Thursday, March 8, 2012

Kpop and Opera

Recently I have started watching Opera Star 2012 and frankly I don't know why more people aren't watching it. In an industry where people often complain about the lack of vocal talent, these stars are not only proving that they can sing, but they are singing in one of the hardest forms of singing, opera.

Participants: (From Left to Right)

The One

DANA

Park Ji Yoon

Kim Jong Seo

Park Ki Young

Son Ho Young

Jo Hee

Park Ji Heon

I've always loved classical music and opera, and even though I don't know much about either of them I can still enjoy the music. Truly these stars should be applauded for their efforts. My bias is of course Park Ji Yoon, however I feel since Park Ki Young is a ballad singer normally, that her voice might be a little more suited to this type of singing.

Here are their first round performances:

The One

Park Ji Yoon

Kim Jong Seo

Park Ki Young

Son Ho Young

Jo Hee

Park Ji Heon

They've reach round four already but I figured that this blog would be too long if I put all their videos up. If you really like the performances you can actually purchase the song from itunes.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Feature [8] SM☆SH

Hello everyone,

Todays groups is the Korean group, turned Japanese group SM☆SH.

SM☆SH, or as I will from here on out refer to them as SMASH. They debut in 2008 in Korea. Originally a 6 member group, they became a five member group when they debut in Japan in 2010.
The group consist of :

-World
-Jerry
-Naru
-Hero
-Hanbang

Former Members
-Cheonwoo

I really like this group, I find they have the unique traits of both the Korean and Japanese music industries, more so then other kpop groups that have debut in Japan. Often when groups debut in Japan they are simply a kpop group singing in Japanese (Which there is by no means anything wrong with that) however I feel like these guys capture the cuties aspect of jpop groups, but bring the amazing dance skills that I often associate with kpop groups. While I love their Japanese songs, I wish they would come back to Korea I think their cute concepts would fit in well since most of the male kpop groups are promoting dark, fierce, hardcore type images at the moment.

http://smashjapan.com/ Here is their official Japanese website.

http://www.youtube.com/user/forlifemusic?blend=1&ob=0#p/c/AFA254E3467AD1B is the link to their companies' official Youtube page.

They have quite a few MV's here are the ones I would suggest:

Bounce★up

DoitDoit

Step

They recently release their first Korean single in years there is no MV but here is the live version

So give these guys a listen and if you like Korean guys singing in Japanese then you will love this group.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Feature [6] Cherry Filter

Hello everyone,

Todays group I will be featuring is the rock band Cherry Filter.

Cherry Filter Debut in 1997, since then they have become one of the most popular bands in Korea, however they are not widely know among most kpop fans.

The band consists of:

Youjeen (Vocals)

Zin (Guitar)

Yaenhead (Bass)

Sonstar (Drums, Rap)

Their Official Website http://www.cherryfilter.com/

They have released a lot of MV's here are a few of my favorites:

Pianissimo

Flying Duck

Romantic Cat

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Feature [5] Blacklist

Hello Everyone,

My Feature for today is about the duo Blacklist.

The duo consists of:

Lucy

Cheetah

They debut in 2010 and have only released one single, however I was so impressed by them that I felt they needed some exposure.

They have only released on MV but it's pretty good.

Here's a video of them covering TVXQ's MIROTIC

Here's a video of them covering 2NE1's Fire

Friday, February 17, 2012

Feature [4] Sunny Hill

Hello Everyone,

Toady I will be featuring a group that isn't exactly unknown, and have been gaining quite a bit of attention lately. However I feel they deserve a lot more praise for having such a unique group and for simply making good music.

The group I speak of is Sunny Hill.

Sunny Hill now consists of five members however they originally debut as a trio.

Janghyun (Leader, Producer, Vocalist)

Jubi (Main Vocalist)

Seunga (Vocalist)

Kota (Vocalist, Rapper) [Joined the group in 2010]

Misung (Vocalist, Rapper) [Joined the group in 2011]

In the past their have been many k-pop groups that had one female member and then like three or four male members, however I can't recall any that have one male and four female members like Sunny Hill has. I believe this formula is one that works very well for them.

Their Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/LOENARTIST

Their videos are always interesting to watch here are a few of my favorites.

The Grasshopper Song

Midnight Circus

Pray (Be warned that some people might find this video disturbing, but the song is beautiful)

통화연결음

So if you are looking for a group that is unique you should check out Sunny Hill.

Please support Sunny Hill by purchasing their music legally you can buy it through itunes at this http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/sseonihil-sunny-hill/id441712871

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

List of Official Kpop Group/Artist Youtube Channels

VIXX

http://www.youtube.com/user/RealVIXX

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Feature [2] Ji Yoon Park

Hello everyone,

Today I will be featuring a very famous artist in kpop, who I feel the new generation of kpop fans have yet to be introduced to. The person I speak of is Park Ji Yoon.

Debuting at the young age of 11 as a model and then moving into the music arena. She is a triple threat in that she has been a model, a singer, and an actress. Now reaching 30 her beauty is still breathtaking, and her voice has only matured and grown stronger over the years. Ji Yoon isn't just a pretty face she has a B.F.A. from Namseoul University in Environmental Art & Design. In an industry that is known for it's quickly fading stars she has managed to shine brightly and stay in the hearts of her fans. She is actually releasing a new album very soon so keep on the look out for it and swing by and check her official pages.

Her Youtube Page http://www.youtube.com/user/parkjiyooncreative
Her Official Website http://www.parkjiyoon.co.kr
Her Twitter http://twitter.com/Raellepark

She is known for having music videos that tell a story, often to the point that they are shocking yet still beautiful, here are some of my favorite videos of her's.

In Faded Memory

I Am A Man

Swan

Don't Know Anything

UPDATE 2/20/12

Her new song Tree of Life

List of dramas she's been in:
Lie to Me (SBS, 2011)
Bicheonmu (SBS, 2008)
New Human Market (SBS, 2004)
Ghost (SBS, 1999)
Three Guys and Three Girls (MBC, 1997)

If nothing else check out her live version of In Faded Memory it will blow your mind.

I hope you will look forward to her comeback as much as I am!!!

Please support Ji Yoon Park buy purchasing her music, you can find it at this http://itunes.apple.com/nz/artist/bagjiyun-park-ji-yoon/id503753248 via itunes