But it was while on the K-pop forums that I was introduced to a new group called IVE and in particular, an insanely adorable, personable and chatty member whom I was floored to hear speaking near-perfect English in the clips fans had uploaded online! Her name was Jang Wonyoung, and I was to later learn that she was QUITE a popular (as well as controversial) personality in Korea, not just in her musical endeavors, but in social media and as a name-brand spokesperson/model!
Wonyoung was not only fluent in English, she spoke in this warm and friendly tone, additionally she had LOADS of charisma and conversation sense, easily stealing the show in all the interviews I saw! Who WAS this girl and who was this group called IVE? I had not heard of them before!
I had to investigate further! I began watching all the IVE interview clips I could find, especially the ones where Wonyoung (and, to an extent, the other members) were speaking in English, and soon I was getting to know all of them individually (one GREAT thing about youtube is the MANY videos you can delve into when discovering new act), not just Wonyoung but Yujin, Leeseo, Rei, Gaeul and Liz as well! Now it was time to actually start listening to their MUSIC!
Turns out that both Wonyoung and IVE leader Yujin were both members of IZ*ONE, a group I actually knew before with a song called "La Vie En Rose". This tune was one of my FAVE K-pop singles of 2018, so I had great anticipation and couldn't WAIT to hear what they would do with IVE!
Just decided to just in headfirst into their MVs, and by happy coincidence the song I clicked on was IVE's debut track, a song called ELEVEN, a tune which I'm not gonna lie- FLOORED me from the moment I heard it! A song very much of its time, ELEVEN sounds part TWICE, part BLACKPINK and even some Red Velvet thrown in, add it all up and you had one KILLER of a SONG, one which I played over and over again!
Not only was the song a banger, but the dance moves in the MV were smooth and slick, and the girls themselves looking as COOL as could be, just OOZING ferocity and attitude!
I had to hear MORE, and soon went through all their singles, AFTER LIKE, HEYA, LOVE DIVE, I AM and MORE! This was one group that needed FURTHER examination and I grabbed the few MP3 albums available in the forums I could get: IVE IVE, SWITCH, and the awesome IVE MINE as well as the singles for Eleven and After Like!
Been spending the weekend listening to these songs over and over again and it looks like it might be time to grab some of their physical albums as well!!! Awww, it's always SO EXCITING when I discover a new act to get into, and for now it's ALL about IVE!
PS: Besides being fluent in English, Wonyoung is also fluent in Japanese, and HEY! Seems she's a fan of 80's icon Seiko Matsuda ...and Chisato Moritaka as well!!!!
Wonyoung's got some great taste!!
