bb's ramblings: days of being a BYJ fan... since 2002!
Monday, November 09, 2009
[KHJ] missing them
you know, occasionally i would wonder if she would lie down on her bed at night and think about those six months or so back in 2008. what would she be thinking of? which scenes which be the most memorable for her? would she wonder what her shillang was doing at that exact same moment? would she wonder if he was well and whether he was still having problem sleeping?
and i wonder when she thinks of him, what images she sees in her mind... maybe it's flashes of him smiling at her, and looking at her, like this.
i miss watching them. i miss imagining that i was seeing the beginning sparks of something special. i miss imagining that i was watching love happen right before my eyes.
hehe, thinking i'd pulled a disappearing act on you again? nay, i was just busy.
feel almost embarrassed to say yea, was busy with the fanclub stuff again. just when i'd blogged about a week ago about wanting out of it. but i guess when duty calls, one can't just walk away even if one plans to walk out soon, ya?
was busy with the YS Love Like This project, and i guess you could call it a mini-emergency in that there's a strong sense of urgency in this project, and also, it does require fellow green peas to be understanding and to be supportive and to get involved. after a busy two days, i've gotta say the project has gone on much much better than we'd expected.
it's, once again, reaffirmed my belief that honesty is really the best policy in many situations in life. my personal experience in life, be it work or personal, has been that if i'm willing to be open and honest to share about things, people tend to be willing to listen and are mostly prepared to be sympathetic.
i'm super-glad that in this case, it's worked out this way. the SG TS have been superb, really.
despite a handful of those who can't seem to understand english, even though they can read, most of the SG TS are really really really great. no only are they prepared to be understanding, they're also willing to trust us. and, they're also willing to ride through the rough one with us.
some of them are even willing to do more than just their individual parts, and have volunteered to do more. gotta say we do need all the extra pairs of hands, and we did take them up on their offers to help, and personally, i'm mighty glad i did trust that these people would turn in good work. and they did not disappoint, i could literally see the heart they'd put in.
i've always been someone who's more practical than sentimental, so it's not so easy to move this skeptical and clinical heart. i can be way too rational and balanced and analytical for my own good sometimes. but oh boy, i did feel rather moved last night, or rather early this morning as i was going through some of the SG TS' work.
i know a handful of SG TS do lurk here. if you're reading this, and if you're one of those who had chosen to be a part of the LLT Declaration project, i thank you from the bottom of my heart.
yea, many who did not even take part in the original project had stood forward to get themselves involved in this pursuit of better effort. i like to believe that they had seen what we saw, and they had felt what we felt, and could understand why we had chosen to do what we did.
actions do speak loads louder than words, and their coming forward means alot to me. coz to me, i think it's a signal that they do appreciate what we've been doing (even though we aint' doing a great job), they acknowledge the effort and time that we'd put in. it's a rather big deal to me, personally.
okie, okie, actually what i really wanted to say is, THANK YOU.
talking about the LLT project, there's sorta a craze right now on the SgTripleS forum.hehe, the gals were happily doing the L-O-V-E signs practically the whole of yesterday and today and snapping pics.
here're our own CMs doing it, haha!
and... i came home yesterday to find a carton sitting like this in my room. but coz i was really beat, and still had stuff to clear for the LLT Declaration project, i decided NOT to open it just yet. you see, i've this thing about savoring the moment when i open up cartons, parcels or mail from overseas.
i like to wait till i've time to slowly open up and go through what surprises sit inside. so i only opened the carton when i got home just now. anyway, i wasn't expecting anything from anyone, so this, again, was a complete surprise to me.
but that's not the only surprising thing. the carton had come wrapped in this plastic thingy with "We regret that the enclosed mail item was received damaged during transit through the post. Singapore Post has re-packed the item so that it can be forwarded to you."
oh boy, my heart dropped... and i wondered about the contents of the carton, and whether anything precious was damaged.
i quickly removed the outer protective plastic to check out how much the damage was. ahhh... seems like one side of the carton had given way... i got really anxious and fairly worried at this point. gosh, what if it's YJ or leader stuff..?!
you know how fans can be like, ya? some of these things can be so precious to us, coz it might be difficult to obtain (especially if we're not in korea), or coz it might be out of stock/print already, or coz it's something we really treasure and coming from someone dear to us.
i opened up the top of the carton with my heart pounding away... removed the first layer of protective bubblepack and sponge stuff, what my eyes saw was that the carton was packed all the way to the brim with fab stuff, fab stuff, and even more fab stuff!
here, let me 'group' the fab stuff and share what precious treasures were inside the carton... and let us also check to see if anything was broken or damaged.
ahhhh.... the dear friend actually remembered what i like!! goodness, she's so sweet, so attentive and generous!
now i've said more than once on my blog that i really love this instant noodle pack from korea. yea, i've not seen them in singapore, so i believe they're not available here. (me wondering if it's because of the relatively short lifespan of these noodles... but they're so yummy they should be sold out long before!) and oh, i've always been curious how come the pack comes with only four individual packets, instead of five packets which is what we're used to.
and... i believe i'd also mentioned before that i just love marshmallow, and that includes these choco-pies with marshmallow! and... i like this particular packaging, the chinese word 情 is a great one especially when one is giving this to someone as a gift. the word could refer to any type of relationship or bond, be it love, friendship, or just ties that bind two parties together.
this is not the first time this dear friend has sent me this. and each time i receive this red box of choco-pies with marshmallow from her, i always am reminded of the ties that bind bae-fans together. and surprisingly (not just to me, i think many bae fans will agree with me this), many of the bae-friendship formed have actually blossomed into real friendship that has extended beyond just fandom talk.
keke, other than food for the tum, food for the soul, dear E also sent me food for the face!! yea, more TheFaceShop products! and of course, more of those postcards too!
omo! dear E has also sent stuff for the fangirl in me!!
first up, tonymoly stuff...! oh, two am-sure-they're-already-out-of-print posters!! fantabulous!! thanks, thanks, E!!
and... masks and a new, improved version of the famous BB cream! and of course, those facial cotton that most korean skincare and makeup houses like to give away to customers...
how can i thank you enough, E? it's like x'mas has come early this year!!
now if only leader can be wrapped up and given to me as a xmas present! yea, yea, me and just about another 500,000 gals...
this, from his BOF days. can't say i like this jihoo sunbae look, especially with the overly-shiny lips in this poster. give me the fierce look with the intense staring eyes like the poster before, anyday, anytime!
here, the new, improved version BB cream. it says Expert Triple Blemish Balm (BB) Cream, with SPF45 and PA+++.
not so long ago, i was just chatting with someone on the SgTripleS forum that i long for the day tonymoly would promote their BB cream strongly and aggressively. now that would mean making CFs and stuff, and it will be inevitable that leader has to shoot some CFs with the BB cream, ya? surely he, as the brand spokesperson, will have to say the product name?
can't wait to hear him say MY name on TV!
oh, tonymoly, pali pali...!! market your BB cream aggressively and make leader promote BB!
and... that's not all! dear E has bought the different issues of ASTA featuring SS501 (and naturally, leader's included)and packed them along too! woooooooooooooooonderful!!
and goodness gracious me!!
dear E... surely you didn't buy ALL THESE for me...?! whatever have i ever done to deserve sweet friends like you?
you know, i've always known that i've great friends. i may not have many friends, but the few that i do have, truly are great. they're the best-est friends anyone can wish for. i ain't the super-caring or attentive type, and i can't say i do much for my friends. and i also have a rather 'unusual' and somewhat difficult personality, but i've been blessed with the sweetest pals anyone can wish for. really.
in fact, even the people around me have commented on how nice and sweet my close friends all treat me...
the truth is i really really really appreciate my friends much, and am immensely thankful for their friendship. but i honestly think i don't deserve to have friends this fab.
but i guess instead of asking and wondering why, i should thank my lucky stars that someone up there must like me, and have sent lovely lovely lovely angels my way.
it's not about how much E has spent buying the stuff. it's the fact that she has taken the time to go 'collect' the stuff that i like, and also of different 'categories' (you know, like food, books, CDs, DVDs, etc....)
the entire carton of goodies are just too good to be true.
now, i no longer think xmas has come early. i'm thinking she's letting me enjoy xmas and a birthday altogether!!
somehow, saying THANK YOU doesn't seem enough. but i suppose that's the very least i can and should do. so, here it goes,
THANK YOU, E.
whatever it was, or whoever it was that had sent you my way, and happened that our paths crossed, despite the thousands of miles that separate us, i am truly thankful. my only regret is that i didn't spend enough time with you when you were in singapore.
dear E, i sincerely hope you will enjoy lots of laughter and joy in your life, and that love, hope and happiness will surround you, always.
The korean fans had called DSP regarding his movie participation. DSP did received the movie offer, but it is not confirmed that he will take this project.
okie, so gals... just in case you're about to head out to kinokuniya to lug home the entire series of kimi wa petto or about to start watching the japanese version of the drama, wait.... hold your horses!
project's not confirmed yet wor~
seems like what i've forgotten what i've always 'preached' when it comes to news relating to wuri yong joon, hehe!don't believe everything you read in the internet or the news. always wait for confirmation from the agency or the man himself. okay, same rule applies here.
but still, me thinks the drama intrigues me enough to want to watch the japanese version. after all, i do like koyuki much much....
ps. leader, if you're not gonna be su-ae's pet, would you please be mine instead?
then you would have heard that leader missed the recording of strong heart today, due to health reasons...?!! (it's not clear from her blog if YS and kyu went ahead with the recording or not...) gosh, i sure hope it's nothing serious...
could it be that he's caught a cold from the filming of dream team yesterday? they were outdoors pretty much yesterday, and i understand that the weather in seoul has turned really chilly. in fact, like what baby has said in his latest message on music high OB, seems like it's gone straight into deep winter!
i really hope it's just a cold, and nothing alarming.
anyway, since i've mentioned dream team, will just put up some pics from yesterday... i like his bare-faced, clean-cut look here. he looks young and fresh, not at all like the performer doing the jjitjoong and teasing all the women... quickening the heartbeats of the younger fangirls, and and firing off the alarm in the noona fans too...
here, the fresh-faced appeal... the shorter haircut is really growing on me; i'm loving it more and more, if that's possible at all, haha!
liezle, as usual, is quick with her postings and sharings. you can read up more about the dream team recording and stuff here and here.
i also lifted shirbogurl's YT clip from liezle's over to my blog. thanks much much, ladies! without your selfless and quick sharing, we fans would be left wondering and scratching heads most of the time...
and... meanwhile, i really hope that leader has seen the doc, and that he's resting as much as he can. oh please, don't stay up playing computer games or surfing or whatever it is that he likes to do.
just sleep, leader, sleep.
talking about sleep, i recall blogging about him, the sleepyhead here.cute one with cute pics of him sleeping away, so don't miss it, ya?
meanwhile, here are more pics of him...
keke, yawning...!!
and... as you know, i've been busy and stayed off blogging for sometime. but i'd saved like 18, 20 drafts in my blogger account from weeks, or even months ago, just waiting for the right time (and yea, mood too) to blog. errr... i found these two clips sitting idle in one of my drafts, i can't remember what i had wanted to say about them.
so forgive me if i just add them in as a by-the-way kind of postscript here, ya? seems a pity to just delete and not post them, hehe!
p.s. the first clip is leader doing the winter shots for MVIO, and it's on arirang, so it's in english.
courtesy of arirangworld
the second clip is from the BOF fan meeting in seoul in july this year. yea, with F4, but this is the leader cut.
GS25 (Korea’s leading convenience store chain) held a Pepero Day promotion by giving away SS501 Goodies for their customer.
GS25 is giving away these following prizes :
1. SS501 stage costumes for 5 people 2. SS501 signed CD for 300 people 3. ‘Fortune Salon’ Movie Premiere ticket for 200 people & Movie Tickets for 2500 people (1 person/2 tickets) 4. SS501 Poster (Customer Arrival Gift)
Pepero Day is an observance in South Korea similar to valentine’s Day. It is named after the Korean snack Pepero and held on November 11, since the date “11/11″ resembles four sticks of Pepero.
The holiday is observed mostly by young people and couples, who exchange Pepero sticks, other candies, and romantic gifts.
Lotte denies starting the holiday and instead states that they noticed a bump in Pepero sales around November 11th and after continued popularity they decided to then encourage the holiday with special gift boxes and other promotions.
cute hor? can we also have a pocky day or something...?
anyway, the supermarkets and stores really dress up their display for pepero day! here, have a look!
guess it's hard to escape pepero's day, just like it's hard to NOT know when valentine's day is near, particularly in korea and japan!
i understand that some gals even personalise their pepero sticks for their loved ones... the pepero sticks look sooooo.... cute! too cute to eat!
okie, and right here right now, i'm feeling darned glad i live in a country where the men don't really expect the women to do too many handmade stuff or handicraft.... wait... or have i missed the point totally all this while, and what's why i'm still single?!! *the princess wonders if she should stop blogging now and go sign up for some cooking or baking or pepero decoration classes!
since we're talking on pepero, am reminded of one blog post i did back in april. hehe, yea, i'd blogged about joongbo's showing on the chuseok special on WGM. new to my blog? clickhere to read.
meanwhile, it's time to repost (again!!) those pepero clips i love so much!
WGM chuseok special (pepero game)
courtesy of ffjrebmaster
here's the fantastically clear(!) slow mo version!
courtesy of joongboskittles03
wanna relive last year when many of us thought we were watching love happen right before our eyes? yea, watch the lovely joongbo special cut on the chuseok special on WGM (2:54).
again, courtesy of joongboskittles03
seems like we're always on the kissing topic these two days.... still reeling from the thoughts and self-conjured images of leader possibly doing what jun matsumoto did in the kimi wa petto drama? don't dwell on it too much lah.
after all, even though the news article's out, DSP or the pet, oops, i mean the man himself, have not said or announced anything. it won't be the first time if eventually clarification comes that it's just a rumour....
let's just wait and see what happens next. if it's true, then well and good, we leader fans should be happy he's going places... yea, only his second acting project and he's already the lead and on the silver screen, no less! if it's not true, then we oughta be happy too, since most of us would agree that leader's happiest working on music and performing with the rest of the boys.
and... wanna share an old clip... but super-cute one of baby being given the mission of getting a kiss from leader! yea, it's from those old M!Pick days.... yea, cute baby~ but hey, even cuter leader~
courtesy of skypoem
baby seems to be quite 'touchy feely', ya? whilst leader gives me the impression that while he can be quite close to people he's comfortable with, but under normal circumstances, unless he initiates it, he's probably not so comfortable with people touching him.... (just my own assumption, baseless one hor, so don't quote me, haha!)
gonna share one more clip of baby trying to peck YS on the cheek. hehe, me getting such a kick watching YS' reluctance!
courtesy of katty199107
one more... still of baby. but this time, he's the kissee, not the kisser, hee.... his younger brother, kim kibum, kisses him instead! hehe, such PDA, so schweeeeet...!!
courtesy of bellasilkyrox
p.s. you know, some people have said that the south koreans seem to like festives and enjoy gifting and celebrating much much... shrugs, i'm just pseudo-korean, so i don't really know...
but it does appear so to most of us looking in from the outside. for instance, did you know that while most of us celebrate only valentine's day on 14th feb, the south koreans actually find a reason to celebrate on the 14th of EVERY month?
January 14: Diary Day The day of presenting your lover with a cute diary and a basket of flowers
February 14: Valentine’s Day The day when girls and women present their boyfriends with chocolate and confess their love
March 14: White Day The day when boys and men present their girlfriends with chocolate and confess their love
April 14: Black Day The day when people who have no lovers eat black Chinese noodles together
May 14: Rose Day The day when lovers present each other with roses to express their love
Yellow Day The day when those who were unable to eat black noodles on Black Day go to eat yellow curry rice
June 14: Kiss Day The day when lovers kiss to confirm their love
July 14: Silver Day The day when lovers exchange silver rings to make a promise for the future
August 14: Music Day The day of presenting a CD with love songs
September 14: Photo Day The day when lovers take pictures to keep memories of their love
October 14: Wine Day The day when lovers drink wine and share love
November 14:Movie Day The day when lovers go to see a movie holding hands
December 14: Money Day The day of spending generously for your lover
Hug Day The day of giving hugs to your loved ones
actually there're slight variations to what days these are if you look at different sites. anyway, not so important lah... just pick whatever days you want to celebrate, or just cook up on your own... or, check out the korean tourism site.
pps. coincidentally... just saw that liezle has blogged about baby's PDA too! read this.
i just read up abit on the manga series, You're My Pet, and whoa, gotta say su-ae or not, i'm mighty excited now!
me thinks this has gotta be a dream role for leader, in the sense that me thinks he's perfect for the role!
he already looks like an adorable puppy (i mean this in the best-est possible way, of course), and he's already cute as a button, so much so that any OL would want to have a pet like this....
gosh, can you imagine if you've a pet like leader at home? who will run to greet you and graze you cheek-to-cheek when you get home every night? who will ask if he could sleep in your bed? who will go super-close to your face and smell you, kiss you as you sleep? goodness gracious, izzit hot in this (fully air-conditioned) room or what?!! *the princess fans herself vigorously*
lucky, lucky su-ae!!!
okie, will share what i've found out about the manga and drama with you.
first things first, it's a manga series created by Yayoi Ogawa.
yea, it's one of those targeting at women readers, and adult reader will love it too... and i understand that despite the passage of time, it remains as many readers' fave of all time! and oh, while i'm at it, you might want to know that this series is categorized under josei manga.
am sure you know what manga is, ya? josei = 女性, or translates literally into 'woman' or 'ladies', and it's pronounced [dʑosei]). so josei manga refers to manga targeting at ladies. you can read up more about josei manga here.
btw the manga goes by these names... the japanese title is きみはペット, romanized into Kimi wa Pet. we can also refer to it as You Are My Pet or Kimi wa Petto. It is also known by My Pet Momo and Tramps Like Us.
here's a look at how some of the manga covers look like...
actually i've read some reviews and most expressed abit of hesitation before reading the series coz of the theme. it just seems so unrealistic and wacky even... what? a man for a pet..? and a ballet dancer too!!
(talking about ballet dancers, our dear miyo has clarified on SGTripleS forum that it's not the classical ballet we're talking about, it's the modern ballet dance type, so the guys don't have to wear tights. they can just wear those drawstring cotton pants and stuff... gotta say for all the vivid images skipping across my mind earlier today, am actually very very very glad that we don't have to endure watching leader wearing tights. never did think guys in tights are a pretty sight at all, no matter who they are....)
the story's kindda cute... about how a noona is rather successful as a journalist at some media house, but has encountered some obstacles both at work and in love, and comes home to a young man in a box(!) outside her home. she (jokingly) says that he can stay with her if he becomes her pet.
surprisingly, he says yes, and they start to live together...
well, with the passage of time, the two grow close, very close, and the noona opens her heart to him without even realizing so. believe it is the young man who realizes that love has happened between them first...
anyway, turn of events and a man appears in the noona's life. she finds it hard to be as open to him as she is to her pet (whom she incidentally calls momo, coz the boy sorta reminds her of her dog from her childhood days.) and the story goes on.... and yea, happy ending, i believe. (oopsies, did i give the game away?!!)
if you wanna read the complete story, check out the wiki thread.
other rather nice-to-read reviews include this, this and this.
okay, the manga was adapted and produced into a 10-episode drama by TBS in japan back in 2003. the heroine was played by Koyuki(小雪)! she started off as a model, then turned to acting, but even till now, she's still a highly sought after face for many brands.
personally, me thinks she's a very very very beautiful woman! yea, you might have seen her in shiseido and SKII ads. she's also the face for panasonic, i believe.
okie, okie, most of you probably remember her from the tom cruise movie, the last samurai.
the princess thought she looked stunningly beautiful and sensuous in her kimono in the movie! and mind you, not much flesh was shown and her kimono was in the most sombre and severe of colours and prints. but i thought her fair skin, her nape... whoa! that's being sensuous naturally!
huh...? who played the pet...? oh ya, sorry, that's the whole point of this entry, the pet!
got sidetracked by the beautiful woman, haha! well, the pet was played by jun matsumoto of the famous boyband, arashi(translates literally into storm). yea, they share the same agency, johnnys, as SMAP(ooohhh... kimura takuya!!)
here, the boy with the BIGGEST eyes of 'em all is jun matsumoto.
next up, showing you some pics from the drama...!
want to check out more info and pics? click herefor the official drama site on TBS.
am sure by now you're curious about the drama, ya? here's one of the classic scenes, i believe...
hehe, screaming and feeling a teeny weeny bit envious (jealous? upset?) that leader will be doing that to su-ae? and with su-ae? here're more 'upsetting and disturbing' scenes! please proceed with caution!
i've also dug out some pics from the drama... hee, even the pic of the boy in a box!!
omo, i can imagine how our cute leader will look inside a box!!! i want box with leader inside!!
i want i want i want i want want!!
it's kindda cute how momo acts like a puppy inside the drama... really!! he really behaves like one.
see, he even squats like one...! (ay, wait-arh, i don't think puppies can squat wor~... oopsies!)
oh no...!!! would there be a bathtub scene like this one too...?!!
NO NO NO NO NO...! su-ae, hands off...!
think i'm gonna stay home this coming sunday to watch the drama. hehe, it sounds like a nice one to watch, but the thought that it's made waaaaaaaaaaay back in 2003... hmmm...
anyway, just in case you too wanna watch, clickhere for the mysoju link.
p.s. sidetrack abit... when i first read this news earlier today, i was reminded of how leader said in WGM that he only wants to be hwang buin's puppy. ohhhh.... how i miss joongbo!
shillang wants to be hwang buin's puppy... [WGM, epi 14]
the rumour has been floating around for sometime now, that leader will be taking up acting again early next year, and it will be a movie and with a noona actress. the name kim ha neul was zipping around.... i'm not a fan, so i was hoping real hard that it wouldn't be kim ha neul....
well, i got my wish, but... sighs...
anyway, according to what i'd read on cagalikira's blog, seems like leader's really gonna appear in a movie, and with a noona actress. yup, not kim ha neul, but su-ae. geez, let's just say i've now changed my mind, i think kim ha neul's fine....
original in korean: korean media / 2009.11.04 reposted by: ss601.com translated into english: xiaochu / quainte501.com
Kim HyunJoong-SuAe to Act in Movie ‘You are Pet’ Original Japan comic made into popular drama, Movie will premier next year April
‘Flower Boy’ Kim HyunJoong and SuAe from movie ‘The Sword With No Name’, will act in romantic comedy ‘You Are Pet’.
‘You Are Pet’ is a story from the 14-series comic in Japan which sold over 6 million copies after its publication. It is about raising a boyfriend like a house pet.
It has been made into a 10-episode drama by Japan TBS station in 2003 with average viewership of 15% (equivalent to 30% in Korea), making a big hit at that time. In Japan, Matsumoto Jun aroused attention from the public for his role in this drama.
Kim HyunJoong’s role is the main character Kang InHo grows up in a female dominant environment, while learning ballet, he knows well what he can do to be able to be loved by females. Even though he is a promising classic ballet dancer getting recognition internationally, he ran away from home to the disappointment of his family.
SuAe’s character is Ji EunEe who is a reporter at a general media firm and takes on a job of a simultaneous translator after work. She had conflicts with her boss and was demoted to take care of monthly female fashion magazine instead. She started her cohabitant life with Kang InHo with ‘Owner and Pet’ relationship.
Production company Ludens said that this movie would likely to premier in April next year.
Riding on ‘Flower boy’ syndrome Kim HyunJoong and ‘pure and innocent beauty’ representative SuAe, they have gathered attention both locally and in Japan to see if they can drive this ‘Pet syndrome’.
ps. wanna share an SMS exchange between me and another princess (a mini one) earlier today...
me: u read alr? leader in movie wif su-ae, premiering apr. haha, me wondering if hez gonna be wearing ballet tights!! & BIG screen somemore...!! wah, handsome BIG BIG....
mini: ballet tights! handsome big big! O.o what thing big?!! the mini one has a very active mind, you know...?!!
this princess swears she's just trying to say it would be a real treat to see leader on big screen, coz his gorgeousness would be 501 times magnified on the big screen.... *princess blushes and goes hide in one corner*
pps. talking about pets led me to think about puppies, and then, THIS POST!!
know which are my fave alphabets in the whole wide world?
B and M.
so i guess it's perfectly natural that i would feel a natural affinity towards a music show called The M, hehe!
the M is actually a widely-followed live music show in korea, and i believe there're various segments in this music show. for instance the segment Mega 3 will feature three of the hottest or most talked-about or visible singers for that week, and singers who have received great and favourable response on the various music charts will be invited to perform in Hot Play, and newbies will be introduced in the segment Showcase. and oh, there's one segment Music Style which will let viewers see the different styles of singers.
and oh, understand that baby and sunny of SNSD were the initial hosts for The M.
the boys were on The M today.
anyway, these are some of the media pics from the boys' appearance on the show today. and as usual, my focus is on leader and leader alone.
they performed two songs from their REBIRTH mini album, love like this and only one day. the first two pics are from LLT presumably....
hmmm.... same outfit as what they'd worn to the stamping session.
but hor, i'd read somewhere that fans of other artistes are, in fact, envious. they're saying that our boys actually seem to have quite alot more outfit changes than their own idols when they release new albums. and they're also saying DSP seems quite willing to invest in the boys' performance costume for the release of REBIRTH.
hee... then i'd say DSP is being smart lor. if a significant part of the boys' appeal is in their physical appearance, then it makes sense to invest in the clothes, ya? and with the frequency of their appearance, it would look pretty bad if they were to repeat the same outfits over and over again.
(hehe, either that or make them appear likethe chippendales! okie, okie, it's a joke lah!)
and the next batch of pics must be from only one day...
and this one below is my fave from the lot here!
here, clips from The M from lightning speed lady, shirbogurl!
SS501 at the Entrance of MTV The M on Webcam (4:41)
"Only One Day" + "Love Like This" on The M Webcam (10:01)
"Love Like This" 2nd Performance on The M Webcam (5:02)
"Love Like This" 1st Performance on The M Webcam (3:29)
"Only One Day" 1st Performance on The M Webcam (8:39)
okie, which are your fave outfits so far?
mine's gotta be this... from music bank on 2009.10.30! love the whole ensemble, from the folded back cuffs, to the striped shirt, the belt, the dark fitted jeans, the 'elfish' shoes.... everything!
hehe, you must be wondering what on earth's wrong with me... either i don't update for days on end, or i just blog non-stop. haha, me too wondering about the same thing. maybe i just missed blogging so much that when i come back, i come back with a vengeance, haha!
no la, the truth is i'd stayed away for so long there really is alot to catch up. doesn't help that when i'm trying to catch, the boys have been on a relentless and endless whirlwind promo circuit for their mini album. for every one post that i've caught up with, there're probably 2-3 more new ones waiting for me.
gosh, if only i can find a way to turn full-time blogger...
and... the next thing you must be wondering is... what on earth's with the abbreviation in this blog title, ya? no choice lah, coz i'm putting in one tony moly clip and also three clips from MTV taiwan, so...
too bad there's a 'do not take out the trans' instruction on shirbogurl's YT page on this clip, so i can't repost the translation for this tony moly making clip. it's a short one, abit blurry and dark, but he's still too beautiful in the clip for you to give it a miss.
and... you can read the english trans of the clip here, or on liezle's blog.
next up are the three-part clips from the JK pop music craze (日韓音樂瘋) segment on MTV taiwan. this was aired on 29th oct.
decided that i ain't gonna apologise for posting all these clips and stuff late.
have to remind myself that this is my blog and i should jolly well feel comfortable enough posting whatever, whenever. after all, when i look back, or when i have to search for certain info, pics or clips, the first place i would look is my own blog. so i need to have all the 'critical' updates here, ya?
just abit more from the mini birthday celebration for young saeng from two days ago. i won't be reposting all the pics from the 501 fansites, there're enough websites and blogs with enough pics for you to go look. but i do wanna repost some clips that i saw when i was checking out one of my fave leader-fan-blogs, 整夜不睡的狗.
complete clip (8mins)
courtesy of irenelin005
leader's bday wishes for YS (chinese subs) chinese trans & subs production by 紫色 + vanilla
courtesy of ccyyccyy1
and here, trans that i've lifted from liezle's blog.
leader: yes, I have only good words for young saeng. you know, our relationship. heehee... uh... umm... young saeng... haha... why?
young saeng, I can't say to you as i did to other members though it's been 7 years since we met. but, you are my friend whom i met most often. thank you for listening to my troubles.
i hope you live long like your name, young saeng. (young saeng = 永生 = live forever)
for more trans and A LOT more details on what the boys said, check out liezle's bloghere.
and here, a couple of pics of leader, looking a tad shy and awkward doing the birthday wishes for young saeng. what a strange 'couple'...
complete clip, another version
courtesy of oppazzang
cake-cutting (HJL + JM focus)
courtesy of doublebaby
cake-cutting (YS focus)
courtesy of shirbogurl
p.s. the entire 8min clip has been subbed in english, click here to watch.
* This article contains most part of the interview BYJ had with Korean press after completing both events. Some part are introduced in other articles, and some are not.
----------------
He looked tired. He has been working so hard for a long time. Sepsis caused his body temperature to go up as high as 40'C , but he couldn't rest properly due to the events planned ahead. While leaning on medicines he was taking, he flew to Japan and finished two large events that was held on September 29th and 30th.
On 30th, He had a meeting with Mrs. Miyuki, the wife of Japanese Prime Minister and discussed on cultural exchange. Now the name BYJ came to means more than an actor who played the leading role in WLS. It is natural that every step he leads has huge impact on cultural industry and the way Japanese understand Korea. Is it because of such position? BYJ was prudent enough to ask reporters to use the term "Asian wave" instead of "Korean wave". However, once the dialogue came to his personal life, he often joked and led the interview in a pleasure manner.
Q : How did you feel when you started WLS again after 7 years?
A : I hesitated a lot when I heard that they were making an animation of WLS. I am sorry to say that at first I was not interested in doing the same work again. However, once I started to read the script at home, I suddenly felt that 'I want to fall in love'.
As the drama shook my emotion in such a short time, I came to admit that WLS was a good drama, and I felt my desire to express the emotion once more. So I replied that I will do the voice. Of course I have changed during the past 7 years, but I thought I could go back to that moment, and I am trying to do so when I work on this project.
Q : What has changed after you became a Hallyu star since 2002?
A : As I've lived this way since I made my debut, there was not much change. There is one thing that did change, though. When I go out of my house, the travel agencies bring people to the pIaces where I go. Of course I don't go to inappropriate pIaces from the start, but I often feel sorry that my freedom is restricted.
Q : It is very hard to behave well as a public figure in Korea. Did you ever experience the clash between BYJ that people expect and BYJ as you desire?
A : I think that's a task that I should carry on for the rest of my life.
I also think that the pIace where you stand is up to how much you find yourself, and how much you train yourself.
Q : Some people say that there is a discrepancy between your popularity in Korea and Japan. How do you think about that?
A : I have a big Family in Korea. People might think like you because Korean Family had less chance to unite in one pIace. In fact, I shed tears in the event on 30th because of Korean Famly. I felt painful when I thought that I've done nothing for them, and they still came here in Japan to support me. During the event of both days, there were many moments that I nearly cried but I managed to hold back my tears, but I couldn't hold it any more when I saw their eyes.
Q : It was interesting to see you speak Japanese and write a postcard in Japanese.
A : In fact, I wanted to talk more in Japanese. However, after suffering with fever, I couldn't do as I've wanted because my memory seemed to be wiped out. I am constantly studying Japanese and English.-- It doesn't mean that I am planning to go to Hollywood, or I want to become a certain type of actor. I am just doing my best.
Q : In the event for Animation WLS, you made an interesting response when Lee Yong Yu, who played the role of a child called you 'Uncle'. Are you actually sensitive to that name? (laugh)
A : Really, I don't care of such name. Yong Yu is now 12 and it is natural for her to call me uncle. I made such response to make the audience happy. You reporters liked it and wrote about it, too, didn't you? (laugh) Anyway, I am not afraid of getting old. On the contrary, I have wanted to get older since I was in my twenties. I wanted to see my future. That age is a hard period to everyone, isn't it? Going through all that, now I can see what I couldn't see before, and I can think in the way I couldn't. I am happy that I am getting better little by little.
Q : You bought Digital Adventure, a Japanese corporation. Why?
A : That's the decision of the company, not mine. I once was interested in business, but now I am really not interested in it. I've concluded that business is not my way because I can't afford the constraints that it brings me. There are many things that I want to do instead. I don't know how long I will stay as an actor.
After that, I would like to become a farmer, then a photographer, and then a ceramic artist.
Q : The information about BYJ as a natural human being is very limited. Can you tell us about your everyday life?
A : I don't attempt to be a mystical being. It is the reporters who gave me such image, not me. Basically, I was very shy since I was a little boy, and usually stayed at home reading books. I still stay at home if I don't have works to do outside. I wake up at 7-8 o'clock in the morning. If I stayed up late last night, I wake up at 10-11 o'clock. Then I drink a cup of tea and exercise for about an hour. After taking a shower, I read books or do other things.
As I've bought lots of wine after I've become interested in winery, there are many wine boxes in my house. I piled them up and made a bookshelf. I wanted to put the photo of that bookshelf in my book, but I was short of time. Behind that bookshelf, there is a workpIace for lacquer painting and a spin for ceramic art. I practice both arts there.
Q : People think that BYJ has everything. What do you think you are lacking?
A : What I need is a wife, what I lack is my freedom. (laugh) As I've wrote in my book, I think one must gain [i.e. learn] much in order to discard much when you go through the Moo Moon Kwan*.
One day, when I was contemplating on this subject at home, I felt that the furnitures were the owner of the space, not me. That moment I thought, 'Someday I should get rid of these things. I should reduce my possessions.' The time might come earlier than I expect.
We don't become happier by having more, do we?
I think we can stay happier when we live in a more simple way... when we feel something is missing. Nowadays, I am exercising on discarding things. (laugh)
[Note * In p. 366 of 'the beauty of Korea', YJ wrote...
I once planned that if I build a Korean traditional house, I would go in there with lots of books, lock the door up, and study there for a long time. However, the surprising thing is, the Moo Moon Kwan requires one to go in without anything. No books, no belongings, just your body.
I was disappointed.
What shall I do without my books? I felt that I have a long way to go to reach that level.
I have to learn more to discard myself.]
* Moo Moon Kwan, 무문관, 無門關
It is a book written in Song Dynasty(China) by a monk named Jong So (종소, 宗紹), who recorded the preaches of his master Moo Moon Hye Gae (무문혜개,無門嵆開). The full name of this book is SeonJong Moo Moon Kwan 선종무문관 (禪宗無門關)
It contains 48 major themes that is important in Zen buddhism.
The meaning of '無 (none)' does not mean the opposite of '有 (being, existence)'. The '無' means the absolute level of recognition that one could reach... one does not even discriminate '無' and '有' if he/ she reaches there. The major theme of this book is the pursuance of that '無'.
* In many cases, 무문관 also means studying hard in a temple to reach the level described above. YJ used this word in this meaning.]
Q : I think it's time to talk about your marriage. When do you think you will get married?
A : Once I spoke I might get married within three years. My grandmother has mistaken it as three months and asked me 3 months later 'Why aren't you getting married?'
Now there is only one year left. I ask people around me to help me get married and I try to make a chance, but it is hard to meet somebody because of my circumstance. Anyway, I have to get married, no, I feel I need to get married and I think it would be nice to get married, but who might volunteer to be a wife of a farmer? (laugh)
Q : I've heard that Mrs Lee Hyo Jae is going to introduce you a good bride. (laugh)
A : I've learned how to do household work from Mrs. LHJ. I've thought that my future wife will like me if I learn such things, but people tell me the opposite way. They tease me that it would make me more difficult to get married. Who would marry a man who learned of keeping house from Lee Hyo Jae? That would make my wife even more tired. (laugh)
Q : Doesn't the staffs of BOF advice you about marriage?
A : Even though I am not married yet, I often advice them about married life. (laugh) I tell them that once a man gets married, one must be responsible and take one's family as his first priority.
You know, some people stay late at the office even though they don't have much work to do. They call their wives and say that they have work to do. I tell them to do the work in time and go home early, to watch watch movies and read books with their wives. I try not to make phone calls to them after 8-9pm.
Q : You've kept your long hair for quite a while and you recently cut it short. Was there any reason? I've also heard that you wanted to make a brush with your hair.
A : Yes, I felt really sorry to cut my hair. Of course it is easier to wash and dry, and it is good to save water and shampoo. I liked the feeling when my hair was tied up. However, many people wanted me to cut my hair.
As you know, I have to think of others. So I had my hair cut. I think people prefer my new hair style. (laugh)
Oh, brushes used in lacquer painting are made of human hair. I wanted to make brushes with my hair and share them with my teacher, but I was so sick when I cut my hair that I forgot about it. There will be another chance, as my hair will grow again.
Q : Is there any meaning with the ring that you are wearing all the time?
A : Isn't it nice? I've worn it for quite a long time, and eventually it became a part of me. When I once left this ring at home I felt unwell that day. (laugh) Now I feel something is missing if I don't wear this ring.
Q : Do you think much about your style?
A : I just wear as I am told to. Of course I sometimes tell my opinion to my stylists, but they just don't care what I say. (laugh) They were stricter in the past. When I go abroad without them, my stylist displayed the clothes as she wanted, took pictures of them with a Polaroid camera, and put the photos in my bag. She told me to wear exactly the same way.
Frankly speaking, I don't like to be bothered with things I wear. I even feel embarrassed when someone buys me separate items such as one suit, or one trousers. I like them to be hung on my closet as a match so that I can wear them right away. (laugh)
Q : Tell us about what you are planning, and give some words to your fans.
A : I've opened up many part of my thoughts and the way I've changed throughout my book, but I think the most important thing is to come back as an actor.
My Family would want it, and I feel I can express the change within myself through my act. I am eager to read many scenarios. It might help me stop thinking about other things. (laugh)
The 1st Wave of Korea Speaks of Asian Wave [Part 1 of 2]
*gaulsan: This article contains most part of the interview BYJ had with Korean press after completing both events. Some part are introduced in other articles, and some are not.
He looked tired. He has been working so hard for a long time. Sepsis caused his body temperature go up to 40'C , but he couldn't rest properly due to the events planned ahead. While leaning on the effect of medicines he was taking, he flew to Japan and finished two large events that was held on September 29th and 30th without accident.
On 30th, He had a meeting with Mrs. Miyuki, the wife of Japanese Prime Minister and discussed on cultural exchange. Now the name BYJ came to mean more than an actor who played the leading role in WLS. It is natural that every step he leads has huge impact on cultural industry and the way Japanese understand Korea. Is it because of such position? BYJ was prudent enough to ask reporters to use the term "Asian wave" instead of "Korean wave". However, once the dialogue came to his personal life, he often joked and led the interview in a pleasure manner.
Q : Now you've finished two major events. What do you feel by meeting your fans after one year?
A : As a matter of fact, I always think that I am not a talented person. I was able to do my best to accomplish things because my Family gave me that energy to do so. (BYJ always calls his fans Family.) If it were not for the energy they gave me, I wouldn't have been able to write a book, nor planned this event. I am always thankful for them.
Q : You've been admitted to a hospital due to sepsis. You still look very tired. Don't you think you strain yourself too much? It often seems that you put too much energy in your projects.
A : That's because I am not smart enough. I just have to do my very best (smile). Frankly speaking, I've worried that I might not be able to finish these events. My body temperature went up to 40'C for two days, and the [BOF] staffs worried that I might not be allowed to enter Japan. Luckily, the diagnosis was not the swine-flu but mild sepsis.
While staying in bed, I've thought a lot. I had time to look back upon myself, and to contemplate on what made me stand here in this position? I have not recovered, yet. I still have fever. I am taking medicine, and my face got swollen because of that. (laugh)
Q : Your writing is quite different from your essays that you've wrote in your early days as an actor. Some informations were very professional. What was the most difficult part in preparing this book?
A : If I count from studying and collecting data, it took one and a half year.
I've read over 150 books on various subjects. Sometimes the data from one source was incompatible with that from another source. I've asked those part to the masters, and I trusted their answers without any doubt. On the other hand, writing was a hard nut to crack. I didn't know that expressing my feeling and thoughts would be so difficult. I barely slept for three months, and I was under huge stress to meet the deadline. As you may know, when one stays up all night, one might feel sick, feel like throwing up. Sometimes, I've sent messages to staffs, "I'm going to sleep now. I feel like throwing up" or "Yuck." (laugh) Because I failed to meet the deadline, the editors had only three days to proofread and correct mistakes. So there are several mis-spellings left in my book. (smile)
Q : It was interesting to see your personal life, such as your eating up the oysters that was prepared for making Gimchi.
A : As you know, I am not a professional writer. I couldn't write this book without exposing myself.
Q : Do you have any plan to publish English version or another series?
A : First, I don't have plan to write another series. I am considering of making English version and braille book. The braille book will be donated. I feel awful that the braille book cannot show the photos.
Q : Do you have any plan to make career in writing?
A : I've once thought of writing a short novel. If I find good writings, I use to write it down or collect it. But now I don't know. As I am so exhausted after writing this book, I came to think that if I do make another book, there will be less words and more photos in it.
One thing I regret in this book is about the photos. As I started writing after I've collected materials, some of the photos didn't match the feeling of the words I wrote. I needed new photos that match the words, but I couldn't go back to take photos again because I was short of time. So the photos were not as diverse as I've planned.
Q : I've heard that you've took over 5,000 photos for this essay. Was that still not enough? (laugh) Anyway, I can feel your affection and ambition toward photography.
A : I took a lot of photos, but I didn't actually count them. (laugh) The photographers I've met often told me that I own more cameras than professional photographers. So I think I do have affection toward photography. On the other hand, I always think that technique is not the most difficult part. It is the 'sensibility' that matters.
I take picture with cameras, but it is my heart that makes me press the shutter. I take pictures to hold that specific moment, the moment that my heart permits. Thats why I feel training my own sensibility is important. Maybe that's why I prefer film camera over digital camera. When I use a digital camera, I tend to press the shutter easily, thinking 'there must be at least one good shot.' I don't like to take photos like that. (smile)
Q : Personally, what did you gain from writing this book?
A : As a matter of fact, since I've started my career as an actor, I don't remember when I've gone on a journey. Thinking back, what did I do in 2002? Winter sonata. In 1999? 'Have we really loved'. My work was occupying my life. While writing this book, I went on a real journey. I've seen, learnt, and felt a lot. I came to meet so many nice people, and my mind has opened up. Personally, I've made lots of good hobbies.
I was planning to go to Chooncheon by myself to take photos of beautiful autumn scenery, but I couldn't go because I was sick. I've never planned to go on a trip alone before.
Q : You became the Ambassador of 'Visit Korea Year' and you are praised by so many government staffs, and the same with the masters who helped you on writing your book.
A : I think everything has its own time. I was proposed to be an Ambassador while I was writing this book. I thought that now I could properly do that mission and accepted it. I think the most important thing in meeting people is 'Trust', isn't it? I try not to miss that point. There are several staffs of BOF in this pIace and we know each other very well. We had this relationship for a long time, sometimes over 10 years. I am thankful that I have many people around me whom I can trust. It is the same with the masters. I didn't press upon them to learn from them. The karma led us step by step like a chain.
How I've met Mr. Jeon Yong Bok is an example. I was searching for information about lacquer painting, but it was hard to find such information, and even if I found some, they were difficult like theses. Going to bed, I thought it might be difficult to find proper information. In the next morning, there was a news covering Mr. Jeon Yong Bok on the newspaper.
The karma works in such a mysterious way. (laugh)
Q : What person are you to the staffs who've worked over 10 years at BOF?
A : If I think it is needed, I tell them what I want straightforwardly. If they make a mistake, I tell them right away. If they make the same mistake again, I often scold them. They might be afraid of me, but I think they trust me as well. (smile)
Q : I've heard that you gave your books to people around you. I've heard that Choi Jee Woo carries that book all the time.
A : Jee Woo told me that the book was interesting. I recently met her and it was such a long while since I've met her before. She is still a very kind person.
Q : Do you meet your friends often?
A : I like to talk with people. Usually, I invite them to my home. We have tea together and talk about culture, acting, politics and so on.
Q : It seems that you are imposing a kind of duty on yourself as the ambassador of Korean culture.
A : I think something is leading me to that mission. Sometimes, my Family leads me. When I visited Japan for the first time, a Korean living in Japan held my hands, crying, told me that she was thankful for me. At that moment, I realized that there were something that I could do for both countries.
Q : You've met Mrs. Hatoyama Miyuki, wife of Japanese prime minister, who is interested in Korean culture. What did you talk about?
A : As Mrs Miyuki was interested in Korean culture, we've talked about the cultural exchange between Korea and Japan. She spoke some Korean during the conversation. I was startled by her proficiency in Korean.
Q : Some say that there will be no Post-BYJ. I had an impression that you have a unparalleled stature in Hallyu.
A : I think the public opinion can change by how the mass media report. For example, I've asked you repeatedly not to use the word "Hallyu".
Once the term is used in Korean media, reporters of other countries will use it, too. Such one-sided term can hinder the free exchange of culture between countries. That's why I've asked you to use the term 'Asian flow' instead of Hallyu. However, I've found it's not easy to make a change.
Q : In Japan, BYJ became more than an actor who played the leading role in WLS. Many Japanese see Korea through the new scope named BYJ. It might put weight on everything you do. You might feel stressed.
A : I would take it in another way. I've mentioned about my desire to become a farmer at the press meeting for "the Beauty of Korea'. What did you feel when you heard my word?
Q : Are you really planning to make a farm?
A : That was the first time that I've spoke to the press of my dream, but it was not an instant idea. I've started to think about it 5 years ago. I've often told about it to people close to me. I don't have a concrete idea, but I am reading books and studying on it. If there is a thing I want to do, I tend to tell it to people around me, and eventually turn it into reality.
(Photos provided by BOF) [From Tokyo, Mail Economy Star Today, Reporter Cho Eun Yong]
lovely one, this one. so lovely that i'm gonna post this right here, right now, even before i put up the backlog of news articles and YJ-related posts that i've saved as drafts in my blogger account. hehe, i'm actually one of those who can be quite stubborn about posting stuff in sequence and in chronological order, or at least as far as possible, i try.
but this article's just great!
i know i will probably take forever to catch up on my YJ-postings, and this one just can't wait. so will post it first. much thanks for the trans, suehan!
original in korean: Hur Minnyeongjustin / donga.com 2009.10.30 translated into english: suehan / quilt
[O2 Cover Story] Artist, Bae Yong Joon’s Today
“Reporter Hur, have you been seeing someone these days?”
“Reporter, Hur, do you have been seeing someone these days?” Bae Yong Joon asked me.
Seven years with Yonsama, waiting for the second “Love Song’
Seven years with Yonsama, winter is approaching, so we can sing the second “Love Song’.
‘Does he really have a close relationship with Bae Yong Joon?’
On the day we went to meet BYJ, one of the reporters gave a tip with a smile that some reporters who accompanied with me bet if I am close to him. I shook my head and responded by saying, “I just know him.”
I frequently saw that the word, “close’ was abused in the social life. I hate more when it is misused than abused. That’s why, I chose the expression, “I just know him.’ that might be suitable to define my relationship with him.
On the last day of September, there was a commemorative event of the Japanese version of ‘Journey to discover the beauty of Korea’ that was held at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Reporters including me were waiting for him at the waiting room in the back. He showed up with a stage costume. I made eye contact with him when he was looking around the reporters and we waved our hands a little.
The reporter next to me said, “I think you’re really close to Bae Yong Joon.”.
We wave our hands to someone we know. After the group interview, he showed his respects to each reporter who came to Japan. Ironically, I was the last.
BYJ has become lonely as the times goes by. We shouldn’t consider his joke, “I need a wife,’ lightly.
Our conversation continued for about 7 minutes. After that, I hurried to get on the bus for the reporters, and a certain junior reporter asked me quietly about the conversation I had with BYJ. He was worried that if he did not find out about our conversation he would get in serious trouble. (suehan: he wanted to be update with BYJ current events)
I could easily imagine that he told himself, “He is mean.” even though he was nodding as a courtesy when I responded, “We didn’t talk about important matters.”
But, actually we didn’t talk about anything which was enough to be “news”. I was in trouble.
From the average actor to a very special one.., his last 7 years.
“I heard about how you’ve been.’ (BYJ)
Did he want to hear my ‘personal issues’, neither “I’m fine.” nor “Not much.”? It has been one and half year since I encountered him at the health club in Seoul.
One year and six months has passed like it was one day. Meanwhile, he wrote a book and I worked for the new company. Separate with popularity, the chronicle of human beings is this much unproductive. He and I just exchanged a reserved smile.
I showed my respect by saying, “I’m enjoying reading your book.”
Before I came to Tokyo, his management company sent his book to me. He nodded when I added that I wasn’t just saying so as a courtesy, but I was really reading his book.
The last 7 years was the length of time of ‘Hallyu’ that was initiated by the drama, “Winter Love Song’, and the period that BYJ and I have ‘known’ each other.
And, now I come to think about these 7 years, there were quite some changes for me, as an entertainment reporter.
We can’t pile blocks against the gossips of entertainers and it is somewhat our destiny as the reporters. Who and who became lovers and it’s true that it put in turmoil if they’re getting marry. We are always prepared to write a letter of explanation if we miss prominent news until the day we write the letter of resignation.
I think that the gossip war is still effective and it might strangle my neck harder as the days go, but I can confess that I could breathe a little because of BYJ.
It’s possible to explain the reason with one line. Because he is an entertainer who can be featured at 9 O’clock news without any incidents.
Seventy thousand copies of the first edition of his book, ‘Journey to discover the beauty of Korea’, which he wrote sold out in Korea and Japan combined.
BYJ said, “I need a wife.”
He said it like a joke at the interview with reporters.
“The one I need now is a wife.”
Actually, the wit that he copied from the apartment CF in which he appeared a while ago broke down the awkward atmosphere with the reporters in a second because he is famous for declining interviews.
After the interview, I felt the complicated changes from his face expression when I faced with him separately. I thought it might come from the despondency, or the emptiness, or the cross of both feelings.
‘Journey to discover the beauty of Korea’ is his first book which he made by himself, not allowing someone to use him. Someone who had experienced the feeling when he climbed up at the goal regardless of the height of the mountain can realize that the happiness of the accomplishments remains just for a moment and discover that he is not able to take care of himself which resulted from the indescribable despondency.
He might be indulged in the mood after he released his stress that had pressed him until he carried out the publication event in front of the forty-thousand audiences.
He said, “I’m sick.” and asked me, “Are you seeing someone now?”
Actor asked the reporter? It looked like the relationship of the host and guest was reversed. He asked me about my acquaintance of the opposite sex in the conversation he shared with me. He might have sensed the same emptiness from me. Actually, everybody interprets the other side with ‘empathy’.
I said that I had broken up not too long ago and “It is hard a little.”
He smiled a bit and said, “Let’s have a cup of tea together when we go back to Seoul.” The taste might be bitter like ‘comforting drinks’.
Come to think of it, I met him the first time at the traditional tea house in Seoul about seven years ago. It was about the time when the movie, ‘Scandal’ was released.
He liked the traditional tea at that time as well. I remembered he had Ssanghwa Tea (雙和茶) and it looked like I asked him as a joke, “Why don’t you put an egg in it?” I don’t remember if he laughed.
‘Gosireh’, the high-level Korean Traditional Restaurant which is located at Minatogu in Tokyo.
He is guilty of being rich.
He reigns as the top Hallyu Star and often is described with numbers.
From the numbers of Japanese fans who came to the airport to meet him, to the changed amounts from the seventy thousand copies of the first edition of his book, ‘Journey to discovery the beauty of Korea’, which had been sold out in Korea and Japan combined.
Add to his nickname, ‘Yonsama’, the media called him ‘Rich Man in Stocks.’ when the domestic entertainment industry was discussed as being on its way to becoming industrialized.
Countless news with numbers in front came out at the commemorative event which was held at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. For example, forty five thousand tickets, its flat rate of thousand Won, were almost sold out and four billion five hundred million won was collected for the entrance fee on that day.
Just like that, BYJ has been described with numbers over seven years, and many people start looking at him ‘how much/many’, not BYJ.
How much has he made so far, how much did he make this time, and how much he’ll be making in the future are the public’s main interests. So to speak, it looks like the public’s interests towards BYJ were changed to ‘how much/many’ instead of scandals.
I don’t know how much money he has. The only things I know of are Maybach, which are rare within the country, belongs to his management, he actually rides a Land Rover, and his house that most people are curious about is ‘a lease house’.
BYJ appeared at the press conference of the Japanese animation ‘Winter Love Song’ on September 29, 2009.
There is a high possibility that he might have enough money that can support 3 generations without asking him about his assets.
Greed has no limits, but there may not be any interests or feelings once he/she reaches his/her goal that is the ways of life.
He used the term, ‘empty’ for that nihilism.
He said, “I’m going to get rid of furniture one by one to empty the house once I return to Seoul.” He mentioned this during the interview with the reporters, and he also added, “Sufficiency is like feeling being pressed down by something.”
Nonetheless, he is making money through his company listed in Kosdaq. He opened a high-level Korean traditional restaurant, ‘Gosireh’ under his brand at Minatogu in Tokyo and introduces Kimchee and Makgellee to overseas. Businessmen understand him for sure. Company is eventually an organism and will grow continuously, not that, it must be raised.
He may think that it’s better if he didn’t list his company in the stock market. He may concern of the stock price which restrains him to some extent and he releases his stress in his private life by saying, “I’ll reduce and get rid of everything.”
His future, it would be varied, but it’s possible to imagine.
‘Journey to discover the beauty of Korea’, so called the culture experience book, has a very special meaning to BYJ compared his works like ‘Winter Love Song’, which made today’s BYJ, the movie, ‘Scandal’ and ‘April Snow’, and the latest drama, ‘TWSSG’.
Even though it was his responsibility to choose the role, eventually BYJ in the works captured the hearts of numerous Asian fans and BYJ was created by someone.
Compared to those, so to say, this book is an UCC or his production which has a tremendous scale. ‘Journey to discover the beauty of Korea’ was planned and completed only by him. From that point, it shows the steps of ‘prosumer’ to share his feelings and enjoyment with his fans called by ‘Family’. The business aspect of it is secondary which follows his name naturally.
BYJ’s last 7 years were brilliant. What can we see from the BYJ’s 2nd term in the future?
He didn’t use the term, ‘prosumer’. But his wishes, I want to practice making ceramics and lacquer arts, those I got to know while I was writing a book, harder and ‘want to be a ceramist and lacquer artist’, will work as important evidence to BYJ’s future activities.
BYJ, the top ‘original contents’, is in the process to change ‘the core’ which calls and combines his fans more.
The originals which made him a star and shine and will continue to make him shine in the future is ‘Winter Love Song’, and everybody can imagine it.
But nothing lasts forever.
At some point time in the past which ‘passed like an arrow’, he might want to have ‘BYJ’s 2nd term’, the term is used frequently, with ‘his own things’ that can show himself.
Like everything has its own reason, the world moves by the order of the cause and effect to some extent. At this point of seeing his interests of the Korean traditional Korean foods and publication of his experience book of the traditional culture, we can imagine what kind of new BYJ will be remembered to the public after 7 years.
Reporter Hur Minnyeong during the interview.
Reporter Hur Minnyeongjustin@donga.com
p.s. curious about what a prosumer is?
well, the term was first mentioned by alvin toffler in his ultra-famous book The Third Wave (1980). but i think the context and meaning of the word has sorta evolved and changed over the years. at one point, it was more commonly used in the fields of photography and computers, but has now extended to wider and more diverse fields, including cooking!
different people will tell you different things, but typically two things will keep popping up. one camp will tell you prosumer = professional + consumer, whilst another camp will tell you prosumer = production + consumer.
Definition 1: a professional consumer, a person who takes pride in buying high-quality items after research Etymology: combination of 'professional' + 'consumer'
Definition 2: a consumer active in a product's development and production Etymology: combination of 'production' + 'consumer'
if you wanna read more about the term (it's all pretty interesting actually, really!!), clickhere, here and here.
p.p.s. as for the other concept brought up in the article on nihilism, which is essentially the belief which: *labels all values as worthless, therefore, nothing can be known or communicated. *associates itself with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism, having no loyalties.
and according to dailywritingtips.com, nihilism is a doctrine. It defends that nothing can be really known or communicated. In other words, it is an extreme skepticism regarding knowledge and reality itself, and it can be equated with nothingness. Nihilism can also mean the rejection of all established religious values and morals.
now... this one worries me alittle bit. of course, i don't think wuri yong joon's gonna discard all value systems and disregard humanity and feelings of shame and what-have-yous, and go commit murder or anything like that.
but i've always said he kindda thinks too much for his own good...? that he appears to take things a teeny weeny bit too seriously?
of course, i don't know him personally, whatever impressions and so-called understanding of him that i have are all formed by whatever i've read, observed and felt all through these years. lord knows if i'm even close to the truth. but hey, you know what they say, you have to be right in your facts, but you're entitled to your opinions, ya? so all that i say here are just my personal thoughts, my opinions, nothing factual here, okie?
there, disclaimer done, and now i can move on to blog my heart out.
there have been times when the occasional question pops up, asking me if i thought wuri yong joon is heterosexual. you know what my answer typically is? i nearly-always say i'm more worried about him turning monk than turning gay.
i'm serious! then again, it IS his life and it IS his choice whatever he wants to be, and whatever he chooses to believe in. being his fan does not give me the right to dictate how he lives, ya?
anyway, it has always been my personal motto to LIVE AND LET LIVE. i can't always do it, sometimes i forget, but i do try, and i try very hard to remember to abide by this. i think it makes me a more tolerant person, coz by nature, i'm a rather impatient and quick-tempered one.
anyway, if you wanna read more about the philosophy of nothingness, clickhere and here.
and i've also come across a fairly interesting sharing by an individual who happens to be a nihilist. if you're into reading and reading all sorts of stuff, you might want to read on to the later part of the passage where this individual shares some examples.... it's really refreshingly interesting, at least it is to me, hehe!
yea, of course i know i'm late... but i wasn't blogging for awhile, and also, i was waiting for the english subs to be completed before posting them here.
anyway, as part of their promo activities for the REBIRTH mini album, the boys went on baby's music high program on 30th oct. if my memory serves me right, baby's segment is from 2am to 3am, korean time. yea, kindda late, but i guess the fact that it's this late probably works out better for baby, as he can fulfill his SS501 scheduled appearances and work activities in the day and still do the deejaying in the night.
anyway, it's always great fun to see the five boys together and watch how they interact and play with one another.
you know, i think SS501 fans really really really have to thank iBreatheLifeMusic lots and lots. without her diligent subbing despite her schoolwork and all, we would be at a loss when we watch the clips.
to me, leader is magic, and it's more than just his gorgeous face, his long legs, his toned body or the appeal he exudes from his physical appearance.
to me, quite a major part of leader's magic comes from the inside. and the inside is best expressed in interviews, or when he's put in situations he's made to vocalise his thoughts or to react to something. so if we cannot understand the context, the questions and the answers that he says, then we would have been missing out on a great deal.
so yea, much thanks to great peeps like iBreatheLifeMusic, we can have a glimpse of leader's inner magic. so when you've the time, do pop by her YT account and thank her properly. we do owe her that much, you know.
will repost the five parts to music high now, all subbed by iBreatheLifeMusic who must have done in hours and hours of work into rushing all five parts out for us in just a few days.
part 1 of 5
part 2 of 5
part 3 of 5
part 4 of 5
part 5 of 5
believe these pics were released by DSP, but i'm not sure who did the rest of the sharing and circulating though... whoever you are, much thanks!
it's kindda like a pattern forming, don't you think? amongst the five of them, there's always at least one wearing a hooded clothing item, and these days, at least one of them wearing a checkered clothing item.
haha, they're making me really really really miss my youth!! i would have bought a gazillion hoodies by now if i were a teenage fangirl!
it's funny how i kept spotting leader zoning out and doodling away on the paper, as if he's in his own world...
see...? he's really doodling away... what on earth could he be writing or drawing...?!
i haven't yet watched all the clips, but i've watched snippets and parts here and there. noticed that leader seemed to be abit distracted and not so active and hyper like usual.
at one point when baby played LLT, the boys started making the L-O-V-E sign.... okie, okie, to be precise, jung min and kyu started doing it, and kyu nudged young saeng into doing it, and baby got all excited and left his chair to go behind kyu to join them.
as if forced to join in, leader started doing it half-heartedly.... then he made a rather feeble attempt to do the sign with both hands, but gave up almost immediately. but all the while, he was looking bored and tired...
here, this was the cute L-O-V-E cut that i've watched... do observe leader from 0:38...
haha, am i the only one thinking that leader wanted to call it a wrap and just head home to sleep...? sometimes i really don't know what to think. i mean, a real professional would just feign passion and enthusiasm and just try to put up a show of at least looking like he's interested to be on the show. but leader just doesn't seem to do stuff like that. should i, then, say he's not a pro, or should i applaud him for being and staying real and true?
but i guess he's not rude or anything, and he does respond when he's spoken to, and he does do whatever he's supposed to do. it's just that it's kindda obvious he'd much rather be somewhere else.
so what do YOU think? should he 'grow up' and act like everyone else and be a real pro? or are we happier that he retains this very very real side of him, and never 'grow up' to realise that most adults don't behave like this?
i guess i do wish that peter pan remains as peter pan. that's the magic, isn't it?
and oh, i remember watching one part when i actually 'caught' leader yawning and then scratching his tum abit... again, so insanely adorable and childlike!! was he tired and hungry? if he started touching and scratching his ear, i swear there's a five-year-old boy in that body somewhere!!
oopsies! looks like i spoke too soon, haha!
and... what game's leader playing now? hide and seek?
haha, didn't any adult think to tell the five-year-old that even if he hides his face behind someone such that HE can't see us, we can still see the rest of his body?!
haiyo... ottoke...? he's cute as a button! and i can't resist him!!
really? these were what he's doodling away all the time? o.O
let's take a closer look.... aigoo, what kind of monster or aliens live in that mind of his?!
okie, the drawing's confirmed to be his... it's got his name branded on it, haha!
here... you can see quite clearly in this cropped pic that he was writing his own name in chinese.
and... he also wrote Love Like This....
yea, i love like this... by staying up till 4am just to catch up on your clips, leader. and yea, i love like this, by staying up till 4am just to find out what you're doodling, leader. and yea, i love like this, by spending my time blogging about you, leader.
am sure those of you who had watched the clipthat i'd posted in the previous entry (yea, from KBS entertainment tonight on 2009.10.31) would have 'oohed and aahed' over how boyishly cute leader had looked in the bedroom clip shot in taipei.
his face bare of makeup and his hair undone, he looks like a young boy. there's no trace of superstardom on him as he lie around not particularly bothered by the fact that the cam was filming.
nice.
hehe, the part when he suddenly pretended to ask kyu to go fetch him the brylcreem to fix his hair was just so hilarious!
大爱!!
when the boys got together....
gosh, baby's legs are so thin!
mal's hair's so flat...
me thinks kyu's the one who looks almost the same on- or off-stage, guess amongst the five, kyu's superstar vibes and stage presence still needs abit of working on... (but yes, i've noticed he HAS improved LOTS.)
and haiyo, how come young saeng still fusses about his hair even now...? those of you who'd watched the boys' earlier shows like TYFWUU would know how he just didn't like to be captured with his hair undone. he would always quickly go hid behind a cap, or a hood, or just made a mad dash to the washroom to do up his hair... hehe, seems like this aspect of young saeng hasn't changed...
here, one pic of leader with his hair all done up and ready for superstardom!
don't know what the golden disk awards is? well, it's like the korean equivalent of grammys, and yea, it's bigger than MAMA, thank you very much.
according towiki, the golden disk awards was founded in 1986, and is presented annually by the music industry association of korea to recognize outstanding achievements in the south korean music industry.
the grand prize is known as daesang, and would come from the winners of the 'Records/Albums of the Year' (aka bonsang).
for instance, for last year, the bonsangs (disk) went to DBSK, Kim Dong Ryul, SG Wannabe, Rain, Brown eyes, and Shinhwa, and the overall daesang winner was DBSK.
as for the the YEPP digital daesang, it went to jewelry, from the pool of bonsang winners including Mc Mong, Brown eyed girls and Wonder Girls.anyway, you can click here for the 2008 winners.
for now, let's look forward at the nominees for 24th golden disk awards 2009, as lifted from seokyeong's blog.
now first things first, the 24th golden disk awards will be held on 10th dec (fri)* and there are about 30 nominees for album/disk award category this year.
Nominees for disk category
* Super Junior ‘Sorry Sorry’ * GDragon ‘Heartbreaker’ * SG Wannabe ‘Gift From SG Wannabe’ * Lee SeungChul ‘Mutopia’ * Drunken Tiger ‘Feel Good Muzik: The 8th Wonder’ * Seo Taiji ‘Atomos’ * Shin HyeSung ‘Side 2: Keep Leaves’ * Bobby Kim ‘Love Chapter 1′ * Jo Sung Mo ‘Second Half’ * Jang GiHa and Faces ‘Living without special things’ * Epik High ‘e’ * Lee Sora ‘Winter, lonely and warming song’ * Baek Ji Young ‘Sensibility’ * Lee Seung Gi ‘Shadow’ * FT Island ‘Cross and Change’ * Park HyoShin ‘Gift Part 1′ * Brown Eyed Girls ‘Sound G’ * MC Mong ‘Humanimal’ * KARA ‘Revolution’ * Fly To The Sky ‘Decennium’ * LeeSsang ‘Hexagonal’ * YoonHa ‘Peace Love & Ice Cream Part a’ * Im ChangJung ‘Return To My World’ * Lee SeonHee ‘Love’ * Outsider ‘Maestro’ * Dynamic Duo ‘Band of Dynamic Brothers (10.21)’ * WheeSung ‘Vocolate (10.21)’ * Ivy ‘Goodbye Tears’ * Lee SooYoung ‘Dazzle’ * 2PM first full length album
Nominees for Digital song category award 1. So Nyeo Shi Dae ‘Gee’ (The first minialbum) 2. 2NE1 ‘I Don’t Care’ (1st minialbum) 3. Super Junior ‘Sorry Sorry’ (3rd album) 4. Baek Ji Young ‘Like Being Hit’ (Sensibility) 5. Davichi ‘8282′ (Davichi in Wonderland’ 6. Son DamBi ‘Saturday Night’ (Type B) 7. SS501 ‘Because I am Stupid’ (Boys Over Flowers OST) 8. 2NE1 ‘Fire’ (Digital single) 9. Lee Seung Gi ‘Will you marry me’ (Same title single) 10. 8eight ‘Without a Heart’ (Golden Age) 11. 2PM ‘Again & Again’ (Time For Change) 12. Brown Eyed Girls ‘Abracadabra’ (Sound G) 13. So Nyeo Shi Dae ‘Tell Me Your Wish’ (2nd minialbum) 14. KWill ‘Tears are dropping’ (same title single) 15. Lee SeungChul ‘No one like that someone’ (movie ost) 16. SG Wannabe ‘I Love You’ (Gift From SG Wannabe) 17. Outsider ‘Alone’ (Maestro) 18. Hwayobi ‘Half’ (minialbum) 19. 4Minute ‘Hot Issue’ (Hot Issue) 20. SeungRi ‘Strong Baby’ (Remember) 21. SHINee ‘Ring Ding Dong’ (3rd minialbum) 22. SS501 ‘Love Like This’ (Rebirth)
Nominees for Samsung Yepp popularity award -Voting for this award will open on 3rd November
* Super Junior * GDragon * SG Wannabe * Drunken Tiger * Seo Taiji * Shin Hye Sung * Bobby Kim * Jo SungMo * Jang Gi Ha and faces * Epik High * Lee Sora * Baek Ji Young * Lee Seung Gi * FT Island * Park Hyo Shin * Brown Eyed Girls * MC Mong * KARA * Fly To The Sky * LeeSsang * YoonHa * Im ChangJung * Lee SeonHee * Outsider * Dynamic Duo * WheeSung * Ivy * Lee SooYoung * Davichi * Son DamBi * 8eight * K Will * SeungRi * SHINee * Lee Seung Chul * 2PM * So Nyeo Shi Dae ‘Gee’ * 2NE1 ‘I Don’t Care’ * SS501 * Hwayobi
HipHop music award * Drunken Tiger ‘Feel Good Music’ * Epik High ‘Trot/Wannabe’ * MC Mong ‘Indian Boy’ * LeeSsang ‘The Girl Who Can’t Break Up, The Boy Who Can’t Leave ‘ * Outsider ‘Alone’
Rock music award * Jang Gi Ha and Faces ‘Cheap Coffee’ * YB Band ‘Still You’ * BooHwal ‘Think Of You’ * Cherry Filter ‘Pianissimo’
i've gotta be honest... never was really into k-pop much. even though i'm able to quote a few of the more wildly popular artistes' names, can't say i listen to k-pop. even with the boys, i ain't a big fan and i can't say i've even heard any song.... so the above list is really foreign to me, except for LLT...
p.s. oops, the boys' PERSONA HK concert will be on 12th dec, and this awards ceremony will be on 10th dec... hmmm.... if they win, i guess they will have to stay in seoul for the awards ceremony and only fly to HK on 11th dec. abit rushy, no? hopefully they will still have time to rehearse and familiarize themselves with the concert venue, etc...
thought i would share one more piece of tidbit... seems like artistes who absent themselves from the golden disk awards ceremony will not be declared winners, regardless of whether their album sales win them the game or not. click here to read more.
p.p.s. me been wanting to share these screencaps for awhile now... since this post has got alot more words than pics, will just post them as postscript, hehe!
the prince of 4D randomness, doing the L-O-V-E sign!
lovely bit of a part where he stood up on his marvellicious legs and danced abit as he did the L-O-V-E sign...
okie, i've no idea why on earth the korean designer andre kim is giving out awards to stars, and i also have no idea why he thinks he's in an appropriate position to assess, judge and award actors and actresses.... really, it totally baffles me...
regardless, am translating whatever the chinese news trans says and let's see if leader shows up on 27th nov, ya?
but before that, let me just post a pic of andre kim, the Q-version!!
original in korean: Seoul Sports 2009.11.02 translated into chinese by: lovehs / kim hee sun's chinese site reposted from: baidu leader thread translated into english: happiebb / bb's blog
Andre Kim's Best Stars Awards to be Held on 27th Nov
World-class designer will be giving out awards for Best Stars for the top stars in the country (South Korea).
Andre Kim will be holding his Christmas fashion show Christmas Costumes Fantasia as well as the Best Stars award ceremony at the courtyward of the Andre Kim Studio located at Giheung, Gyeonggi-do.
Winners of the Best Male Stars include Jang Dong Gun, Lee Byung Hun, Song Seung Hun, Won Bin, Bae Soo Bin, Kim Bum, Kim Hyun Joong and Kim Jun.
Female stars include Lee Young Ae, Kim Hee Sun, Choi Ji Woon, Song Yoon Ah, Lee Bo Young, Han Hye Joo, Han Chae Young, Kim Do Yeon, Kim Yu Na, Goo Hye Sun, Han Ye Seul and others.
Andre Kim said, "The criteria for Best Stars awards are exceptional acting skills, self-management of character, proven track record of bringing pride to the Korea both in and out of the country, and heart-warming humanistic ideals which reach out to help others, amongst others. 80% of the stars will be attending, and they will be sharing the joy of winning the awards."
p.s. here, sharing a couple of pics of leader on the runway for andre kim.
p.p.s. and, have you watched the boys on andre kim's fashion show? here's one super-short but super-classic slip of a clip whereby baby congratulated leader on his 'good fortune'!
courtesy of jbnature
this is a much longer clip of the BTS of the fashion show back in nov 2006.
here's one more segment.
both clips above are courtesy of J126GCY
before i wrap it up, wanna share some pics of kim joon and goo hye sun in andre kim's fashion shows.
p.p.p.s. before i really really really wrap up this post, am i the only one wondering how come wuri yong joon's not included in the list?!!! i mean, he was one of andre kim's models before, and i'm 501% sure wuri yong joon more than satisfies the criteria!!
anyway, here's a perfect opportunity to share an old link whereby i'd blogged about wuri yong joon's involvement in andre kim's fashion show down under.
original in korean: korean media (source unknown) reposted from: SS601.com translated into chinese: julieanna / hyunjoongchina translated into english: happiebb / bb's blog
What do SS501 do While Waiting for Their Turn to Perform?
So how do the artistes spend the long waiting period whilst waiting for their turns to perform?
Ran into SS501 who are making a comeback with their new song, Love Like This, at the backstage of SBS' Inkigayo program.
SS501 had arrived at the studio at 8:30am that morning for rehearsals. So had they taken their breakfast? The live broadcast was supposed to be 4pm, so the waiting time was definitely more than five hours. The artists cannot say they're hungry or tired when they're waiting, because there are many other staff and crew who are going through just as much. These artistes also need to maintain at their best form for the fans and friends who love and support them.
Actually that day was nearing one of the members, Heo Young Saeng's birthday, so their resting room was full of presents from the fans, for instance, hampers filled with foodstuff were crowding the resting room so much there was hardly room to move around. Not only the members, even the staff and visitors who were visiting the boys were able to share and enjoy the food. Faced with the sincere and heartfelt gestures from fans, Heo Young Saeng was full of smiles too that day. As the members were preparing for the work and schedule that awaited them whilst enjoying the hampers of love, they were motivated to push themselves harder and faster in order to repay everyone's love and care.
The members were not wearing makeup during the rehearsal, so the moment rehearsals came to a stop, member Park Jung Min sped off from the stage towards the control room on level 3, as if afraid of being photographed. Full of smiles, he was saying, "I want to rush back to level 3!" As for the other members, they also returned to their resting room and carried on with their own preparation work before the recording started.
Before makeup and styling, they also held discussions with their managers intermittently. Some would also be on their cellphones, and some members would also play and joke around. They, too, would watch the other artists' performance on the monitor intently, and would exchange views and opinions. And of course, there were also friends who would come by with CDs to ask for their autographs, etc.
The staff from SS501's agency also said, "There are naturally many things and details to prepare for stage performance, like wardrobe, styling and makeup, etc are all a must. In addition, it's also good to observe (and learn from) others' performance, and it's also appropriate to relieve stress through joking."
p.s. just came from cagalikira's blog, and saw that she's reposted xiaochu's translation of the same article above. gosh, there's so much discrepancy between xiaochu's version and the chinese version that i'd read and translated from!
anyway, just so that i don't mislead anyone, please click here to read xiaochu's version which i think has been translated into english directly from the original korean version.
i think the chinese version was really really really a super-condensed version.
haha, somehow me thinks leader would be more comfortable with soju or beer....
lucky leader fans....? but the princess wonders how much hotsun fried chicken the fans have to eat...
original in korean: Newsen reposted by: SS601.com translated into chinese: julieann @hyunjoong china translated into english: SS501ufo.blogspot
SS501 Kim HyunJoong will hold romantic red wine party with 50 friends
SS501 Kim Hyun Joong's endorsement company is going to hold a red wine party. He will spend a happy time together with friends.
Kim Hyun Joong's endorsement company Hotsun Fried Chicken will hold a 'Perfect Day Wine Party' at their Seoul Gangnam-gu shop on 9 December.
Friends who won the prize will be able to participate in this party which has a theme of red wine together with Kim Hyun Joong.
In this activity, a total of 50 lucky friends will be drawn, the winner will be able to obtain his personal autograph and chance to take photograph together with him.
The organizer expressed: "This activity is mainly to provide our customer an activity other than fan meeting, and also hope that the guest will have an unforgettable memories."
Also, Kim Hyun Joong's group SS501 recently released their new album Love Like This after 1 year 7 month, they are currently actively involved in their promotional activities.
p.s. the topic on red wine reminds me of wuri yong joon's poster from TheFaceShop....
miemi had shared previously on byjgallery that starting from 29th oct, TheFaceShop will be giving away this free poster with every 2,000 yen purchase.
really...! leader's so yummylicious he's completely, totally, thoroughly and literally finger-lickin' good!
here... seen biting into young saeng's birthday cake (ya, the awkward couple shared a cake!! and ya, leader even fed young saeng, wakaka!!)
oh man.... how come an innocent licking action can look set off the accelerator in my heart leh...?
remember i've said i love to see him fierce...? here's a truly fierce look. can you imagine those eyes boring into you?
hehe, the happy-looking starry party hats made such a sharp contrast to his fierce expression! (and oh, he has rather lovely brows, ya?)
so cute hor...? whatever possessed him to wear the party hat sideways in the first place...? (and yea, thereby prompting and inviting jung min to fix up the other side with jung min's own party hat that didn't seem to want to stay put on his head....)
ahhh.... that gorgeous face!
yea, yea, i'm fangirling, so...? ain't a crime, you know... hehe, he is, after all, of legal age. legal age to do what...?! *gosh, the princess decides to halt the train of thought RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE!
next up, a batch of leader pics still from yesterday evening's stamping session. this time, without the party hat!
i like this one!
and oh, he smiled, he smiled, he smiled! and i'd bet the entire roomful of women smiled along with him!
btw, here's the clip from the mini birthday celebration.
did you know that young saeng had been envious of leader coz he's had triples celebrating his birthday before... and he was always lamenting at how his birthday never seemed to coincide with any of their events and activities. so, hehe, this year the otter prince got lucky! the taiwanese fans created that lovely sea of blue during PERSONA taipei. and now, THIS!
and of course, one last post before the princess REALLY goes to bed.
this post is partly to assure the bae fans that... a certain korean man remains awfully special in the princess' heart. and also partly because the princess truly hearts these non-pose-y pics!
love love love how he looks more like an artist than an artiste/actor.
i've always adored his large hands....
they seem capable of holding up the world, and all the worries and bad things that come with it. nope, i ain't really expecting him to be superman, but i just wanted to paint the picture that in my mind, i see wuri yong joon as someone who has the strength, the power, and the love within him to protect the ones who mean something to him.
keke, the fedora again...!! actually i don't have as big an issue with it as some bae fans, haha!
and really! there have been quite a few occasions recently that i actually miss his long hair!
but since he's already cut it, then i really really really wish he would go all the way short.
another one of my fave pics from his 'travelling and writing' days!
and i heart this one! wuri yong joon without glasses, and looking like he's enjoying himself!
can't say i feel comfortable watching how precariously he's standing though...
first things first... those of you who have been following my blog for sometime would know that i generally don't care much about popularity polls, voting stuff and all that jazz
although i do care a teeny weeny bit more about the more 'meaningful' awards like best actor and all that.... don't get me wrong, by 'meaningful', i don't mean to imply anything. it's just that i kindda detest polls that can be rigged, or whereby voting can be manipulated by software and stuff. where fairness and transparency are not apparently present, then i'm usually not very interested.
in any case, my stance has always been it only matters to me whom i like, and it doesn't really matter to me if the rest of the world like him or not. but if it's about recognition of talents and/or effort, then it's a different story. but popularity awards, well, it's nice if the actor i like wins, but it doesn't really bother me much if he doesn't win. i'm kindda like a closet fan in this sense, hardly ever posting stuff about what polls are going on, and how to vote, etc etc etc....
but that said, i did become abit curious when i saw that green peas were getting abit upset that the boys didn't win this week at the SBS inkigayo. yea, i'd mentioned that SHINee won again with Ring Ding Dong, ya?
i've also read somewhere that SHINee also took sometime before they got the top spot; think they were up against some pretty strong contenders previously, and sorta had to 'wait their turns'.... this was 'only' SHINee's second win on inkigayo, i think. some non-SS501 fans have commented that green peas should be abit more patient, as it will take time for the boys' LLT to climb to the top spot since they've only just made their comeback. the gestation, including the airplay, the sales, etc... will take time to build up, and some of these non-fans are also saying SS501 will probably win next week, so green peas should chill.
but some green peas are saying they're just asking about how the breakdown's done, and they're not saying who DESERVES to win. and seems like one of the main contentious points is whether the sales of the normal and special limited editions are combined and calculated as one. if considered to be separate, then obviously our boys have been disadvantaged... i guess they do have a point, and there should be nothing wrong with wanting to clarify, ya?
SS501 fans doubtful of SBS Inkigayo music chart results, Request for clarification of breakdown
Fans of group SS501 has raised their doubts about her the production team of SBS Inkigayo derived on their #1 winner.
On SBS Inkigayo aired on 1st Noveber, SS501 won #2 on the show’s chart. With that, fans are saying that things do not make sense and requested for the breakdown of deriving at the #1 winner from the production team to the show.
The part about the breakdown that had the fans doubtful is the the album sales portion. Part of the fans have also started a protest thread on Inkigayo’s viewers noticeboard.
One SS501 fan said, “Do see the HanTeo chart. (SS501’s album) sold more than any other singer’s album. And on Friday, SS501 lose to SHINee by just 3000 points.”
There were also doubts if there is combined calculation of the normal and limited edition of SS501’s album.
With that there are increasing number of posts on the viewers noticeboard asking to reveal the breakdown of how Inkigayo derive at the #1 winner to ask for clarifications.
There has not been any clarifications from Inkigayo yet.
there are quite many comments under this post. i'll just pick up one of them and here's the main thing i wanna share from isopropyl's comment:
isopropyl wrote, Here is how inkigayo calculates the scores: Research (20%), Album Sales (20%), Digital Online Charts (30%), Number of Times Broadcasted (20%) and Inkigayo Website Votes (10%).
As you can see, album sales isn’t the only criteria nor does it hold the highest % to determine the winner. Even if you combine both versions of their album, the margin isn’t that big if you compare to SHINee’s. Obviously, looking at the digital charts for the past 2 weeks, RDD undoubtedly ranked and is still ranking higher. Research, inkigayo votes all depends on the fans and surely RDD had been broadcasted more since SHINee had their comeback 1st.
Now let’s go to Music Bank: Album sales are 15%, DIGITAL SALES 60%, # of broadcast is 15% and audience rating is 10%.
(rest of contents omitted...)
anyway, i don't really have a point; i just thought to highlight this issue since it seems to be a rather hot topic. and since there's also the additional information about the components of the scores for both SBS' inkigayo and MBC's music core, so i decided to just share the info.
since i was talking about how leader likes skull designs, just thought to repost some pics of him from saturday (2009.10.31). on that day, the boys had appeared on music core, as well as the outdoor event for live power music.
here's what leader was wearing.
can't see the print on the black tee? this pic below should give you a clearer idea...?
here, i've cropped it so that you can see the skull design on the tee more clearly... hehe, quite a cool tee, ya?
and, the more sharp-eyed ones amongst you would have noticed that leader's wearing the same tee today (2009.11.01), just different colours....
just in case you wanna watch the boys' performance on 2009.10.31, here it is... courtesy of shirbogurl yet again.
i've been wanting to say i like how fresh-faced and absolutely handsome leader has been looking for the REBIRTH promo activities. and gosh, sometimes i will just look at his pics and wonder to myself how on earth can a boy be THIS pretty?!
anyway, since i've already started this post, i might as well put up some pics of leader, haha! these are from their earlier appearances of the comeback. can't say i like the black 'dress' tee much, but i do like the leather pants on him.
and i heart his poses.... especially when he's in one of his serious-at-work moods, and he will really deliver... the angle and all that... and for some reason, i particularly like how his left hand was hanging in this pic.
and of course, that incredibly gorgeous face.
ya, this is the inner black 'dress'-tee that i've a MAJOR problem with!
in fact, i've so MAJOR a problem with it that i WILL NOT post pics that will show the 'dress' part of the tee clearly, haha!
love the glowy effect on this pic!
cropped abit so that i can stare at his face more, wakaka!
oops, sorry... i'm back with more pics from the YS' birthday celebration at the fan stamping session earlier...
got all these pics from ss601.com, but the original sources are labeled clearly on the pics. thanks much much for sharing, ladies!
okie, let's start with a pic of the entire group first... hehe, they're such eye-candy, ya?
and each with his own (oh-so-different) personalities too! seriously, i think the magic is really in the dynamism and chemistry of these boys' different styles. somehow they complement one another's strengths and weaknesses well, and the entire package is one of extreme cuteness but thankfully not an irritating way.
now.... have you seen a sadder birthday boy...? hehe, i haven't!!
still looking rather sullen here... but cute, i know, i know...
hee, what's THAT look?!
oh, that's like the saddest puppy-eyed look, ever!
and.... finally, he smiles!!
he should smile more, i like to see his dimpled smile!
nice dimples, ya?
another pic of a happy looking YS.
baby, looking on as if he's wishing it's HIS birthday...
btw did you notice that baby seemed to be in abit of a bad mood? saw the clip earlier? kyu was tugging at the string of baby's party hat, and oh my, the look that baby shot kyu.... could freeze water sia...
kyu, looking not so 'dangerous' today, hehe!
jung ming... btw i've always thought jung min and baby looked like the oldest two in the group, although they're actually the youngest two, haha!
and... how can i NOT post leader's pics, ya? the whole point of this blog entry is so that i CAN post leader pics, wakaka!
simply adorable!!! and i'm really really really into starry things these days, so i can't help but notice the silver stars on the party hats!
you know, one thing that people sometimes miss out mentioning when talking about these five boys is their tenacity and determination.
since years ago, these five boys were already embarking on their dreams. yea, they knew from young what they wanted to do, where they wanted to be, and they worked towards it. they all wanted to be in showbiz.
and when they were signed up by DSP, it was inculcated into these boys' minds that they were trained and groomed to become an idol group, and to eventually become superstars.
i really believe that the boys really really really really really believe this. yea, me thinks they really buy the story that they will become superstars.
so they worked harder than anyone else, they pushed themselves further than anyone else, that's why and that's how they won over the other (many) aspiring trainees to end up standing as the final five. and what about the loneliness, helplessness when they were 'shipped' to japan? don't forget, they were relatively young and not so exposed at that time.... not knowing the japanese language, having to leave their families and friends behind, surely that could not be easy for a young boy?
but i guess they had and still have a dream, and that dream, coupled with their faith, probably led them through the darkest of hours and the lowest of days. even when they started to gain some fame and popularity, remember how they were sorta always playing second fiddle to other boy bands? particularly, DBSK? (nay, i ain't comparing, just stating facts and stuff that i think they had gone through....)
me thinks the silliness, dorkiness and cuteness aside, there's fire in these boys' bellies.
some of the bae-fans amongst you might remember mishio. she's shared that she's come across these boys from quite a few years ago, yea, back when they weren't as famous as now. they were performing at hollywood bowl and all that. she was following their career and i can still remember what she'd said about them.
she said she's never seen any boys as determined as these to become superstars.
in effect, i think she's also saying she's not seen many who have worked as hard as they had to realise their dreams. when we see them now, some of us may not know the hardship they had gone through in the past. in fact, most of us probably don't even spend time thinking about it.
but seriously.... they made their debut back on 2005.06.08, and that's, what, over four years ago. and prior to their debut, they were undergoing training. so all in, they had already invested quite a number of years in their career, no? for their young age of 23, 24, they had in fact put in easily a quarter of their lifetime into their career. haha, it sounds quite scarily significant when i put it like that, ya?
what's my point?
well, my point is that when you see these super-cute boys on-stage, don't forget the hard work they've put in behind the scene. let not their good looks and happy smiles and seemingly carefree ways lead us to forget that they too are good boys, hardworking ones who put in alot of heart into their work.
so, go buy that REBIRTH album if you haven't already done so.
and go book that concert ticket in hong kong if you can afford the time and the money.
and start saving up for their concerts in singapore, malaysia and even bangkok.
i like to think that these boys are great examples of the value of hard work and having faith in yourselves, and they're also excellent reminders to us that dreams CAN come true.
so here... watch their performance on inkigayo today (2009.11.01) and be reminded of the many hours of rehearsals and practices that went on behind the scenes before they're ready to perform in front of us.
actually i missed out one important aspect of leader that i like much much that is... his dancing. i've always thought that whilst his vocals may not be the best amongst the boys, he more than makes up for it in his dancing.
a good dancer has to follow through an entire action, for instance, if he's supposed to swing an arm upwards, he has to swing the entire arm upwards and go all the way up, instead of how some artists tend to cut corners and just make a pretense of raising their arms and bring the arms down before they reach the 'required' height. like in a golf swing, your swing has to be complete, yea, even when you've hit the ball and are withdrawing your arm, you have to go ALL the way.
leader always goes all the way.
(not so for the rest of the boys, especially jung min and young saeng.... really...!!)
and i love how he typically really uses strength, power and might in the fast numbers and it shows on his face sometimes, and i just adore how fierce he looks sometimes when he's dancing, the slight (right) up-tilt of his lips, the unblinking eyes staring straight into the camera, just lovely to watch.
and yea, he does have the legs, keke!
anyway, just wanna share something fans did of leader's Deja Vu performances at various points in time.... from the earlier days of dark, thick hair, to the wilder hair days, and to the post-BOF short hair.... quite fun to watch....
i'd watched this quite sometime ago, when i was first drawn to leader and was searching for leader-material. of all the interview clips that i'd watched, somehow this one stuck. although this one's missing his usual brand of 4D humour and randomness, it's a 'significant' clip to me coz i thought it helped me in understanding the boy better.
i thought he's so honest, yea, with us, with himself, and with the camera, very natural, very unassuming, not at all pretentious. i love how he's completely comfortable showing the world what he's really made of, the good, the not-so-good.... he's so real, which is so rare.
in a way, (as most adults would realise) only children can behave this way. only children can have completely no regard of being watched, being judged, and being conditioned to behave or react in a certain (socially acceptable, or common) manner.
but not leader.
he seems to be able to continue being real, being true to himself, his thoughts, his heart.
most of us would have some experience of saying B when we're actually feeling or thinking A, simply because we think B is the answer that most people would have, or that B is the answer that is socially acceptable.
but to leader, (or from what i can gather from watching the clips and reading about him), it seems to be more important to him to be honest and truthful, than it is to perceived as being nice, or giving socially acceptable answers.
i wonder how he's managed to retain this part of him, how he's able to stay so real, especially when he's in showbiz.
anyway, i was just chatting with a couple of closer green peas a couple of days ago, and i realised that they haven't watched this one. makes me kindda wonder how many of you have not watched this as well.
will just post it, just in case you haven't watched it, ya?click HERE to watch.
gotta admit that i'm really a rather pure leader fan. even though i know there're monologue segments of the other members as well, i didn't watch any of those....
but will repost them here, just in case you're a SS501 fan.
jung min's monologue
courtesy of bluejaymiesky
kyu jong's monologue
courtesy of bluejaymiesky
young saeng's monologue
courtesy of cole10
hyung joon's monologue
courtesy of afterschoolSS501
now you gals would know that leader has always loved rock music, ya? he was a very bright and very good student when he was little, until he fell under the spell of the guitar and rock music after listening to seo tai ji.
that was back in the year 2000. click HERE for abit on seo tai ji.
leader had dropped out of school after his first year in junior high, so as to pursue his love and passion for music. of course, we now know that he's gone back to school 1.5 years later, and did graduate... click HERE to see him on graduation day and... he's now a student at kyeonggi uni...
anyway, being a member of an idol group was never on his wishlist. when he was recruited by DSP in 2004, he was told that he would be part of a rock band, so he had happily signed and joined. in fact, he wasn't even big on singing, preferring to play bass guitar in the rock band.
then the agency sent him for dance classes. yea, to pop music GASP!
he thought of leaving the agency, since at that time, he thought there was no way he would be part of some pop boy band...!! haha, it's really strange how things turned out, isn't it?
will also post a few of my fave performance clips of leader here...
and when i was searching for these fave clips, i noticed a pattern.... my personal faves seem to be his faves too! me too, never really dig pop, and have always had a marshmallow spot for alternative music, soft rock and new age music. (and i feel almost sorry that the faves that i've picked consist of nothing from SS501, oopsies!)
Electrifying guitar performance: Canon in D Minor & Creep *bb: yay!! two of my all-time faves!!
courtesy of suju10idols
[2006] 끝이 아니기를 (KKeuti Anigireul / It's Not the End) *bb: lovely, lovely, cool rap here... yea, this is NOT the end, leader...
courtesy of bluejaymiesky
[2007.03.30] RadioHead's Creep on YoungStreet Radio *bb: another fave of mine at one time, creep...!! haha, if he sings yellow (coldplay), only we know (keane), every morning (sugar ray)... then it would complete the fave-fave list!!
courtesy of snajper67
[2008.10.04] Leader & TOP @2008 University Gayo festival *bb: OMG! i was so into craig david, macy gray and alicia keys at one time! and they did RISE & FALL!! yea, by craig david!
courtesy of SS501No1Fan
errr... leader actually sang his part in english, although it really ain't easy to make out what on earth he's mumbling, haha! here.... to help you abit, this verse was the verse he was singing in the clip.
RISE and FALL Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over, And it seems as though the writings on the wall, Superstar you finally made it, But once your picture becomes tainted, It's what they call, The rise and fall (x2)
and... leader also did a solo performance of Rize Up (in japanese), this clip's from his 2007 osaka concert in japan.
courtesy of dunglacoste
i know most of you would have watched the more popular stuff like TYFWUU, Stalker, Mission, etc... so will skip those completely, ya?
but i do wanna share some cute little clips of leader, mostly on variety shows, or BTS.
here's a rather recent one... it was barely after BOF wrapped up and leader was filming le coq sportif CF with the boys; during an interview, he actually forgot the names of the characters in the drama!! totally cute...! and i heart his expression right after he's realised he's forgotten ;)
[2009.05.07] Y Star News: Leader Forgot BOF Characters' Names!!
courtesy of KoreanAein
okie, here's an old one... some of you who frequent the china sites may have heard leader being referred to as PG. know what it stands for? hehe, it's 屁股(Pi-Gu = PG) how did he get this nickname? watch the clip and you'll know the full story!
what happened was the boys were taking a break from their dance practice and they started playing around; they took turns to wriggle their bodies out from that, that... whatever-it-was.... and... haha, leader couldn't get it past his butt... (actually me thinks it's the belt that did it...)
the story has it that jung min started calling leader'backside joong' (屁股重)(insinuating that leader has a BB... yea, big butt, haha!) so... that's how the chinese fans started calling him PG!
courtesy of espoir412
yawning... OMG! (3:20) he was sooooo... cute and mighty naturally so!! he was quite tired and was yawning, and he was saying oh my god as he was yawning. i thought it was just insanely adorable! watch it and you'll know what i mean...
courtesy of iBreatheLifeMusic
leader touching the ceiling... this one's abit of a no-brainer and super-random... but short one, cute one.
courtesy of fizajaemin
if you were my blogder, then you would have know how much i love this song... yea, i'd blogged about daehaengidaHERE
courtesy of Rainbowccy
haven't watched this one? it's actually a cut from leader's appearance on the variety show, YSMM, shown over two weeks. muishiessi has kindly shared the clips.
since we're on the YSMM topic, i might as well share another YSMM classic. this one's really cute, with leader sharing abit of his youth stories, and hehe, he also didn't know what a sp*rm bank was...
another non-singing clip... here, you can see leader playing with fire
courtesy of espoir412
you know, i really love leader in MVIO CFs and catalogs. i thought he's a natural model.... either that, or the camera really really really loves him. probably both, haha!
one of my all-time faves (yea, the pics in my siggy on the forum came from that season too!) has gotta be the one with the sleepy concept, yea, the same one that he shot for VOGUE GIRL. i think very, very, very few people can do this concept better than leader!
courtesy of Rainbowccy
and... hehe, here's the VOGUE GIRL clip....
okay, let me post some singing clips now...
am posting them not because he sang fantastically well, but mostly, coz he looked fantastically yummylicious, haha! yea, i've already said umpteen times i'm terribly shallow.
[2008.05.12] Mdm B Salon, In A Rush *bb: i thought he looks utterly adorable in this getup! sooooo.... cute! great-looking arms too, hehe!
courtesy of rabbitlovesturtle
2008 Japan Tour *bb: oh, nothing much.... just three clips of drool-worthy leader-ness, wakaka!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
courtesy of Tiamo4674
Wings of the World (Sehsangeui Nalgae) *bb: seems like quite many of you didn't know that this is one of leader's fave songs....
hee.... it's kindda cute coz some of the chinese fansites have already reposted pics of the boys' stamps. coz most of us can't read korean, and can't recognize which is whose siggy, it's quite bewildering to identify which is whose.
but everyone could point out leader's siggy with 501% accuracy!!
i'd seen leader's skull stamp first... and when i'd seen his, i'd sorta assumed that the rest of the boys were all doing something graphical. i'd thought each of their stamp would be with pics and stuff.
oopsies! i was wrong...
this is supposedly young saeng's.
this is supposedly kyu's.
and the next two are supposedly jung min's. don't ask me why he's got two, i've absolutely no idea...
and this last one, it's baby's.
haha, looks like leader's the only oddball. whatever possessed him to come up with this, and eventually still go ahead with something like that when the rest of the boys' stamps were just 'normal signatures'....?!
i'd recently posted something on SgTripleS that touched on this part of his character. about how 'real' he is.... (maybe i will repost that here later, that post actually sits better here on my blog anyway.)
and oh, liezle has gotten a great post up on her blog whereby her korean friend shared her own signed album from this evening. no reposting allowed, so please visit her blog to read about it. click here.
meanwhile, will repost more media pics from the session. liezle mentioned that DSP had allowed fans to take pics rather freely during the stamping session, so i guess you can expect an avalanche of pics soon. i probably won't be reposting everything, unless there're such fantabulous pics that i just can't resist....
the princess here has got tons and tons of blogging backlog, so she'd better not get overly distracted by the boys' pics, haha!
some short notes on the pics before i go.... his short hair's kindda growing on me. i mean, i already liked his hair when he first showed up with it for PERSONA TAIPEI. but the more i see it, the more i like it... don't you?
errr... leader-arh, why on earth were you clenching your fists like that huh?
stamping.... with a really focused and purposeful expression.
gosh, his complexion's sooooo... clear! of course, i know it's makeup, but still.... me thinks if for myself, even two hours of makeup application and ten kilos of foundation and powder later still won't give me skin like that!
he really does have great eyes, doesn't he? and yea, he knows it too. when asked which part of his body he's most satisfied with, he had said it's his eyes.
don't remember this? clickhere to watch the subbed interview clip of him on MTV taiwan. this was filmed back in june, either during or right before their FM in taipei, i can't remember for sure now.
i love how he looks when he's staring intensely ahead or even when he's totally zoomed out. yea, been said umpteen times that leader's really scary and unapproachable, but somehow i just love the fierce, smile-less look.
oh, he looks great even when he's frowning!
goodness gracious me! me thinks i've gone totally bananas over some young boy...! oh my, what's this noona fan gonna do...?!
what, leader? trying to show me your lovely, lovely skin? trying to tease me with your sexy nape? hehe, or have you been following me on twitter secretly, and read my plea to rob (edward the vampire) pattinson to bite me, and you wanna be bitten too...?
just like YJ, he looks completely different when he's smiling and when he's not. completely...!!!
the moment he breaks into a smile, the irresistible boyish charm comes oozing out, and out goes the sexier, tougher, manlier appeal. and guess which i prefer?
keke, just when i thought i really do prefer the tougher, no-smile look, he had to pull this one on me!!! okie, okie, leader, you win. you look great, smiling or otherwise.
have i mentioned 501 times already how much i adore the shape of his jawline?
and oh, i sooooo... love this pic below!
what's jung min saying to him, i wonder...
and i wonder more.... is leader listening, or is he zoning out as usual...?
since there might be SS501 fans amongst you, here are some bonus pics!
how come jung min's and baby's makeup look kindda thick and too fair in the pic below huh....? maybe it's the lighting...
thanks for the heads-up, zest! zest from SgTripleS has shared that the boys just had a mini birthday celebration for young saeng at the stamping session earlier.
believe zest read about it from finkle88's posting on leader's thread on soompi.
okie, okie, i know the birthday boy is young saeng, so the focus should be on him. but i'm a leader fan mah...! so they share the limelight in my post, k? young saeng's date of birth is actually 3rd nov 1986, so yea, he's turning 23 on tuesday. but according to the korean way of counting age (which is the same as the chinese way incidentally), he's actually turning 24.... (ya, same age as leader, except that leader's birthday's on 6th june.)
anyway, he looks sooooooo..... cute with the two party hats as ears!!! leader lah, who would i be talking about?!! and i like how he doesn't being made to look a little silly like this. he was so 'docile' and 'receptive' when jung min's putting on the 'ears' for him!! he didn't even remove them afterwards!
thanks to an anonymous reply to my last blog entry, i've gotten these pics...
gosh... really? this is leader's design for his personal stamp to be used at the stamping session just now? the skull? okie, okie, the skull doesn't really surprise me one bit, since we all know how much he likes it, but somehow this particular skull design looks kindda 'raw'? in that it seems like a prelim sketch and not yet completed...?
and hehe, for some reason, although i knew that the boys would be using their own designs for the stamps, and the designs would most probably be graphical in nature, i was still somehow expecting their names to be included...
sorry, can't give you the source of these two pics, coz i can't tell from the URLs of the pics. my guess would be they came from a korean blogger with the ID 0HORH?
anyway, much thanks to anonymous and also to the person who had uploaded the pics to share.
yea... though the news sorta came out abit late, but i suppose there's no stopping the fans. in fact, i've even read that there're overseas fans flying over to seoul just for this event.
in appreciation of the fans' support, the boys had held a stamping session earlier. supposedly at 7pm, korean time. i guess stamping IS easier and faster than signing, but somehow it ain't the same thing, ya? seems less 'sincere'...?
then again, if they can accommodate more fans by switching from signing to stamping, then it's not necessarily a bad thing. i assume most fans are like me. the key thing about such sessions is not really about the autograph that you get, it's about seeing the boys up-close, ya?
did hear that the boys were stamping with designs that they'd come up with on their own. wonder what sorts of designs the boys dream up. can't wait for someone to share.
meanwhile, will just share some media pics, fresh out from the stamping event held in seoul in conjunction with the release of the boys' comeback mini album, Love Like This.
some pics of the waiting fans first... ah... this is great! the fans got to wait (rather comfortably, it seems?) in a room to wait...!! this means no standing to queue, no pushing, no jostling... i like i like i like!! if only there're chairs for the fans to sit down and wait, haha!
personally, the princess hates being trapped in a crowd, and worse, the princess hates being trapped in a crowd sweltering in heat and bathed in perspiration. MAJOR HATE. at least like this, one is able to keep a cooler mind whilst waiting and can stroll up to the boys when it's one's turn in cool comfort and not at all flustered and bothered.
now all fan sessions should be like this, haha~! now don't ask about the part whereby the fans are queuing and waiting to get into the room *.*
understand that the plan was for some 1,800(?) fans to be allowed into the stamping session.
ah... the boys had arrived! seems like they're wearing the same outfit from their performance on inkigayo earlier.
leader addressing the fans at the stamping session.
leader again.
leader again and again.
hehe, leader again and again and again.
okie, okie, i'll give you one pic of each of the other four boys!
young saeng. keke, i do know that his recent appearances and performance have actually captured the eyeballs and hearts of many gals!! in fact, it's always cute to observe how the gals would 'reshuffle' the order of their fave boys each time they make an appearance, or each time the gals attend a concert or something...
and of course, there're many out there who are truly impressed and in lurve with the otter prince's voice.
kyu.... another hot favourite! gotta say he does look a hell lot better now than he did when the boys first started out. and there're a couple of (rather embarrassing!!) episodes that i'd actually mistaken kyu for leader!
but personally, kyu's abit too much of a goody-two-shoes for my liking. he's so well-mannered, gentle and politically correct that it makes me think that being with him will be awfully boring and predictable, or it makes me wonder what the real him is thinking inside. shrugs...
jung min.... the effervescent jung min! guess he really is the live wire of any shows the boys guest on. and it's really fun to watch his interaction with baby. those merciless teasing and bantering.... absolutely delightful to watch! did you know that jung min had wanted to be an actor before he 'stumbled' into the life of a member on an idol group?
don't think he's given up on his acting dream though. if my memory serves me right, jung min (and kyu too, i believe) are actually taking performing acts/acting classes in uni. or at least they're matriculated, can't say that they're attending classes religiously, haha!
baby... he really does like a foreigner sometimes, ya? skin so fair, eyes so big and bright... and with that brownish mop of curls now too! not my fave....
have seen him in real life when i attended the FM in hong kong. he's so shy and appeared to be hiding behind leader all the time! a real baby.... then again, this baby's born in 1987... that makes him.... errr, all of 22 years old.
gosh... why on earth am i following the career of five boys THIS young?!! *the cradle-snatching guilt of a noona fan surfaces yet again...!!
yea, i'd mentioned that the boys appeared on inkigayo today. sadly, they didn't win the mutizens award. lost out to shinee. yea, that ring ding dong song again.
but as many green pea princesses have said, the boys' performance seem to be getting better and better with each live show they appear on. that's good. and i love how smooth and suave they look each and every time. and thank god there's no hint of any tattoo shirts in sight today.
me met some fellow green peas for dinner and drinks tonight. hehe, yea, got home pretty late, 4am...? still surfing, still blogging, oops!
anyway, will make this a quick one, since i do have to sleep. the green peas amongst you would know that the boys' first comeback was supposed to be on KBS music bank last friday evening, but music bank was cancelled coz of some live baseball game. so yea, the boys made their first comeback appearance last saturday on MBC's music core instead.
but... hehe, they appeared on music bank today!! thanks for uploading, shirbogurl21!
gotta say shirbogurl21 has been such a gem when it comes to uploading and sharing the boys' clips. to describe her speed as lightning speed is probably appropriate. and i learnt from liezle's blog that shirbogurl21 has sacrificed her sleep so as to bring fellow fans the latest clips. much thanks!
believe me, i can completely understand how time-consuming surfing around, downloading, uploading, reading, replying.... can be. and, i'm in the same boat as liezle here, in that i haven't actually gotten around to watching all the clips. gosh, the news, clips, pics and what-have-yous are popping up faster than i can say double-s-5-0-1...!!
anyway, here's the compilation of the boys' appearance on music bank today (2009.10.30). yea, this clip is the compilation of their dance intro, performance of LLT, and also their receiving of the second spot in the music bank countdown. aigoo.... was actually hoping that the boys would get the top spot!
and there's another great clip to share today! yay! the latest CF for tony moly is out. it's out, it's out, it's out!!! and it's (*bb swallows.....) H.A.W.T.
but before that, let me just repost the posters released by tony moly first.
same, major hotness. yea, like everyone else, me wondering how on earth does a guy get such great skin? and hehe, me gonna convince myself to believe that the pic with the gal was taken separately, and then PS'ed.
here's the clip. thanks for sharing, marvie0701!
if you thought the clip looked kindda familiar, it's because i'd posted the BTS interviewhere. will just repost that particular clip here again to make things easier for everyone. it was shown on entertainment relay, and it's a lovely one to watch. thanks much much for the subs, iBreatheLifeMusic!
and... if you know me like you know me, surely you would know that i like my blog postings in a rather orderly and systematic manner. so since i'm posting tony moly, have gone to dig out some old tony moly CFs to share with you. it's a great time to review, since there have been quite some changes in leader's hairstyle, image, style and the overall outward appearance over this period of time.
this was the last one right before the lights-on-lights-off version.... it's sorta still the BOF hairdo era. thanks for sharing, hoonfami!
here's the corresponding interview during that filming, and the clip was aired in march 2009. thanks for sharing, yyy148!
going further back... this one's released in nov 2008, uploaded and shared by hyunie501. used to be my fave, until the latest lights-on-lights-off version, hehe! i suppose you could refer to this as the WGM shillang era!
muishiessi has shared the corresponding BTS interview clip. another lovely one to watch!
this one's from the earlier part of 2008, i suppose. it's the BTS clip as well, but abit blurry... and i'm much too beat to go search for a clearer version, or the corresponding CF. and this clip's courtesy of yyy148.
another BTS clip of tony moly CF shooting, and this one's from 2007. it appeared on wide news entertainment, and was uploaded and shared by WWloveHJ.
last, but definitely not the least is one from 2007.01.27, a mighty interesting interview clip also of leader from a tony moly CF shooting set. however, quainte501 has disallowed embedding outside of YT. if you haven't watched this, i strongly urge you to, coz it talks abit about how leader used to find his smile awkward and stuff.
i know, i know... i didn't keep my word. i was supposed to blog earlier, but i didn't. i was supposed to blog YJ, and i posted about the boy. sorry, sorry.
don't ask me what i was up to since i came back from tokyo. to be honest, i've absolutely no idea too, i only know that i've been terribly busy. i've said before that it's time-consuming to lead a normal lifestyle of a city girl cum BYJ fangirl cum BYJ blogger, but by george, it's near impossible to manage more than that and still be able to have decent sleep.
really.
i mean, i'm a leader fan, this part is obvious. and i'm also part of the ultra-small committee running the SG TripleS fanclub. and i had no idea at all that it was going to keep me this busy. i guess part of the reason is because the boys are having their asia tour and they're having their comeback with that REBIRTH mini album... so there're plenty of activities. plus, the fanclub is so young, and there're plenty to do.
okie, okie, the real real real reason why i'm so busy is because of me. ya, ultimately, it boils down to me, my personality.
i've long realised that no matter what job i keep, i will be busy. it's my nature to want to cover all grounds, to make informed decisions, and to also ensure that there's sufficient paper trail and that if i were not around, someone else would know how to carry on with the work. this means that when i make a decision, i either will share the decision-making process with at least one other person, or i will pen the process and rationale in some document so that whoever takes over my work has something to check back on.
yea, i ALWAYS work on the basis that no one is indispensable. me, included.
so it has always been important to me that information is passed down, and knowledge is transferred. this also means that my work does not end when my work ends. to me, my work will end only if i've made sure that at least one other person knows how to do the work i do, or at least understand why i've come to make the decision i did. yea, so it's more work than what an average person will do.
see, the trouble is i can't see to rid this habit even when i'm part of the fanclub committee. and when i post announcements or share info with the members, i try to be as clear and thorough as i can. and sometimes, i'm even guilty of managing the fanclub like a business. email or PMs have to be replied within one, max two, working days. setting prices for merchandise will have to involve cross-referencing what other blogshops and fansites are charging, blah blah blah....
yea, this means alot of involvement and yea, a helluva load of work.
see, the trouble with me is.... if i bochap (this is the singapore colloquial way of saying 'don't care' or 'can't be bothered'), then i bochap all the way, and don't want the details of things. but if my name is up there in the committee, then it's a different story.
if my name is up there, then it has to be something good, something that i can be proud of. so i can't simply just pretend i didn't see the gaping lobangs or just pretend the problems or issues ain't there. and the other 'problem' with me is when i solve problems, i go ALL the way to the root. yea, that also means more time to investigate, to solve, and to put in preventive measures. and ya, HAVE TO make sure at least one other person in the committee knows that too.
and yea, i do admit i can be quite confident (cocky?) sometimes. not ALL the time, i do know my own strengths and weaknesses fairly well, and i'm confident enough to tell you what i do good, and what i don't. so in areas that i know for a fact that i'm good at, i can be quite insistent in terms of how i want things to be done. the format, the process.... ya....
but, of course, when it comes to things i know i ain't good at, i tend to stay away, like taking care of bulk purchases, tallying orders against amount collected, oh, i royally detest doing stuff like that. yea, despite the fact that i actually have a rather clear mind that's quite handy when it comes to doing accounting related stuff. in fact, my transcripts say i've gotten HDs in all my accounting related subjects, haha! but i just hate doing it. so stuff like this, i don't get involved... merchandise is handled by another person in the team.
even though it's (just) a fanclub, i maintain my usual standards, and still won't accept mediocrity, and i still don't suffer fools gladly. i'm much too serious about this for my own good. i'm guessing to some extent, it also makes me difficult to work with, coz i seem to fuss over details and all that jazz.
but that said, coz i'm incredibly involved in the SG TripleS forum, and well, i did do all the initial setup and settings on my own (after my dear friend helped me to upload and bring the forum alive....), i also created all the sections, decided on how to enable member registration. hey, i even manually turned over 100 fanclub members from yellow to green! even now, i dare say i'm practically the (only?) global moderator on the forum.
coz i'm so active, (yea, i just crossed 1,000 posts on the forum and i contribute like 8-10% of the total number of posts on the forum) i guess it's inevitable that members would come to me when they have issues. nay, it's not because i'm friendly, approachable or smart, it's just because i'm there.
but can you imagine the sort of questions i get ALL the time? questions like how to sign up for fanclub membership, when are the boys coming, will their mini albums be released in singapore... even how to watch TV online, how to create avatars and signatures.... and when the fanclub has activities, i even get questions like how to take a bus there, and can i call you if i get lost...
and mind you, all these questions still come despite me saying REPEATEDLY do not PM me.
on my good days, i point them to the right direction and i tell myself i want my life back.
on my bad days, i get pissed with all these questions and i still tell myself i want my life back.
i miss surfing aimlessly.... i actually have varied interests, and i used to love browsing tech blogs, fashion blogs, beauty blogs, interior design blogs, marketing & branding sites. in fact, i miss reading the papers and also just picking up a book and start reading. i don't even watch TV anymore; granted, i never watch much TV to begin with, although i do enjoy CNA.
i really really really want my life back.
i mean, i can't even call myself a true blue SS501 fan. yea, the boys are cute and all that, but do i really want to devote my time to fangirling about them? nay, i don't think so. i guess it's very clear to me at this point that i'm really just a leader fan, although i do enjoy seeing all of them acting like dorks and horsing around. but if you just give me four of them minus leader, nope, i wouldn't be very interested to watch them. but if you give me just leader, yea, i'm willing to sit through hours just to watch him.
so to call myself a green pea princess would be stretching the truth abit far. at most, yea, i'm a princess, but i'm pink and i'm definitely no pea....
if i were a real SS501 fan, i think i would be willing to compromise and give abit of my time to fangirl about them, and to help manage the fanclub. but to ask me to give up so much of my time for a boy-band that i don't qualify as a fan for... hmmm... that really is a different story. don't get me wrong, i really do like the boys, but just not soooooo... much that i would call myself a diehard fan. yea, i would probably sign up as a fanclub member, but to be a committee member... that certainly requires more thinking.
if you didn't know before, i didn't really want to be one. a committee member, i mean. my intention was just to help do the initial setup, pass some knowledge down to the dongseungs and to help identify suitable members to join the committee, and once that done, i'm out of there.
but surprisingly, the fanclub did and is still doing far better than expected. we now have over 1,800 members on the forum, and mind you, the forum only opened in early august, so we're talking about 1,800 members in just three months. in fact, not even three full months yet.
so the amount of work was more than anticipated. i really didn't expect the forum to have this many members in such a short span of time. so it's taking alot more of my time than i'd initially bargained for.
so now how...?
ya, now is the time to pass down whatever it is that i do in the fanclub to other people. now is the time to push for the team to quickly identify and invite a few more members to join them on the committee. now is the time to leave it to the dongseung, since the unni cannot be with her forever, ya?
but hey, i may leave the committee, but i'm still an unni. so if my dong-seung needs me, i will be there.
and hopefully, i get my life, my blog (and yes, my sleep!!) back very very very soon.
p.s. lest you're thinking i've ignored other important parts of my life, you thought wrong. i'm still spending time with my friends and my family....
the thing is... in order to keep up with everything, i sleep alot less, and i don't blog.
to complete the 'story', guess i have to post the Love Like This MV since i'd posted the teaser.
gotta say the MV was not terribly creative or original. what's the story? errr... don't think there's one? the backdrop, the props, everything... errr... mediocre and pretty predictable...?
i even thought it's obvious that they either had no money or no time, or worse, both...? now seriously, i believe they were probably under (time) pressure to release this, so... hmmm...
thank god the boys still look good, and once we glue our eyes to the boys, the rest, well, doesn't really matter.
at least i am happy enough to see leader. and yea, i can even try and ignore the distractingly ugly tattoo tops.
SS501 is back!!!! their first two performances were on MBC's music core yesterday (sat), and KBS' inkigayo today (sun).
on music core, the boys donned red and white and performed Love Like This.
love love love how they started the song. each of them actually did a letter of the word LOVE. baby with L, kyu with O, young saeng with V, jung min with E, and the best-est.... leader literally popped up and did a LOVE sign!!
on inkigayo, the boys performed two songs live. they did Just One Day first, all decked out in suits in the colours of black, white and gray. all of them looked like they hadn't slept for days and days; yea, they were all sporting the panda-eyes look, haha!
for the second song, they did Love Like This. hehe, they didn't wear the red and white again. instead, they were in different variants of a white suit with a nude-colored tatto inner-shirts that none of the green peas seemed to like. i was just grateful that leader was given the least awful of the five suits, haha!
gotta say his shorter hairdo's totally growing on me. i really really really love how his fringe's swept up to reveal his nice forehead. he looked sharper, smarter and more alert. i like it.
can't wait for the MV for Love Like This to be released. soon now, soon....
p.s. yea, he cracked in one of the songs. oopsies!
the SS501 fans amongst you might have heard about the leak.... hee, bae-fans, don't be 'scared off', this ain't really a SS501 post, although it stems from an experience with the boys.
yea, the boys were supposed to have the mini album Rebirth out yesterday. but a day before the official release, the songs were leaked. yea, they were put up on youtube, some with download links and all that... some triple s were frantically tracking all the sites and blogs and youtubers and doing their best to get these people to take down the links. happy to say that quite a few did have their links removed, some voluntarily and some forced to remove.
but... on that day, we heard fellow fans saying things like 'why can't these people wait just one more day?'...
that actually set me thinking a little. there are really two issues here.
one is about the leak.
and the other? well, it's about were the fans saying that it's A-okay to post the clips and links once the album's out? so it's okay to put up the download links so long as the album's out? i think the crux of the issue is, really, our respect for intellectual property, isn't it? these days, it's so easy to just click and save...
even when there's no direct MP3 download link, it's still possible to save the youtube clip into a .flv file and then convert that into an MP3. there're so many different ways to download, so many different ways to convert... and searching for things is also so easy... (ahhh... search engines are really smart these days!)
anyway, what triggered this entry is a PM that i received last night. mind you, this came from a 15-year-old gal who's a member on the SgTripleS fanclub. and some 24 hours later, i'm still stumped as to how on earth to answer her.
here's her PM, i hope she doesn't mind that i repost it here:
Hey bb,
just wondering, are people allowed to actually put the songs on Youtube?
Even though there's no dl link or what not. I mean, there are still websites that can convert the vids into mp3 and then that'll be illegal dl-ing already right? Cause someone posted the songs on youtube.... (YT links to green peas & obsess omitted...) Kinda skeptical about all this now cause, yknow, kinda unfair for those that actually went to BUY the albums and painstakingly saved mon
