Hi guys!
Meet my current obsession in K-pop: Park Junho a.k.a Jjun! He debuted on June 14 2012 with the single "Just Cry", and although he hasn't garnered enough recognition even in his native South Korea, a look at the dance version of "Just Cry" will convince you that he has the talent and charisma - not to mention an explosive amount of sex appeal!
This has drawn him comparisons to Rain. Also, did anyone spot a goof? At 02:12, he begins to loosen his tie and his tie does seem loosened the first time he turns around. But as he turns around some more, his tie is tightened again!
According to an interview with French K-pop portal Coree et Cie, Jjun was recruited by a major label manager after winning a dance competition as a teen in 2001, and he was slated to debut with Super Junior (Coree et Cie never mentions the company name, but the mention of Suju gives it away...so SM?) However, Jjun insisted on debuting as a solo artist, and the manager who recruited him later left to form his own company, taking Jjun in tow. The manager's company soon went bankrupt and our trainee K-pop star had to work odd jobs to support himself through university (he attended Chunnam Techno College) and singing/dancing lessons. He did so for 11 years until he was eventually recruited by Cool Family Entertainment and the rest is history....
If he was a teenager in 2001, how old is he now, you might want to ask. According to K-Pop Info 411, he's turning 31 (international age) this April 29. That means he's older than me, so I can officially call him oppa! LOL. That also means he's a fellow Taurean. You know me and my soft spot for fellow bulls...
Jjun made a comeback in October 2013 with the single "Way To Your Heart", the video of which below.
That video was deemed too raunchy for SK and therefore banned...I guess that should've gained him more hype? Oh and the track was also produced in The US.
Jjun-oppa (we're the same age, but I'll call you "oppa" for the sake of formality - and cuteness), some words of wisdom from one Taurean to another. First of all, you look FAR BETTER with your natural black hair. We Taureans rock the classic look like no other. Secondly, I like how you ooze sex appeal without stripping in your "Just Cry" videos, both the drama and dance versions (ok so you do flash your abs in the "Just Cry" live performances, but that's beside the point.) The abs display in your "Way To Your Heart Video" is too much. Another thing we Taureans pride ourselves on is the fact that we boast sex appeal without showing so much skin - in other words, WITHOUT TRYING TOO HARD. So keep your top on next time juseyo!
Jjun recently took part in Arirang's Simply K-pop tour in Shanghai, China, earlier this month. Not only did he get to perform his songs but also have a duet with former Baby VOX member Kan Miyoun. In the video below, Jjun stands in for Mir (real name Bang Cheolyong) of Mblaq, who originally performed the rap part in Kan Miyoun's 2010 hit "Crazy."
So glad he's got an exposure by performing alongside a more established sunbae - overseas!
I hope it won't take him long to soar to international stardom! I'd love him to try ballads and stop flashing abs. We've got the memo already - he's sexy as hell!
EDIT: I've just realized that this is April 20, only two days away until Taurus season. What better way to open this year's Taurus season than posting an entry about the latest addition to my list of favourite Taureans?
Showing posts with label Taurus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taurus. Show all posts
Sunday, 20 April 2014
Friday, 19 July 2013
Infinite - the third instalment
Happy big 2-0 Lee Sohee! I wish we could have time to hang out. I would love to listen to your coming-of-age day story and how you had to spend it overseas. How did it feel?
I'm not Hoya-biased but Sohee is, and to honour the birthday girl treat yourself to an entry about Infinite's resident dancing machine and rapper, Lee Howon a.k.a Hoya a.k.a Hogod ("Hogod" is a nickname given to him by his fangirls.)
For those uninitiated, Hoya is the only member of Infinite who didn't finish high school. He dropped out of high school when he was 17 to pursue his dream of being a singer. His sacrifice was paid off when he debuted with Infinite under Woolim Entertainment in June 2010, aged 19. Thus far he's branched out to acting, playing a gay character called Kang Joonhee in the TV series "Reply 1997" and he earned critical acclaims for the role - not bad for a first-time actor. With fellow Infinite rapper Jang Dongwoo, Hoya also debuted under the sub-unit Infinite H last January. What makes Infinite H distinct from Infinite is its Hip-hop and R & B sound and "more laid back dancing" (as Dongwoo put it) as opposed to the synchronised dancing that Infinite is famous for.
For someone without a high school diploma, Hoya seems to be the most determined out of the seven Infinite guys. Despite his lack of English skills, he wouldn't mind being the band's English announcer (which leaves everyone wonder why Dongwoo won't take the position since he once lived in Vancouver!) Not to mention the fact that his first performance as an actor was critically acclaimed and his position as main dancer proves that his dancing skills are above everyone else's. A slew of interviews also show that he's able to come up with smart banters (which probably come across as harsh to some.) Perhaps this has something to do with his starsign being Aries?
Aries people are known for being determined and impatient (they won't hesitate to tell people off if things don't go their way.) They're eager to win every argument there is and their stubbornness can only be rivalled by Taureans. But whereas Arieses won't hesitate to give people a piece of their mind if things don't go to plan, Taureans tend to harbour their anger until it bursts out of their control five years from now. I know a lot of Taureans who secretly resent their Aries friends to a certain point. Heck, I'm one of said Taureans...while I appreciate my close Aries friends who have taken care of me at certain stages in my life, I still have a hard time dealing with their brashness.
Which makes me wonder...how do Hoya and Sunggyu connect to each other off camera?
My secret wish for Hoya is that he would get a high school diploma, like a Korean GED or something. It's not too late, he's only 22. I mean, didn't Natasha Reid/Tasha/Baby T/Yoon Mirae/whatever moniker she goes by finish high school online in 2006, at age 25? Also, I wouldn't mind teaching him English. I'd be with him every step of the way until he really masters the language. Omo, do I sound like a Hoya die-hard fan now? Sohee, you're partially to blame for this...But I've always liked the seven members anyway, so showing a non-favourite a little more love than usual is not a problem.
I'm not Hoya-biased but Sohee is, and to honour the birthday girl treat yourself to an entry about Infinite's resident dancing machine and rapper, Lee Howon a.k.a Hoya a.k.a Hogod ("Hogod" is a nickname given to him by his fangirls.)
For those uninitiated, Hoya is the only member of Infinite who didn't finish high school. He dropped out of high school when he was 17 to pursue his dream of being a singer. His sacrifice was paid off when he debuted with Infinite under Woolim Entertainment in June 2010, aged 19. Thus far he's branched out to acting, playing a gay character called Kang Joonhee in the TV series "Reply 1997" and he earned critical acclaims for the role - not bad for a first-time actor. With fellow Infinite rapper Jang Dongwoo, Hoya also debuted under the sub-unit Infinite H last January. What makes Infinite H distinct from Infinite is its Hip-hop and R & B sound and "more laid back dancing" (as Dongwoo put it) as opposed to the synchronised dancing that Infinite is famous for.
For someone without a high school diploma, Hoya seems to be the most determined out of the seven Infinite guys. Despite his lack of English skills, he wouldn't mind being the band's English announcer (which leaves everyone wonder why Dongwoo won't take the position since he once lived in Vancouver!) Not to mention the fact that his first performance as an actor was critically acclaimed and his position as main dancer proves that his dancing skills are above everyone else's. A slew of interviews also show that he's able to come up with smart banters (which probably come across as harsh to some.) Perhaps this has something to do with his starsign being Aries?
Aries people are known for being determined and impatient (they won't hesitate to tell people off if things don't go their way.) They're eager to win every argument there is and their stubbornness can only be rivalled by Taureans. But whereas Arieses won't hesitate to give people a piece of their mind if things don't go to plan, Taureans tend to harbour their anger until it bursts out of their control five years from now. I know a lot of Taureans who secretly resent their Aries friends to a certain point. Heck, I'm one of said Taureans...while I appreciate my close Aries friends who have taken care of me at certain stages in my life, I still have a hard time dealing with their brashness.
Which makes me wonder...how do Hoya and Sunggyu connect to each other off camera?
My secret wish for Hoya is that he would get a high school diploma, like a Korean GED or something. It's not too late, he's only 22. I mean, didn't Natasha Reid/Tasha/Baby T/Yoon Mirae/whatever moniker she goes by finish high school online in 2006, at age 25? Also, I wouldn't mind teaching him English. I'd be with him every step of the way until he really masters the language. Omo, do I sound like a Hoya die-hard fan now? Sohee, you're partially to blame for this...But I've always liked the seven members anyway, so showing a non-favourite a little more love than usual is not a problem.
Monday, 15 July 2013
Raving on Infinite - part 1
Hi everyone!
A lot has happened since I last blogged. I've added another hat in addition to teaching, that of the President University International Collaborations Office staff member. Right now we're working on a student exchange program MOU with Webster University, USA. Hopefully this goes swimmingly.
It's so hard to squeeze in time to blog lately!
I'm sooo in love with Korean boyband Infinite at the moment. Yes, I'm a new Inspirit, converted about a month ago. My favourites are the leader, Kim Sunggyu, and the maknae Lee Sungjong, but basically I like all seven members. I'm also in love with Kim Sunggyu's mini solo album "Another Me", which is deemed by many as a failure because it's only sold roughly 100,000 copies since its release in late 2012.
The fact that Sunggyu is a fellow Taurean wins him a soft spot in my heart. He's nicknamed Grandpa Gyu because he nags his dongsaengs a lot, disciplines them military style, gets sick easily (his skin is allergic to metal and he travels with a bagful of vitamins and medicine) and wears cardigans a lot. People make fun of this, the size of his eyes and the low sale of his solo album. Sunggyu always defends "Another Me" as a classic, since he poured his heart into it and worked with his long-time inspiration, Korean rock band Nell, for the album. And indeed it's a classic since all the songs show a more mature side of Gyu, with a bit of a rock touch which sees the 24-year-old going back to his rock roots (Gyu fronted to a rock band called "Beat" back in high school, and yes there's actually a video of the band performing, shot in 2008!)
I don't think Gyu cares about people making fun of him and the things he does, which is very typically Taurean. He might not be the best looking in Infinite (Kim Myungsoo, nicknamed "L", is the group's visual), the best dancer (Lee Howon, nicknamed "Hoya", holds that title), but his voice is without a doubt the best (Gyu fanatics don't call him "honey-voiced leader" for nothing.) It's that honey voice and his awesome piano skills (showcased in the solo album's opening track) that are the main selling points. Taureans rely on their talent and don't need other people's approval to keep going.
By the way, this is just the first part of my Infinite-spazzing...I'm awkward about the term "spazzing" - is it the word kids use nowadays to describe raving about their idols? Whatever it is, there will be more Infinite entries coming soon - a treat to fellow Inspirits!
A lot has happened since I last blogged. I've added another hat in addition to teaching, that of the President University International Collaborations Office staff member. Right now we're working on a student exchange program MOU with Webster University, USA. Hopefully this goes swimmingly.
It's so hard to squeeze in time to blog lately!
I'm sooo in love with Korean boyband Infinite at the moment. Yes, I'm a new Inspirit, converted about a month ago. My favourites are the leader, Kim Sunggyu, and the maknae Lee Sungjong, but basically I like all seven members. I'm also in love with Kim Sunggyu's mini solo album "Another Me", which is deemed by many as a failure because it's only sold roughly 100,000 copies since its release in late 2012.
The fact that Sunggyu is a fellow Taurean wins him a soft spot in my heart. He's nicknamed Grandpa Gyu because he nags his dongsaengs a lot, disciplines them military style, gets sick easily (his skin is allergic to metal and he travels with a bagful of vitamins and medicine) and wears cardigans a lot. People make fun of this, the size of his eyes and the low sale of his solo album. Sunggyu always defends "Another Me" as a classic, since he poured his heart into it and worked with his long-time inspiration, Korean rock band Nell, for the album. And indeed it's a classic since all the songs show a more mature side of Gyu, with a bit of a rock touch which sees the 24-year-old going back to his rock roots (Gyu fronted to a rock band called "Beat" back in high school, and yes there's actually a video of the band performing, shot in 2008!)
I don't think Gyu cares about people making fun of him and the things he does, which is very typically Taurean. He might not be the best looking in Infinite (Kim Myungsoo, nicknamed "L", is the group's visual), the best dancer (Lee Howon, nicknamed "Hoya", holds that title), but his voice is without a doubt the best (Gyu fanatics don't call him "honey-voiced leader" for nothing.) It's that honey voice and his awesome piano skills (showcased in the solo album's opening track) that are the main selling points. Taureans rely on their talent and don't need other people's approval to keep going.
By the way, this is just the first part of my Infinite-spazzing...I'm awkward about the term "spazzing" - is it the word kids use nowadays to describe raving about their idols? Whatever it is, there will be more Infinite entries coming soon - a treat to fellow Inspirits!
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Tragic Taureans...
I've been fascinated by Ruan Lingyu since probably 2002, but didn't learn about her more until 2006. Ruan, dubbed "The Chinese Garbo", was the queen of the Chinese silent screen from the late 1920s to the middle of 1930s, until her tragic death by suicide in 1935. She was only 24 going on 25.
Ruan was a Taurean, born April 26 1910. She was also famous in Hong Kong and spoke Cantonese as a first language.
Decades later, HK cinema was introduced to Barbara Yung, who began her career as one of the top ten finalists of Miss HK 1982. She later gained fame through several TV series, one of which of "Legend of The Condor Heroes" which was once aired in Indonesia.
On May 14 1985, Yung was found dead in her HK apartment. The cause of the suicide was said to be relationship issues with her then boyfriend Kent Tong. At the time of her death, Yung had just turned 26. She was born on May 7 1959.
Two incredibly talented actresses. Both were Taureans. Both committed suicide in the middle of their twenties, exactly 50 years apart.
Well we Taureans are notorious for being so intense sometimes...
Ruan was a Taurean, born April 26 1910. She was also famous in Hong Kong and spoke Cantonese as a first language.
Decades later, HK cinema was introduced to Barbara Yung, who began her career as one of the top ten finalists of Miss HK 1982. She later gained fame through several TV series, one of which of "Legend of The Condor Heroes" which was once aired in Indonesia.
On May 14 1985, Yung was found dead in her HK apartment. The cause of the suicide was said to be relationship issues with her then boyfriend Kent Tong. At the time of her death, Yung had just turned 26. She was born on May 7 1959.
Two incredibly talented actresses. Both were Taureans. Both committed suicide in the middle of their twenties, exactly 50 years apart.
Well we Taureans are notorious for being so intense sometimes...
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