ZDORAMA, AGAIN: A Bittersweet K-Pop Package: Girls' Generation "THE BEST"

Friday, October 24, 2014

A Bittersweet K-Pop Package: Girls' Generation "THE BEST"

Girls' Generation THE BEST CD/DVD Set

Like I’d mentioned before, I’ve been trying to cut down on my K-pop purchases, and so when Girl’s Generation released their Japanese “Best Of” Collections months ago, I passed on them, even though they contained a few unreleased tracks. It was only when they repackaged the Greatest Hits into a deluxe version with all the songs PLUS two MORE new singles that I decided to buy it. Little did I know that I would be buying the last Girls’ Generation album with my beloved Jessica in it.
Really a shame that there's this melancholy aura surrounding this release, because this is a BEAUTIFUL box set! As usual, the girls' Japan packaging blows away what others are doing- their Girls and Peace II Deluxe Box still has to be the most elaborate configured casing, and they made sure THE BEST lived up to expectations!
First off, as you may be able to tell from the pics, this is a HUGE thing- when I saw the package sitting on my doorstep, I thought, "that CAN'T be the size of the CD, can it?" Frankly, I expected nothing more than a double Jewel Case! But it WAS- its full dimensions 5x7x3, and housed in a hard plastic slipcase. The double CDs are housed in beautiful long hardcover photobook:

And underneath was was the biggest surprise of my life: a box with 9 mini-figurines of the girls! Thinking back, I knew it said 9 collectible earcaps (they sure are gonzo on these things) but I had no idea it was going to be so nice!

Each figurine measures at about 2 inches high, and each girl is dressed in a different image outfit from each of their promotions, and if that wasn't enough, the earcaps fit into a hard plastic "stage" !

The attention to detail is impressive, and even the BACK of the figures are detailed nicely!

The bonus songs "Chain Reaction" "Invincible", "Show Girls" "and "Divine" are all quite good, and the DVD comes with the PV and making for "Divine", so at least I can console myself that I did get a few more songs and one more video with Sica as a part of the group. From here on out, I’ll have to do without her wonderful voice.

I also got my copy of Girls Generation TTS’s new album “Holler”, along with the bonus poster. The album songs are actually pretty awesome and the book and poster is very pretty, but boy, this comes with such bittersweet happiness in light of the shakeup.
PS: You know, through the whole ordeal between Jessica and SNSD, I was so hoping that Jessica leaving was just a rumor or at least a problem that could be easily resolved, and that I could hold tight to the dream of the "Nine Sisters Forever", but it seems that everyone involved has finally come to terms with it and have "moved on".