Bad Mama Jama

Bigflo which debuted early this year had landed a comeback in the scene this late November. Following their debut song ‘Delilah’, they came back with their latest song: Bad Mama Jama. The song has the same feel as their debut song, with their hiphop concept. Bad Mama Jama completely showcases their group’s musicality. The song shows each of the member’s vocal and rapping ability.

The song, despite of its sound, is about falling in love. How about the title? This is where the cringe part comes in. In my understanding, the ‘Bad Mama Jama’ part comes in because he had already fallen deep for her that he feels like exploding whenever he sees her. You don’t expect that to come out in such a dance-pop song as this, right? Neither was I expected those words to come out

"I think I put on lenses called you. Besides you, I can’t see anything"

The music video despite having the song’s deep meaning, seemed very rushed –to me. It could have much more story in it. It’s good to see their visuals once in a while; they did have a girl in the music video but she was not used resourcefully. She simply walked while the boys were ogling at her, no less and no more. Though the video looked very fun, there was no deep meaning that I was looking for.

Looking over this “video-flaw”, I should say that this comeback is a win for their team. From Jungkyun’s high notes to Ron’s deeply voiced ‘Bad Mama Jama’, the song is very catchy. Even their dance routine looks fun.  From the song to their dance, this song and this group deserves some appreciation. From Delilah to this Bad Mama Jama, this group just continues proving that there’s more to them than just their visuals.

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Annie

T O Double P, D O Double G, yes it’s Topp Dogg and no, it’s no spelling error. As cheesy as their name sounds like, this group of 13 members is far from the cheesy-dols as the group rocks the stage with their hiphop music. Debuted on the 24^th of October last year, the group had just celebrated their first year anniversary on last month. To celebrate this, the group made their awaited comeback -since Kidoh’s solo promotions, with the song Annie. #DoggsFirstAnnie

Their comeback song entitled ‘Annie’ had the old school feel in it, as what Atom exclaimed as soon as the song starts: ‘Back to the old school!’ The song’s beat, the members’ outfits, the music video and even the choreography really had us transported back to an old school feel in their comeback. At first glance of the title, one might say that this is a love song centered on a girl named Annie. I myself thought of that too but once you get to know the lyrics behind these foreign words, there can actually be a double meaning in it.

With the title being ‘Annie’ and lines that go ‘Our anniversary, let’s keep going till the end’ and ‘When I think of you, my heart still races like the first time’ strongly depicts that the song is indeed the cheesy type of love song. That, in my opinion, is one version of how you look at the song. However, certain fans say that the song is actually a song dedicated to the fans -but made like a love song. And when you look at it in a wider view, it really is like a song dedicated to the fans that supported them all the way to their first anniversary. And thus the title ‘Annie’, instead of the name of a girl, is actually a short cut for ‘anniversary’

Topp Dogg, is one of the biggest boy group in the industry –in terms of number of course. But that doesn't stop them from creating a hundred percent synchronization when it comes to their dance. This group made famous some creative dances during their comebacks. The ‘fan dance’ during their ‘Arario’ comeback was my all time favorite choreography. This time around, the group had brought a new choreography with the use of “disk plates”.  Creative, I know

This song received a great reaction from their fans. From their digital album down to their stage performances, the fans actively showed their support with this comeback.  Topp Dogg may not be one of the top groups now –which is understandable since they’re still at their first year in the industry. But with every comeback, they show the audience what they are capable of. And in these comebacks, they are slowly climbing to their spot on top.

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Are You Ready?

         "Hello, Ni Hao, Konnichiwa…" remember these words? Rather, remember the song? This was the content in that Korean-pop song made during the –soccer competition, that presented Korea to the people. Who might the interpreter of this song be? It was no other than the rookie group: B.I.G –which stands for Boys in Groove, and yes it’s an awkward name but let’s not linger with that issue as that’s not what I’ll be talking about here. The group who had just made their appearance in the scene early this year had made a quick comeback, with a new concept to go with their new song: Are You Ready?

         The song is very catchy that has the ability to make you bob your head along its beat. And the song had properly showcased the group’s vocals as it had more words than their previous song which goes ‘Hello, Ni Hao, Konnichiwa…” on and on and on. Here we can clearly hear Gunmin vocals, J-Hoon’s falsettos and Benji’s high notes alongside Minpyo’s playful rap and Heedo’s deep voiced rap. The distribution of parts was something to be happy about as, unlike the other groups, B.I.G had their fair share of lines. Kudos to whoever divided them.

          B.I.G had caught my attention with their dance (and those very random videos they posted online) and the comeback was no disappointment. With the upbeat tempo, obviously the dance has got to be lively. With the ‘I’m so curious’-like bouncing setting the atmosphere in the opening. (Do notice the synchronization of their legs) There are certain points to look in their dance. The body wave and how shy it appears to the viewers as they don’t do it frivolously, and the ‘maeil maeil’ dance which is in fact alike the happy version of BTS’s ‘high blood pressure’ dance in their Danger song.

         The music video mainly focuses on Heedo and his never ending cola drinking. Just kidding, but seriously almost half the 3 minutes whenever it is Heedo’s airtime we could see him holding a bottle of cola in his hand and a comic book in the other. Pushing those weird things aside, let’s fawn over his blonde hair and how it fits him perfectly. Is it even legal for the maknae to look this fine? Speaking of hair, J-Hoon, our vanilla latte addict leader-nim (insert his infamous oh-hong-hong laugh) please do consider of keeping that 5:7 hairstyle for a lifetime, I guarantee you more fans. 

         In the music video -other than their hair, the constant charm explosions should be looked out to. Especially with those lip bites, seems like the members had been practicing lip biting most their free time as 3 out of the 5 members bit it in the video. As for individually, everybody looked really good as they all had their fair share of camera time. Everybody except Benji –their supposed friendly alien, who looked a bit uncomfortable and awkward for me. But nonetheless, everyone looked really fly in this video.

          Half the music video already showed them chasing the girl that Gunmin had showed interest in. And this is the part that I liked a lot in this video. I can’t quite fathom how I came to like this part. It looked a bit dramatic but the moment it zooms in the members and how they looked like they were frantically looking for someone just made me smile and awe at their acting.

          All in all, this comeback from a rookie deserves some appreciation. Though, I still can say that they aren’t yet in par with the other groups above them in terms of video but musicality wise, they sure have a lot of potential. With the song ‘Are You Ready’, they somewhat reminded me of SHINee back then, with all their energy and those first generation hiphop artists with their sound.

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Four Ladies

This is basically me ranting about the new girl group, 4L.

I'm not degrading them for  I still have much to see about them. So, I'm getting too worked up about their music video as I have not encountered of such act in the industry and I just want to let it all out -this is the only place that it could happen. I have points I'm so so so disturbed about.

One thing, the lesbian-concept music video. So they chose to go to a lesbian concept and there were butt grabbing, boob squeezing actions in the music video (and I am aware that it's 19+ btw). And much to say, I don't think that the lesbian community is amused by how they are represented. And do take note how this music video of their has reached 6 million views for a count of 2 weeks -estimate how many view they must have now. This alone can affect much of the lesbian community and might more or less result to more stereotyping as this video can influence people's perspectives.

Note: They aren't the first group to represent yuri, Baby Soul also did it (it wasn't 19+ I know it's quite immature to compare them like this, but let me post my point) And the funny thing I noticed was how Baby Soul helped button up the shirt while 4L were taking it off. But that's not what I am trying to push here. The thing is, could the mv be at least not 19+ when showing the yuri interaction? Go 19+ with the dance for all the minors care but the mv -I'm not lesbian- but I was kind of surprised

Secondly,the 'flick-it dance', 'shake-your-booty' and american sexy dance. I have nothing against sexy dances (I am a fan of Sistar, Girl's Day etc.) and I am not saying that girl's can't do american sexy dance -in which I don't really think of as a sexy dance, more or less a swag-dance- but again, there's a fine line between 'classy' sexy and 'trashy' sexy and the way they grab 'theirs' -I don't think it'll be appropriate to explain what I meant by this word more or less everybody will understand this, added fuel to whatever there is that needs fuel. Well props to making this though but sooner or later I'm betting that they'll have to alter everything to not get banned from performing, it'll be a shock for a new-debut to get banned in the first stage.

The last point that I'm going to discuss is their attires. Come to think of it, if the girls were wearing a little-baggy outfits or at least less revealing ones (which will much contradict the sexy dance) the dance won't come off as 'too much' and what they are wearing have resulted to why the netizens deemed it as too much. It doesn't match with Stellar's outfits -cause it's much more than Stellar's one-piece outfit, theirs seemed like a one-piece but the cloth was made from laces and yes there was not much cover on them with all the 'laces'. Let's stamp this as *Altered*

That's all 3-points I'm giving. The song (that vocal in the ending of the vid) is quite good -I'm no fortune teller- but I'm guessing they'll have powerful voices, it's a shame that everyone are quick to slut-shame them; boo-hoo the agency I guess for choosing this concept. Well as they say 'Sex-Sells'. No. Not really. I remember watching this mv reaction for Stellar's Marionette (from a boy, think of it) And I tell you his reaction was far from how I expected him to be -maybe he was faking his grossed out reaction, maybe not.

I guess the agencies think that males would really like this kind of concept but I guess they kind of also got fed up about everything related to the capital S. I mean, I think they would also think bad that the money-makers think of them as some sexually frustrated fanboys going gaga over bodies~ *touchtouch* *slideslide* *shakeshake* But from the male on Stellar's reaction video, he was just not amused nor turned on by the music video (Marionette, if you're still keeping up with me) he was making those grossed out expressions and quite made fun of the girls. And he thought it was a little bit too much (and they were rubbing their butts, where are these girls rubbing their... i won't talk)

My biggest point exactly is, the sexy stuff is getting too mainstream. I'd appreciate it more if the K-mvs go back to 'staring into nothing', 'staring into the camera' and 'camera grabbing' rather than grabbing your precious body parts. IU, SNSD, Tiny-G, SPICA and APink are a few of girl groups who made it through without those points I pointed  above, they even came above the sexy-sexy girl groups with their unique concepts (CRAYON POP is already really really known~ and also Orange Caramel~) their dances and their vocals; also basing on the Army, grown ups chase after the cutesy, innocent charm rather than the sexy ones. Kpop was about the dance and the music but now it's becoming more of the body.

And also people are saying how it's unfair that boy groups do sexy, show abs but aren't dissed about. How they can show their bodies but aren't slut-shamed. For me, this is really no need to argue, boy groups can show their abs as girl groups can also show theirs (abs, I mean) but boys are boys, girls are girls. Guys don't have things to protect from their upper bodies, girls have -2 even- Both genders can show their thighs, both can wear their underwears in performing (but do please state a boy group wearing underwear in their video) I think only the girls can wear short-shorts to panties in their mvs. I don't think the guys did -well I know of one, History did toss their maknae over and made him wear underwear (but thank heavens he wasn't shaking anything in it and was practically slumped down, back facing the camera then after the panties fest -or was he in a diaper, I'm still in doubt, lasted only a couple of seconds; poor poor Yijeong) And the mv could have at least if they can't make it cute-sweet-innocent yuri at least scratch the lesbian act and do a boy x girl 19+ mv, that would have been better though still a no-watch for me.


Again I'M NOT HATING ON 4L (as I think they have potential, let me listen to their mp3s alone, no video) but I think the agency has to double think of this and the risks it's going to meet. 

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Old Issue: Opinion

I'm going to throw a little throwback -not really since people here and there are still caught up on this issue and are still stressing about this.

  'The Taeyeon and Baekhyun dating scandal'  

We all should by now be aware of the dating scandal/issue -whatever you might want to call it- And that this issue is causing a mad uproar to both SONEs and 'EXOstans' (how issues came faster than the fanclub name in the group is really saddening) I've seen a lot of bashing here and there (any issue has those fans who bash, fine. Everyone has their own way of attacking problems) and these bashes are rather 'deep' I must say. I've seen them directly commenting that "Taeyeon/Baekhyun isn't good for you" and it amusingly comes to the point of "DIE" 
Yes, just because 2 people are in love others are asking them to die. Such a Romeo and Juliet plot in life.

This scandal though has it's suspicion, it's really fishy. Too fishy. SM being a part of the industry for so long, should by now be aware of possible consequences in relation to any scandal from their group. The CEO should have thought that these issues -concerning 2 of their popular groups- if publicly shared can cause either a downfall or (what's happening in their stocks -i don't know- now) up rise in the team. Too risky, if you ask me. But they still confirmed the rumor too easily. Either they want to experiment, they're too confident or whatever might happen it's a part of a huge secret plan. Taeyeon now, though many already might have thought of her as a 'female dog' for "opening her roof showing them publicly and kissing him" I don't think Taeyeon is like that or would be able to think like that. Seeing as she's already 25 years old, she thinks too people! She thinks! 

Then here comes the most fun part. THE BETRAYAL *dun dun dun*
Well yeah, maybe we (the fans) held on to their 'promises' but seriously correct me if I'm wrong. But while they are making their promise, are we really 100% believing them about it? Well probably except if they promised eating chicken with fans if they win. Probably except those easy promises. I mean, while they are yapping about promises promises, deep in our minds the thought of them breaking it at one point in between should have crossed. and stopped even. My point is, idols (those who promise or not) are people too; they make mistakes, forget (or the word you might want 'break') their promises and most especially they have feelings. The idols aren't forcing us to like them, they aren't forcing us to stop liking other people, they are not forcing us to love only them and most especially they are not controlling our love-lives so why control theirs? 

Saying that they are treating us like 'nothing' really hurts me as a fan. The effort to comeback with another awesome song, the staying awake to practice for hours just to present to us a great dance (well yeah, all of these might be connected to money, fame, etc. etc. too but the fact that they see us -the fans at least who are just too lucky- every time they can, before they go again and practice for another round of hours) aren't those already enough 'something' for us? Heck! Other idols even end up injured in these promotions but they don't stop because they know that us fans (their source of energy other than coffee and the 'vitamin' of the group) are happy, getting all hyped up from these. If we really are nothing to them, why would they apologize from simple mistakes? If they don't think of us, why would they apologize for falling in love? (if ever love is really included, still doubtful about SM)

They are people too, simple words can hurt them. Those words can CHANGE them. If you really cherish your oppas/unnies, let them have the happiness they deserve for giving you your happiness through music. Isn't that why we, the fans, are supposed to be here? To support them through ups and downs? Why don't we learn to support them with love (again if included!) Let's not let this little 'love' issue change our perspective about KPop idols. We are not in the scene, we don't know what's really happening behind the camera. Let us love them the way we started loving them before. Fresh, Innocent (or R19+ whatever you choose) and Sweet.

Seeing as other idols even remember names of their fans during fanmeets, it should be a sign that indeed the idols think of us too. Though we don't see them regularly (us int'l fans) I believe that the idols still think of us. I know that it's been a long time since they are dating and there are already news floating around about there alleged break up, but I just wanted to share my side about issues like this (basically since there are already many of these surfacing this year) So, let this be my opinion about the dating scandals in general and not just the Baekhyun-Taeyeon one, and how the fans react to it.

What I'm saying is we should not think bad about these idols just because they are finally being happy with their own lives. We don't even know them that much, besides seeing and 'knowing' them on their variety and reality shows, and that sometimes things happen because they are 'forced' to happen; basically, these idols might just be like this by the result of a manipulative force and not because of the natural way.

disclaimer:
DON'T GET ME WRONG OR ANYTHING, I'M NOT JUDGING PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL HURTING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

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Witch

The boys-next-door group apparently had been rebelling these days as what they’re presenting are far from how they were back the ‘Would you be my girlfriend’ era. Those cute, cringe-dols had recently released another song out of the cute label and into the mature, hot label. The boys of Boyfriend, returned with something you don’t want to be in a relationship with: Witch! The video had a different vibe from the other Boyfriend videos. It wasn’t the dramatic type like the ‘Don’t Touch My Girlfriend’ and ‘Janus’ videos nor was it the up-tempo, cute vibe as the ‘Boyfriend’ and ‘Lovestyle’ videos.

Following ‘Obsession’ which I supposed, in my opinion, was a great song that showcased the group’s capability –not just physically, as it was a change in their image especially that Hyunseong (who would have thought the awkward Hyunseong had that in him) But it was also a change of them in musicality, the whole ‘Obsession’ album was made up of melodramatic and hip pop songs but we are not talking about that here. Let’s move back to track: Witch. From a score of 1-10, with 1 as the lowest, I’m giving this comeback a 8.5; I’m not disappointed, in fact I was amused and proud of my boys (not literally, but speaking in a bestfriend heart) as they are growing into men.

The song was weird but at the same time deep. The line “cause your body goes boom bara boom’ doesn't really make any sense right? But once they sang it, it’ll get you hooked and no matter how idiotic you might sound to the public, makes you sing it aloud and even shamelessly bob your head in the beat. The song’s a love song alright, you don’t expect love songs be in a slow-ballad form in this industry. It even has lyrics that make your fingers and toes curl, once you search on for the translation. Behind all the fangs and that slight violence in the video, there lies the hidden cheekiness of the group that never faded since their first debut song.

The video was pure ‘thumb up’ factor for me. From the members’ appearances, the transformation of being un-humanly had a really good effect especially to Kwangmin who looked the best in the video for me (sorry Donghyun, your skin is white but not that for seduction) The setting, that ancient, worn out feeling was really good. Though in every love song a girl is almost always present and this video doesn’t make an exemption as a girl makes her appearance. But it’s not any other presentation though as in the end the girl takes that of the part of the antagonist in the story, which was a unique use of the girl they are describing in the song as gorgeous and dangerous. While watching the video, I suggest you take moments to really study their features and fawn at them, may it be with or without fangs.

The dance was Boyfriend-level, having a group with good dancers those types of hard dances won’t be hard. Since the I Yah era down to Obsession, Boyfriend had been really into great routines that involves a lot of jumping, clapping and the such that makes the dance even more amusing to watch. In the video, there was shown a usage of curtain while they dance; though I’m still to anticipate that during their live performances, the curtain might either bring them up to satisfaction or down to regret. Speaking of live performances, I expect some contact and good costumes to show the eccentric concept unlike the Obsession wardrobe, where it was supposed to make them look cool but it just made Minwoo look like a lost kid in the park.


Hooray to Boyfriend for winning #1!

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Just Get Real

WGM's Fierce, LTE couple

I know this has nothing to do with the music industry but let me just take this space to post some appreciative note to We Got Married's newest and by-far the fastest couple, Kim So Eun and Song Jae Rim! Honestly, I have never seen a couple so active in skinship during the first meeting. To add to that amusing factor, they even were not able to 'see' each other during this time as they were asked to meet in a dark room. It probably was not that much of a good impression on the virtual husband's side as he openly expressed how his wife's way with words, how she constantly kept them short, caught him dumbfounded. But as the two met, in a much clearer and lighted place, the atmosphere seemed to change as then he lightly complimented her of being beautiful; look who got entranced by her beauty?

The first meetings are usually the most awkward episode but not to this couple. The first episode was nothing but full of skinships and cringe-worthy exclaims. Note: this was the first episode, the second episode was the doubling of their (chemistry? Spark? How should I call it? Cringing? The latter seemed to fit) cringing moments. For the other couples, the second episode is usually another time given for them to get to know each other better, the staffs send them to a nearby cafe and they end up talking consuming all the time given. Jaerim and Soeun won't be called the LTE couple for nothing, the episode was actually the continuation of the first episode and they acted as if they're already friends for a long period of time.

The couple's progress was very different from the other couples, who needed much less 5 episodes to open up and be comfortable with each other's presence. May it be because they both are actors and basically they meet a lot of people every time they shoot something and that's how they are able to adapt to each other pretty fast or may it just be because they are a pair of similar personalities and it was much easier for them to be close. Many netizens have commented that it was a their first time seeing these personas on the show; that the couple was a refreshment to it with their new antics and personalities.

Our virtual husband: Song Jae Rim, he's an actor that's having his first variety experience and was it fortunate for him -and his fans, that the first show he received was that of We Got Married? The show's concept of having entertainers pretend to be married for real was probably the best fitted for him, with an image far from what he shows in his dramas; Song presented himself as somewhat the aggressive type of person with skinship, who shoots cheesy words every time he sees an opening to say it in whatever situation and a person who's mischievous and cute at the same time.Song is becoming a great husband as he -though at times it gets too fast- leads his wife and makes her feel comfortable whenever they are together. With Song, there won't be a moment were the atmosphere dries up and ends up being awkward and uncomfortable even to the viewers.

Our virtual wife: Kim So Eun, she's an actress that's had a few variety guesting from before. She'd already experienced being paired with an unfamiliar guy, to be exact Lee Junho from 2PM (their Music & Lyrics was also really good) so I believe that this was going to be a piece of cake on her side. In the shows she'd been on, we can clearly say that she takes good care of the people around her and that she's very feminine, but that latter was somehow scratched out in this show; Kim had this hidden violence in her system and is very carefree. Her personality jives in with Song's but also have the ability to control her husband's mischievousness, I guess this is what makes them a really good pair; they have time where they complement each other and the next thing you'll see is them contradicting each other.

I have to say, other than me there are many netizens who have been caught up with this couple. As everyday they show the viewers something new which leads to us looking forward for the upcoming episodes. With this couple, I have experienced watching the show without english subtitles -I couldn't wait for the next day, and laughing without even understanding what was happening. And, no I am not crazy. Some people commented that one day Song might just end up kissing her -which I think might also happen, seeing how he held her face during the upcoming episode's preview. Some others also predicted that somewhere along they'll also end up falling for each other -which I believe has a great possibility.

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