Springtime For Sera (and Zdorama)

As you may remember, luscious chanteuse Ryu Sera was my beloved bias for the turbulent group NINE MUSES, and though I  was introduced to them in 2012 along with KARA and SNSD, it wasn't until 2014 with their song "Gun" that I became a fan proper and began picking up their albums (and back albums)..

But it wasn't too long before we learned that a huge chunk of the original group would be leaving once their contracts were up, and among them was Ryu Sera, a bit of bad news I mooned over incessantly!

At the time I mentioned that she had started a youtube channel with Sera doing little songs and performances, and I'd sometimes check in on what she was up to. In recent months, Sera's channel became more of a broader "K-Pop" channel, (dubbed "Ryutube") with Sera watching and introducing her viewers to and talking about current K-pop acts.

This seemed to work for her as her channel got a huge boost and it was a cute way for those of us who love her to hear and see who she was listening to nowadays. Additionally, Sera hosted the show in both Korean AND English, making it very welcoming for Yankee speaker like me!

So, a few weeks back, Sera took it upon herself to dig up her original Nine Muses videos and do commentary with it as we watched together. 
Oh MAN, it was so much fun, with Sera giving fun and insightful trivia into the video shooting, management, etc, and in NO TIME, she was dancing and singing along as if she'd never left!

This video also did one more thing: Remind me of how much I freaking LOVED her back in her Nine Muses days! I've been so used to seeing the modern day Sera on her channel, I have to say i'd completely forgotten how much of a "sex kitten" she was in the group at the time!!!

Below: LOL moment: When the MV cut to Sera sexily belting out her parts,  she playfully takes out a mirror and checks herself in it, as if to say, "Ya know...I'm still a cutie when you get right down to it!" LOLOL

Such a thrill to go along with her on this jam-packed trip full of nostalgia!

Weekly Idol Hosts Stepping Down after 7 Years

Well, I've been saying that the Golden Era of K-pop for me is over for awhile now, with so many of my favorite acts disbanding or re-organizing as smaller units, and now we have the news that WEEKLY IDOL hosts Hyungdon and Deffcon (Donnie and Connie) are leaving after 7 years of idol gushing.

 I always used to say that if you really wanted to see the "real" side of a J-Pop act, you HAD to see then on the Takaki Ishibashi/Masahiro Nakai music/interview show UTABAN, and  for the world of K-Pop , that show was WEEKLY IDOL.

I an't stress how important this show was in the development of my love of so many K-pop groups, and as my many, many posts will attest, Weekly Idol as the one show I always tuned into when an act I liked came on. T-ara, Rainbow, APink, AOA, Dal Shabet, Sistar, even more recent groups like Red Velvet,  TWICE and GFriend, I wouldn't know half as much as I do about them if it wasn't for those two guys.

Girl's Day

f(x)

APink

Dal Shabet

4 Minute

Rainbow

Nine Muses

After School

Secret

TWICE

Brown Eyed Girls

AOA

Connie and Donnie’s initial  shtick was always that of two Dorky Fanboys who were absolutely THRILLED TO DEATH when they were able to “meet” some of their favorite acts for the first time, but as time went by they really became mentors of sorts to rookie groups who needed a friendly hand when promoting for the first time, and this forged great relationships between them.

Early Days geeking out to SISTAR

It was this respectful relationship that caused the fun and playful banter between them and really made the show. They got real reactions out of what could be mundane promotional interviews, and everyone always seemed like they were having a grand old time!

When Red Velvet drops by...

...things tend to get a little silly!!

The wacky challenges they created for the acts to win snacks and food were priceless- As you might know, K-pop idols are on strict diets, and it's only when they're on the show that they can eat as they please, so everyone plays with all their hearts for the prizes!

T-ara meet the Boys

Hyomin winning a Food Challenge!

TWICE: First to Pop a Corn Kernel with a Curling Iron wins!

The girls trying to place their popcorn kernels just right...

...but in the end, it's Dahyun who wins the food!

Mmmm, K-pop acts could always count on eatin' well on Weekly Idol!

APink Chows Down

I'm sure the show will continue on with new hosts, but, like Utaban, it was a show that really relied on the real affection the hosts had for the musical acts that "made" the show, and I only hope they can continue in the same tradition with others at the helm...

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

No, Sera, No!

Breaking News via Allkpop

Man, seems like not even a year since I was captivated by Nine Muses' Lusciously sexy Ryu Sera and now it's been announced that she's leaving the band! Nine Muses have been going through quite a bit of member shift, since even LeeSem and Eunji have recently departed, but Sera was not only one of the original members, but the group's leader as well!

 I'm hoping that the real reason for Sera leaving is to focus on a solo career, since she's been making a lot of these great homemade videos featuring her singing her favorite songs in relaxed sittings. My favorite one has to be of her sining the classic  King Harvest "Dancing In The Moonlight", Sera is so cute just hangin' around the home humming tunes to herself!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

Nine Muses' "Prima Donna" Rocks!

Okay, as you all already know, I recently picked up a few Nine Muses albums which I got primarily because of interest in their catchy song “Gun” (and a burgeoning love lust for their sexy main vocalist Sera)…”Wild” was a cool album and all, but DAMN, “Prima Donna” is one of the BEST and most KICK –BUTT albums I’ve heard this entire year! I’m serious- this is one HELLUVA album!

I already knew the opening track “Prima Donna” because the girls frequently performed it before launching into “Gun” during their live performances, and just like those live perfs, the song goes right into Gun, a pretty awesome way to start your album- but this is LITERALLY just the beginning! 

From there it immediately goes into the songs “Rumor” and A Few Good Men”, and I gotta tell you- these songs are  so FULL of SEXY SASS and FIERCE ATTITUDE, I can hardly stand it!! These first four songs are a solid block of COOLNESS, with rocking guitars, catchy vocal phrasing and definite SWAGGER!

From there the girls cool it down with a couple of somber tunes- “Last Scene” is a dreamy track with a cold, bluesy feel, and then onto a warmer course with the light samba song “Just A Girl", then we’re back to the Cool and Aggressive theme of the album with the electronic dancey “Miss Agent” and “Time’s Up”, both with mid-80’s pop sensibilities, the former’s droning synths even reminding me of Janet Jackson a bit!

Then we have a CUTE and playful interlude with "Molla Molla OMG” where the girls prove to you that they’re not all brass and attitude but can be sweet and romantic, too! Really fun song!   And then, to wrap up the album, we’re back to  the Tuff-n-Cool Nine Muses with songs “Ping” and “Whatever”, the former reminding me of the “Classic” Nine Muses sound like “Ticket”, and the latter track back with the glitzy 80’s Synth sound  to take us out!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

My K-Pop Order, At LAST!

 Awhile ago I downloaded the albums The Difference and Back to Da Future from the gorgeous 5-member group BRAVE GIRLS, and I ended up loving both of them so much that I knew I had to pick up both physical releases and today (after an agonizing SEVEN WEEKS wait from Yesasia) they finally came in!!
 I know that I haven’t really (if ever) talked about Brave Girls on my blogsite, but I’ve liked their songs for awhile, especially When It Rains and Why So Often. They even have the distinct honor of being the only K-pop group my friend’s (very non-asian pop music inclined) girlfriend acknowledged when I played my K-pop mixes in the car. This is a gal whose fave groups are more along the lines of “My Chemical Romance” and “Good Charlotte”, but when she heard the hypnotic swooping bass lines of “So Sexy” pounding one day, she perked up and said , “Hey, I LIKE this!” Score for them!

 Along with my Brave Girls order, I thought it was time I investigated out more about Lovely Sera and the rest of NINE MUSES, and picked up both albums WILD and Prima Donna, being a fan of the singles from the albums, Wild and Gun, naturally!!!

MAN are these releases a work of art! Really, it’s more like a professional portfolio of Nine MODELS, with alla these insanely GORGEOUS photos of the girls…! Everyone looks good here, but DAMN if SERA just hasn’t become THAT MUCH MORE babelicious in MY EYES! (I tried to take pics of the inside photos, but MAN the spine for these booklets were impossibly tight and I could barely open them to read, much less spread them out enough to take pics!)

Okay, Time To Dig into these albums…!