Review: Crayon Pop ’s 1st USA Fan Meet

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Crayon Pop held their 1st USA Fan Meet in Los Angeles on July 22nd. CrayonPop.me, a fan site, held the event at a small room in the enourmous Los Angeles Convention Center. The fan meet conventionally landed on the group’s second year anniversary. Geummi, Ellin, ChoA, Way, and Soyul met 100 lucky fans that were able to be part of their first fan meet.

Despite Chrome Staff almost postponing the fan event due to their opening performance at Lady Gaga’s artRAVE: The ARTPOP Ball being pushed back an hour, the event continued as planned. Some dedicated fans had arrived two hours prior even though the itinerary stated that people should arrive at noon. Shockingly, around 75 percent of the fans in attendance were men.

After checking in with the event’s staff, attendees were given a number with the row they’d sit in. As people waited for Crayon Pop to get there, they practiced for the handshake. The girls would actually be standing, instead of sitting down behind a table, which got everyone very excited because it guaranteed direct contact with Crayon Pop.

Most people were hoping to get a selfie and an autograph. But since there would be roughly five to 10 seconds of interaction which each member, you had to choose which interaction you wanted with them. After the practice ended, everyone began getting nervous and excited. Their music played in the background, and some fans sang, danced, and cheered to the songs. No one could contain their excitement; they were about to meet their favorite band!

The girls would allegedly get there at 1:30 p.m, but they were behind schedule, as one of the staff informed attendees. Fans got a little disappointed, but they knew that despite this, they would be able to meet them eventually. As everyone waited, some fans that would be attending Gaga’s concert began practicing Crayon Pop’s fan chants so the girls could have somewhere to look and feel support from their fans. By 2:40 p.m., fans still waited for Crayon Pop to arrive, but that didn’t stop anyone from practicing and mingling with other fans. Then the staff finally said that the group was on its way up to the room, but due to the venue being enormous, they would take around ten minutes to get there.

Crayon Pop is band that is known for their energy and endless charm. As soon as they finally walked into the room, you could feel how full of energy they were despite their busy schedule. Everyone cheered “Pop, Pop, Crayon Pop!” The girls introduced themselves and told everyone how happy they were to see their fans there and feel their support. Geummi expressed how excited she was to have their first fan meet in the U.S. and couldn’t stop thanking everyone.

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After the girls talked to the fans for a few minutes, the handshake was ready to start. As soon as the first row started to form in line, fans started taking selfies and getting autographs from the girls. Since doing both was taking a little bit more than expected, Chrome staff informed the organizers to let everyone know that fans couldn’t take pictures with them because it was taking longer than expected. However, despite this restriction, a few fans still got their selfies with them, Crayon Pop never refusing.

It was amazing to see how happy the girls were; they were hugging, kissing, and taking selfies with their fans. They really gave them their all. At the end of the handshake, the girls received gifts that CrayonPop.me prepared, a congratulatory book that had messages from Crayon Pop fans all over the world. The book was handed to ChoA, and she seemed very surprised and excited for it.

After a fun hour with the girls, they gave their farewell and stated that they loved their L.A. fans and promised to come back very soon. They even asked to see who was going to see their opening show for Lady Gaga so they could see us there.

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After the girls left, their energy still inhabited the room. Everyone felt stoked they had an hour with them, and showed their autographs and pictures with them to each other. Fans had to wait in the room until Crayon Pop was escorted out of the convention center.

When the fan site staff came back to the room, they had a surprise for us. They were able to get six albums signed by the girls and they did a raffle to give them away. At the end, CrayonPop.me thanked everyone for their support and everyone cheered for them. The event ended but everyone was happy they had this opportunity.

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Were you one of the lucky ones to attend Crayon Pop’s 1st USA Fan Meet? Tell us your experience in the comments! forget to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Block B’s “HER” Music Video & Song Review

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I have to admit that I was quite surprised when I heard about Block B‘s comeback with HER; looking at the teaser, I thought that it would be a cheesy, typical “safe” phase that idols go through every now and then. Boy, was I proven wrong! This was a pleasant discovery of how this group managed to maintain their goofy and playful style while not succumbing to the cutesy, “I’m in love” trope.

Music Video

While I did in fact enjoy watching this video, I must say that it was all over the place. Of course, Block B is known for their interesting and crazy music videos, but it took a while for me to understand what was going on. That’s not such a bad thing, though; they get more views on the video as people rewatch and try to make sense of it!

Atmosphere

This was a huge mixture of bright, super-saturated colors, and exaggerated expressions, which combined with the attention-grabbing, deep rendition of the chorus in the beginning, makes you want to get up and dance along. HER may be upbeat and cute, but it’s silly and full of personality! I mean, come on, just look at all their cheesy grins:

To be completely honest, I can’t help but laugh at their antics, and that’s what I feel is the winning point of this music video. It doesn’t contain a hundred cringe-inducing winks (although it’s guilty of a couple), nor does it make me facepalm at how fake the acting is. It’s so over the top that you know that it’s all intentional and meant to be funny. If anything, the way the guys act in here actually fit their image.

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Plotline

I don’t know what the plot is supposed to be, but I do know that the HER Power Detergent ad is hilarious! Let’s not forget this lovely ostrich:

This appears to be a tribute to whomever HER refers to, and a tribute it definitely is. From what appears to be a news segment about HER to multiple references to this mystery person in their props, you have to admit that the group is dedicated.

Prior to the bridge of the song, you get a little clip of an interview as the guys are introduced as the music industry brats. They end up talking about their comeback after nine months and their change in style from intense to “win your heart” types of homies. The stage on which they perform on this “interview” reminds me of Looney Tunes, and, whether it’s intentional or not, it’s a witty play on the group’s looney behavior in the video.

If you were ever confused about why they’re coming back with this particular song, then all you really need to do is to watch the video! Personally, I think that’s a great way to introduce the fans to a new side to Block B.

Fashion & Makeup

Oh boy; when it comes to the guys’ fashion, it’s just as mixed up as the plotline. From summer attire to winter clothing, you’re not really sure what they’re aiming for in fashion. That’s when you get the idea that maybe they’re trying really hard to get the attention of HER, going to great lengths and ending up looking like hype-beasts!

They do match the feeling of the song and the colors of the video, from the bright energy to the extremely colorful sets and backgrounds.

Who could also forget their hairstyles and makeup? From spiky hot pink to a silver combover, it seems like their hair knows no boundaries. It brings me back to what appears to be their efforts to appeal to their person of interest, and their makeup doesn’t shy from this goal, either. Bright eyebrows and dark eyeliner on some of the members bring out their characters, and colored contacts add to their quirkiness.

Choreography

There’s a lot of switching scenes around, so I can’t say too much on the choreography. However, from what I do see, they dance in a stupidly cute way. The moves they make during the chorus remind me of their gorilla dance, only it incorporates the typical, “look at me I’m shy” two fists to the face that make everything seems more comedic.

Block B’s dances are always incorporating their playfulness, and, while you don’t see too much of the choreo, you still get to see them jumping around and pretending to fall over in all of their silliness.

Song

I actually liked listening to HER the first time around; it gives off a mixture of ’80s and ’90s vibe that is just weird enough to make you keep listening. Even if you don’t watch the video, you can still feel just how playful the group is in the song, and I think that’s very important in any composition.

Instrumental

The electronic presence doesn’t appeal to me as much as the drum beat and electric guitar does; the guitar just adds the right kind of feeling that adds a special groove and gives off a “let’s go to the beach” mood. The beat keeps everything together in a fast tempo and brings up the energy, which I feel was done very well in this song.

Lyrics

There is a little controversy in the lyrics, as some fans think it’s shaming other girls who aren’t as pretty or unique as HER, as well as adding some possessiveness. To me, I personally don’t care, because many girls themselves put down others to bring up their friends’ self esteems, and jealousy is generally prominent when you like someone. Sure, calling everyone else plain in comparison to HER might seem a bit mean, but seriously, when you’re this infatuated with someone, I doubt you could notice anyone else.

I’m liking how they added “Jesus” to the chorus, because it just shows how much they’re enthralled by this lady. References to Olivia Hussey also piqued my interest, as it sounds like they like her beauty and her maturity, which is a bonus. Read the rest of the English translation I got from POPGASA:

Jesus, what words are needed?
Everyone calls you a masterpiece
Just a little bit of you, I’ll seriously value baby ye ye

Ooh wow, it’s amazing
There’s nothing more to add to her beautiful body
Normal girls can’t even compete
They’ll probably gather together and talk badly about you

Listen carefully

Be careful of the wolves around you
Bastards only care about outer appearance
It feels like I’ve been hit on my head with a hammer
I feel light-headed and dizzy

Jesus, what words are needed?
Everyone calls you a masterpiece
Just a little bit of you, I’ll seriously value baby ye ye
Every bit of you is so pretty

Her! Uh Uh! Her! Uh Uh!
Her! Uh Uh! Uh I can’t talk
Her! Uh Uh! Her! Uh Uh!
Her! Uh Uh! Except for you, everyone is so plain

Your breathtaking curves
Makes me faint right away, I need suction
Among all the fools who just make you feel uncomfortable
You’re a flawless boxer
My Olivia Hussey
You have skills but you’re not pretentious
Your personality and your just good enough volume
I wanna hug and kisses

Be careful of the wolves around you
Bastards only care about outer appearance
It feels like I’ve been hit on my head with a hammer
I feel light-headed and dizzy

Jesus, what words are needed?
Everyone calls you a masterpiece
Just a little bit of you, I’ll seriously value baby ye ye
Every bit of you is so pretty

Her! Uh Uh! Her! Uh Uh!
Her! Uh Uh! Uh I can’t talk
Her! Uh Uh! Her! Uh Uh!
Her! Uh Uh! Except for you, everyone is so plain

I used to be emotionless like a rock
But now I’m a fool once again
When I snapped out of it, I realized I was in front of you
Oh could you be my we love

You’re so pretty, if someone comes up to you
And starts talking to you, just smile, don’t give him your number
Wipe your drool first and go away, stop your talk
Her uh her uh baby I’m all yours

Jesus, what words are needed?
Everyone calls you a masterpiece
Just a little bit of you, I’ll seriously value baby ye ye
Every bit of you is so pretty

Her! Uh Uh! Her! Uh Uh!
Her! Uh Uh! Uh I can’t talk
Her! Uh Uh! Her! Uh Uh!
Her! Uh Uh! Except for you, everyone is so plain

Style & Vocals

So their style went through a bit of a change, but it doesn’t mean that they’re no longer the Block B that we knew. If anything, they’ve just added another category of music that they’re good at! I did have mixed feelings about this song before I watched the video and listened to it, but I am glad that everything turned out well.

As for the vocals? The rapping is interestingly at a minimum, so the rest of the members actually have a better chance to showcase their voices. I think it’s great that they’ve gotten more comfortable with singing; this means that they’re growing as a group vocally, and that’s good news. While there aren’t a lot of outstanding moments vocally, their voices work well together.

Overall ratings

By now, you should probably have noticed that I don’t like cheesiness. However, this was a slight exception. Were there moments that made me roll my eyes at how obviously cheesy they were? Definitely. But I managed to look past this fault, and I can honestly say I enjoyed the experience. Here’s what I rate this:

MV: 8/10
Song: 8/10
Both: 9/10

Were you as surprised as I was about this comeback? What do you think about this song? Be sure to share your thoughts and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Let’s Discuss: INFINITE & The SM-Woollim Merger

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Let’s go back a little less than a year ago in Seoul: INFINITE gets up on stage at the first night of their world tour, performs a bit, and then starts to talk. With tears on their eyes, they apologize and promise fans that things won’t change, and swear that INFINITE will always be INFINITE.

No, a member didn’t leave, but news broke that day anouncing that INFINITE’s company, Woollim Entertainment, would be merging with SM C&C. And yet, in that moment, sitting in the audience, and only picking up every few words with my limited knowledge of Korean, I thought that INFINITE was disbanding. Or, at the very least, a member was heading to the army. The way that INFINITE acted towards Inspirit (the group’s fanclub), seemed like the members had to apologize for practically killing someone. Why?

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In South Korea, SM Entertainment is both respected and feared. The first few days after the announcement of the merger, fans wrote articles saying things like, Did SM buy INFINITE’s company so that the group wouldn’t compete with SHINee and EXO? (Both groups are some of SM’s most popular).

Fans feared that INFINITE would be relegated to some backburner by SM and not be able to be competition. What many fans missed (but others pointed out) was that Woollim Label (no longer an entertainment company in its own right) would still have control over INFINITE and other Woollim artists, like Nell and Tasty. This meant that INFINITE would, hopefully, still have the artistic guidance that it had had since debut.

In Retrospect, Why The Merger?

First thing’s first: Money. INFINITE, almost singlehandedly, took care of Woollim. Yes, Nell is extremely popular in Korea, but it doesn’t rake in the income from various appearances on television, concerts, CFs, and more, that INFINITE does. The two Tasty twins also aren’t even close to being big enough to take care of an entertainment company. Woollim has always been amazing at what it does, but has been too small to really support several artists because only one group was bringing in constant funds.

Second: SM is bigger, which opens more doors in Korea.

Third: INFINITE really was competition for SHINee and EXO. The group filmed a $1 million blockbuster music video in the U.S., even though it was never released. The original video included a plane wreck scene, and due to the Asiana Airlines crash of 2013, Woollim decided it would be insensitive to release. Moreover,  they had embarked on a world tour, and had members debuting as solo artists (Sungkyu) and becoming incredibly popular actors (L and Hoya), to name a few.

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INFINITE was, and is, big. So when a big company sees a little company being successful, the typical response is, “let’s buy it out.” A merge helped both Woollim and SM –Woollim got the financial backing it may have been lacking, and SM got rid of competition by incorporating it.

A Year Later, What Happened? 

Pretty much, just that—INFINITE came back with Back, and it’s been well-received so far. Last Romeo also topped the charts, although fans’ generally thought that it wasn’t INFINITE’s best song. But, it meant that the group would still be active —which it had been doing since the merger occurred.

Since the merger occurred, other than releasing the album Last Romeo and its repackage Be Back, the group also released The Origin, a completely instrumental album of all of INFINITE’s best songs.

Moreover, INFINITE has held several concerts, introduced an upcoming subgroup INFINITE F (Sungyeol, Sungjong, and L), and appeared on the variety show This Is INFINITE.

Separately, the members have also been busy –Woohyun, Sungyeol, and L have all acted in dramas, while the other members have frequented variety shows.

What Did INFINITE Gain By The Merger? 

Well, for one thing, there was this little thing called ToHeart—INFINITE’s Woohyun and SHINee’s Key, who have long been known to be best friends, were able to have a project group now that they were both under the SM umbrella. And people really liked it!

Then, there’s the support from SM; while idols at different entertainment companies generally are civil, they rarely promote one another. But when Sungyeol appeared on Law of The Jungle – Caribbean & Maya, members of Girls’ Generation cheered him on. There have been several other cases now where SM artists and INFINITE have been seen together in a way that they never had appeared before.

[As a side note: Since the merger, SM artists and Woollim artists have been collaborating more in general – on We Got Married Global Edition, f(x)’s Amber and Tasty’s Soryong have worked together as MCs.]

Oh, and, of course, INFINITE (and other Woollim acts) now appear at SMTown concerts.

So… What Was The Freak Out About?

Pretty much? Nothing really.

So is SM still a threat to INFINITE’s integrity? Probably not.

There was definitely room to worry,  but then it turned out that INFINITE would still be INFINITE. The group pretty much has kept doing what it’s done in the past- make really good, retro-inspired music with perfect synchronization.

And continued to be the derps they started out as.

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What do you think? Has INFINITE changed since the merger? Be sure to share your thoughts and follow us on Facebook, Twitter,
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Playlist Sunday: Love Edition

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When it comes to love, it’s safe to say that it doesn’t come in a packaged, conventional way. No; love has many shapes and forms and can’t be restricted to just one definition. It can be big and boisterous for a higher power, or small and growing for a significant other. For this week’s playlist, we chose songs that talk about overall love, whether it’s love confessions, feeling desperate over it, or just embracing and rejoicing it.

After seeing BTS at their free showcase, Show & Prove, in Los Angeles this week, they became my current obsession. So naturally when I found out about the theme for this week’s playlist, I automatically thought of their song, Boy In Luv. This is one of my favorites from BTS; it’s cute, but it still showcases their tough side. The beginning is the part that I love the most: telling the girl “I want to be your oppa” is just too cute coming from them. They are in love with a bad girl, and they don’t know what the girl wants or what to do to be with her. Poor guys; the girl just keeps playing and teasing them! The music video is very fun and has the group looking very cute and sexy with school uniforms. Get ready to get addicted to the song’s chorus; it’s very catchy.


–Alejandro

Ailee‘s Evening Sky isn’t a typical love ballad about a couple; her composition actually brings up her faith and devotion to her religion and God. While that isn’t a romantic sort of ordeal, the song is still a wonderful example of another kind of love that can exist. She showcases her beautiful voice and amazing control in this piece, as she goes from soft and soothing to powerful vocals seamlessly.

Her lyrics are also extremely poetic, as she struggles with keeping a personal attachment to God despite sharing the faith with many other people. Even if you look past such allusions, it’s not difficult to see that this is a sweet song of adoration, confusion, trust, and acceptance. What else do you need in love? You don’t have to be religious to enjoy this, and that’s just another reason why I picked Evening Sky for this week’s playlist.


–Thuc

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One of the most tender songs I’ve ever heard is Falling In Love With A Friend by Beige, featuring Super Junior‘s Ryeowook. Although it’s a featured song, the two really are collaborating, singing each part of the couple that’s struggling to make the jump from being good friends to something more. The confession itself is beautiful, depicting the nervous anticipation of friends who have reached this point.

Rather than being a slow, soft ballad to depict the anxious emotions, Beige and Ryeowook’s duet has an upbeat melody that helps portray the happy feelings of each other as they realize that they want to be closer. The music video is also well done, partially being a behind-the-scenes look while the two recorded, but it also features the two as friends in circumstances where they bond and grow more fond of each other. All in all, it’s an adorable song about reaching out and confessing to your beloved.


–Tamar

I don’t remember when or how I first heard 15&’s Can’t Hide It, but, from the opening lines, I immediately knew this would be on repeat for a while. The chorus of the song is mostly in English ,and the girls sing “I’m in love” throughout it. I’m in love with this song! Can’t Hide It is a perfect spring and summer love piece.

The beat and music is reminiscent of ’90s and early ’00s R&B. Jimin and Yerin’s voices are perfect for this genre. The ladies’ power vocals carry the notes effortlessly, and I can’t get enough of it. It’s always on my car playlist, and, every time it comes on, I blast it and sing along enthusiastically. I have to admit that I try to convince myself that I sing as well as the talented duo (which I clearly don’t). These girls own their live stages, too, which is amazing. If you haven’t heard Can’t Hide It, then I suggest you listen to it and then go buy it; you won’t regret it, I promise!


–Tara

Earlier this week when watching ASC After Show, Eric Nam and GOT7’s Jackson and Mark danced to their song, I Like You. I instantly had it stuck in my head all week. The backup vocals repeating nan niga joha, niga joha had me doing the elbow swaying dance as I jammed along. Some people in my household (who will remain unknown) said that it was annoying, but I love it! I dig that all the boys got to showcase their talents –Yugyeom, Mark, Jackson, and Bam Bam with their fierce rapping while Jr., JB, and Youngjae with their powerful yet soothing vocals — to the max. I Like You is the boys’ love confession to a girl, complimenting her on everything they like about her. It kind of made me draw parallels between this track and One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful. I listen to it while driving or writing (or pretty much all the time). The music doesn’t overpower their vocals, making them the true stars of the song and not just the producer.


–Alexis

What’s your favorite K-Pop love song? Let us know in the comment section below. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter,
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What to Expect from “A Pink’s Showtime”

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With BEAST concluding their season of Showtime this past Thursday, it’s time to look forward to season three.

But before I begin, I just want to say that Burning the Beast is my favorite season of Showtime so far. I know EXO was the only other group who has been on the program, but BEAST’s ease in front of the camera and with each other made each episode funny and enjoyable to watch.

With the end of season two with Beast, we look ahead to what season three has in store. For starters, Showtime is changing things up by adding a girl group to the show. And it’s not just any girl group, but A Pink! In all honesty, I only really know A Pink for their acting and variety show appearances. By those alone I will definitely tune in to watch the ladies on A Pink’s Showtime.

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The only members I have seen on variety shows and dramas are Eunji, Naeun, and Bomi. From Eunji’s characters in Reply 1997 and Trot Lovers, we can definitely expect her to be a sassy edition to Showtime and not afraid to share or show anything. Eunji is extremely outgoing and knows how to entertain.

I only saw Naeun on We Got Married with SHINee’s Taemin. But throughout their season, I found myself watching WGM more for Naeun than Taemin (Taemin was the reason I started watching that season). She was always laughing and smiling and didn’t mind laughing at herself.

I also saw her on a recent episode of Running Man (July 6th) with fellow A Pink member Bomi. She had a few witty comments, which I admire, and held her own with her partner Jong Kook. Naeun may not be as boisterous as Eunji, but she will definitely be able to showcase her personality on Showtime and I can’t wait to see her thrive.

The final A Pink member that I have seen on a variety show is Bomi, who was also on Running Man. Bomi really caught my attention when she and her partner, Baek Sung Hyun, had to move silkworms from one basket to another one. Bomi was taken aback by the silkworms and let out some hoarse noises that the Running Man members didn’t fail to talk about. She didn’t even seem to hear them or care (if she did hear them) what they were saying. But she made me laugh and continued to do so throughout the episode. I can’t wait to see how she is on Showtime.

I think A Pink is the perfect follow-up to BEAST because each member in the group has a strong and memorable personality, and they will definitely make each episode eventful. I’m excited to learn more about the other members and become a bigger fan of A Pink.

In BEAST’s final episode of Showtime, the guys gave a few pointers to the ladies of A Pink, and from the preview, it doesn’t seem like they need any help:

Although the preview is brief, we can already tell that season three of Showtime will also be a good one, like the previous two. I am sad that Burning the Beast is over, but excited to see what A Pink will bring to the show. A Pink’s Showtime will air in August.

Are you guys excited to see A Pink on Showtime? Let us know what you think in the comment section below. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Artist Spotlight: Dickpunks

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K-Pop may be the most popular thing coming out of Korea today, but Korean rock bands are gradually becoming more and more popular. Dickpunks is one of Korea’s most popular bands right now, so here’s an introduction for everyone who may not know them.

First, the name. Freaking hilarious. Second, there’s no way to describe Dickpunks music. When they appeared on Superstar K4, the judges labeled it solely as “Dickpunks style.”

I first found out about the Dickpunks at the Lush Concert II in Seoul. I had gone to see Ailee, Baek Ji Young, and INFINITE perform, and ended up enjoying all of the performers. However, from that moment on, I fell in love with Dickpunks.

Dickpunks was formed in 2006 and began performing in Hongdae, a neighborhood popular in Korea for its music scene. The group then appeared on Superstar K4 in 2012, and lost to Roy Kim for the top spot on the show.

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The group is made up of four members, and was founded when the keyboardist, Kim Hyun Woo, decided to create a band. Kim Tae Hyun is the vocalist, while Kim Jae Heung plays the bass, and Park Ga Ram plays the drums. Unlike most bands, Dickpunks has no guitarist because Kim Hyun Woo liked the idea of a piano-driven band.

The fact that the group doesn’t have a guitar is very noticeable and helps Dickpunks stand out in the Korean music scene, making their songs recognizable immediately. Tae Hyun’s voice is also very distinct.

Even though Dickpunks isn’t an idol group, it’s been compared to groups like Busker Busker and Ulalala Session for its ability to stand out in the industry with a distinctive sound.

Also, they’re incredibly handsome!

Dickpunks appeared on Superstar K4 first while performing its take on the 1968 trot hit, Ulleungdo Twist. The band’s version of the famous trot song met with favorable views, and the group continued on the show until it finally became the runner up.

After taking second place at Superstar K4, Dickpunks signed with TNC Company, and in 2013 released the album and song Viva Primavera. The song’s playful sound and music video gained a lot of attention in Korea, although it didn’t gain a lot of attention internationally. I saw them perform this at the Lush concert and fell in love.

The music video shows off Dickpunks playful style, showing the members in miniature and playing their music in the midst of a “follow the cup.”

Another song off of the album that I particularly liked was New Yorker, due to being a New Yorker myself. The lyrics and style of the song are hilarious, discussing the on-the-go lifestyle that Koreans think people have in New York City. Although I couldn’t find a translation of the lyrics, the song starts with a description of waking up and going to get coffee and then getting brunch at a fast-speed pace.

Ironically, the description painted in the lyrics actually reminds me more of Seoul’s lifestyle rather than New York’s!

After Viva Primavera, came Sunglass. Not “Sunglasses,” but Sunglass. The video, much like that of Viva Primavera, combined hilarity and randomness—the video runs in reverse. The song is about loving someone who hides their true intentions, making it difficult to face one another. Even though it’s a serious subject, Dickpunks makes a joke out of it in the video, and the tempo of the song implies levity.

After Sunglass, Dickpunks released a much more serious song, Hello Godbye, also known as Goodbye Girlfriend. The video, much like Viva Primavera and Sunglass, has a unique style- stop motion. Even though Hello Goodbye is a ballad, Dickpunks’ sound is apparent at the first sound of the song.

After releasing three music videos in 2013 and holding a concert at the end of the year, they recently made their 2014 comeback with Soulmate, a collaboration with 4Minute’s Jiyoon. Dickpunks performed a cover of 4Minute’s Muzik on Superstar K4, so it is quite fun to see the group work with one of 4Minute’s members.

Dickpunks cover of Muzik is so well-loved that the band recently performed it at the 2014 Miss Korea pageant during the swimsuit parade.

Along with their promotional songs, Dickpunks has also release music for the soundtracks of dramas like 2 Weeks and Angel Eyes.

Dickpunks style of music isn’t for everybody, but in the Korean music industry that is often ridiculed for being unoriginal, a band with a unique sound like Dickpunks is really appealing and exciting.

What do you think of Dickpunks and its style? Does this band deserve to be more popular?

Henry’s “Fantastic” Music Video & Song Review

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It was quite a surprise when SM Entertainment dropped a teaser for Henry‘s second solo album, Fantastic. With much anticipation, fans looked forward to the Fantastic music video; I personally hoped that it would be as eventful as f(x)‘s Red Light. Was it a fantastic comeback?

Music Video

To be completely honest, I’m not a fan of the cheesy opening. However, I still managed to stay focused for the actual song and video, which was pretty cool. While the box dancing sequences returned, I have to admit that the violin theme is awesome! I also have to mention that I’m in love with how SM is showing off Henry’s musical talents outside of just singing for each of his solo releases.

Atmosphere

The grayscale introduction to the video gives off this mysterious, albeit overplayed, feeling in which you’re not sure what’s going to happen. The fog gives way to color as Henry walks up to an electric violin, and the soundtrack sounds like it’s coming straight from a blockbuster movie. I’m serious. It reminds me of when Superman finally puts on the suit and flies into the sky, which isn’t very different than what actually happens.

You see, Henry takes ahold of his destined instrument and plays this badass intro that really made me think that this music video was going to turn into an action film. There’s a tension that breaks once the beat drops, which transitions quite nicely. Basically, you feel apprehensive, but the familiar tempo of pop brings out new energy that gets you back on track.

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Plotline

Is there really a plot? I’m not really sure. Besides the beginning and random parts in which Henry pursues and holds the mystery girl, there doesn’t seem to be a point in the video. Of course, there’s the “music gives Henry life” metaphor with tubes connecting the violin to his body that piques my interest.

When the tubes disappear into the girl, I’m led into thinking that perhaps his pursuit of the lady in white is actually his attempt at finding his passion and truly accepting it. When he finds her, he holds onto her shoulders, as if he’s getting ready to keep her in his life. Also, I think it’s important to notice how he closes his eyes in both scenes with the violin and his co-star; this goes to show how he puts all his effort and trust into both his abilities and the violin itself.

Henry Lau Fantastic Review 2

She then reciprocates his actions, so it’s as if she, as the violin, accepts him after he accepts her, further establishing their relationship.

The TV screens? They could be representing his struggle with coming to terms with himself, seeing himself as someone who really can go far with his instrumental talents.

Or I could be totally off, and there really is no story to the video. All I know is that this guy’s dancing inside a violin, and it’s kind of really creative.

Fashion & Makeup

Henry sports similar attire from his previous releases, with a contrast between suits and urban, street-style clothing. The color scheme for his outfits depend on which scene he’s in; his dancing sequences focus on black and white, while his scenes with the violin and the metaphoric girl involve him with the primary color of red.

As for makeup? He’s just going for the simple, clean-cut look with (most likely) just light foundation with a slight, dewy finish and groomed brows.

Choreography

Since he’s pretty well-known for his gliding moonwalk and violin playing combination, I wasn’t surprised to see it in this video.

Accompanied by back-up dancers, he implements a lot of body isolation and smooth transitions in his choreography. Even when the chorus comes in and he starts hitting the moves harder, Henry still retains the fluid control in his dancing.

The majority of the choreography seems to be influenced by popping and locking, which appear to be his specialties.

Song

Much like Red Light, I wasn’t immediately liking this song when I first heard it. I did grow fond of Fantastic as time passed, but I still felt as if there could have been more variety.

Instrumental

Make no mistake about it: I am in LOVE with the violin presence in this song. If Henry had went through with less pop and more power ballad (or even rock), it would have still worked. Not only is the violin instrumentals a great beginning to the song, but it remains a strong force throughout the composition.

It’s not a one-time deal, which I’m extremely grateful for. The violin just adds an extra dash of spicy and epicness that the song would have otherwise missed!

Lyrics

Okay, I really have to confess that I cringed when I heard the opening lines. Really? “Girl, you’re fantastic” is probably fine to many fans, but it’s just so cheesy… Looking past that one fault, let’s examine this translation I got from kpoplyrics:

Yo girl you’re fantastic (you know that)
You make me fly

I was so immature
A child, who didn’t know what love is
I always won in this strange game of love
I was never even serious
I was always too proud

But you make me wanna be a better man
You make me reborn into a real man
You, who called my name
The fantastic you
The reason I chose you
Is because you’re the biggest gift in my life
Because you lift me up high
It’s gonna be fantastic

It’s gonna be really great, be excited
It’s gonna be fantastic
I’ll give you the world and more
It’s gonna be fantastic

I was like a swirling hurricane
Not even knowing myself
I only ran forward
But the very precious you came into my arms
Like a hot and small comet
You melted my frozen heart

You make me wanna be a better man
You make me reborn into a real man
You, who called my name
The fantastic you
The reason I chose you
Is because you’re the biggest gift in my life
Because you lift me up high
It’s gonna be fantastic

It’s gonna be really great, be excited
It’s gonna be fantastic
I’ll give you the world and more
It’s gonna be fantastic

You move me, you’re special
You make me be able to start everything
I found the answer to a fantastic dream
I hope your end is me as well

You make me wanna be a better man
You make me reborn into a real man
You, who called my name
The fantastic you
The reason I chose you
Is because you’re the biggest gift in my life
Because you lift me up high
It’s gonna be fantastic

It’s gonna be really great, be excited
It’s gonna be fantastic
I’ll give you the world and more
It’s gonna be fantastic

I didn’t know this was a love song, but it sounds like it is! The dude is admitting that he was pretty much too vain to even comprehend what love was, thinking that he kept winning the game. When this girl runs into him, he gets hit with the realization that the best thing in the world isn’t him, but her.

Half of the lyrics scream “BALLAD,” but the repetition and finalizing touch of “fantastic” tie everything together to make it fit into a pop song.

Style & Vocals

I feel like Henry decided to play it safe and go with his usual style of pop, and that’s perfectly fine! He’s good at this genre, so I’m not complaining. Did the genre and lyrics complement one another? They do, to a point, but I do believe that perhaps a ballad may have been just as great.

Henry’s known for his higher-range voice and good vocals, and he definitely showcased them. The ad-libbing hits strong notes, and there are moments of really nice harmony; while I don’t think he necessarily improved tenfold, he certainly has matured since his last comeback.

Overall ratings

My opinions regarding this video and song are more balanced than the last review, but I’m still not totally enraptured by this comeback. It’s pretty good, but it’s not the most amazing thing that Henry has done. Nevertheless, here’s my final verdict:

MV: 7/10
Song: 7/10
Both: 7/10

How did you feel about Fantastic? What genre do you think Henry should venture into next? Be sure to share your thoughts and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Fan Fashion: BTS Show & Prove in Los Angeles

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Every time there is a new concert, especially a K-Pop one, I start thinking what outfit I’m going to wear. Being a fashion aficionado, one of the first things I do when I get to the concert is to check out everyone’s outfits. So naturally, when we attended BTS Show & Prove at Troubadour in Los Angeles on July 14th, that’s one of the first things we checked out. The concert was free, and while we waited for the show to start, we chatted with some fans and took street style photos of our top picks for best Fan Fashion.

First off, I want to start by saying how much I appreciate to see when men take time and really think of what they are going to wear; attention to detail is a very important key to give a very unique taste to your look.

Fan Fashion BTS 1

Here he made emphasis on the different prints, almost creating an ombré effect. His accessories were simple statement pieces that matched well with the overall look . The look was obviously inspired by BTS and gave a very KTZ and Givenchy feeling.  

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I love when girls mix masculine elements with feminine ones. These girls really knew how to implement this style very well. Flowers (which are  one of the hottest trends for summer) were their main point of focus.

Fan Fashion BTS 2

She was definitely one of my favorite looks. Mixing white lace with the flower circle skirt was very on-point. The black crop-top created a great contrast for the look.  Her ying-yang chocker necklace and backward hat was a cool nod to the ’90s. And those sandals! Those sandals! Good, good job!

As we were about to leave to have lunch,  I spotted this cutie. Even though her dress is an eye-catcher, I went straight to her shoes. I love creepers with monk straps and this is one of my favorite styles of shoes to wear.  The print of her dress not only features flowers, but also really cool looking angels (they are even wearing sunglasses!). Her gold accessories and hat gave her a really badass look!

Fan Fashion BTS 3

 

Fan Fashion BTS Shoes Monk Strap

There is nothing wrong with wearing kids plush toy backpacks, epecially if it is a Pikachu (one of my favorite characters of all time). This obviously caught my attention. Moreover, her blue hair was really cool, and her pop of color with the varsity orange cropped top was paired very well with her black ripped jeans. Remember when I talked earlier about attention to detail? Look at her necklace! It makes you want to read the word in her shirt with the word in her necklace creating “Perfect Faith”.

Fan Fashion BTS 4

These next two ladies had different styles, but both of them were very chic. The  girl on the left reminisced the grunge scene while making it her own with those pretty platform sandals. Usually for a grunge look, people pair boots or something tougher. But she made it look very chic with her choice of footwear.

Shift dresses are very wearable for summer since they are comfortable and can look very well-put together. The girl on the right chose a leopard print but in gray and black, making the print a little more demure. The gladiator sandals with gold buckles are the only accessory she needs.

Fan Fashion BTS 5

After having lunch and heading back to the park, we sat down to rest and I spotted these ladies. They both were wearing pieces that I would love to have in my closet. That tropical varsity jersey was beautiful (I am already thinking of how many ways I can style the jersey). And the cherry on top was the customized classic ADIDAS with the platforms. I really really want them! If you are the girl on the right and are reading this, please let me know where you customized them or found them!

fansfashionbts2

Fan Fashion At BTS ADIDAS Platforms

I met this lady last year at KCON while she cosplayed as Crayon Pop with her friend and they looked amazing. But this time she seemed like a female member of BTS back when they were promoting in all red outfits. I forgot to take a picture of her Totoro backpack, but her Rilakkuma purse was really cute too.  I loved how she added the blue tights; it made the outfit look so much more fun.

Fan Fashion BTS 7

The BTS show was a blast. One of the best concerts I have been in a while. Make sure to check out KPOPme’s review of BTS free showcase in Los Angeles to find out how it went.

Make sure to put on your best outfit so you can be featured in the next Fan Fashion. Don’t forget to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Review: BTS Show & Prove in Los Angeles

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Idol hip hop group BTS (Bangtan Boys) held a small showcase at Troubador in Los Angeles, CA on July 14th this year, titled BTS Show and Prove, where they treated fans to their newly attained skills and well-known songs.

For the past couple of weeks, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Rap Monster, V, Jimin, and Jungkook have called L.A. their home, as they’ve been busy filming a reality show and getting mentored on different hip hop skills for their upcoming new album. The sudden news of a free BTS concert came as a unexpected surprise for A.R.M.Y., who had less than two days to hustle in order to attend this (most likely) once in a lifetime, intimate performance by the boys. The catch to the event? Only the first 200 fans to arrive would get in, even if the venue had a 400 people capacity.

Despite the venue’s strict rule of prohibiting people from lining up hours or even days before a given event, fans bypassed the restriction and camped out as early as 8 p.m. the prior day. As more and more fans arrived, some people passed a notebook in order for everyone to write down their name in order. Luckily for these fans, the production respected the list and granted them little blue tickets, along with a number brand on their arms.

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Across the street from the Troubador, the line of hopeful A.R.M.Y members in the park reached almost 400, and most people were told to leave, given that their chances for getting in were extremely low. The production also told ticket holders to leave and come back at 5:30, 30 minutes prior to the start of the show. But even then, some of the unlucky fans remained put in the park. Hope was at-large.

Even if having a ticket was the main reason fans remained in the park, they did get some perks! Fans rushed to the Troubador’s back alley when they spotted a white van arriving carrying three BTS members, including Jimin, who was the only one who waved at everyone. Moreover, the production went to the park and began interviewing recording fans for what we presumed was their reality show. A.R.M.Y. chanted, “BTS saranghaeyo,” and the opening lines for No More Dream.

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At 5 o’clock, ticket holders began to line up, while the rest of the fans remained hopeful at the park. When the first people were let into the venue an hour and a half later, everyone else was, once again, told to leave. But fans were relentless. They stayed at the front of the Troubador and even got to see from a window when the guys started the show with We Are Bulletproof Pt. 2, which had to be redone because of audio problems despite the boys’ going full-on acapella. The outside fans tapped the window and chanted “BTS, BTS,” however limited the view was.

It seemed like a lost cause, but then someone, some blessed someone, took pity on the 50 or so without a ticket and eventually let them in. All those uncertain waiting hours had not been in vain.

BTS Show & Prove was, as the name implies, for the group to show all the skills they learned with their mentors in the city of Angels up and to prove how good they became due to the mentorships. The venue was small enough for there to be no bad spot; you had a good view of the stage wherever you stood. Fans swarmed the pit to get as close to the idols while the balcony was reserved for film crew, mentors, and guests.  

BTS dedicated the first part of the show to display their newly developed talents. Jin and J-Hope beatboxed along with their mentor, who also performed and later said that both of them were some of his best students ever, given their hard work and talent. Also, Jungkook, Jimin, and J-Hope had a dance battle with other performers, where they displayed new urban moves. They also sang a rendition of Oh Happy Day from the film, Sister Act 2.

After this portion, BTS answered a few fan questions from a board, which fans had previously given to the production. Among the highlights, Jimin sang, to everyone’s delight, a cover of Taeyang’s Eyes, Nose, Lips while Jungkook performed Justin Beiber’s Boyfriend. Suga, for his part, had to do aegyo, while Rap Monster did krump. As for dancing, fans asked J-Hope to do a girl group dance of his choice, which were 24 Hours by Sunmi and Beyonce’s Single Ladies. Moreover, Jin did a little cute dance, much to the members’ funny discomfort.

Since the showcase was for future broadcast, the members spoke almost exclusively in Korean without the help of a translator. Rap Monster tried his best to translate, but he couldn’t keep up with everyone, and mostly focused on speaking English himself, which was much appreciated by non-Korean speaking fans. Furthermore, the production told fans prior to the show that they couldn’t take any pictures or video, and that anyone caught doing so would be kicked out. While no one appeared to have been forced to leave (one girl, however, had to be taken out given that she fainted in the first row), the few fans who were indeed caught taking their phones out were obnoxiously scolded and warned. However, KPOPme decided to do a video about the fans while everyone waited in the park:

Then the “appetizer,” as Rap Monster called it, of the show ended and it was time for “the main dish:” more of BTS’ own songs. These included I Like It, Boy in Luv, Rise of Bangtan, and a No More Dream encore. Fans happily sang along to all the songs at the top of their lungs, which sometimes made it difficult to hear BTS themselves. The show was expected to last about an hour, but ended up running for almost two. At the end of the show, the guys said their goodbyes and pinky promised to come back next year with their own show, even though they’re part of the KCON roster this year.

BTS was successful in proving that their time in L.A. had been spent well, for they put on a great show by displaying all their new skills. Their performances were high energy from start to finish; everyone — even the choreographers and other mentors — were chanting, jamming, and dancing along to their songs. The members, despite sweating because of the hot venue, seemed rested (compared to other idols who don’t put on the best shows out of tiredness from their schedules) and excited to perform. There wasn’t a moment when they didn’t have ear-to-ear grins plastered on their faces, reciprocating the audience’s grateful smiles. At the end of the day, no one could think of any ticket troubles, because the show was well-worth it.

Here are a few more pictures we took outside Troubador:

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Let’s Discuss: YG’s Luck With Damage Control

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Park Bom of 2NE1‘s recent drug scandal, and YG Entertainment‘s handling of it, shows yet another time when YG Entertainment thought it was doing the right thing with its artists, but really only time will be able to heal the wound. Time and time again, YG Entertainment’s damage control is just hiding from the spotlight for a bit.

And that’s a problem.

Bom got caught trying to smuggle amphetamine in from the US to Korea in 2010, by trying to send the drugs through mail. YG’s ceo, Yang Hyun Suk, released a statement explaining Bom’s actions, and made sense of the situation- Bom had gone to school in the US and needed the medicine to help her cope with a traumatic event from her past. She didn’t know that the drug was illegal in Korea, just thought that it was unavailable and had it sent to her grandmother’s home because she would be doing her 2NE1 activities.

Then it came to light that the medicine was smuggled to look like diet aid. Obviously, someone from Park Bom’s family knew that what she was receiving was wrong, but sent it in care of Bom’s grandmother anyway–trying to keep the possible illegality being traced to Bom herself.

Since that news became public, YG and Yang Hyun Suk has stayed silent despite his previous lengthy response to Bom’s situation. In fact, pretty much everyone’s stayed silent. Bom has continued her 2NE1 activities, but recently stopped filming for the variety show Roommates. She will probably disappear for a bit, then come back with 2NE1 in a few months.

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This is almost the exact same thing that happened with G-Dragon when he was caught smoking marijuana. If you’re reading this from America, where consuming marijuana containing high amounts of THC is legal in many states, you might be quite confused. But marijuana is a drug that’s illegal in South Korea. He got in trouble publicly, then came back amazingly with Blue and then, possibly Big Bang’s most iconic song, Fantastic Baby. And all was forgotten because, well, it was a minor issue. Just like this one. Just because smoking marijuana is illegal where YG is from, that doesn’t mean he can’t invest in it with neue Cannabis Aktien available for him to look into, he may be able to at least have some part in the industry and make more money on top of the amount he already has!

Smoking marijuana may be a minor issue, but it is a big public image mess. YG seems to try to handle things, and then let them go away, hoping (and knowing) that the public will forget. The same thing happened when Seungri had a sex scandal.

Even Daesung’s scandal, a car accident when somebody died, went away with some time.

But many scandals, something as simple as plastic surgery, causes the end of an idol’s career. Even SM Entertainment’s Kangin of Super Junior had a hard time rebounding from a large scandal involving a DUI, and had to go to the army.

Yet, YG has realized that if its idols go away, to reflect, it helps. It doesn’t actually matter what the idol does– as long as Bom doesn’t get caught, she could probably go to Hawaii and surf the waves for three months, then come back and act a little bit remorseful, and all will be well.

YG doesn’t need to control its artists that well because their fandoms are so intense that even murder could be forgiven. (Just clarifying, Daesung did not murder anybody–it was an accident. I’m just saying, they could be vampires and nobody would be annoyed because 2NE1 and Big Bang’s fans are so passionate.)

But, even though YG doesn’t need to control its artists, since they’ll be all right, does it mean that YG doesn’t need to? YG Entertainment is the only company right now that has idols actively promoting who have had numerous sex and drug scandals. Smaller companies can’t deal with the bad press, so members leave, but companies like SM and JYP get rid of idols when something happens (think about Jay Park and 2PM.)

YG Entertainment gives its artists free reign, and they kind of are out of control. The company is merely lucky that fans still adore the idols after they make their comebacks. Things could get pretty nasty otherwise.

Is it problematic that YG Entertainment isn’t very good at damage control and just lets fans forgive and forget? Or is that the way things should be in K-Pop? Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.