THE KOREAN FEVER

     Variety shows in Korea are definitely original, unique and fun. There are shows that didn't last long but there are also some that are still airing after a long time. One of the variety shows that was well accepted and loved by fans was Strong Heart. But it unfortunately ended by the year 2013. Nonetheless, it's definitely a worthy to be watched program that made people smile, laugh and even cry.

     Strong Heart started back in 2009. It was originally hosted by a comedian, Kang Ho Dong, and an actor and singer, Lee SeungGi but they retired as MCs of the show due to different reasons. Thus, Lee DongWook and Shin Dong Yup took over their places by March of 2012.  The variety show's concept was that the celebrity guests would be sharing stories from their experiences and whoever had the funniest or most inspiring story will be chosen as the one who has the strongest heart. This show also gave chances to the fans to learn more about their admired celebrities and so, Strong Heart was really enjoyed by the viewers.

     But all good things must come to an end. When the season 2 of the show started with a new format (rules and flow of the show was changed), it started to decline. The Strong Heart that was known by the viewers changed drastically that even the number of guests was narrowed down to 5 per episodes. The original fun spark of the show was gone and even the title was changed into "Controller of the Heart." Since the show's rating was hitting the bottom, the channel SBS cancelled the show.

     Many fans were not surprise that the show ended especially with the changes it went through. But there were still few who expressed disappointment that a long time running show had to end. Strong Heart gave happiness, enjoyment and life lessons. It was a show that brought idols closer to fans through the sharing of stories. Surely, Strong Heart is a variety show that K-Pop fans have grown to love for 4 years but now miss for a year. 

     The year is almost coming to an end and it's time for the year-end award shows! It was just recently (November 13, 2014) that MelOn Music Awards was held. K-pop groups were given recognition in different categories such as 'Song of the Year', 'Album of the Year and many other more. Since it's one of the most prestigious awarding ceremony in Korea, the idol groups prepared performances to showcase their talent as well as their hit songs. Here are 5 personally picked highlight perfomances during the awards night (in no particular order).

     IU's performance was simple and had an angelic vibe. There was no loud background music nor crazy dance moves. It was just her and her music. She simply sang 'My Old Story' and 'Meaning of You'. When she opened her mouth and started singing, the crowds went wild by screaming at the top of their lungs. Throughout the whole performance, her voice sounded sweet and it was accompanied by an orchestra composed of old people and a choir consists of kids. 

     Next is the performance of 'Some' by Junggigo and Soyou. It was simple yet it still kept the sweet aura especially when the duo just sang with smiles on their faces. With their performance, anyone would want to bob their head up and down along with the tune of the song. On the other note, the duo also interacted with the other artist who were there. It made their stage number looked livelier.

     It was not just Junggigo and Soyou who performed as a duo that night since there was AKMU who had a performance which was themed as Alice in Wonderland. The child actress in Miracle in Cell No. 7 took part in the performance as she narrated the beginning as well as danced with the Lee siblings in the end. 'Give Love' and '200%' was performed and it was evident that the crowd loved the songs just by the cheers that erupted from them. But it seemed like Chanhyuk was sick since he looked like he was struggling to catch his breath and was unable to sing some of his parts properly. But nonetheless, it was a performance worth watching.

     Then there's WINNER! They showcased their individuals skills and unique colors by performing solos before singing their hit song Empty together. If non-Kpoppers would watch their performance, they would probably think that the group aren't rookies anymore because of their versatility. It's pretty impressive too that one of the members (Seunghoon) wrote a new song, Serenade, for his solo act. It's safe to say, just by how they were reacting in SNS, that everyone who belongs to the Inner Circle (WINNER's fandom) had fallen head over heels for their charm individually and as a group because of their performance.

     Last is Taeyang's performance. It was a performance like the usual. He showed great moves and great vocals matched with energy and emotions. Taeyang's stage number was the most anticipated during the whole awards night. It was reported that the ratings reached its peak during his solo stage which proved his success and popularity.

     MelOn Music Awards is not just an event wherein idols receive awards. It's also an opportunity for them to show what their talents are and why they deserve an award. Simply, it's K-Pop groups' venue to give a year end blast of performance. If you haven't watched MMA 2014, then I say you should! And we must not also forget that Mnet Asian Music Awards is nearing as well and it  means another round of awesome stages so let's look forward to it too.

  Two groups has already been named in my list of top three groups who showcases professionalism and resiliency. They were SHINee and 2NE1. And the last one will finally be revealed. It's none other than BIGBANG! Here's why they are number one on the list.

  During BIGBANG's performance of "Always" in their Alive Tour in New Jersey, the CD all of a sudden broke. Normally, singers would stop singing and apologize to the fans for the technical difficulty. But BIGBANG didn't do that because when the music stop, they took it upon theirselves to continue without hesitation. TOP and G-Dragon, the group's rappers, immediately beatboxed while the other three members sang. They did it until the music came back towards the end.

  There was no second guessing nor a second of hesitation. A fan or not, one would most likely to be impressed on how they managed to immediately cover the situation without batting an eye. Their performance just proved how well they work together as a team. They turned a negative situation with ease and kept the fans hyped. Because of this, anyone can say that they're really born to be on stage and perform.

  BIGBANG completes my list just by a single performance. And other than them, SHINee and 2NE1 are in the list too. But it's not just these three groups who exemplify professionalism because there are other artists out there too.  It's just that SHINee, 2NE1 and BIGBANG standout the most in the aspect of professionalism. They surely follow the saying, "The show must go on."

    Did the previous blog post leave you curious unto who the other groups are in my list of the top three groups who show professionalism in their craft? Your curiosity will be satisfied since here is the second part! SHINee was already named as one of the top three. And now, the second group will be revealed.

     YG's "bad" girls, 2NE1, takes the second spot in my list since there were already different circumstances where they proved they are resilient anytime and anywhere. Example, the group's leader, CL, once fell face flat on the stage but hurriedly stood up and continued dancing as she eyed her members as if telling them not to mind her at all. Second was when Park Bom has to tiptoe through the whole performance of "I Love You" because one of her shoe which was unfortunately a high stiletto heel slipped off of her right foot. It was only in the last few seconds of the performance that she removed the other shoe and danced barefoot on stage. She gained praises which she totally deserved because, come on, can anyone dare to continue dancing with one shoe (a high stiletto heel) plus sing too without getting flustered?

    But it was recently when 2NE1 once again proved that they're always ready to take the stage on no matter what. They had their world tour and had to travel back and forth Korea and abroad and when they were in their motherland, they performed in Yoo Hee Yeol's Sketchbook. Sketchbook that time was having a tribute for the Sewol Ferry accident. They sang the unplugged version of their song, Come Back Home and Missing You (which was requested by the audience) and viewers would notice a ball-like bulge on Bom's neck, indicating that her nodes are once again affecting her vocal chords which makes it painful when singing. On the other hand, CL was having a sore throat which is why her voice was raspy (It was reported that she was sent to the emergency room after their performance) while the other two members showed no tiredness in any way. Just how do they endure such state and still be able to sing live?

     With their impressive performances, the second spot is taken by 2-N-E-1! Now you know the two groups who are included in my list. Are you excited who will take the last spot? It will be revealed soon. Wait for the third and last part of PERFORMANCE LEVEL: KPOP IDOLS. CIAO!

PICTURE is NOT mine.

     When it comes to work, professionalism is a must and as a fan of K-Pop for six years, I have witnessed K-Pop idol's resiliency and professionalism in different circumstances. This is my list of top three groups who has shown great professionalism when they're under difficult situations.

    SHINee of SMEnt takes the top three. Their professionalism was first showcased during a performance of their song "Dream Girl" when the mic stand of one of the members broke into pieces. But with SHINee's teamwork, they subtly kicked away all the pieces off the stage and continued as if nothing was wrong. With their performance, one questioned would linger in your mind, "How come they easily came up with a plan and pulled it off without a sweat?" It's really amazing especially when the mic stand plays a huge role in their choreography.

Picture is still NOT MINE. Credits to the owner.

   SHINee's professionalism was once again tested when it suddenly rained cats and dogs during their performance in Hong Kong. The five boys totally ignored the heavy downpour! They continued to perform despite being drenched from head to toe! It would've been okay if it was only a drizzle but the rain was so heavy! Didn't they think they'll get sick because of that?

     If you were in SHINee's place, would you be able to do the same? Maybe but it'll surely needs a ton of resiliency and professionalism. SHINee is just one of top three and so there's still two more to go! Curious unto who they are? Wait and read the upcoming part two of PROFESSIONALISM LEVEL: K-Pop Idols.

Picture is NOT mine.

     For every promotion of different groups, every fan anticipates the new concept, dance and song. But other than those, the new hairstyles of the idols are much awaited too especially when they never fail to rock crazy hairstyles and colors every time. Among the sea of hairstyles which K-Pop idols have tried, there were two styles that stood out the most.

Picture is once again NOT mine. Oh Sehun during Wolf Era

     With a concept that is cute, fun and charming, idols have dyed their hair with bright colors but there was a hairstyle which was a mixture of hue and was really eye-catching. It is the rainbow hairstyle. This type of style was first tried by Hyoyeon of SNSD which was then followed by Sehun of EXO. One might think that it'll look like a colorful dust cleaner but it just depend on how you'll carry and rock the style. It may be weird for some but don't care and just try and feel fabulous about it.

This picture is NOT mine. Sandara Park during I Love You promotions

     Other than trying something that looks bright, it's great to be able to try something chic and cool.  By chic and cool, it means a hairstyle that is daring and bold that would surprise people and so, one sided shaving of the hair is the the number one choice for it. This was used by G-Dragon of BIGBANG, Key of SHINee and lastly by Dara of 2NE1. This style is risky because there's a huge possibility that it'll look awful and there would be no way to get your hair back. Thus, one needs to have the guts first to do it.

     Sporting these two hairstyles is definitely a crazy thing to do. But there's one important question though. Would it look good on us as it had looked good on the K-idols who tried the hairstyles?  The only way to know is to try these hairstyles. But first, gather enough courage and just do it

       Earlier of October 2014, YG released two teaser photos. One of the teasers was for Epik High.  The group will be releasing  their 8th album entitled Shoebox. Just yesterday, October 18, they released the music video for the song "Born Hater" featuring Verbal Jint, Mino, Bobby, B.I and Beenzino. And as expected, it was great. Here's why.

       The song was simply blunt and bold. Cuss words just flow out of their mouths as the song is for people who hate and bash them for no reason at all. But try looking behind the swearing and cussing. You'll find out that the real thought of the song is actually meaningful. The whole essence of the song is that never be affected when someone talks bad about you especially in internet bashing because you're you and the ones who bash does not even know sh*t to talk sh*t. Your worth does not actually diminish because of others judgment and so be confident.

      Let's move on to the music video. At first I was hesitant to watch because it's rated 19 but curiosity was killing me so I still watched and boy, I didn't regret it. After gushing how awesome they are, I watched it for the second time to try and see what the hidden message of the MV was. Unfortunately, I didn't figure it out but on the brighter note, someone else did. The fan (I don't know her personally) noted that the 7 rappers represent the seven capital sins  while the 8th one who is B.I (the one who is wearing all white) represents the good as he cleans everything. It was really genius for them to incorporate this idea.

PICTURE IS NOT MINE. TAKEN FROM ALLKPOP.

       Truly, this is Epik High.They're the ones behind the deep and inspiring songs like Tomorrow, Fly and Paris.  They have awaken from their slumber. They're back to show how it's done. Let's look forward to their new album "Shoebox" that will be released just a few days from now.

Picture is NOT mine. The logo belongs to YGE.

YG Entertainment (YGE or simply YG) is one of the BIG 3 entertainment companies in Korea. It is also the home of big K-pop icons such as Psy, BIGBANG and 2NE1. YGE is dubbed by fans as the company of great quality. This is the list of personally picked top four things that YGE offers at its best quality.

Top 4 of the list is the fandom light sticks of every group under the company. Fandom light sticks are merchandises of different groups which fans carry around and wave during the idols' performances. YG artists' light sticks are definitely creative and unlike any other.  One example is WINNER's fandom (Inner Circle) light stick. The Japanese version of the light stick is machined with voice recognition and so the color changes every now and then for every member of the band. Just how cool is that? Also, the original version of the WINNER light stick (as well as BIGBANG version 4 light stick) has a reaction mode wherein the light illuminates in sync to the beat of the songs.

(This is BIGBANG V.4 Light stick.)

Third spot goes to the YG artists' music videos. From the story plot, the MV set until the clothes worn by the singers, everything is meticulously planned and on point. The song is given a deeper view for the audience. An example is 2NE1's Come Back Home wherein the MV gave us a lesson that we shouldn't get ourselves be too attached to the virtual world and technology because reality is much more better wherein our loved ones are waiting for us to spend time with them. Here's a trivia, YGE actually spent $470 000 for 2NE1's Come Back Home MV.

Top 2 is the albums and songs each artist releases and promotes. YG artists do not always release songs and albums but when they do, they always position themselves at the top of the music charts and news of their hit songs spreads like wildfire. They make sure to produce songs that are catchy and unique. They make new sounds that are refreshing to the ears. Like Akdong Musician's newly released digital single, Time and Fallen Leaves, the simple and soothing acoustic song is surely a breathe of fresh air among the upbeat electro-pop and hip-hop songs out there. And to add to its soothing vibe, the message of the song is very deep and meaningful that you wouldn't expect it from an 18 year old singer who composed it.

The YG artists are the number 1 on the list. Each one who debuts under YG Entertainment is surely packed with talent and skills. One must train so hard to even get a chance to be on stage. YG even holds survival show to see the trainees dedication and to test what every trainee is made of. Other than that, groups and soloists under YGE always give outstanding live performances which they are always praised for. (They don't do lip sync. Several MR removed videos already proved that)

There are times when YG stans get annoyed by the constant teasing and delays of comebacks, album or song releases and debuts. But they've learned to be patient with YGE especially when the wait is always worth it. Why? Because as what BIGBANG once promised to their fans, "We will serve you as a VIP forever." And YG stans have been given the best of the best and are never disappointed.

One of the South Korean entertainment specialties are films that will surely tug your heart strings. So here are the top 3 movies that will touch your hearts and make you spill bucket of tears. (NOTE: This is based according to my opinions and I will try my best not to give spoilers.)

Top 3 is "Windstruck" which is a cute romantic comedy film with a plot twist that will break your heart. The movie will make you feel how nice it is to be in love while making you laugh because of the stupid antics of the casts. But at some point of the movie, tears will flood your eyes and you just want to ask "WHY?! WHY DOES IT HAVE TO HAPPEN?!" It's just so heartbreaking to see the protagonist go through such pain. This movie will make you smile and laugh, frown and cry but at the end of the day, you will learn that one should move on no matter how hard it is.

The one that took the second place is "The Werewolf Boy". I know you're thinking that it's the typical werewolf story and the first person who pops in your mind is Jacob of Twilight. But this movie is uniquely different starting from the story itself until the recommendable acting of the casts especially the lead actor (Song JoongKi) who has outdone himself with his amazing acting. Loyalty, love and devotion are evident in this movie. It teaches us that time does not fade an authentic and pure love of someone to another. 

The turnout of events will make you hate the antagonist to the very core. It will also make you cry with the lead actress as you watch the scene unfold. The ending is special for this movie. Just when you recovered from your deep sorrow, it'll once again shred the remaining pieces of your heart. Trust me when I say, it will make you want to curse so badly.

Take a deep breath. Calm your heart. Brace yourself because the movie "Miracle in Cell No. 7" is the saddest of the bunch. Even the manliest of all men and people with hearts made of ice will melt and will be touched by the sincere love of a father to his daughter. Miracle in Cell No. 7 presents a story of a mentally disabled father falsely accused of crimes he didn't do and his struggles with his daughter. 

If you watch the movie, you'll smile but the next moment, you'll find yourself crying. Also, there are moments that will make you want to pull your hair off due to frustration. It'll make you so angry you just want to say, "That's just bull****" Surely, Miracle in Cell No. 7 will give you a roller coaster ride of emotions.

      So there you go! I really recommend you to watch these movies especially if you're looking for drama. I'll give you a warning though. Please prepare a tissue box when you watch the movies!

PICTURE IS NOT MINE. CREDIT TO THE OWNER.

    Who has not yet heard and danced the phenomenal dance craze GANGNAM STYLE? I think no one since it has gone viral across the globe and it's very obvious that this played a huge role in making the Hallyu Wave more known to the world. But K-Pop is more than that. It has more to offer aside from the crazy and fun antics of Psy's Gangnam Style. Let's break this down, shall we?

Do you enjoy ballad and slow songs? Groups like Davichi, 2AM and SM Ballad will suit your preference. They will serenade you with their soulful and angelic voices.  Listening to them sing will make you drown with emotions. You might not understand the language, but you can feel just by listening to their voices.

If mellow songs isn't your type, there are still other groups to choose from. If you prefer upbeat and catchy songs, you better listen to SNSD, Super Junior, EXO, GOT7, BTS and Sistar. They offer you songs that will make you want to tap your feet and bob your head up and down. Their songs are probably the type of songs that will be stuck in your head for days! Also, they match their songs with awesome and synchronized dance that will definitely make you wish you can dance like them.

Can't still find a group that suits your taste? Then why don't you try Winner, 2NE1 and BIGBANG? They are groups who actually does not stick to one genre of music. They mix and match different music styles such as hiphop, RnB, reggae, ballad and electro-pop. You will never get sick of their music since every song is so different and unique from another.

The groups mentioned are just few of the K-Pop groups to choose from. There are still so many others that you might grow to love. You just have to discover which group and music style will suit your taste. But if Korean music isn't your style, I just hope you won't close your mind in trying to love them even if you don't understand the language. Remember, music is a universal language.