idols - Drama And Movies

January 20, 2014January 5, 2014

Under-Rated K-Pop Group UKISS, WonderBoyz

South Korea is K-Pop capital, where new aspiring kids debuting and hoping to be in Kpop boy band and Kpop girl band group. There are many great Kpop group that kept themselves fresh such as boy band Shinhwa, who are active and popular even after debuting over 15 years ago. Many girl groups and boy groups have formed and broken up before making it on chart.

Life of Kpop star is hard with all training before debuting and working long hours, without days off after debuting are known case. Many in western world would call that slave contract but in K-Pop world that seems to be norm. Most Idols work very hard, have special fan meeting with their fans and generally soft spoken in real life based on their interviews.

As I have written in what is K-Pop article, that there many ways K-pop differs from other Music Genre from other popular music. There are 3 big star management companies such as;

SM Entertainment: Tts current roster of recording artists include Kangta, BoA, TVXQ, TRAX, The Grace, Super Junior, Zhang Liyin, Girls’ Generation, J-Min, Shinee, f(x), EXO and Henry, all of whom enjoy great success both domestically and internationally.

YG Entertainment: Its current roster of recording artists are known to be some of the biggest K-pop acts internationally. Big Bang, 2NE1, Epik High, Lee Hi, and PSY have proved to be the front runners.

JYP Entertainment: Label’s current roster of recording artists include Wonder Girls, JOO, 2AM, 2PM, Miss A, JJ Project, Baek Ah Yeon, 15& and Lee Sunmi.

Of course, there are many management companies that churn out many new kpop idol bands. Sometimes, there are great and some not so great singers and boyband get more media exposure due to either their management company or variety shows they do. There are some are talented but do not get enough media exposure or get awards even though they deserve it.

In my opinion, UKISS and WonderBoyz are two boy bands that do not get ENOUGH media love, as they are talented, great singer, dancer and come across friendly on interviews and other shows. JYJ is another group that do not get enough media exposure on Korean TV due to some issue from the past, most of these band survive and spread news through internet such as youtube, fan sites and blogs along with their management company.

UKISS K-Pop Boy Band:

South Korean boy band formed by NH Media in 2008. Their name is an acronym, standing for Ubiquitous Korean International idol Super Star. The group consists of Soohyun, Eli, Kiseop, Kevin, Hoon and AJ and three 3 ex members Dongho, Alexander and Kibum. Their breakthrough hit was Man Man Ha Ni (2009) from their EP ContiUKiss. Since their debut, the group has released three full-length albums, seven extended plays and various singles. The group also participated in various TV reality shows and films.

UKISS had member leaving, and Kiseop joining, now finally settling as 6 members boy band group. They have members who can speak English well such as Eli, Kevin and AJ. Main vocals are Soohyun, Hoon and Kevin. They are good singers, dancers and rappers in group and have great song but they have yet to win (as of Jan 2014) any awards. I personally think they are one of the under-rated Kpop group. If you do not believe me, check out few of their song Music Video and Dance Practice and you will know what I am talking about, they deserve much more recognition for their talent.

UKISS: Stop Girl MV

UKISS: She’s Mine Dance Practice

UKISS: Neverland MV

WonderBoyz:

Wonder Boyz is a Korean pop/Hip-Hop 4-member boy group that debuted in 2012 under ent102. Members are, Bak Chi Gi (Leader), Young Boy, K and Master One. Very little is known about them about internet source but I already like their a few songs they have released and they are good, talented singers and dancers. I think they are another under-rated K-Pop boy band who needs more exposure so people can see how good they really are. See for your self in music video below.

WonderBoyz: Open the Door MV

Wonderboyz: Tarzan Dance Version

So, what do you think of UKISS and WonderBoyz Group now? Do you think there are other Kpop group which are under-rated who deserve much more media exposures and love?

January 19, 2014January 5, 2014

Kpop Group TVXQ/DBSK and JYJ

DBSK when they were together as five: (Image source: Wikipedia)

TVXQ or DBSK is a South Korean pop group formed in 2003 under S.M. Entertainment. In Japan, they are officially known as Tohoshinki, and are one of the very few K-pop acts seen exclusively as J-pop artists. TVXQ are also sometimes referred to as DBSK, an initialization of their Korean name Dong Bang Shin Ki. Their name translates to “Rising Gods of the East”.

The group debuted in 2003 as a five-member boy band consisting of leader U-Know Yunho, Max Changmin, Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun, and Xiah Junsu.

In July 2009, the latter three filed for an injunction against their Korean agency S.M. Entertainment, which led TVXQ to cease all public activities and appearances after 2009. Two years and three months later, TVXQ returned with remaining members Yunho and Changmin, and the duo released TVXQ’s fifth Korean album Keep Your Head Down in January 2011, topping albums charts in most major Asian markets upon release. Remaining 3 people Jaejoong, Junsu and Yoochun have formed band JYJ.

According to Wikipedia, TVXQ are one of Asia’s most successful music acts and are often referred to as “Asia’s Stars” and “Kings of K-pop” for their immense success and contributions to Korean pop. According to South Korea’s Gaon and Japan’s Oricon, TVXQ are one of the best-selling K-pop groups in the world, having sold over 12 million records in Korea and Japan since their debut.

They have two official fan clubs in Korea and Japan, known respectively as Cassiopeia and BigEast. According to news sources in 2008, Cassiopeia was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as “the world’s largest fanclub” with more than 800,000 members. I still listen and watch TVXQ2’s song and video, but I like them best when they all five of them together, they had of of friendship and chemistry together, it was hard to many fans and many still hope that one day they will get back together.

TVXQ Before 2009

DBSK 5: Image source – Soul Beats

NOW in 2013:

DBSK2 Source: Sharing Yoochun JYJ Image source: Everlast EastNow the group has broken in to two DBSK (same name) and JYJ. JYJ (formerly known as Junsu/Jejung/Yuchun in Japan) is a three-member Korean pop group, formed by the former members of South Korean group TVXQ: Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu. Their group name is taken from the first letters of each member’s names.
Their debut Japanese EP The reached No.1 on the Japanese Oricon albums chart. The band’s global debut album, The Beginning, was released in October 2010. JYJ’s second studio album and first Korean full-length album In Heaven was released on September 28, 2011. As of 2013, the members are continuing to pursue solo activities.

The group has caught the attention of various newspapers and media networks around the world, and became the first K-Pop group to perform in Chile, as the group continues to attract fans from many parts of the world.

Regardless, I still love DBSK old, new and JYJ both group and will support them just many of other fans. Here are some songs from DBSK5, DBSK2 and JYJ, they are talented in dancing, singing and amazing.

DBSK: Rising Sun MV

DBSK 2: Catch Me If You Can

JYJ: Only One MV

January 18, 2014January 25, 2014

Dating On Earth: Park Yoochun’s Early Movie

Dating on Earth: Image Source

This is an early Banjun Theater production featuring all 5 DBSK members when they were all part of SM entertainment. I am not sure which years this movie production came in as finding much information about it is not easy, nor finding a copy of this movie is easy. I believe, Dating On Earth must came in 2005 or 2006 or later but surely before 2009.

Why I am writing about it if it is hard to find? Because, it is wonderful to movie production that we get to see all 5 members of DBSK together, after the kpop Idol DBSK broke up in 2009. Even though it is early production, Park Yoochun shows promise of acting style which is clearly more evident in Roof Top Prince, Missing You and other dramas that has starred in. It may not have mainstream apeal and hard to find in netflix and drama streaming site, I got to watch through youtube once and it is my one of treasured movie that I like to watch once in awhile still.

Park Yoochun In Dating on Earth: So Young and Cute: Image source: DBSKnights

This movie story about Park Yoochun who is 2 year behind, so still in 3rd year of high school. He is already married at young age to So Hyon Jin and they seemed to be happily married. Yoochun has tried to save a junior (Max Changmin) from bad guys before so he had to go to prison for 2 years, that is why he is behind and still in high school. There are not many school who would take him.

Park Yoochun seemed to be popular in his school and class liked by both girls and guys. Jung Yunho plays smart and quite class president. Xiah Junsu and Max Changmin plays Yoochun’s friends and classmates. Kim Jaejoong plays transfer students with troubled past.

Dating on earth: Couple’s Outfit: Source Youtube Freeze frame

Yoochun’s wife comes one day to school to work as Home room teacher to Yoochun’s class. He is surely not happy about it, but they keep their relation of marriage secret from school for time being. That causes some issues when Jaejoong’s character gets smitten by So Hyun’s care as he is orphaned and hardly showed love and care from anyone. That create love triangle and rift between Yoochun and Jaejoong.

Yoochun and Jaejoong: Love Rival

Yoochun Finds Out His Wife is now his teacher

Trouble in Marriage: Korean Hand Pulling

Caring Teacher to Jaejoong

Deep Thinking: source for all above image: Image source

There is also side track story of bad guys trying to recruit Jaejoon and So Hyun’s trying to save him. At the end, who class get together against bad guys and everything ends well between friends and married couple.

I like this movie very much, although it is hard to find, you can find it occasionally on you tube. Here is a current version on You Tube, so you can watch it for free and it has English subtitles too.

Tag: idols