CD Japan Goodies!

 Though I got the digital version of Utada Hikaru’s excellent “Bad Mode” back in January 19, the physical CD wasn’t going to be released until the 23rd of February so I had a wait!
When it was announced that Red Velvet would be releasing their first full-length Japanese album “Bloom” on February 2nd, I hastily added it to my order so I could get double the pleasure!
Well, things didn’t turn out that easy!I soon read the news that red Velvet would be delaying their release for an unspecified time, leaving my order in limbo!
Lucky I already had that digital version of Bad Mode or I’d be climbing the walls!
Finally on March 12th  I found that Red Velvet’s Bloom would be released on April 6th, and JUST today, I finally got my Order!!! Yatta!
The Utada Hikaru packaging for Bad Mode was very curious one in that it seemed to be styled like a low-budget home-made affair, with only a picture of a shipping box label as the cover, and pics of Utada in what looked like sweats hanging out at home. Is she trying to shake the superstar image?

The red Velvet release, on the other hand, was a Reveluv fan’s dream!
In the initial ordering, you could choose between 8 different versions, 3 group versions and 5 individual member versions.

Naturally I chose the “Irene” version as she’s been my RV bias since the beginning, and I was treated to a beautiful cover and back featuring Miss Bae Joohyun in all her lovely elegance!

But opening up the CD Case, I discovered something that blew my mind- usually when they offer different versions, it’s only the cover that’s different and the insides all the same.
But I was to find that the ENTIRE BOOKLET was completely pics of Irene, all throughout the lyrics and credits! And what pics they were…WOWOW, MAN, These were some of the most stunning pics of her ever!!!!

True, I already had a good portion of these songs from earlier singles SAPPY and COOKIE JAR (since this was their first full Japan album, they put all their earlier releases on it) but we do get 5 brand spanking new songs on it, and I plan to take them for a spin this weekend!!!

Red Velvet "The Reve Festival" Finale

Although I love Red Velvet and have picked up most of their physical albums, I wasn't a huge fan of their single "Zimzalabim" and opted to just digitally download "The Reve Festival day One". Well, lead single aside, what I got was an album full of terrific songs and I realized at some point I was going to have to pick it up!

Two months later, RedVelvet came out with a follow-up album called "The Reve Festival Day Two", and led by the single track "Umpah Umpah", it was yet another album full of amazing and catchy songs!

Just when I was going to bite the bullet and pick up the two albums, what should come out just in time for Christmas but a THIRD album, "The Reve Festival Finale" and this included all the songs from BOTh previous albums AND a bonus FOUR new songs as well!

WELL! I HAD to pick that one up, and the package JUST came in today!

Everything looks and sounds amazing, only problem is that instead of putting the songs in their prior album order, they mixed it all up and I really dislike the new playlist. So what I did was  re-organize the tracks like they appeared and had the bonus four songs as the conclusion of the album. Works for me!

BTW, for those who care, the Card and Bookmark that came in my copy was of YERI!

Will be listening to these songs with thoughts of Wendy and her speedy recovery from her recent injuries during promotions for this album....

A Red Velvet Gain

My Red Velvet Haul!!!!

After a long two month ordeal trying to acquire the Iyo Matsumoto CD Box Set fell through, I found myself with funds to spare, and decided it was finally time to invest in the catalog of SM Entertainment's charismatic K-Pop act RED VELVET!

Ever since around 2015 where it seemed every K-pop artist group I loved was either losing members, going on indefinite hiatus, or flat-out dissolving, and, with the original excitement I felt for the genre dying down, I made a conscious decision that from that point on I would only be getting K-pop digitally and no more plunking down my paycheck for the latest releases.

Indeed, since the time I made that decision, the only two CDs I picked up were TWICE's first album "The Story Begins" (because I was able to acquire an autographed copy) and Park Bom's solo recent release (because I HAD to support my favorite K-pop vocalist's first post-breakup release). Other than that, nothing.

But in that time, there were great new acts to get into and, despite my disillusion, found myself falling in love with the "next wave" of Hallyu heroines like the aforementioned TWICE, 2NE1's successor BLACKPINK, and, yes, RED VELVET!

I loved all of the music put out by these three acts (the new "K-Pop Trifecta" as some call it), but Red Velvet had something special about them. Perhaps it has something to do with their SM roots, but besides the usual catchy and poppy hits, they'd always have one or two songs on an album that really hit me in the heart and gave me goosebumps whenever I'd hear it.

I had a funny history with Red Velvet. Though I REALLY liked their debut song "Happiness", I wasn't initially a fan of them adding Yeri (who knew how much I would love her in later years) and only listened to their later releases in passing.

It wasn't until the quintet got around to releasing their third(!) Mini Album "Russian Roulette" in 2016 that I sat up and noticed them again. In fact, I loved Russian Roulette so much (fueled by their invigorating performance and hijinks on Weekly Idol) that it jumpstarted my love of them and made me go back and grab all their previous albums that I had been missing.

Falling in love with ALL those albums that I'd initially passed on by, I was further indoctrinated by watching their new reality show "Revel Up" (which I wrote about here). My GOSH, this show did it for me- for the first time, I was learning who each member was and falling in love with all their individual traits and personalities!

From the beginning I had chosen Irene as my Red Velvet bias (at the time, simply by her looks), and i was delighted to find that her personality even furthered that bias: she was kind, funny sensible and even a little silly, after watching two seasons of Revel Up, I knew for SURE she was 'The One"!

I wasn't a huge fan of their next single "Rookie" that much (though I liked a few of the other songs on the EP), but just when i feared my interest in them might be waning, they released their mighty "Red Summer" album, the EP that would become my favorite EP from them and make me think for the first time that I HAD to BUY some of their Physical Releases, I loved it so much I wasn't satisfied only having MP3s of it.

This desire would only grow as the group released more and more releases, and FINALLY I had the funds and inclination to go ahead and GRAB all those albums I've been LOVING for the past few years!

I picked up:

Ice Cream Cake

[2015]

featuring one of the first songs that really got me in the feels, "Something Kinda Crazy"

The Red

[2015]

When I got this album, I was astounded at how "Dumb Dumb" didn't grab me when it first came out, it's so darn catchy. I think I was still sore they added Yeri at the time.

Russian Roulette

[2016]
The one that DID it for me, the 2X Speed performance they did of it on Weekly Idol surely was the cherry on the top!

Rookie

[2017]

The Red Summer

[2017]

An absolutely perfect album in every way, besides the thumpin' "Red Flavor (which I learned, of all places on T-ara Jieyon's channel) we had the beautifully sombre "You better Know" and the wonderfully playful "Zoo", the latter which was only bolstered by an enthusiastic live cam performance!

Perfect Velvet

[2017]

Summer Magic

[2018]

If the cute cover wasn't enough to make me grab this one, the sexy fancam footage of luscious Irene dancing to the opening track "Power-Up!" certainly did!

Such a catchy song and WOWOWOW Irene so sexy and SMOULDERING here!!

While I am enjoying these new CDS in my collection I'm ALSO finishing up season THREE of Revel Up, which has been going steady ever since first teaching me about the girls in 2017!

The Reveluv Continues.....
Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com

Jennie and the Kpop Club

Both Red Velvet and Blackpink are in the States right now and Jennie, Lisa and Irene were spotted by a lucky fan having lunch in LA this weekend!

Not sure if they could get away with eating in public this casually in Korea but since they're only semi-well known in  America it's nice to see them having such a relaxed and casual meal! 

!

The girls are looking great and it was so, so sweet to see Irene and Jennie fighting over the check at the end of the lunch! "Let Me Get this..." "Oh No, No NO, Let ME get it!"

LOL!

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

Leveling Up with Red Velvet!

Red Velvet girls LEVEL UP!!!

Been spending the week binge-watching the Red Velvet Reality show “Level Up” and it has been SUCH a joy seeing the girls as they "really are”…or at least, as “real’ as reality shows get, anyway!

Yeri and Irene

Seulgi and Wendy

The show focuses on Irene, Seulgi, Wendy and Yeri as the cameras follow them on their first trip to Thailand! Joy couldn’t attend this one as she was filming a drama (what is it about these SM artist Reality Shows…even when f(x) had their show f(x) Koala, Amber was missing) but the girls were so much fun and full of energy they easily made up for the loss!

 

 

Sometimes reality shows suffer because the members aren’t as “personable” as you’d think they would be, but from the minute the girls arrived in Thailand and began running around the apartment they were going to stay in, screaming and squealing as they playfully fought over which room they wanted to sleep in, I knew I wasn’t going to have any problems with ANYONE being too shy or quiet to entertain!

Irene was as stoic as I expected and wasn’t much different from how I knew her already: smart, serious, strong and silent, (unlike a lot of leaders, Irene really does exude a very "leader-y” vibe, and everyone respects her) but the other three girls showed a whole new outlook on what I first perceived! 

I always knew Wendy was the sweet and caring one but didn’t know wound-up and high-strung she was about things. Seems she is so focused on doing things properly (reading and re-reading instructions a million times, looking up everything on the internet before she buys) that she barely has time to relax and enjoy herself!  I also never knew of her (hilarious) role as the “bad luck” member of the team who always loses when playing games or drawing straws, VERY funny!

 

Yeri. I knew Yeri’s position was as the “”little sister” of the group but never realized how adorably giggly and clingy she could be. Also how mischievous, sassy and naughty she could be, fans have long dubbed her the “evil maknae” and it’s clear to see why! But her bright and friendly personality trumps it all, making her one of the most lovable characters ever!

There was this scene where Yeri wanted to buy a dress but since the seller couldn’t haggle down the price, the tour guide told her to try another store. But when she walked around, she realized she just HAD to have the dress, and immediately scampered back to get it. SO CUTE!

I already knew from a challenge on Weekly Idol that Yeri had a soft spot for children and it was heartwarming whenever she saw a child in Thailand and just HAD to hug, kiss and fawn over them, very sweet! 

Usually it's Joy and Yeri who make up the "dizzy" teammates of the group, but boy, the duo of Yeri and Seulgi proved to be one of the funniest ones ever, they were so GOOFY and silly that any scene with them in it was sure to be something to see! 

 Additionally, both of them LOVE to eat and will do ANYTHING to snack on something, even if it requires sneaking a few bites in when waiting for their unnies to show up...LOL

And...Seulgi. I have to make special mention of her, because she absolutely stole my heart with this series.I always thought she was the "Cool Chick" of the group, but what I saw was a very sweet, warm, fun and goofy girl, and out of all of them, she seemed to be the most relatable reacting to situations… actually, she gave me this “local” vibe like friends I grew up with in Hawaii, somehow! 

A couple of scenes that stood out for me was like when the girls were  walking around a night market, and Seulgi heard their song “Oh Boy” being played in a store. She was so cute running to the other girls exclaiming, ”They’re playing our song!!!” to which Wendy said “All right, calm down.” LOLOL

There’s this one scene where Seulgi is wandering off by herself and comes across one of those claw machines with stuffed duckies as the prize, and, upon seeing how much they reminded her of her absent member Joy, decided she needed to win one. Fun ensues as she struggles with the 'weak" grip (her explanation, LOL) but in the end she jumps for joy (pun intended) when she gets one!

Seulgi announces she wants to make Kimchi Fried Rice and says they should make teams. But when Yeri says she will join her team,  a wary Seulgi (who knows all too well how lazy and lackadaisy Yeri can be when it comes to tasks) stammers, “Y-you’re gonna do kimchi fried rice?” to which a slighted Yeri says “Forget it then!!!” LOLOL, no one wants to get stuck with the spoiled maknae!

I don’t know if it’s her raspy voice or the way she speaks in these lilting bursts that always sound like question marks, but I could watch Seulgi just walking around talking and eating for the whole hour…and have done so over and over again! I really, really fell for her in this show!

I'm going to be watching these 22+ episodes of Red Velvet Level Up over and over again, they are so much FUN to watch!

EDIT: WOW, looks like the stars are aligning for my newfound Red Velvet obsession as JUST TODAY the very FIRST episode of Level Up SEASON TWO aired...and with member JOY, yet!!!! SWEEEEET!

Whoa, looks like my evenings are gonna be filled with even MORE Red Velvet love!!!!!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com