopefully they stock all his dramas. In fact, every drama I've watched him in (Nobuta wa Produce, YamNade, and now this) is a keeper.

I have no idea how such a nice drama can receive such a low rating despite it winning awards and Kame getting Best Actor for it, but I guess the japanese TV watchers are as incomprehensible as the korean ones, so I won't grumble about that kinda thing anymore. I've had my fill of grumbling over domestic ratings when I was following Playful Kiss, and now Marry Me Mary. I'm not gonna start another rating rant post over jdoramas since it would be a complete waste of my time. And I seriously don't want to get into discussions on the anti-Kame movement who supposedly boycott any drama or episode or project he appears in (how can they deeply hate someone they don't even know personally??). Maybe I'm too old to understand that kind of irrational shiz. Are those kids for real? I like whom I like, what I like... and if I can't stand anyone or anything, I won't spend hours writing about them in my blog or mobilize a mob to attack them online or off.

I can't dislike any of the characters in this drama.. everyone has his/her own place in which to shine. Some may seem more lackluster than others but they're still necessary to the story. I still wish to list all the wines in this drama, but I'll try to find that VCD boxset first. It'll be nicer with screencaps. I also have a craving for the manga. Did you know it won the French Wine Mag's Top Award? In the manga, there are 13 wines to be found... 12 Apostles and the 1 Kami no Shizuku. It has only got up to the 27th volume and the 7th Apostle. Mada mada desu.

[Uploaded Drama] The most moving kissing scene I've ever watched in my whole entire drama-watching life (up until now, that is)

2010-12-20T23:28:00.000-08:00

Yamato Nadeshico Shichi Henge, final episode...

It's easy to explain why I love japanese doramas more than korean ones, despite having more beautiful actors to obsess over congregating in the latter.

Jdoramas uplift my weary soul, teach me about my own fighting spirit, open my eyes to other possibilities I can explore in life rather than the ones set before me by my elders, tell me unwaveringly that the path I choose is the right one simply because it is the one I decide for myself and not decided by others.

Several times I was told by several different characters in several different stories that "Jibun no chikara o shinjiro" (believe in your own power). I usually come away from a good story, such as YamNade feeling rejuvenated and optimistic about life. The more obstacles the characters face, the harder they fight.. even if it's just to earn the right to love and to love whomever they want to love.

Kdramas (99% of them anyway) follow such a rigid formula that it's becoming easy for someone as jaded as I am to predict what comes next.. in terms of scene, in terms of plot, everything. I even liken them to hindi movies and my friends agree with me. Predictability is good for relaxation, but it won't turn the drama into a mania.

Do you believe that a good story can change a life? I do. I've changed so many times as I follow one story after another to a point where I don't even remember what I was like a year ago. Of course I've retained some of my original traits, but some characters and stories are impressive enough that they've changed me or at least changed the way I look at my surrounding and my life.

I guess everyone has his/her own preference. I've learnt to mix between the two in order to keep me entertained in the best way possible. Right now I'm concurrently watching Kami no Shizuku and M3 and I'm having a blast.

[Upload Drama] Marry Me Mary / Mary Stayed Out All Night / M3 - Jang Geun Suk

2010-12-18T16:43:00.000-08:00

I'm finding myself currently quite obsessed with Mu Gyul... so I kinda get Seo Joon's obsession with him. Someone like that, even a day with him would probably drive you mad over him for a lifetime. He's like a fragrance you want to capture in a bottle. That Jang Geun Suk can play a character that has a similar premise with Tae Gyung and yet gives off a completely different aura is unbelievable. He's all sorts of awesome, isn't he?

[Rambling About Drama: RAD] Kami no Shizuku: Ep 1 - 4

2010-12-17T12:48:00.000-08:00

I have a preference for manga-based jdoramas. Add that to my mania about wine and my crush on Kame-sama, Kami no Shizuku is a perfect blend of several things I adore.

The plot is predictable.. I pretty much could guess who wins the challenge up to Ep 4 (yes.. even the result for the first try on the 3rd Apostle), but the characters make it a compelling story. And instead of finding the heroine annoying, as I find most jdorama heroines are, I keep squeeing over her cuteness that at times I even forgot to look in Kame's direction. I can even appreciate Tomine Issei's psychotic madness over his wine. The scene with him tasting the 2nd Apostle mixed with his own blood was fascinating (somehow, my own sentence reminds me of Sunako of Perfect Girl Evolution.. LOL). The only person I have this "urusai naaa" feeling for is Maki. Even though I know it's impossible, I wish she'd go away from Ep5 onwards so I can concentrate better.

Since this is, as I've said... my RAD corner, there won't be screencaps of the dorama. And since it gets such violently bad reviews on pretty much everything from the cast to the plot (what plot?) to pretty much everything, I doubt you can find screencaps of it anywhere either. I'm one of those (probably rare) people who enjoy the super-boring Bartender anime so perhaps that will help explain where I come from when I talk about how much I love the drama so far. Because the story was built on such a fantastical premise, it helps that I refuse to try searching for logic or rationale at every turn and accept it as it is.

Despite not being able to drink wine, something about it has always attracted me to it.. whether it's the shapes of the bottles, or the many rules people have to follow in order to consume it, or the obnoxiously high-sounding names that they are told to memorize in order to appreciate it, or the history of each wine production that differentiates one harvest from another... I think if one asks me for a comparison, I'd liken it to classical music. They both seem to induce similar complexes in the hearts and behaviour of their lovers.

I've read a bit on the manga, and maybe this is blasphemy.. but I find I can connect with the live action better. Maybe because I feel like I can understand the motivations behind the changes they made.. tatoyeba, the scene in Ep 1 where Shizuku declines to explain why he switches glasses. I also think that even though the Shizuku in the live action is as childish and innocent as in the manga, he is also more dignified and reckless and thoughtful.

Shitsumon desu.. do all parents treat their children this way? At least in the dramas, anyway. I've just come off a drama where a mother tells his son that he's a mistake (You're Beautiful), I'm in the middle of a drama where 3 parents literally scramble over each other to win Worst Parent of the Year with the mother also telling her son that he's a mistake (Mary Stayed Out All Night)... and now this? There's a lot of parent-to-children: "I made this mess and I want you to clean it up coz it's your fault" theme being used in drama plots, isn't it? Too much of this stuff and you'll start doubting humanity's ability to propagate.

One little thing, did you know that the drama was nearly adapted to a Korean version starring Bae Yong-Joon? Too bad Korea is rather kibishii with product placement in drama/movie so the plan was dropped... but not before Keyeast bought the rights to the popular wine-themed Japanese manga though.

Story summary:

Ep 1 - Shizuku goes to his late mother's grave on the anniversary of her death only to find his dad there bearing a bottle of wine instead of a bouquet of flowers. The kid blows up at the sight of it and his dad goes away in silence. Enraged, Shizuku smashes the bottle to pieces, when suddenly the fragrance of the wine wafts towards him due to the strong wind. He is clearly affected by it. Later on we learnt that he has always been sensitive to smells.

Cut to Shinohara messing about with a bottle of wine for the customers at the place where she works. She's the type who thinks that stealing gulps of expensive merchandise from your employer is considered an effort to learn on the job. The customer is not pleased with her presentation and challenges her to a drink. Of course she won't pass up the opportunity... but what is this? The wine she selects with care tastes so bad it shocks her out of her wits. If she has any, that is. Then we found out that one of the 3 customers is actually Shizuku who immediately offers his assistance. Apparently decantering is not an easy task, despite Kame making it look so simple. I wonder if our 'teh tarik' guys can perform it with ease too. The techniques certainly look similar. The customers are pleased and Shinohara gets to keep her job for awhile longer.

Shizuku turns out to be an employee in the beer division of his company. So he hates wine but still wants to work in an intoxicating environment, eh? That's denial for ya. He finds out that he's been transferred to the wine division,, much to his annoyance. He takes a phone call from his dad's lawyer and is told that his dad has died. Apparently he's been sick with liver cancer for 3 years and he is the only one who isn't told about it, courtesy of his dad's specific instruction. Nice work, daddy-o.

Suddenly he's crammed with all the info on his supposed inheritance...bla bla bla... and oh, you have a brother who's just got adopted a week before your dad died. Huh? Your inheritance? Technically it's not yours yet coz you have to fight your onii-chan for it. Hello? Not interested, capiche? But his dad's lawyer and, for some reason I still can't fathom, his adopted brother (Issei) can't let him off the hook, despite him protesting about how he won't ever ever ever ever drink wine ever, and forces him to drink the wine his father has prepared for Round 0 of the quest: the winner will get to live in the gloomy mansion all by himself. Shizuku takes a sniff and the glass falls from his hand to break into a million pieces on the floor, splashing the precious liquid in all directions. With that, he just runs the heck outta there, straight into our resident irritating biatch, Maki-san.

Issei, in his arrogant way, explains the wine to the lawyer and writes down the name and year of the wine he has just drunk.. and of course he's right on the money. He's the genius wine critic after all. Shizuku, being young and curious, is naturally intrigued with the terms of the inheritance. Even the name invokes a sense of mystery and the promise of deep fulfillment: Kami no Shizuku. Hence the title of this drama.

Shinohara, like all the jdorama heroines before her, stalks Shizuku and pesters him to teach her the decantering technique he previous employs. Then, most probably because a jdorama heroine must be a scatterbrain in order for the hero to shine, she forgets all about her request to study from him as soon as she sees a restaurant that serves delicious food. Likely she's gone there before. They find that it's closed for 'preparation' but that won't stop our duo. Anyway, I find it icky that the father and daughter can show their animosity so openly in front of strangers.

So Issei and Maki-san have a kinky relationship, in which he pours wine into her mouth until it drips right into her bathrobe-wrapped cleavage, and Shinohara, in her scatterbrained way, pesters Shizuku to help save the restaurant. Why? Why would you care if the restaurant is going to be closed down, Shinohara-san? You don't even know anyone from there. She's a good-hearted girl who is carelessly stepping over the boundary to become a meddling do-gooder, dragging Shizuku with her. Shizuku is in on the plan for a different reason as the person whose lethal review on the restaurant in his regular column is none other than Issei. So you've been hiding your combative spirit under that boyish smile of yours, Shizu-kun? Shizu-Shino find an eccentric old man (or rather, he finds them) who lives in a tent and survives mainly on the wine he has buried around the place.

The decantering technique is used once again and it's happy-ending for the daddy-daughter pair with her immediate employment as the sommelier-in-training. Wine brings people happiness.. THE END.

Ooops, apparently it's not over yet as they still haven't solved the mystery of the wine in Round 0. Am I seriously going to summarize all the episodes despite knowing that no one would bother reading any of it anyway? *THINKS* ... na ah. From now on... I'm just going to concentrate on the part where I'm very interested in. The wines.. and Kame-sama, of course. Later.

[Variety Show] Cartoon KAT-TUN

2010-12-14T20:58:00.000-08:00

Episode 2 (subbed)

Episode 3 (subbed)

[Concert] KAT-TUN: Kazuya Kamenashi

2010-12-14T20:03:00.000-08:00

This is how you hold a concert...

Kyaaaaaaa.. bishi vampire!

Akanishi-kun, you'll be sorely missed... T____T

[Uploaded Drama] Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge: 10 episodes

2010-12-14T11:39:00.000-08:00

Yappari... jdorama ga ichiban! It's impactful, it has an arc throughout the drama yet you can as easily get attached to the individual episodes too. Best of all, it knows how to quit when the story has run its course and doesn't go on and on just because it has a high rating when it's aired.

SAIKOU DESU! Kanpeki da... "Perfect Girl Evolution" no ai no monogatari. Manga o yomitai!

y1A
Uploaded by adddwork16. - Explore other animal videos.

Oyoyo... when has he become so interesting? I liked him in Gakusen 2 and I loved the shonen ai pairing in Nobuta wa Produce. But I've never been impressed with him before, and then this drama came and WHAM! I was hit by the Kame typhoon.

Skimming through his wiki info, I wonder.. is he some sort of an award collector? From the time he debuted in dramas, the only year he didn't get Best Supporting Actor or Best Actor was in 2008. That's some serious talent, man.

O yeah.. he got Best Actor for this drama too.. @_@

I still can't believe he's the same age as hyung... he feels much older than 24 y.o in his dramas despite playing schoolboys in all the ones I've watched him in (in this, he's a university student). I've never cared to follow the j-pop scene since I'm more into j-rock and so, since I don't look up his non-drama clips on youtube I don't know what Kazuya Kamenashi is like outside the realm of his fictional characters.

I want to watch all his dramas. Next one would be: Kami no Shizuku.

[Song] DJ DOC - Run To You

2010-12-13T21:57:00.000-08:00

Thanks to that A.N.Jell parody clip investigation post, I got kinda obsessed with this song. My lab becomes a makeshift club with the song playing almost non-stop. And since I really want to sing it, I've gone cantabile on it.

Sing it the way I hear it:

(Lyrics)

1, 2
1, 2, 3, 4
Bounce with me bounce with me bounce with me bounce
Bounce with me bounce with me bounce with me bounce
Bounce with me bounce with me bounce with me bounce
Bounce with me bounce with me bounce with me
Bounce bounce bounce bounce

Welle o idden nal bullo mo ga ni mame gulyo
Darun namja wanan tullyo ne gen jon wal go ro
Amuri uri wolrit so do gu mot shi nal makgo it so dogalso it so no wan monan damyon
Dallyo ga get so wulwul nala ga get so
No lana ju get so ne mo dun go ju get so (ju get so)
*** ^@8^%JA#@!^O%@%yGF%^$$@ (yeah baby)

Bounce with me bounce with me bounce bounce bounce bounce

Wello idden na rul bullo mo ga ni mame gollyo
Ne ga wonan danun golnon al go it jana
I need you I want you, I'll run to you (yeah baby yeah baby)
Ni mamyume munyul yo lo narul holak he jo
Ni anyeni mamyene ga du lo galsu it ge
Na ye sarang u lo che wo jul ge

La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la bounce with me bounce
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la

Bounce with me bounce with me bounce with me bounce
Bounce with me bounce with me bounce with me bounce
Bounce with me bounce with me bounce with me bounce
Bounce with me bounce with me bounce with me
Bounce bounce bounce bounce

Ma ju son na ga son no wa iddu go un shi son
Pi hal su ob so ne mamul sum gilsu ga ob so
Nuggil su ga isso ni ga wona nul gol
Ishganul gidalyo watso i je nol ga get so
Just the two of us uri dan dulissoh nanulel nalatso mom chusu ga ob so soh
Ishi ganul gum gwo wot so nan jong mal wonet so
Yes baby I want you, I need you, run to you

Wello udden na rul bullo mo ga ni mame gollyo
Ne ga wonan danun golnon al go it jana
I need you I want you, I'll run to you (yeah baby yeah baby)
Ni mamyume munyul yo lo narul holak he jo
Ni anyeni mamyene ga du lo galsu it ge
No wa ne ge ha na dwil su it ge

La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la bounce with me bounce

La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la

Bounce with me bounce with me bounce with me bounce

Bounce with me bounce with me bounce with me

Bounce bounce bounce bounce

*** I seriously didn't get what he was mumbling in that fast part so I just shut up while staring at him in frustration....

[Fanvideo] (Against Anti-SNSD) SNSD - Gee

2010-12-13T20:59:00.000-08:00

Antis are psycho people who are disrespectful... *wants to roll on the floor laughing but ish currently in her lab*

Dumb dumb dumb dumb da-dumb da-dumb... (LOL)

...actually the things said in these videos about SNSD antis are applicable to all antis of any celebrity. Why waste time hating when you can spend those hours loving? I'd rather go on a hunt in cyberspace for updates of my favourite stars and idoru than making video clip after video clip of celebrities I can't even like. Pabo ya?

By the way, I love both songs.

[Song] Second Love - Gong Yoo for the movie "Finding Mr. Destiny"

2010-12-12T04:38:00.000-08:00

Sing it the way I hear it:

U-i cho em man nan sun gan
Nan ge de ga cham mu so wot jo

Hwa nan saram cho rom
mun el bak cha go son der o wat jo
Nan ge jo sum go shipot jo

Al myonal su rog so ro dalla
Shiro jil go ra mi don nen de
Shi ga ni ku ru go o nu se na do molle
Ge de ga pyone josso yo

I sanga jo ye jonenan
Ner tto na nen ge du ryo wot nen de

Ge de wa ham ke ramyon bama nu romo
Dalla rakka ji gal su isse go gata

Gi jok so ri delyo wa yo
Bet go dong so ri nu rir je choha go it jo
Ji nan na run hul hur toro ne go
Dul mane yo heng tto na yo

Ji na bo rin yet sarangen
Da san ma ru e byori doen ne yo
O nel ha ru jumun ne yokke gi de
Ge de ye byorur ham ke chaja bo a yo

Baram cho rom mo re cho rom
Nak tarur ta go gum bit sa mager gonmoyo
Ge de gyotte gi jen ne ga yisso
Duryo wo mal go tto na yo
Ne sonur jap go go ro yo
Sa ro un sa rang shi ja ke

[Update] Hyung-chama is now in Japan!!

2010-12-12T03:08:00.000-08:00

He's there! He's there already! I hope they produce a DVD of the event so I can buy it! (link 1, link 2)

Parody clip investigation - A.N.Jell

2010-12-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

It started when I stumbled on this clip...

..so I thought it was modified from this song, coz it also has that "bounce" thing in its lyrics and since it's such a popular song it's only natural that the style got copied.

...but apparently I was wrong coz there's actually a song called "Run to You". It's by DJ Doc:

I love it when they make pretty girls dressed in sexy outfits dance to a ridiculous choreography while maintaining a totally serious expression throughout the routine. Fun times.

Anyway, enough detective work for this week. Here's the making of to the A.N.Jell parody. I wonder if they really would do a second season of You're Beautiful. Watching this clip, somehow I miss them...

[Music Video] Abracadabra - Brown Eyed Girls

2010-12-11T09:17:00.000-08:00

I knew it! When I watched the very popular opening choreography (watched it the first time in a Playful Kiss episode, followed by endless parody by various celebrities), I thought there was something dominating in the way it was sung. The "I'm like a supervisor" line pretty much gives it away.

Then I found this clip. I doubt they can prance around the stage wearing that dominatrix-type outfit in Korea.. but Japan is a land where anything pretty much goes (hide & seek, anyone?), so we get to see the full treatment of how that song should be performed.

I do like the part in the MV with the girls donning that zebra-like black and white striped skin suits with black blouses on top though. Mesmerizing stuff. How old are they anyway? Should they really be doing this kind of kinky act at their age? Should I really be complaining since I enjoyed it a bit too much? Heh.

I hope no dogs were harmed in the making of this video.

Jang Geun Suk jjang!

2010-12-11T07:48:00.000-08:00

He's so random.. LOL!

Is there anything that this guy can't do well?

[Drama I'm currently following] Mary Stayed Out all Night / Marry Me Mary - Ep 9

2010-12-11T03:52:00.000-08:00

Contain Spoilers!

I was surprised that this drama has a very low rating, probably coz Jang Geun Suk's dramas have always had high rating. Oh wait.. You're Beautiful has a low rating too.. but it has a cult following! Anyway, ever since Playful Kiss got thrashed at the rating section, I never believe in domestic ratings anymore. This is probably the only drama that will have two guys I follow in the same lobby, restaurant and bedroom in my lifetime so I’m savouring the moment. It took me around 5 hours to finish this episode coz of the excessive rewind movements I made.. LOL. So many worthy MR-MG moments. I wish I had a cat.. I’d so name him Mu Gyul. Cute cat!! I'll probably suffocate it with with my overly affectionate hugs.

I can’t be bothered about the kiss at the end of the ep. If MR thinks she’s gonna be dating MG without running into a hundred ex-gfs.. not to mention fans and students.. trying to get their hands and lips on him, she has another think coming. And yeah.. MG has to start conditioning his non-confrontational brain to activate his non-confrontational body to push those pathetic girls away in the future. And what if there’re paparazzis following SJ to get another scandal scoop? If MG is still the music director of the drama.. won’t that be another problem for the production team?

Anyway.. the scene that actually made me go berserk is the meet-up between JI and MG.. kyaaaaaa! Jung-In, is talking about Mae Ri and business the only thing you can come up with as an excuse to stare at Mu Gyul for more than 10 minutes?? hahaha..I love this alternate couple. Someone make a fanfic already!

That said, I wish they throw some more likable characters into the mix. Right now, aside from MR and MG, I can’t seem to like anyone else. The parents are out of the list from the beginning, Jung-In is like a display mannequin in almost all the scenes (Why Jae Wook.. why? I watched this drama for you! I know you can be a brooding guy and still be full of life.. so why are you taking this easy way out? Is it at the behest of the director? I'm in despair...), I ish still wondering why Seo Joon is necessary, MR’s friends are mere (annoying) decorations, MG’s friends are just a bunch of cheerleaders.. how are the writers supposed to fill up 7 more episodes? I hope JI will still go with his decision to include MG and his motley crew in the drama. That’d be fun. I want more 'live' performances from the Absolute Perfection band!

IMO.. this type of drama will work better as a rom com M3 is supposed to be. I guess the writers have run out of wit by ep 3. That bedroom scene is epic and the screencaps/gifs should be immortalized in forums and chatrooms all over cyberspace!!!

Character analysis up to the current episode:

Jung In who goes through life doing everything his father wants him to. Everything is bottled up with this guy. I can’t even imagine him shout at a wall when he’s angry. Throwing him into a brawl with Mu Gyul certainly made me see him as a human being, so he needs to be put in situations where he has to blow up once in awhile (preferably at his dad, but the old man is terminally ill so I doubt that will happen). I think, rather than MR, it’s with MG that he gets to be more himself and not a puppet controlled by his dad.
Mae Ri who seems to think that she’s carrying the world’s problems on her tiny shoulders. She’s always going everywhere trying to fix things and she has no idea that the more she helps, the more the people she helps are bound to her. It’s precisely because she’s so understanding, always have the right things to say, will try to be beside them when they’re in trouble.. that all the guys are fighting over her now. And I think it’s sick that JI’s dad wants to keep her tied to his home just coz she looks a lot like her mom.. the woman he loved but couldn’t marry.
Seo Jun who just goes with the flow.. most probably because she’s always got whatever she’s wanted since she was young.. that the only rebellion she displayed against her family is working as an actress. I doubt she’s doing it becoz she loves the profession or else why is it that she doesn’t care when she’s labeled as a difficult artist? Why does she have such a nonchalant attitude towards her craft? If you’ve left your family becoz they don’t approve of the choices you’ve made.. shouldn’t you work harder to show them that you have chosen well? She’s so hollow. Maybe that’s what attracts her to Mu Gyul in the first place… his passion in music that completely overshadows all other concerns in his life. She thinks it’s love though.
Mu Gyul whose music is his food, his air, his salvation. I think he would have ended up on the wrong side of society without his love for his music. Encounters with all the women in his life (except for his mom and relatives, of course) were made possible only through his music. Even Mae Ri was not spared the crush when she saw him perform for the first time. I doubt his lifestyle that comes with his music will change, but he does need to separate between the women worthy to be let into his life and those who should just stay on its fringe. I don’t want his character to change much.. I love his free spirit, that he can sleep on thea street when he’s too sleepy or drunk just coz he feels like it. I love that he doesn’t use the GPS because he doesn’t like it when someone tells him what to do. I love that he uses bricks as bookends and that he has a swing right smack in the middle of his apartment. I love his over-the-top accessories and his shredded pants and his coats with their thick furry collars. I love his obsession with his hair. I love a lot of things about Mu Gyul that whenever the others push him with marriage talks, the thought that all the things I love about Mu Gyul may disappear as he tries to be more responsible about his relationship with Mae Ri is not making me happy one bit. I hope he can change and yet stay the same. Is that possible, newly-appointed scriptwriters? I really hope it is.

What is this obsession about marriage in this drama anyway?? I'm sorry, but I don't get it. It actually reminds me of a movie that also obsesses over marriage, i.e. 'Four Weddings and A Funeral', where the guy ends up proposing to the girl (or was it the other way around?) not to marry him.

Dear new scriptwriters, even if you want to change everything about this story by the last episode.. can you not make Mu Gyul wear a work suit?? I will cry buckets if you end up making him into a regular salaryman just to make him suitable for marriage. Who says you can't be a glam rocker and get married? I can give you a list of famous rockers, glam or no, whom people deem unsuitable for family life but are still happily married after so many years. Well, I'm sorta a rock chick in my spare time so I should know this, at least. So please... let Mu Gyul keep his hot pink tops and clunky rings and spiky mittens and girly hair until the end, kay.

[Drama I'm currently following] Mary Stayed Out all Night / Marry Me! Mary!

2010-12-11T00:04:00.000-08:00

... hereby called M3 coz I'm a lazy typist.

M3 is one classic example to illustrate why my reason for watching a drama or movie is based on the actors/actresses I follow rather than any trust in its plots or story. In fact, the writer has already left the building in an effort by the production to boost the rating. Rating, schmating. If they cut down a large chunk of Mu Gyul-Mae Ri time and stuff the drama full of dramatics just to pull the adult crowd, I'm gonna be one unhappy fan.

There're so many interesting Jang Geun Suk-Kim Jae Wook moments in this drama that I'm completely on the M3 boat right now. Not to mention that the Mu Gyul-Mae Ri couple is the cutest couple in k-dramaland I've ever stumbled upon. Jang Geun Suk has not been able to score in the cute couple department in his previous dramas. I refuse to go gaga over a pairing that ends up with one of them being dead in the end.. so the Hwang Jin Yi-Heon Keum pairing totally doesn't work on me. Despite liking Tae Kyung a lot.. the Tae Kyung-Go Mi Nam couple only got cute about a few episodes nearing the end. Well, actually only during that last scene when they're both staring at the stars while mouthing mushy dialogues to each other. And he didn't get the girl in Hong Gil Dong & Beethoven Virus.

However, I'm not too happy with the way Mu Gyul's character is progressing. They're making him succumb too fast to the demands of several annoying members of society when he's been pretty successful at ignoring them for most of his life. Just because you fall in love for the first time doesn't mean you have to seriously consider changing yourself at every turn. Where's the carefree Mu Gyul? He's looking more and more grim with every episode. I want to see him running through the streets and laughing in abandon with Mae Ri in tow again. Even their escape to the place where they want to watch the sunset is interlaced with pretty dry talks about building a family and growing old together. Eeeep... kids, you're too young to be thinking about such stuffy things. Enjoy your youth! It goes away in the blink of an eye~

The subbed episodes (up to ep 9) can be found in Youtube:

I like the Episode 9 recap by girfriday in Dramabeans. Go read!

[Song] Nasheed Extravaganza NEXT07 - VIP Azahari NowSeeheart 2

2010-12-10T17:53:00.000-08:00

I like this song coz it has screaming sections in it.. hehe. I don't even know what it's called. Since I didn't know how to find the lyrics, I've typed it. If there's any mistake, please lemme know kay..

Tercalar pelangi dihiris gerimis
Senja pun merangkak menutup mentari
Terhias warnanya ke wajah
Lagu kedamaian tiada kedengaran

bumi yang merekah disirami darah
kemelut melanda tiada kesudahan
kemusnahan bermaharajalela
yang lemah menjadi mangsa

anak-anak kecil menggoncangkan ibunya
yang lemah longlai tak lagi bernyawa
jeritan suara batinnya
tak siapa mendengarnya

tergadaikah maruah oleh janji-janji
terbayarkah dengan nyawa dan darah
soalan yang tiada jawapan

kemanusiaan telah lama hilang
kini yang tinggal hanya ketakutan
musnah kasih sayang dan persaudaraan
tandus akhlak dan keimanan
menyemai persengketaan

anak-anak kecil menggoncangkan ibunya
yang lemah longlai tak lagi bernyawa
jeritan suara batinnya
tak siapa mendengarnya

kemanusiaan telah lama hilang
kini yang tinggal hanya ketakutan
musnah kasih sayang dan persaudaraan
tandus akhlak dan keimanan
menyemai persengketaan

[Fanmeeting] 101204 SS501' Kim Hyun Joong 金賢重 Fans Gathering @ Malaysia

2010-12-09T03:20:00.000-08:00

I was quite far at the back coz I didn't buy the RM300 worth THEFACESHOP product to qualify me for the special entry.. but his magnificent aura cut through the crowd and still managed to hit me right where my heart is. It's my first time following an idoru to this extent and I'm still shaken by the experience. Felt like I was walking on air right afterwards.. and up till today, I still can't believe I've actually seen hyung live.

He exists! He really does exist!!! Hyung is not just a figment of my imagination!

Rant section:

The organizers really have to work harder next time if they want to give the best experience for the fans of a star of his stature. Quite a lot of the fans were complaining loudly whenever we were pushed to and fro by Pavillion customers who wandered into the venue. Me? I was too busy grinning / giggling / screaming and enjoying my first fanmeet experience to complain about anything, really
Where was this event held... Singapore? Taiwan? China? Wasn't this venue in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia? Where's our national language? Look at the US... do the Asian Americans there use their own diverse languages in a public event? Nope.. they use standard American English. Ours is the only country in the world whose people are embarrassed to use their own national language... huh

Hyung-nim said he'll come here again to promote his first solo album. I want to work hard to get in the signing queue. Hope the date won't clash with any work-related events or my diving schedule... please, please, please. I want to see him right in front of my face this time. If I can have that experience, do you think I'll survive it? Will I faint when I see him smile at me? Kyaaaaaaaa! Just the thought of him smiling at me that up close is making me giddy... LOL

[Song] A Letter for You - Gong Yoo

2010-12-09T02:43:00.000-08:00

Where can I get this CD??? Can't find it anywhere... is it like a special production for japanese fans only? *sulks*

[Preview] Finding Kim Jong Wook / Mr. Destiny - Gong Yoo (Eng subbed)

2010-12-09T02:19:00.000-08:00

The movie is aired today!! I want to watch it!!! But I hate watching movies in a cinema surrounded by strangers. When will the DVD be released?

[Fanmeeting] Gong Yoo in Japan

2010-12-09T02:17:00.000-08:00

I want to be there too!!! T____T

About 15,000 people attended the fanmeet. Isn't the number mindboggling?? Gong Yoo.. I miss you.. when can we see you in a drama? I want to have the experience of following you every week...

Thanks so much for the fancam uploads! Isn't he so cute?? I love his voice too.. I think it's adorable..

[Song] Beautiful Woman - Lee Ki Chan

2010-12-07T03:09:00.000-08:00

I dunno who sang this the first time I heard it.. but I found it again on a Hong Gil Dong MV today. It's such a heartfelt song and it's so difficult to find the lyrics that I have to paste the one I found here. If the original uploader has any issue with me pasting it in my blog, please inform me and I'll take it off right away.

he eo jil ttae neur ha deon jjalb eun in sa ga o neul tta ra wae i reoh ge
seo geul peun geo ni nun mur i du ppyam wi ro heul leo nae ril ttae
geu ttae seo ya i byeor in jur ar ass eo
je bar ga ji mal la go cha gap ge tteo na ji mal la go
ga seum a peu do rog oe chyeo bo ji man
neo neun tteo na gan da go na e son eur noh neun da go
na reur du go dor a seo beo rin neo
da si sa rang han da hae do da reun nu gun ga reur man na do
na neun neo wa gat eun sa ram da sin man na jin mot hae
baek beon cheon beon eur mal hae do
ul myeo da jim eur hae bwa do
tteo na ga neun ne eol gur bo go sip eun nae ga jeong mar silh eo
mo du kkum il geo ra go kkae myeon da dor a ol geo ra go
a peun ma eum eur wi ro hae bo ji man
jeom jeom meor eo jyeo ga neun neo ui mo seub eur bo myeon seo
ul go it neun nae ga da ga yeo wo
da si sa rang han da hae do da reun nu gun ga reur man na do
na neun neo wa gat eun sa ram da si man na jin mot hae
baek beon cheon beon eur mal hae do
ul myeo da jim eur hae bwa do
tteo na ga neun ne eol gur bo go sip eun nae ga silh eo
jeong mar sa rang haess eot da myeon na reur sa rang haess eot da myeon
ga neun gir e seo ra do han beon jjeum eun dor a bwa jwo
i geo ha na man al go ga i mar ha na man deut go ga
na bo da deo joh eun sa ram man na do
nar ij eu myeon an dwae

[Uploaded Movie] Nodame Cantabile: The Final Score Part i & II

2010-12-05T04:57:00.000-08:00

I ended up watching the two Nodame Cantabile movies I've put off watching for sometime. Now, my Nodame experience is really complete. I feel sad, somehow. I doubt they're gonna do another movie or drama since everything has concluded rather nicely.

NC is a story that is hard to review. If you hate the sound of a piano or classical music, you'd better stay away from it as the two are played for almost the entire duration of the movies. The story of Nodame and Chiaki cannot be told without the music that connects them together. I doubt they can live without their music the way I doubt they can live without each other.

I think what makes me feel so touched during Chiaki's conducting is the story told in the voice-over during the orchestra. I also love the background that comes with every song Nodame plays. I think NC is the most hardworking drama I've ever watched in my life.. from the set, to the cast, to the extras, to the backdrop, to the musical performances.. everything is just... WOW! It's one of those dramas we wish would be aired once a week forever as long as we all shall live.

This is the performance I love the most out of the two movies..

[Uploaded Drama] Beethoven Virus - Jang Geun Suk & Kim Myung Min

2010-12-04T22:07:00.000-08:00

I think this will be the last completed drama by Jang Geun Suk that I'm gonna pursue. I doubt I have the patience to finish a period drama so Hwang Jin-i and Hong Gil Dong are out of the list. I'm tempted to follow M3 every week though, despite my earlier resolve not to touch it with a 10-foot pole before it's completed... since I'm a creature who has almost zilch will power when it comes to temptation.

While trying to see whether what happened to me with Gong Yoo will happen with Jang Geun Suk too (love induced by marathon watching of his works), I fell in love instantly with another character. Who else? The person who commands everyone's attention the instant he appears on screen, of course. The Orchestra Killer.

I went on the net to find out more about the actor.. Kim Myung Min. He turns out to be an interesting personality. Maybe not someone I can obsess over since he's such a scarily serious guy when he's working, but I can see myself hunting down all his works. There're not that many of them anyway since he only started to get good roles around 5-7 years ago and one of the them is in a period drama. It's weird.. I love the European period dramas/movies, but I can't stand the Asian ones.

Kim Myung Min has this thing about being called good looking. He will never believe you if you call him good looking or handsome. Watch this funny interview..

Well, I'm in agreement with the PD. In my eyes, he's really good looking. When I watched the MBC documentary on him, I realized why he's quite particular about his looks. All his young working life, he'd been told that he couldn't get lead parts because he's not good looking enough. Suddenly after Kang Mae came into existence, women find him to be an absolute dreamboat. If I were him, I'd find the whole thing amusing. But I think, some men or women do look much better looking after they've passed a certain age. Being young does not always equate with being beautiful. Looking young does not always mean looking gorgeous. And Kang Mae's intensely charismatic personality enhances his attractiveness. You just can't take your eyes off the guy and be awed by every word he says even though his words are mostly insults.

I was firmly in Kang Mae's camp from the 1st episode. Though his method is harsher than harsh and were I to be on the receiving end of his poisonous tongue I'd probably want to crawl into the smallest hole I can find and cultivate mushrooms there till I die, the things he says are usually the things I'd say in my head too if I were facing the same situation.. it's just that I'd sugarcoat them during my delivery. I'm more like Gun Woo in that respect. The persuasiveness Gun Woo displays in the last episode to make the pro musicians agree to play with the Mouse Phil in the joint orchestra reminds me of how I handled some stuff at work or at home so much that I rewinded it several times while laughing. I think I prefer Kang Mae's method better, it's purer and more heartfelt.. but I'd probably get sacked or alienated from society if I were to emulate his style. I'd probably be hated by my family too.

Several times when Kang Mae is scolding Gun Woo and the other Mouse Phil members, I find myself agreeing with his every word. Especially the "beggar's instinct". Wow, that hit me hard. And things like.. a dream is not a star to be looked at from afar, why are you trying to find a difference when there is none and trying to be nonchalant when your pride is hurt.. bla bla bla. I really love his dialog. There should be a quotable quote page on Kang Mae. Oh, I like this one a lot too: "It is your turn to be strong. I don’t need it. I am already perfect." haha.. that's funny. Kim Myung Min said that Kang Mae speaks every word sharply to the ear (link) and I really like his voice. It's really yummy and edible-sounding.

In the end, I still can't find the extra liking for Jang Geun Suk I need to continue to follow his works.. but at least I've found the next actor I'm gonna hunt down. Kim Myung Min's White Tower will most probably be my next victim.

Being a Nodame Cantabile fan, it's hard not to compare between the two classical music-based dramas. But after I've finished watching Beethoven Virus, I found that a comparison is really not necessary. NC and BV followed different routes despite operating on the same platform. The premise, the genre, the set-up, the story background.. they're all as different as night and day from one drama to the other. If you ask me which do I prefer in terms of drama delivery, I'd say NC. In terms of repeat watching too, I can watch entire NC episodes 20 times but if I repeat BV I will only be watching Kang Mae's parts. In NC, the music is as much a character as the orchestra members are, but in BV the music usually serves as a background or at most a catalyst for the story development. I'm not saying BV is not as good as NC, I'm just saying that the two dramas are merely trying to convey different messages so it's a given that the tonal delivery must differ too. It's up to you which one you prefer more.

There's not even one kiss in Beethoven Virus, it's based on classical music (which is usually considered boring and incomprehensible to regular everyday folks like us), and the main character is a 40-ish year old cranky megalomaniac. Yet it's one of the most popular dramas aired in Korea in 2008 and the public adoration (domestic and international) for the supposedly hateful sharp-tongued perfectionist is unprecedented. What other recommendations do you need to look it up? Don't fight the attraction you'll feel for Kang Mae. Resistance is futile.. as I have learned for myself.

An interesting project that was linked to BV: YouTube Symphony Orchestra

[Upload Drama] Marry Me Mary / Mary Stayed Out All Night / M3 - Jang Geun Suk

2010-11-30T22:29:00.000-08:00

I shouldn't have watched this drama. I really shouldn't. It's not finished airing in Korea yet and now I'm depressed. This is exactly why I should watch a drama I'm interested in only after it's completed.. arrrrgh!

Some people complained that the plots are full of holes. I sat there reading those comments thinking.. you have Kim Jae Wook and Jang Geun Suk in the same room so many times (and sometimes in the same bedroom) and you're complaining about plot holes? Are we even on the same page here?

ma1A
Uploaded by kftw8. - Watch hilarious animal videos

I think this drama has taken what I've said about parents in my previous post and blown it up to gargantuan proportions. Imagine having 3 main characters with 3 parents who run around causing all sorts of mess and havoc in their children's lives with full expectation that the children will continue to honour and cherish their parenthood, be eternally grateful for the life that they've given however horrible it is, fulfill their unfinished dreams, treat them like gods, never complain or argue or say no to whatever disgusting commands they give out.... and I think this list is still not complete coz I've only watched up to ep 5 with sub. I wonder what other appalling proposals they still have in store for their adorable offspring.

I wonder if Koreans don't have such a high opinion of parents too...

Is it just my ears or has Jang Geun Suk gained more control of his voice? Maybe because I watched You're Beautiful and M3 close to each other, I noticed that his voice is much more interesting in M3... how should I say this... the songs are more skilfully delivered? Sono kanji de. Despite liking his "What Should I do?" and "Without A Word" songs, I don't have such a good feeling towards his voice.. so I was very surprised when I heard him sing "My Precious" in M3. And when I heard this song... what can I say... it's the song I love the most (so far) in the drama.

I'm staying far far away from this drama until all the episodes are completed and subtitled. What movie/drama should I watch next? Hmmm....

[Uploaded Drama] You're Beautiful - Jang Geun Suk

2010-11-29T08:43:00.000-08:00

What have I been doing? You won't want to know. Work stuff.. bla bla bla.. meh

But I did manage to catch up on my k-movies (more on this later if I'm not too lazy to write about it) and k-drama. After I've finished hunting down all Gong Yoo's works, I'm onto Jang Geun Suk now. I heard of Beethoven Virus around the time I was crazy in love with Nodame Cantabile, so as much as I wanted to watch it.. I refrained coz I didn't want to clog my puny brain with too much classical whateva.

Then all those A.N.Jell clips cropped up on youtube. And since I hate to get into hyped up stuff, I just ignored it. Who cares about this Jang Geun Suk guy anyway? Pretty guys turn me off.. gah!

...heh, who am I kidding?

After days of sulking over Gong Yoo's meager updates, I decided to look up You're Beautiful coz I like all those cross-dressing shiz (yes, I'm still hung up over Coffee Prince). My impression of Jang Geun Suk throughout the drama?

He's too heavily made-up.. his face looks line-less like a mannequin. Why didn't he get the nickname "Walking Statue" like KHJ hyung-nim got in BOF?
He looks short for a guy who stands at 182cm
He walks with a hunch.. hmm, do all pretty guys walk with a hunch? Gackt always appears hunched.. Kim Jae Wook too. I wonder if it has anything to do with them trying to appear more manly. They can save all the trouble coz it doesn't work. They still look prettier than most female models I've seen on TV. Were I a guy, I agree with what Kim Jin Hyeok's friends said in Antique Bakery.. if I had to choose between ugly girls and someone as pretty as Min Seon Woo, I'd choose Min Seon Woo without hesitation. I wish my work place has its share of pretty guys too. It's like a desert there...
He's too cute for his own good, not that I'm complaining
He's younger than KHJ hyung-nim?? I thought he's older by at least 2 years. I wonder why I think that. It must have been all those intense stares Hwang Tae Kyung gives to everyone around him. Despite looking smaller than Shin Woo, he deserves to be called hyung-nim in that drama. Hwang Tae Kyung is charismatic like woah~

Anyway, in terms of story review.. it just affirms my belief that parents can really mess up the lives of their children. Seriously, if all they do is make their children's lives miserable, why did they give birth in the first place? Do they think that because they nearly died delivering us into this big bad world that none of us have a clue as to why we're to be brought into it in the first place.. we owe them our lives until the end of time?

Delusional psycho biatch... that's what I called Mo Hwa Ran. Why is it that when it's the parents committing all sorts of unspeakable acts, the children must always forgive them.. but if it's the other way around, the children get kicked out of the house, disinherited, spoken of to everyone as if they're evil beings? That person who says how a parent's love is unconditional must have been an orphan... or a very forgetful person... or maybe he/she was just clueless about what 'unconditional' actually means.

I don't get parents. I really don't. I've known them my whole life (obviously) and I still can't understand them.

I like Park Shin Hye's character, although I do think the whole set-up feels more like an anime than a live action. My favourite character has to be the Sachou.. JACKPOT!! (lol). I like the way Hwang Tae Kyung will call out "Go Mi Nam" in almost exactly the same tone no matter how urgent the matter that he wants to say is.. I thought it was really funny. I just love how Jang Geun Suk infused Hwang Tae Kyung with several unforgettable quirks that get under people's skin (well, mine anyway). He's brilliant.

Shin Woo reminds me of Yoon Ji Hoo. He even sings a song with a line.. "Because I'm a fool.." which reminds me immediately of "Because I'm Stupid". And I'm not the only who thinks these two characters are similar..

I didn't fall in love with Jang Geun Suk at first sight though.. a pre-requisite for a lifelong obsession. Hmmm, but it wasn't love at first sight with Gong Yoo either.. and I'm obsessed with the guy. Wait.. it was love at first listen with Gong Yoo's voice. That must count for something.

Anyway, here's a link to the drama for anyone who's interested to look it up. Sorry, can't embed it. The story is fun, and although the plot is riddled with cliches, everything is tied up so nicely that, by the time Hwang Tae Kyung sang that song for Go Mi Nyu in the last episode, I found myself thinking.. "so this is how a good story is written".

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL

[Stage performance] Pole dancing definitely looks hot on men

2010-11-21T10:14:00.000-08:00

All the women eyed him like a piece of meat they wanted to jump on and devour. I can totally relate.

...oh, I went to the shopping complex to find some new manga and ended up buying the "Biscuit Teacher & Star Candy" DVD from a Speedy Video outlet.. YEAY! It's currently out of stock at Yesasia, for those who want to know.

That's the only Gong Yoo drama I can't watch on the net coz the quality of the streaming video is so bad. I mean, the online clips are okay if you just want to watch the drama and don't care a jot about Gong Yoo. But for someone who wants to rewind his every scene at least 3 times just to stare at his hands, his face or any part of his body.. the bad video quality is really an inconvenience.

I also bought the "BOF Making Of" DVD for hubby. He was really happy with that purchase... (kekeke)

[Update] Kim Hyun Joong 191110

2010-11-18T22:32:00.000-08:00

Baby and his teasing has landed Leader in trouble.. again.. :P (link)

Well, there's a reason why hyung is the leader, other than him being the oldest. It's because he's the best at damage control in SS501, and his differently wired brain is so logical that he'll find a way out of the stickiest situations (I've seen him did it several times in interviews). Luck only does not explain how he managed to be under so many spotlights in his career (WGM, BOF, PK, Guanzhou Asian Games.. to name a few). Do you honestly think that were it someone else occupying the places he'd been, they would be loved and recognized as he is now? Maybe yes, but we'll never know now, will we? Coz it's in THE PAST! So stop bludgeoning him to death just coz he's the most popular SS501 member (let's just accept that, shall we?). Chill out everyone! Why must fans make it into a Baby vs. Leader issue? Meh. I don't get it. Anyway, since they're not in the same agency, I think each of them must take care of what he is saying to the press or even in tweets. I doubt any of us want there to be bickering factions in the Triple S camp. Love any member you want more than the other four, and let us all be happy in our differences.. kay?

And another thing.. why must Leader attend every party given out by the members? Do you think he can cut his body into a few pieces so he can be everywhere at the same time? Even Park Jung Min said he didn't have time to watch Mischievous Kiss.. these are very busy people with schedules dictated by their agencies. They don't even have time to rest or eat or sleep sometimes. I don't care what the media is saying about them coz Leader has stated once that "the media is their anti" (hehe), but us fans.. we should be more understanding and gentle towards the boys coz we love them, right? So stop with the accusations already.

Hyun Joong SuNeng's Message 11.18.10 (link)

I wish someone said the things hyung said to students to me when I was studying in high school. I might steer my life in a more concrete direction, instead of meandering all over the places our elders want me to go. I hope my younger siblings will be able to choose the kind of life they want to live without interferences from anyone, unlike their older siblings. For someone so young like hyung, to be able to fight so strongly for the life he wants to carve for himself, it's really amazing. Hyung-chama saikou da!

Hyun Joong won the Popularity Award @ 2010 Style Icon Award (link, link)

I read somewhere that the white corsage is for Andre Kim.

I knew it.. it's an alien suit~~~ (link)

The cloth material was made up of metal components!! The MVIO’s marketing team Bang Geon Hyeok said hyung personally delegated the making of the suit himself.. ha! (kekeke)

Mischievous Kiss is officially finished! T___T (link) and the DVD pre-order is already up on Yesasia. I'm buying it so I have to start saving from now on (link)

On some unrelated news.. I miss Gong Yoo and wish that his updates are as fast and varied as hyung's are *sulks*. Kang Dong Won is going off to the millitary (link) *waaaaaaa* ...but a few celebrities are coming back (link) although I dunno anyone of them.. geh. Athena is getting all sorts of wonderful hype but I won't likely watch it coz I hate violent stories, so no update from me on that drama, and the only reason I'm looking up the link is because of that "Amazing Hyun-Joong Effect" explanation they gave in one of the paragraphs (link). Oh, and Hwangbo looks hawt by the way (link)

Gong Yoo.. SARANGHAE!!

2010-11-17T05:03:00.000-08:00

So adorable. So cute. And his voice is love.

[Uploaded movie] Antique Bakery - Kim Jae Wook & Joo Ji Hoon

2010-11-17T04:59:00.000-08:00

The yaoi treatment is getting the glorious place it deserves in this movie, a far cry from the shabby treatment given to it by its japanese counterpart. Trust the koreans to adapt a manga story faithfully. Why is it that they understand how a manga should be adapted better than the people from the country where the manga comes from? I feel this way about Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers) and Itazura na Kiss (Playful Kiss) as well. The korean adaptations are light years more interesting than the japanese ones.

Anyway, I think getting Andy Gillet to play Jean-Baptise Evan is such an acting coup. I looked up Andy Gillet on youtube. There're quite a few of his clips lying around. With his impossibly long eyebrows that stretch the length of his face and his hooded eyes that can haunt you every time he throws a look, he reminds me of Lee Williams. He's a model too. I doubt I'll be watching french movies any time soon coz I don't think I can be that obsessed with a european actor, but he's pretty cool.

I completely believe in the Seon Woo-Jean pairing, they look so natural together. Especially the scene with them in just their underwear *cough*. And every time they kiss, there's not even a hint of "we're just acting, get this take over with" in the way they respond to each other. Kim Jae Wook.. I'm hunting down all your works later. Do you know he's also in a band as vocal AND guitar? He plays the piano too btw..*ish besotted* ..I want to wait until Mary finishes before watching it coz I don't think I can follow it every week the way I followed Playful Kiss.. ^^;

And how good is Ji Hoon in the role of Jin Hyuk? He's so energetic and all over the place. I feel like watching the movie several times just to catch all his actions. I dunno why he's not been in more dramas and movies with that much talent. This is why, unlike other fans, I never complain about my favourite celebrities being workaholics and fainting everywhere. As much as I care about them, I want them to continue working so I can look up their never-ending supply of works anytime I want. I'm missing Gong Yoo so much now. I wish he'd be in more dramas. Maybe I should start re-watching Coffee Prince. And I want to buy Biscuit Teacher CD if I can find it in any store. The Veoh uploaded clips drive me nuts when they start jumbling up the scenes. It's a good thing that my brain is wired weirdly so I could still enjoy it.

...errrrrmmm, where was I? O yeah.. Antique Bakery.. *cough*

If you've watched the japanese drama, don't think that it's anything like that. It's much more exciting and in fact made me want to look up all the works by its director, Min Gyu-Dong. I wish there would be a sequel so I can see Jin Hyuk being willingly molested by Seon Woo. I think Jin Hyuk is already head over heels in lust with Seon Woo but being a hetero, he needs to be "convinced" before he can accept his change in taste. I'm perfectly alright with heteros being turned to homos in fiction. In real life where we are held responsible for the consequences of our actions, it's another matter altogether.

I highly recommend it! If you haven't watched it already.. go and have a look ~~

SET1
Uploaded by viviyuan. - Watch more comedy videos and sitcoms.

He's coming here next month!!! \(^o^)/

2010-11-17T03:35:00.000-08:00

Can you believe that?? I literally shrieked and jumped around when I first stumbled on the news!! Then spazzed about it to hubby... (so glad he's so into BOF now coz I can talk about hyung to him anytime I want.. hehe *happy wife*)

He is set to make a two-day visit to Malaysia (as part of his Asia Tour) on Dec 4 and 5 and this will make it his third time visiting our country. What is it about Malaysia that hyung has been here so many times? Not that I'm complaining. Compare that to Gackt who doesn't even want to acknowledge places other than Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, European countries, and the US of A.. I'm ecstatic that at least one of my harem guys know we exist. Actually two.. coz Shah Rukh has been here many times too. I miss him. When is Ra-One coming out?

Who's going? I don't think I can be one of the lucky winners to get in and obtain his autograph but I do want to be in the same building as he is when he's visiting. Must scout the perimeter of this strange and unexplored area called the Pavillion.. get to know the entrances and exits, find out where he'll be holding court, etc. Must I do this alone? I wish I have a partner-in-crime. Dang. None of my friends is obsessed with Kim Hyun Joong enough to be a Stalkers UNITE! member alongside me.

Rather than look up the various blogs and news site to find out about the event, I suggest you look up the official The Face Shop facebook. You'll less likely to be led astray and you can contact them in case there are further inquiries. But jakamman yo.. what is this 'fan gathering event' about? Who's organizing it? Do we have to get tickets for it or something? The announcement is quite vague.

I've been using this low profile, not very popular internationally, nice product that I'm into simply because of its name. I like its name so I became a regular customer.. hehe. I wonder if I have to switch to The Face Shop now. For a > RM50 purchase, I need to think about this carefully. I don't want to get into a product I'm not gonna use later. Anyway, I leave you with hyung's lovely countenance to whet your appetite while waiting for D'days to arrive.

All Sorts of Wonderful

[Rock Your Day] SPYAIR - Last Moment

Celebrating my New Year with Kim Hyun Joong~

Another shining gem of Ireland

Sukkie in drag! MKMF 2007

Happy Belated Birthday to Me!

More slow songs from Kim Hyun Joong (solo)

Wait a minute...he still remembers that song?? WGM fans will be very pleased (and that includes me!)

Chibi Kim Hyun Joong!

Army Boys

Love Kim Hyun Joong

Kim Hyun Joong - Kiss Kiss music video (?) and performing with glasses!

[Video] Awesomest entrance eva! by Kim Hyun Joong

[Music Video] Kim Possible Theme Song

[Song] Kristal - Memikat Hati

[Rock Your Day] Kitade Nana - Kibou no Kakera (JROCK)

[Investigation File] Lee Ji Ah - the mystery revealed

[Update] Kim Hyun Joong in SBS "Night After Night"

Request for English sub - KHJ TV (2)

[Update] Kim Hyun Joong at Music Countdown, Music Core and Music Bank

[Song] Please - Kim Hyun Joong

[Song] Confession - Kim Kyu Jong (SS501)

[Investigation File] Sexy stage - Kim Hyun Joong

[Archive] Today's YTvid collection - Kim Hyun Joong

[Engsubbed] MBC Section TV Interview with Hyun Joong on 12 June 2011

Yoshiki (X-Japan) at Anime Central 2011

[Investigation File] SS501 forever~

Request for English sub - KHJ TV

[Update] Kim Hyun Joong SBS "Strong Heart" Teaser ...and other UPDATES

[Song] Broery Marantika - Biarlah Bulan Bicara

[Song] A Song Calling For You - SS501

110605 Running Man Ep46 - Kim Hyun Joong (Guest)

110609 [HD] Kim Hyun Joong - Let Me Go + Please + Break Down [Solo Debut Stage]

He made me remember why I loved him...

How can one not fall in love with perfection?

The boy is back!

[Video] Asmaradana - Tiara Jacquelina (from the movie 'Puteri Gunung Ledang')

[Update] All sorts of wonderful people I've been looking up lately

[Fandom] Yep, still in Merlinland

[Fanvid] Merlin/Arthur

[Fandom] Merlin

[Fanfic] Accidental Memory In The Case Of Death by derryere [NC-17]

Kamenashi Kazuya is ♥

[CRUSH] The next generation of Takeshi Kaneshiro

[Drama Upload] Aiba Masaki - Bartender Ep 1

[CF] New The Face Shop commercial

[Subbed] Coupang coupang coupang..la la la la coupang... COUUUUPANGGG!

[Movie Release] The Malay Chronicles: Bloodlines (Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa)

[Rambling] All sorts of wonderful updates

[Investigation File] Detective Academy Q manga

[Feature] Najwa Latif - cover songs

[MyAikido] Katate Dori Shiho Nage

[Random] Lettuce couple Get Hot on the dance floor

[MyAikido] Basic Attacks

[Investigation File] 1582 performance in Break the Records 2009 concert (solo for Kamenashi Kazuya of KAT-TUN)

[Song] Give Me Give Me Give Me by KAT-TUN

[Feature] 中村 中 (Nakamura Ataru) in Cartoon KAT-TUN ep 37

[Investigation File] アゲ♂アゲ♂EVERY☆騎士 - DJ OZMA

[Martial Arts] Aikido is all sorts of awesome... errrr, I think

[Rambling] KAT-TUN verdict and a Maximum the Hormone insert

[Random] Akame stuff that made me go ....ehhhhhhhhh???

[Fanvid] Kame ga hoshi.....

[Random] Hyun Joong hyung-chama.... I miss you!!!

[Random] In which Gackt (or rather, GACKT) finally exposed his basement...

[Random] Kamenashi Kazuya Poledancing on Utawara

[Dance] Koichi+ KAT-TUN DANCE PJ 2001- 2 BAD

Welcome to JRock! ...and Kamenashi Kazuya (if you still read my blog after this post, we should be friends)

[Uploaded Movie] Kamikaze Girls - Kyoko Fukada & Anna Tsuchiya

[Upcoming Drama] Bartender - Masaki Aiba

I'm too smexy for you to hate.... so love me~

[Uploaded Drama] Kami no Shizuku - Kamenashi Kazuya

[Uploaded Drama] The most moving kissing scene I've ever watched in my whole entire drama-watching life (up until now, that is)

[Upload Drama] Marry Me Mary / Mary Stayed Out All Night / M3 - Jang Geun Suk

[Rambling About Drama: RAD] Kami no Shizuku: Ep 1 - 4

[Variety Show] Cartoon KAT-TUN

[Concert] KAT-TUN: Kazuya Kamenashi

[Uploaded Drama] Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge: 10 episodes

[Song] DJ DOC - Run To You

[Fanvideo] (Against Anti-SNSD) SNSD - Gee

[Song] Second Love - Gong Yoo for the movie "Finding Mr. Destiny"

[Feature] 中村中 (Nakamura Ataru) in Cartoon KAT-TUN ep 37