Sunny Hill Darling of all Hearts

How's the song?

What do you get when you combine K-pop, bluegrass, and 70s inspired outfits? You get complete and utter awesomeness, that's what you get! Sunny Hill seems to have a different sound that most super main stream K-pop groups which nice. Not that I'm have a problem with the main stream music since that is what got me into K-pop in the first place.

I was immediately hooked when I heard this song which is always a good sign. Normally with new songs, it takes me a few listens to fall completely in love, but not this time. As soon as the pipe started to play I knew that wonderful sounds were about to hit my eardrum. Then to make things even better, I read the lyric translation and I have decided that this is totally my new theme song!

It seems like there have been a few of female empowerment songs that have been coming out lately. Miss A had "I Don't Need a Man" last year and Glam has "I Like It" in January and now Sunny Hill. There are probably  more songs that I don't know about because I don't always check lyrics unless I buy the song or the lyrics are in the video. 

This song had a really unique sound to it. It wasn't electronic, or sinthy, and there was not a drop of dubstep anywhere. It did have all these cool instruments though:

I don't even know what some of those instruments are! The instrument that carries the main melody is the flute that he is playing in the standing box. It makes me want to go find a fairy circle and make flower crowns while wearing something bohemian and colorful. 

How's the video? 

This video doesn't have a story line, and doesn't even give me anything to create on my own. It is just cute shots of the girls in their individual sets or dancing together. I don't mind though because it fits very well with the theme of the song. It has an upbeat folk-y sound and it don't need any fancy bells and whistles in the video to take away from the songs.

One of my favorite things about this video is that all the women are properly clothed and that they dance is cute and simple. There weren't any butt shots or boobs shots and I didn't feel like they were exploiting themselves. That seems to be the popular concept lately and I don't really like it. All these groups are filled with pretty and talented girls and they can be pretty and talented without walking around in hardly anything and touching themselves. Is all.

How's the styling?  

I would kill for most of the outfits and accessories in this video. There were just so many polka dots and full skirts with tulle underneath! Also, those neon shoes that they were wearing with the last outfit were fabulous! Give them to me!  

Also, the girls' nails are painted the same color as the shoes that they are wearing at the end. I thought that was a cute little girly touch. To add on to the color combo thing, the color scheme of the outfits in their individual shots also match they nails and shoes they wear in the end.

No, I don't like clothes and fashion, why do you ask? 

Is the dance super amazing? 

The dance fit it really well with the sound of the song. There was a lot of hand waving and box steps, almost like they were doing a line dance of some sort. I'm going to go back to what I was saying in the section about the video, it is nice to see a dance that doesn't make me uncomfortable. Hooray for being attractive without leaving nothing for the imagination! 

Which member owned it?  

Kota definitely had the most lines in this song. She also began the song and I tend to follow the first singer in music videos, especially when I am not terribly familiar with the group.

I also really liked her voice. It's cute, but not to that point where my fingers and toes actually start to curl from the sweetness.

Does the English make your ears bleed?

There were four English parts in this song. There was the chorus of "I need love, oh, I need love" which sounded very good. They were able to pronounce the 'l' like an 'l' and not an 'r'. There were also three other English parts of the song, they said "One two three let's go", "one shot", and  "so I'm feeling down." All of these parts made since in the song and were also pronounced very well. Good job Sunny Hill!

What else is happening?  

A-Prince "My Lady" - That was freaking adorable

Kye Bum Joo "The Ceiling" - It's a good song, but a little too R&B for me

Dal Shabet "Be Ambitious" - The Korean title is "Look at my Legs", there is a lot of leg in this video, it's catchy though

2EYES "Don't Mess With Me" - debut song, for such a tough sounding song and coming from SidiusHQ, this song was kind of boring and cheap looking

Girls' Day "Female President" - This song had a very powerful sound and vocals to match, but I wish that the hot pant trend would go away. Also, was that butt shot really necessary?

A-Prince "Mambo" - Meh, I liked "My Lady" better

Roy Kim "Love Love Love" - And I love love love you, Roy Kim

YB "Mystery" - More rock music yay! It was good, but I didn't fall in love with the song.

SM! Y U NO release EXO "Wolf" drama version?

~ Alora

Minho

I have already done a Minho doll so I won't introduce him again.

This version on Minho is from the Etude House CFs that SHINee did with 2NE1's Dara. I had a lot of fun making him, especially the jacket and the shoes. All of the zipper details were hard, but things like that are my favorite part about making these dolls. If I'm not doing things that force me to hold my breath as I glue and create, it's not exciting enough!

The crowning glory of this doll are definitely the shoes. Cutting all the pieces to fit around the shoe and making both shoes look the same was a trial, but it was fun. The shoelaces were probably the hardest part because I have to shape them, and then they didn't want to stay on. Obviously they did though, and I am totally happy with what I have done.

This doll was commissioned by one of the F4Plus1 members for a firend. 

Taemin

Taemin is a member of the Korean boy group SHINee. He is a singer, dancer, and the maknae of the group. His status of the maknae kind of automatically makes him the cute one, but lately he has become TaeMAN, so let's see how long SM allows this concept to go on.

I made this doll this past week because I haven't really been working. School is over and I don't have a schedule at the pool I'm starting to work for. I only worked last Monday, so by Thursday I was starting to get the crazies. Making dolls is the perfect way to keep the crazies at bay because it takes up all your time to make one of these if you let it, and I did. I pumped this guy out in about two days.

The only snag that I ran into with Taemin is his vest. I was watching the "Lucifer" music video to try to get a picture of his necklace when I noticed something, the entire back of his vest was mesh. So, after I cried and swore, I tore out the back of his vest and created the mesh pattern that you can kind of see in the bottom picture.

All I have left of the SHINee "Lucifer" collection is Jonghyun and Onew and the question "what the heck am I going to do with these five when I'm done?" still gnaws at me, but oh well, it's fun. 

Words of the Day: Nugu & Concept

Nugu 1. pronoun. Who ex. "Nugu se yo? Who are they?" 2. adjective. A term used in k-pop to say someone is new, unmemorable, or a "nobody". It can be used as a putdown, especially for well established bands. ex. "It's so easy to get tickets for them because they are nugu."

So what do idols record companies do to keep their idols from this dreadful identity? They establish a clear "concept" for their public image.

Concept n. 1. The tool used to invent and/or reinvent individuals, bands, and albums by the music companies that scout, form and promote k-pop groups as a way of catching the public's attention. ex. I really don't like overly sexy concepts for the female groups. They are icky.

The term, "concept," as referenced to k-pop seems pretty straight forward. It is the themes and images used to promote k-pop music in order to keep idols from being considered "nugu". Yes, this is basically a conversation about branding, however, k-pop goes to great lengths to offer a wide variety of "concepts" to catch the publics' attention. What is interesting, is that these concepts are assigned not only to groups, but to individual members, and to different albums. There are also varying degrees of flexibility and variety within these concepts as well. Members can change their concept as they grow and gain more independence and artistic license in their company. But with each new album or mini album, companies feel pressure to have an original concept that will set them apart from the pack, and make sure they are never considered "nugu". Here are a few of the most commonly used concepts in k-pop and the idols who utilize them.

Common Concepts Found in K-pop


1. Diva / Fashionista - These are the idols with impeccable airport fashion, who grace the pages of major fashion magazines, and who make sure to have things exactly the way they want them.
               Examples: Lee Hong Ki, CL, Heechul, G-Dragon & Key

Who gave you permission to be this good looking?

2. Masculine - The "masculine" litmus test for k-pop idols is when you show a picture of them to your parents and they don't respond, "Who is this pretty girl?"
               Examples: Teacyeon, Siwon, Rain & Taeyang

3. Aegyo- This term will be a future word of the day, but for now all you need to know is that it means "cutesy" and "childlike."
               Examples: Yoseob, Mir, Nickhun, Sungmin, Teamin, Daesung & A-Prince

If I were in a room full of these boys, I'd feel like giving them milk and cookies and putting them down for a nap when they get all tuckered out. They make my inner kindergarten teacher come out. 

My Question to A-Prince: Is the price of fame really worth it? is it?

4. Funny/Clown- So you want to be a Korean idol, but you aren't the prettiest flower in the garden. What do you do? A.) Get millions of won worth of plastic surgery. B.) Pull a K.Will and never show up in your own music videos. or C.) Embody the concept of the "funny idol."
               Examples: Shindong, Psy

Yes, that is Psy in a leotard with fireworks coming out of the brasier. Why do you ask?

5. Outgoing & Talkative- This is not a concept born in the brainstorms of record executives. Instead it organically develops around those few idols who can never really shut up. And we love them for it.
               Examples: Kwang Hee & Leeteuk

The things I've learned about Kwang Hee this week: 1. He is good friends with Teacyeon, 2. He is the weakest idol on Running Man's Winter Olympic episode, 3. His personality is so bright, it could light up a small European country. Seriously, Liechtenstein could save millions of dollars annually if they could find a way to convert his charisma to into fuel. 

Leeteuk, how are you so handsome? Did you and T.O.P. make make deals with the devil to make every woman fall in love with you? Cause it's working. 

6. Tomboy- Usually reserved for female rappers, idol tomboys can always be spotted by their short cropped hair. It's k-pop 101.
               Examples: Amber & GI

Amber, you are the tomboy to which all other Korean idol tomboys aspire. 

A whole group of tomboy rappers? You know what that means.... Hair cuts for everyone!

7. 4th Dimensional- This will be another future post. In a nutshell, Koreans use the term 4th Dimensional to describe people they think might actually be from a different universe.
               Examples: TOP, Jaejoong, Dara & Kim Hyun Joong
               

This is the most attractive group of weirdos I've ever seen.

8. Legs- What!?! How can an entire group's concept be centered not around their voices, nor their sparkling personalities, nor even their faces... but their legs!?! Ya, you must be new to k-pop. Welcome. And yes, in Korea "legs" is a legitimate concept- even for boys.
               Examples: Dal Shabat, Brown Eyed Girls, Girls Generation, & Teentop

Why can't I stop looking at them!! Who knew legs could be so hypnotizing? Oh ya, every teenage boy ever.

Oh, that's how you stop looking.

9. Sexy- While nearly every male idol group has at least one extremely uncomfortable "sexy" album cover *, few groups choose to use this as their primary concept. On the other hand, it's hard finding a good girl group who doesn't outright exploit their sexuality.
*Do a Google image search of SHINee's Sherlock promotional images. They are just too disturbing to post here.
               Example: Everyone in #8 plus JYJ

That's right Junsu, roll down your sexy window! 

10. Height- Any concept that can make you memorable is a good concept. Even if that means building your group around a certain centimeter. The members of these two groups are on average 153 cm and 172 cm tall ( thats 5' and 5'7" for all you Americans).
               Examples: Tiny G & 9 Muses

Can you tell which group is which?

11. Bands- I often use the term "band," pretty loosely when referencing k-pop, but if you strictly look at the groups that actually play their own instruments, you would realize they are a small minority. For that reason, "bands" inevitably become part of their concept.
               Examples: CN Blue, FT Island, LedApple & Eye Candy

Pro: Playing instruments is sexy. Con: The guitars cover up their abs. 

Pro: More guitar solos. Con: Less dance solos... ok, no dance solos. 

Pro: Hanbyul's Blah blahs. Con: Did he stop making them?

Pro:They are just so beautiful! Con:They're not a real band. 

Concepts of Specific Idols/Groups:

IU- "The Nation's Little Sister" 
This title was granted after fans voted for her in an online poll and has really become part of her identity... Although, due to some scandals, recent online polls have tried to take this title away. But I say No! It's bigger than you or me. You can't take back her title and try to give it to Moon Geun Young (no offense MGY, I loved you in Mary Stayed out All Night!). It's just not gonna happen.

IU- The ultimate Korean girl next door.

Jang Geun Suk- "Prince of Asia"
This is the actual photo Jang Geun Suk tweeted to show how he earned this title.

"The Asia Prince works hard even on the flight to China" -tweeted 5/30/12

2pm -"Beast Idols"
I'm not sure if they made up the name themselves, or if they were granted this title because of their uber masculine physique, but there is one thing of which I am sure. It must bum out B2ST.

Reason #7 why JYP loves 2PM: The wardrobe budget is half of what they spend on any other group.

Miss A- "Suzy's Group"
Since "Dream High,"Suzy's popularity has skyrocketed & it has only gotten bigger with her current hit show, "Gu Family Book." But you do have to feel a little bad that her bandmates have been unanimously demoted to the role of, "The Girls Singing and Dancing with Suzy." Hmmm, it would be kinder to not let them find out.

Oh wait... yup, they already know. 

U-Kiss- "Nugu Group" 
This is a name that has been haunting U-Kiss ever since their debut in 2008. At that time, they were debuting up against SHINee, 2PM & 2AM, and while they have outlasted nearly every other group that has come from a small music label, it has been a very arduous and uphill battle for them. They have worked so hard, I say it's time for a change to their concept.

New Concept: "Super Talented, Underdog, Scrappy, Work Horse Group"

What concepts did I miss & what are some of your favorite k-pop concepts? Leave a comment.

~Autumn

Attack on the Pin Up Boys

I don't think that anyone can call themselves a true ELF if they haven't seen this movie. It was made during the golden years of thirteen members and all it is is about an hour and a half of fan service. I can't remember how I came upon the movie, but after I watched I gathered the rest of the F4Plus1 and forced them to watch it. I was the biggest K-pop fan at the time so they didn't fully appreciate it like I did, but now that they are more into K-pop, they have re-watched it and love it. 

Our story starts out with our two main characters, I guess you could call them, Kibum and Donghae. Kibum has recently quit the student council because Siwon is driving him nuts and Donghae wants to enter a b-boy contest to help him get into college. The best part about this is that Heechul is the leader of this dance group.

As they talk, Donghae tells Kibum that the lead singer of a band has been attacked. Kibum then begins to think about the other attacks that have been going around. The first victim was flower boy Sungmin.

He sparkles, of course he does

Sungmin is the pretty boy at his high school who always get love confessions and when he opens his locker (which has stickers that say SM Ent on it), it spits mountains of candy at him. As he is walking home with all of the gifts that he was given that day, he hears something. When he turns around to see who it is he is hit with a bag of poo.

I felt a loud unending scream piercing nature ~ Munch

Then we meet sporty flower boy Hangeng.

 He is also attacked after school when he is walking home.

Oh my gosh, close your mouth!

Our last victim if rocker flower boy Yesung, he is the person that Donghae mentioned in the beginning and the most recent person attacked.

Again, close your mouth! Gross!

Through some deduction, Detective Kibum decides that the next person to be attacked will probably be from the school that he is attending. Donghae tells him that he thinks that the next person will either be Kangin, Heechul, or Siwon. Let the games begin.

Part cyborg part Sith lord

Narcissistic as ever

Master of the ippon move

As the movie continues, no one, of course wants to get hit by a bag of poo, except for maybe Heechul. Kangin thinks that he is an idiot for promoting himself on his blog, but Eunhyuk says that he is the smart one, not Kangin. Whoever gets hit by poo is the one that the attacker thinks is the coolest person in the school. Therefore, poo = coolness. That makes total sense right?  

Kangin decides to take his own pictures and it is not cute, even if he tries really hard to look that way.

Heechul, trying to get another step ahead of Kangin, decides that the world needs to see his body. His plan is to take his pants off and have Shindong take a picture. Donghae is totally against this idea which starts a very awkward, yet very funny, wrestling match between 'pants down' Heechul and 'pants up' Donghae.

I hate writing about endings in movie reviews. When you know how something ends, it takes away the fun of getting there for there for the person who hasn't seen it. That being said, I think that I'll end right there plot wise. 

Something that I really like about this movie is that all the members' characters are kind of like hyperbolized versions of themselves. Siwon is the strong and silent one, Heechul is crazy and narcissistic, Shindong is the fat, funny buffoon, Sungmin is sparkly and full of aegyo, and Kangin is the strong brash one just to name a handful.

There are three scenes in this drama that I want to mention before I close this post:

One scene that really plays to the ELFs watching is when Heechul and Kangin are at Kangin's Aunt Mae's house. "Rokkugo" is playing in the background and Kangin makes a remark saying "What kind of music is this?". They also comment on Sungmin's popularity after being hit and Heechul read somewhere that he is now dating BoA. BoA is in the same entertainment company as Super Junior and is their Sunbae.  

This isn't a scene but a person. How wonderful was Ryeowook in this movie? There are really no words to describe his character, it is something that you just have to see. He was so funny and he actually got to show that side of himself because whenever you see him on variety shows, he kind of quiet, but totally adorable.

The last part I want to mention is the musical number at the end, because who doesn't love a good musical number? Especially when it showcases a panda.

This movie doesn't try to be anything it is not. They are fully aware that they are making something for the fans and that its purpose is to be lighthearted and stupidly funny, and they did their job. It is sad that Kyuhyun isn't in the movie and that Leetuk is only in it for about two seconds, but Super Junior is still Super Junior no matter how many members there are.

What am I watching?

Nail Salon Paris - ASDFGHJKL Yeah, I think that sums up what I feel right now

Dating Agency: Cyrano - This drama continues to impress and Gong Yoo is the next celebrity cameo!

Cruel Palace: War of the Flowers - This can also be described with a ASDFGHJKL, but this is a good computer smash. Things are starting to go down! Not that they haven't been since episode one, but still.....

Full House - Finally finished. I have said a lot of cruel things to my computer while watching this drama. More on that next week.