Springtime for Bom Park

Haven't bought any K-Pop CDs in quite awhile- in fact the last physical CD I picked up was JYP supergroup TWICE's debut album 'The Story Begins" way back in 2015, but when I heard Bom Park was releasing a mini-album I knew I'd be rectifying that very soon!

Bom's soaring vocals in 2NE1 were always one of the major reasons I loved them, and when she lent her voice to Epik High's "Up" I realized that she was just about my FAVORITE K-pop vocalist ever!

Oh sure there are ACTS I love more, but when it comes to pure, raw emotional stylings, there's something about Bom's voice that really DOES it for me, and I'm here to tell you that the songs on her new solo album "Spring" confirm what I've always thought!!!

For Blackjack fans, it's nice to see fellow 2NE1 member Dara joining her for the opening title track "Spring", and the other tracks "My Lover" and :"Shameful" are just as freaking great! Too bad they only put THREE songs on this EP...I would have killed for more!!!

Still, it's heartwarming to see Bom (and Dara) again after so long, the package is beautiful (and it even came with a card!), only hope this means we'll be expecting even MORE from her in the future!
Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

2NE1 Are Done

Sigh, I'm sure you've all heard the news by now, but it seems 2NE1 are just the latest in an ever-growing list of "Second Generation Hallyu Wave" forerunners that have called it quits.
 Not that this is really shocking news to most, ever since Minzy announced her departure it really looked slim that they could continue on as they had before.
What a shame, such a great group!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

What K-Pop Acts From My Golden Era are Still Intact?

With the news of Rainbow's dissolution, I thought it was time to double check to see which (if any) of the original groups I loved from the first few years of my K-pop Fandom were still around and intact!

1. Girls' Generation

The biggest hit of them all for me was when Jessica was removed from Girls Generation. This group, while still a big favorite of mine, will NEVER be the same without her. She was just that darn important to me.

 2. f(x)

I was shocked when Sulli departed from f(x), thankfully this is one group that has managed to remain just as great as they ever were, thanks to the strengths of the remaining members Luna, Krystal, Amber and Victoria! With their latest album 4Walls reminding me just why I love K-pop so much,  at this moment, f(x) are at the top of my favorite K-pop artists!

3. APink

★★★STILL TOGETHER!!!★★★

Though technically even this group has lost a member, I didn't discover the wonder of these girls until Yookyung had already left the group, and so, for, me, APink are the lineup of  Chorong, Bomi, Naeun, Eunji, Namjoo and Hayoung, and I'm gonna call this one  "Unchanged"!!!

4. Dal Shabet

Another big blow for me as not only my bias Jiyul left the group, but my second favorite member Kaeun as well! I admit to having a hard time dealing with this loss and my fandom of Dal Shabet has never really recovered, sad to say.

5. 4Minute

Another of one my vey FIRST K-pop acts I fell in love with (I My Me Mine may be the very FIRST k-pop song I ever heard!), It's hard to believe 4Minute are gone.

But with HyunA still up and about and a Jiyoon solo project on the horizon it looks like I'll still be able to see these girls in some capacity!

6. 2NE1

I don't know WHAT YG has on his mind lately, but shame on him for letting this seemingly indestructible unit fall apart. People blame Bom for the group's status but in my opinion it was just plain old neglect. How could he just let a group this powerful fester on the sidelines?! Minzy was wise to leave when she did.

7.Kara

Kara, the group that unlocked the door to my K-pop passion. Their first few albums are still some of the best albums out there, ones that I listen to all the time. Gone, but their impact (on me) cannot be measured! Plus, I can still hear Jiyoung grooving it up in the J-pop world! That's reassuring.

 8. T-ara

★★★STILL TOGETHER!!!★★★

Unbelievably, even with all the add-on members, fired members and dropped members and a HELL of a lot of controversy, T-ara have managed to come out (so far) unscathed with ALL SIX of their ORIGINAL members intact! This is the line-up I fell in love with, the ones that did "Bo Peep Bo Peep" and "I'm Really Hurt", and it's amazing they're still together and functioning as well-oiled as ever!

 9. Rainbow

Don't feel right labeling them as disbanded when their contracts don't expire for another couple of weeks, but let's be honest, there's no real chance of anything new coming out from them soon, is there? Good luck, girls, you stuck it out as long as you could!

10. Sistar

★★★STILL TOGETHER!!!★★★

Now HERE'S something to marvel at- Sistar may be the sole group here that are not only still around and knocking the hits outta the ballpark as regular as clockwork, but they're one of the few that have NEVER had any changes done to their line-up. Hyolyn, Bora, Dasom and Soyou were the first and ONLY members of this terrific outfit!

11. Secret

Though Hyosung is my bias in Secret and I think Jiyeon is the voice that holds the group together, I just don't know if I can appreciate Secret without Sunhwa, who was and will always be the "heart" of the group. 

 12. AOA

While it's true that AOA's lineup  of Jimin, ChoA, Yuna, Mina, Seolhyun, Hyejeong and Chanmi can technically be considered "Still Together", it was their harder-rocking Musician side "AOA Black" that I first fell in love with, and with the recent departure of Drummer Youkyung, it looks like that avenue is closed for them. That's a Damn shame, the five member unit was so darn talented. But of course, their sexy, idol side was the one that won out in the end, and I guess it was the right path as they're finally getting the recognition they deserve.

13. Nine Muses

Man, what a mess this group has become. Granted, their  history of rotating members out has always led to a rather tumultuous roster, but the loss of the "heavyweights" of the group: Lee Sem, Euaerin, Eunji, HyunA, Minha and my beloved Sera have rocked this group so much that I can scarcely call the new group with their new members "Nine Muses"anymore.

14. Afterschool

Because of their silly "Graduation" system, Jooyeon and Jungah's departure from Afterschool was expected, but after that, what the heck happened? We have not heard a PEEP out of this group ever since, and it frustrates me to no end thinking that they're just SITTING on the group and letting them fade away!!!! COME ON PLEDIS!!!!

15. Brown Eyed Girls

★★★STILL TOGETHER!!!★★★

 Well, at least I can end this list on a positive note: Jea, Miryo, Narsha, and Ga-In are THE quintessential K-pop Diva act, and they've happily JUST celebrated their 10th annniversary!!!

Congrats for staying around so long, girls!!!! Hope to continue to hear from you in the future as well!!!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

Park Bom Is Back!!!

2NE1 Fans take Note: Bom is Back!!!

In a time where it seems so many of my favorite K-pop acts are losing members, i.e. Girls Generation losing Jessica and Sulli leaving f(x), it was heartening to watch 2NE1's surprise appearance at this years MAMA awards...and see my 2NE1 bias BOM in attendance with CL, Minzy and Dara!!!! Oh, how I've missed her!

CL had just finished her set and then, one by one, each member rose up onto the stage, and then, lo and behold, Ms Park Bom herself ascended!! I have to say, it was so exciting to see Bommie again, and man, when they sang "Fire"and she sang her lines, I just broke out in goosebumps! Check it out!!! (2NE1 performance starts at 6:02)

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

The K-Pop Arms

Didn’t realize I’d be enjoying the new SBS reality show “Roommate” so much- I’d initially only tuned into it because I'd already seen the hilarious footage of the messy Afterschool dorm  when they went to interview cast-member Nana before she moved into the Roommate Building. The first episode was pretty much what I expected (awkward greetings and small talk among residents), though it was pretty cool seeing a side of Nana I hadn't before, I wasn't sure how much I'd be checking into the show.

Nana and Hong Soohyun

This all changed with the second episode and the sole reason for this sudden spark of interest in the show is because it was episode two when eccentric “4-Dimensional” 2NE1 vocalist Park Bom showed up! Holy CRAP, I FORGOT how freaking fun she is- she has SO MUCH personality and dizzy attitude that from the MINUTE she showed up, she had me cracking up and wanting to tune in for more! 

The One and Only Park Bom

From waking everyone up at 3 in the morning as she tried (unsuccessfully) to get ready for bed while the others slept, and finally giving up and sleeping in the living room (and how hilarious when the late night arrivals came home and found her sleeping there, LOL)

 ...to mischievously sneaking drinks and snacks into her bed and nibbling them under the sheets when she thinks no one is looking: 

...as well as talking to the cameras in her room like they are real life friends standing right next to her, it was like watching 2NE1TV all over again!

examining the camera as Song Gayeon looks on

 I’ll admit, when the other (guy) roommates are on, I ain’t that interested, but BOY, whenever Bom is there, it is as fresh and funny as anything! Recently, both Nana and Lee Sora have stated how much they love Bom, and it’s easy to see why- she is so naive and sapcey about things, she’s like a wide-eyed innocent child- a child who can belt out the ballads like a goddess!

Orange Caramel meets 2NE1

Future best Buddies Nana and Bom

Bom's quirky habit of speaking exactly what's on her mind has also paved the way for some fun scenarios like when she confessed that she wasn't keen on "Mom" Shin Sung Woo cooking their meals with his full mustached and bearded face, so with her pressuring, they trooped out into the yard to shave it off! Bom giggled throughout the segment, and when Shin needed water to wash off the shaving cream and she sprayed her water moisturizer all over his face, she was dying with laughter! So much fun!

"Mom" Shin shaving off his beard and mustache at Bom's request

 And trips to go shopping haven't been so entertaining since that 2NE1TV show when they went to London- as usual, Bom's 4-dimensional way of tlaking ans thinking had everyone cracking up!

Just shopping with the girls

 ...and even back at home, she's entertaining just sitting in bed all day (which she does, all the time, ahaha) bonus points for her venturing out sans makeup- though she DID have a bit of shyness when Nana came into the room straight from a Music Show appearance in full glamoured-up makeup!

Eeek! You're so pretty and I'm all ughhhh!

 Aw man, sad to say, I've been hearing quite a bit about how poorly the show is doing in the ratings, but for MY money, it's all the other boring storylines that are bringing the show down (I'm particularly bugged by the forced "lovelines" that they're always trying to start between flatmates) because when Bom is onscreen, it is 100% pure fun entertainment!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

Awesome "Stars Of K-Pop" Book

 Visiting the local Barnes and Nobles the other day, and came across a K-pop related book called “Stars Of K-Pop”, one version featuring guys (showing Gangnam Style sensation PSY on the cover) and another with the Girls (with, naturally, 4Minute’s HyunA on that cover). I immediately grabbed it up and WOW, was it just FILLED with gorgeous photos and information, and all in English, to boot! Flipping through its pages and seeing all the beautiful photos inside, it occurred to me that though I had folders full of pictures of my favorite idols on my computer desktop, I actually didn’t have much when it came to physical books to hold!

Girls Generation

 The book (well, the Girls’ Version, anyway, I’m sorry to say I didn’t even bother to pick up the guy version) focused on what are generally regarded as the top K-pop acts, and I was happy to note that for the most part, every single one of my favorite K-artists were listed there! From Girls Generation to 2NE1 all the way down through to Crayon Pop, it showed colorful pictures accompanied by information regarding group stats and album releases:

...as well as individual member bios-

 WOW! This was JUST what an English speaking K-pop Fan NEEDS!

My first thought was how amazing it was that a domestic publisher in Hawaii got everything so right, but looking at the credits on the inside, I think this might have originally been a Korean Released book that got translated into English, or complied from Korean sources. In fact, they credit Kpop Stars News, but I'm really not sure. Whoever it is. they sure researched their subjects well! Look at all of these awesome groups this book covered- and what incredible pics, too!

2NE1

4Minute

Kara

f(x)

f(x) 2

Secret

Sistar

Afterschool

Afterschool2

Apink

Apink2

Brown Eyed Girls

Girl's Day

T-ara

MissA

Rainbow

Crayon Pop

  Just about the only K-pop Group I love that DIDN’T get covered in this fine, fine book is Dal Shabet, happily, that is the ONE group that I actually DO have physical photo books from (the incredible “For Darling” picture book that came with the Have, Don’t Have album) so at least I won’t be lacking for pics in THAT department!
Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com