Dal Shabet is Wild!

My interest in the K-pop World has taken a huge hit since my beloved Jessica was removed from Girls Generation. Having the SNSD fandom get split into Jessica defenders and Jessica bashers was hard enough, but I began noticing negativity in other group forums as well, with hateful comments about f(x)'s Sulli (with her self-imposed sabbatical) and attacks on 2NE1’s Park Bom (with her legal issues) too. Suddenly, K-pop wasn’t the fun place I knew it to be anymore, and I slowly began withdrawing from the Hallyu pages and forums. Before I knew it, K-pop wasn't holding my interest as much as it once did, and I found myself  passing on new releases from groups like AOA, 4Minute, and even Apink…

  But somehow I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Happyface Entertainment idols Dal Shabet, and once I heard their new song "Joker" and saw the super-cool cover for their mini album JOKER IS ALIVE, I felt that old familiar tugging in my heart and I realized I was EXCITED about getting their new CD, and when I ordered it from Kpoptown, I realized that it had been months and MONTHS since I last purchased anything K-pop related!

Just got the package today, and it is as beautiful as can be, though it DID take me for a loop when I realized the cool group collage I'd seen before (in the top picture) wasn't the cover, but I needn’t have worried, as all six individual shot were contained within, and in SUCH an INNOVATIVE way! 

Dal Shabet Joker is Alive Album

Jumbo Cards Inserts

Back Side of Jumbo Cards with Cut-Out circle

Using the Playing cards theme, the case held seven jumbo sized cards, one of EACH of the girls as well as a Group Shot. Looking closer, I realized EACH card unfolded out four times with stunning pics of each girl!!! WOW!!! SO COOL!

Jiyul Jumbo card unfolded (front)

Jiyul Jumbo card unfolded (back)

And if that wasn’t enough, the album came with two trading cards, one in color and one in black and white…and whaddaya know? the member I got was none other than my Dal Shabet bias JIYUL!!! YESS!!!

 Joker is Alive is another mini album from the girls (their 8th by the cover count) and this time Subin took control of the concept- co-writing the tunes and planning the direction. Everything seems to work here (though haven’t we seen enough of the Batman Joker appearing everywhere?), and I am pleased to say that my girl Jiyul is still looking as fan-freaking-tastic as EVER:

My Dal Shabet Bias: Sexy Jiyul. She Got Legs!

The Mini album begins with a sweet tribute to the Dal Shabet fanbase DARLING (following in the tradition of other fan appreciation songs like “For Darling” off the Have/Have Not album) and goes right into the cool “Dal Shabet Addict”, a peppy song!
   Then we’re on to the “main attraction” as it were, the sexy “Joker” title track and as noted above, the live performances of this song REALLY sell how hawt these gals are! With the “playing cards’ theme, the girls are all duked out in various red and black outfits reminiscent of the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland…but decidedly SEXIER!

Track "I’m Not" showcases the girls rapping skills, and album closer "Ok Boy" is JUST the kind of song that me of why I fell in love with K-pop in the first place- super catchy pop hooks sung with cute and sassy vocals! One of my favorite tracks on this release!

As I read over the articles about Dal Shabet’s promotions, I’m still seeing so much negativity in the forums, so maybe the bad vibes are still out there, but at least I can enjoy the music on my own…and I’m still crossing my fingers for a new f(x) album this year, with any luck, Sulli will be a part of it, haterz be damned!!!
Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com