About Dramas and Shows #1

Hey to all  you people who reads my blog!

How have you been? I've been busy all around as usual (if you want to know about my days then follow me on dayre!).

You'd think that with how busy I am, I won't have anything else but I actually do! No matter how busy I am, I haven't stop watching dramas and variety shows. So today, i'm going to list how the programmes I recommend!

1. W

This drama just ended and if you are k-drama fan you probably watched it. If you haven't, this drama is really worth watching. At first when I heard this drama without knowing its content I was like "meh, this dosen't seem worthwhile..its just another romance drama" but then I was wrong. The plot was refreshing and different from what's been out in the k-drama scene. Though the ending was iffy and not what I expected *cough*sorry for spoiler*cough*, the entire first half of the drama was really good so do check it out!

2. Hit The Stage

I rarely put up on my blogs on the kind of variety shows I watch so this would actually be the first and I really really recommend this show. I started watching this show since it first came out because of U-kwon from block b (whose finally getting some recognition thanks to this show! There's more to block b then zico #justsaying #istillloveyouzico). And homg I was blown away by his performance@ Especially the Joker performance, it really made a huge impression, like I knew he was in-charge of dance in Block B but where has he been hiding this talent?  I was also blown away by the other team's performances especially in the last performance.  With a new theme every 2 weeks, its been an amazing show. There were also performances by the J-black dance crew every week and their really awesome!  So if dance is something you like to watch, then hit the stage is for you! This show is very different from the rest, cuz honestly theres enough singing shows, a show on dance is a cool concept amongst that.

3. Jealousy Incarnate

This is a drama that is ongoing and I recently started to watch it myself. Its up till I think episode 14 and its another typical romance drama where two guys fall in love with a girl. But hey, we need a cheesy romance drama somewhere in our life and I'm a fan of go kyung pyo (since reply 1988) so I decided to check this out. Also, I could relate to Gong Hyo Jin's character to a certain extent so when Go kyung's pyo's character appeared in the film, my mind just went 'he is ultimate goals'. Not cuz his character is rich, but his personality and the way he says things...oh man..if only guys like that exsist in real life (lets keep dreaming momoko). But yeah, this was a good 'pick me up' show.

4. Scarlet Heart Ryeo

When I first heard this drama was coming out, I was super excited because 1.it was a korean remake of a chinese drama (bu bu jing xin) I used to love. 2. Nam Joo Hyuk is in it...come on I had to watch it.
However when I started watching, all my reasons above went out the door and now I watch cuz Lee Jun Ki comes out every week. The plot is honestly not the best (its quite different from the chinese drama) but the characters make it more bearable to watch. Though i must say starting from this week, the drama's plot might finally be intense, but thats not the point. What's more important is lee jun ki. How did he get so handsome?! I've watched him a couple of times but i've never really thought he was super handsome? He starred in a movie, 'the king and the clown' that i watched yearrrrrsss back and I remember thinking he was pretty cute. Cute and pretty, he was more like a flowerboy. Then I saw him in 'the scholar who walks through the night' (which I watched cuz TVXQ Changmin was in it) and I was like 'wow, he still hasn't lost his look' but when I watched him on scarlet heart, he looked really different in it. It could be cause he seems more skinner and manly in the outfit I dont know..OR it could the long hair he sports (forever a weakness) but he looks really good and I wait for a new episode of this drama just to watch him.

So! if you are looking for a show to make your day, then I'd recommend this drama.

I'll stop my recommendations here. The list would probably continue along the months as new dramas and shows starts so I'll update once in a while with that.

Just so you know I'm a huge fan of koreans shows, hence all the above are basically korean programmes. So if you have a suggestion like what I should watch then let me know below!!
If you've watched the programmes, let me know your thoughts!

Till the next post!

Cheers!

Active Legends, Shinhwa [神話]

When we think about boy bands from the 90s,

Names such as ‘Backstreet Boys’, ‘Nsync’ and ‘New kids on the block’ come to mind.

However, these days it seems that they have disappeared.

Nsync broke up, backstreet boys and New kids on the block have become inactive.

However closer to where I live, Asia, there is a boy band that has just celebrated their 15^th anniversary.

A boy band that has a huge fan base (both the young and old).

From Korea, they are Shinhwa.

            

['Perfect Man' a song that came up to Number 10 on Singapore's Mandarin Charts in 2003]

Having debuted in 1998, they overcame the times when many other popular Korean bands such as G.O.D and H.OT broke up and are presently living up to their group’s name in being a Legend. (Or as a joke, idol fossils. Active fossils I must add)

With an average age of 33.3 years, Shinhwa is made up by  Eric, Minwoo, Dongwan, Hyesung, Jun jin and Andy.

15 years running in the music industry with no change in members and still sticking together after the members took a short break to fulfill their National Service duties, they are indeed a group that idols these days should look up to.

[A snippet from Episode 14 of 'Shinhwa Broadcast'. A variety show done with the Shinhwa Members]

What is their secret to staying so long?

In many interviews, they mentioned it was because they never kept quiet among each other. If they were unhappy with one member, they’d fight it out. If they had a problem, they’d speak out. When one was sad, they would go over to cheer them up. Overall, being frank among the members is the key to success.

Also, the members are more than just ‘fellow-members’ they are good friends, company and family for each other. They were under many different labels and eventually in 2011 they made a company under their name, Shinhwa companies for the group’s activities. Even though they were prompted money ( at times,  individually) they still stuck  together and Eric the leader, placed his member’s thoughts above others.

The different members each all have their own unique personalities and can be seen and understood more from their own variety show ‘shinhwa broadcast’ that is currently into its 53^rd episode.

They recently also starred in Saturday Night Live Korea, proving to the audience and their fans that they are a well-diverse group and can do comedy sketches as well.

They will be making a comeback on M countdown this coming Thursday (16^th May) with ‘This Love’.

[A/N: I personally love Shinhwa after watching countless episodes of shinhwa broadcast. I got to know them after I heard the song ‘Once in a lifetime’ on MTV. That time I did not really like Korean music but the song still stuck in my head but I didn’t give much thought. However last year when they came back with ‘Venus’ that was when I went oh, this group is awesome! Not to mention each members has very unique personalities. ^^]

東方神起、第八周年記念おめでと～～

So, I would like to start off by saying

Happy 8th Anniversary Tohoshinki ^^

東方神起、第八周年記念おめでと～～

Yes its their 8th anniversary this year and as a Cassiopeia i should dedicate today's post to this group.

Well, why do I like this group over all the many other groups that are out there in the Kpop world?

Basically it is because,
1. This was the group that introduced me to the K-pop world (next to big bang and Epik high, but I won't exactly call them 'pop' so..)
2. This group changed my mindset of being against K-pop music
3. They are the group I respect the most because they are able to speak/read Japanese fluently though they are koreans.
[They even do interviews without a translator, does their own Emcee in their shows in Japanese, even go on to japanese variety shows all over japan telling jokes too.]


I didn't get to know 'Dong Bang Shin Ki' but rather I got to know 'Tohoshinki' first.
I initially thought they were japanese because in 2006 they took the japanese music scene by storm.
In 2009 when I went to Japan (before I was a fan of them) they were plastered everywhere and when I was there I watched a TV program that explained how Tohoshinki was a korean band that was known as Dong Bang Shin Ki in Korea.



The song I fell in love with was 'Stand By You'. Like honestly that song is just beautiful yet the lyrics are so sad.
When I came back to Singapore, over the holidays my friend Ker who used to come to my house often then started introducing me more about dong bang shin ki and she eventually became my DBSK buddy.
We used to spazz and talk about them.
Everything was fine and fun until the news of JYJ suing SM came out.

My heart literally broke.
The fact that I will not see the 5 of them on stage again.
How they wont sing together anymore.
How JYJ couldn't appear on TV shows. Everything was just saddening.

But now, 4 years down the road. The lawsuit is over.
JYJ has just started their tour in Japan, performing successfully for 2 nights in Tokyo Dome
TVXQ or 'Homin' as I call them, are now currently on their 'Time' tour. They will be performing in the different Domes over Japan. And tonight they are playing in Saitama.



Its amazing how time passes and how situations are overcame.
Before the lawsuit, everyone knows TVXQ as the 5, gods of the east.
But now, people know of Tvxq and JYJ.


JYJ
Many would know Yoochun as more of an actor probably more than a singer.
With acclaimed dramas such as 'Sungkyungkwan Scandal' and the recent 'Missing you'.
 He is not only a talented singer but an actor as well.

Many would see Junsu as a musical actor and soccer fanatics over the dolphin/kenyan like 'oyaji' he used to be.
From playing in all-star soccer team to performing in Mozart.Also releasing 2 solo albums in Japanese and English.

Most would know Jaejoong as the cat loving actor and composer over the 'mother' figure of the group.
Having starred recently in Dr Jin and trying his hands on a japanese drama 'Sunao Ni Narenakute'
(which i must say was good for a korean actor)
He and the rest of JYJ has done well over the past 4 years.

TVXQ
Yunho as always being the leader he always is. I'm sure he went through a lot of troubles, heck i think everyone of them suffered greatly from the situation they went through.
But yunho, he tried his hand on acting, musicals and now seen as a dance prodigy ( he sure is one heck of a dancer.)
Having done the musical version of 'goong' and his recent role in Queen of amibition he has surely become more
 'man' and matured. (Though in my mind his childish like antics
backstage in Japan concerts is still etched in my mind. )
Changmin. Our dearest (evil) maknae has definitely grown up.
He is now shining in variety shows from the 'moonlight prince'
(this variety show on books) to currently a host on
 'Our Neighborhood Arts and Physical Education'


Overall, though I am still sad how these 5 might never get to perform together again however I still belive that one day they would comeback even just for a day to sing together just for the fans that waited for a long time for them to come back together.
For now I am just contented of seeing all 5 of them doing so well.
Whether it is in acting, in musicals, as hosts on variety programmes and of course as singers.

These 5 guys are a talented group. To me they are the group that indefinably shines the most.
Their motivation and determination to overcome whatever problems that came their way  is something that brought them to where they are today

When they started out in Japan, alone and still not fluent in the language they still ventured out and studied their best. Earning top spots in the Oricon chart one after another.
I probably think this is the reason why the fan base in Japan is still strong.
They are highly looked upon and seen. Because honestly, to me. I feel that they were the ones that paved for the Korean musicians to enter so easily into the Japanese music scene now.
Not to mention,
It is not easy to fall from a setback and rise again.
But here they are rising up and rising higher.
Maybe that is why the are called the rising gods of the east.

Always Keep the Faith

*All photos are not mine. Credits go to rightful owners.