#My Top 10 Favorite K-Pop Boy Groups Of All Time
Text
summer 2022.
well fam...has it been a minute or what? i realized i was getting more anxious to upload, because it seemed all too daunting. i have accepted that this will inevitably be a subpar rewind just because oh so much happened. and after this year i hope to get back to more frequent posts. any waayyy...
music.
‘world’ by seventeen. AKA SONG OF THE SUMMER. AKA OWNER OF MY HEART. AKA THE BESTEST TRACK EVER. it literally is full of sunshine and rainbows. it cures any ailment. i freaking love this, fills me for breakfast, lunch and dinner. it is the absolute best track. and it fills my heart. 10 out of 10 recommend.
seventeen. literally their whole discography. i had the immense pleasure to see them live during their north american tour. all i can say is that it was such a unique experience. listening to their music since debut, watching their survival show, and seeing them grow. it was wild to just see them, because when i first got into k-pop i never thought i would be able to experience a live show without going to korea. then to see the first group that got me into k-pop, host an arena tour…i was so emotional seeing them in real life. like we are talking ugly crying level.
‘slam the door’ by ciipher. a complete an utter bop. thank you to ‘yoshified’ on youtube, because dang this person really recommends the best tracks. and i would never have had a complete summer playlist without this.
‘scared’ by p1harmony. let me start by saying this was noisy but it an absurdly good way. like oh my goodness they just came for me like that.
nayeon. our queen. ‘pop’ and ‘no problem’ on repeat. we stan. (p.s. ready for jihyo’s solo)
monsta x. ‘whispers in the dark’ and ‘if with u’ also on repeat. all the time.
onlyoneof. the single tracks that they’ve released. i am in love with ‘be free’ by KB, and ‘begin’ by yu jung. and the music videos and the intertwining storylines, like yes please and thank you.
newjeans. ‘you got me looking for AATTTTEEENNTTTIOOOOON’ catch me screaming their lyrics at the top of my lungs. the way they dropped their singles, like woah hold up. ‘hype boy’ definitely a favorite track. and ‘cookie’ is never played it makes me immensely uncomfy. i hope they stick to chill appropriate concepts, because come on hybe…
blackpink. the queens have returned and this album…controversial opinion….the title tracks were not it, but the B-sides. fammmmm these slayed it. catch me crying in the bathroom, i love them.
‘after like’ by ive. how can they always release bops, and the b-side ‘satisfaction’ like come on stunning.
’24/7’ by DKB. this track. i love that it comes in with the chorus. i freaking love it.
‘my type’ by brb. this is a new group i discovered and love them. technically not k-pop, it’s in english, they are from singapore but i couldn’t not include because the vibes are there. and it sounds heavily influenced by k-r&b and i am here for it.
youtube
‘excuses’ by twlv. another chill bop. like this dude has an incredible voice, and he could sing my grocery list and i would love it.
‘sexy nukim’ feat. RM by balming tiger. FAM. when this song dropped i was like WOOOAHHHHH. these artists’ style and groove, i can’t get over it. thank you namjoon for collaborating with them and putting them on my radar, because they pass the vibe check.
‘us’ by moon jong up. randomly stumbled upon this gem, and i am so sad that there is not more content from this stunning human.
‘mascara’ by XG. it’s a bop, i scream it. ‘baby girl don’t you ever be wasting your good energy’ like amen honey!
‘talk that talk’ by twice. it’s twice you know its gonna be a bop. the dance addicting.
dramas & movies *spoilers ahead*
my mister. i would give this drama a 9 out of 10. we follow dong-hun who is really going through it, like bad. like his wife is having an affair with his boss, and his family is a mess. his brothers live with his mother, and they are kind of subpar not doing the most. he meets ji-an a young girl in a difficult situation, she is being harassed by loan sharks. things get shady when she comes to find out about the affair, and uses it to blackmail the vice president and she has to get dong-hun to leave the company. she obviously doesn’t go through with it, but fates get tangled, and i would be lying if i said i was upset that our main actors didn’t get up together. but i understand why, they learned a lot from each other. it was tragic, raw, and everything you want in a melodramatic drama.
tomorrow. fam i started this drama for rowoon, but i finished it for soohyuk because dang….we follow jun-woong who is struggling to get a job after school but ends up in a coma and meets grim reapers. they come up with a plan to get him back to the world of the living by helping the crisis management team. this team’s goal is to save suicidal people. i loved the dynamics between the team, and i loved the ending of this drama. i would give this drama a 9 out of 10. i loved the style of it, each episode being a new situation and issue to solve. this was a difficult drama to watch at times, it obviously covers the trigger topics of suicide, domestic violence, and depression. the concept was unique and i loved how they offered reasonable ways to overcome and get necessary help. i loved the relationship that was unpacked between koo ryeon and joong-gil because it went so far back, and his choice to completely forget it because the situation pained him so much. but she remembered it all. i recall my heart breaking into a million pieces as their story unfolded towards the end. like there were not enough tissues to rescue all the tears.
like literally look at the way he looks at her. let me weep.
sh**ting stars. this drama was a 10 out of 10 cute fun summer drama. we are in the entertainment world with our girl han-byeol (lee sung kyung) as our leader of the PR team, and she actively manages gong tae-sung (king young-dae). he is the top actor, and their relationship is everything. she starts the drama unable to tolerate him, because she has known him since college. we come to find that he has always had feelings for her, and little misunderstandings had driven them apart. but my goodness you know that by the end of the drama they were together, and sooooo stinking cute. i loved their interactions. i also freaking loved how everyone ended up happy! like our second male lead was no second male lead, he got his own happy ending. and i loved the coworkers that ended up together in this drama too. like yes we stan character development all around! it was great!
sound of magic. i don’t know what i expected, but dang it was a musical and outright wild at times. i gave it a 9 out of 10. yoon a-yi is a high school student working hard to support her sister. she doesn’t have a supportive father because loan sharks drove him out of the home. na il-deung (hwang inyeop) competes with her to be top of the class. he likes her (obviously). our girl stumbles upon an amusement park and meets a magician there. he encourages her to believe in magic, and a quite odd relationship ensues. definitely not going to lie it was on my radar because my hwang inyeop is in it, and literally anything and everything he touches is gold to me. but it was incredible, and i loved all that they did in this drama, though it was short lived, i hope they will continue this story.
yumi’s cells 2. i was hyped fam. really hyped about it. like yes ba-bi (jinyoung), he is our man. we stan, we love. men fail. he failed us, and i’m not going to lie did that bump my rating down to a 7…yes. yess it did. once again we follow our girl yumi, in her life through work, pursuing her dream of writing. achieving her goals. and seeing ba-bi be absolute trash. so yeah. i hate ba-bi and if anyone asks i never liked him. i am ready for season 3 to come through and give us a happy ending. i am deserving of this after surviving this long, only to be betrayed by ba-bi.
dear m. FINALLY i got to see this gem after waiting forever (only) to see it. so sad about the delayed release because it would surely have taken over everything if it was a live drama. i loved the concept of always trying to figure out who ‘M’ was, and it looking like it was anyone and everyone. we follow joo-a who has been besties with min-ho (jaehyun) for forever, and they are at university together. we follow their university struggles as they get through the semester, and we meet their roomates, who are all great. and i loved that we got to see all their personalities develop and grow. there was also immense growth from joo-a, which we love to see. i loved all the characters we got to meet. and seeing jaehyun freaking slay, i stan. i would rate this an 8.5 out of 10.
weathering with you. this was an anime that i watched and it was stunning. i loved the concept. a high schooler runs away from home to tokyo. he befriends a girl who has the power to control the weather. it wrecked me emotionally and i loved it. i would give it a 7
studio ghibli: my neighbor totoro, ponyo, howl’s moving castle, spirited away. not me rewatching these studio ghibli titles. they are always a 10 out of 10 recommend.
why her. once again hwang inyeop. my man coming through with the dramas that will make me cry. in this drama, we follow oh soo-jae a freaking boss lawyer. like the youngest partner at the best law firm in korea. she is driven out and gets demoted to be a professor at a law school. gong chan is a student there and it turns out they had met in the past. he was wrongly accused of murder and she was his public defendant, she was the only one who believed in him. but it turns out that she didn’t give the case her all as the defendant. but he knows her true intentions, and how she was blackmailed by the political moves happening. they all work together along with other students in their law clinic to uncover the truth. it was really frustrating/infuriating at times, because the head of the law firm is absolute utter garbage and the things he did were AWFUL. but overall i loved this drama. a 9 out of 10 recommend.
the uncanny counter. i loved this one. we follow so mun who gets possessed by a spirit that rescues people on the verge of death, to hunt down evil spirits. these fellow counters operate out of a noodle shop. and we meet our crew of unlikely heroes here. i loved how they were a found family, and they all come together in various situations. there were so many hilarious laugh out loud moments imbedded in this quite sad theme. se-jeong is the best and i picked this one for her. i would rate it an 8.5 out of 10.
extraordinary attorney woo. if there was ever a green light drama this would be the one. a 10 out of 10 recommend. it was so precious, and i loved all the characters that we met. we follow woo young-woo an incredible bright individual who happens to be on the autism spectrum. she starts working at a law firm, and this brings about the best and worst in others. each episode was a new case, and we got to see her unique perspective on conquering each case. we also saw her relationships with others in the hanbada office. freaking fell in love with lee jun-ho, and her bestie from university yoon-kyung. they were always looking out. and we loved the character development that happened with their coworker joo jong-hyuk. this one shall get it’s own recap. because i have so many feelings and favorite moments.
alchemy of souls. when i say i didn’t know what to do with my life when this gem of a drama ended, i literally did not know what to do. it was a top tier drama for me. like the characters, the set design, the world building. it has it all. it shall too have its own recap, because dang, too much happened and i am not emotionally ready for december. i would 10 out of 10 recommend. we follow jang-uk from a noble family, rejected by the skilled teachers. he stumbles upon mu-deok, who happens to be naksu an elite warrior/assassian trapped in mu-deok’s physically weak body. she decides to be his master and teach him fighting skills. a lot of crazy nonsense goes down, and so many plot twists happen. and i freaking loved it. i loved the character development especially from out naksu and wanting to put others around her first. like yes queen.
#2022#kdrama#kmovie#studio ghibli#alchemy of souls#extraordinary attorney woo#dear m#sh**ting stars#tomorrow#my mister#the uncanny counter#why her#the sound of magic#weathering with you#yumi's cells#newjeans#blackpink#p1harmony#seventeen#_world#brb#ciipher#sexy nukim
59 notes
·
View notes
Text
Awards Section
This is the awards section of my 2023 retrospective. The other parts of the retrospective are linked below.
Playlist | Prefix | Part 1: Music | Part 2: Anime and Other Media | Awards Section
Song of the Year:
WOODZ – Drowing:
WOODZ has Album of the Year secured with OO-LI, no question about that. But when it comes to a single song, as good as Drowing is, I think I just love the EP more as a whole. If he’d just dropped Drowing as a single it might’ve taken the title.
Key – Easy:
I can’t give it to Key again. Not three years in a row, and certainly not for this song. Killer or Heartless I could maybe justify, but I didn’t nominate them, I nominated Easy.
I can’t even explain why I love it so much. Is it the best song I heard all year? No. But it’s my most played track anyway.
Sam Haft, Andrew Underberg, Alex Brightman – 2 Minutes Notice:
I have half a mind to give it to this. Wouldn’t that be funny, a showtune from a YouTube cartoon taking SOTY? Ha. Haha. Hahaha. Haaaaaa…
It would be funnier it wasn’t seriously a top candidate for that title.
Winner: King Gnu – SPECIALZ
This is it. SOTY for a group I never expected to hand it to. Not because I disliked them or anything, I enjoyed every time they crossed my path. But because SOTY usually goes to an artist I love, and I only know King Gnu from their Anime tie-ins. And normally if a group delivers a song this good I would be digging my way through their albums, but I’m not. This song is special, and don’t want context for it.
Album of the Year:
Key – Killer:
A stretch, I’m aware. In fact, the only reason why this isn’t getting the title is because 11/14 songs already released in 2022, and it got album of the year then. It’s by far my most played record of 2023 though, and one of my favorite K-pop albums period.
Onew – Circle:
Yeah, I know, just nominate every SHINee solo, will you? No, I won’t. Taemin’s just missed out. See, I’m totally not biased, Circle was just that good. A stunningly beautiful album start to finish.
Ryugujo – 2 Much:
Debut of the year, hands down. Ryugujo’s first EP is exactly as fierce as Avu-chan wanted, and I found this group impossible to look away from ever since.
Albums that I regularly listened to in full and therefore get my recommendation but missed out on a nomination, in no particular order:
VIXX – Continuum: Far from their strongest work, otherwise it would’ve taken the title by default. But even with half the members missing, it’s still VIXX, and it’s the best K-pop boy group record released in 2023.
æspa – Drama: I have no excuse; this is just fun. Sometimes you need an EP that isn’t ashamed of being batshit K-pop.
Red Velvet – Chill Kill: Very pretty and cohesive album. SM saves all their pleasant-sounding music for their girl groups.
Purple Kiss – Cabin Fever: Purple Kiss’ best EP to date.
Dreamcatcher – VillainS: Enjoyed this EP way more than I thought I would.
Kiss Of Life – Born To Be XX: These girls are going places.
Winner: WOODZ – OO-LI
There was never any doubt about which release would take album of the year, because WOODZ utterly obliterated the competition. Every other nomination, including the Key album that is totally not from the year before anyway, at least has one song I don’t care for. But OO-LI never misses. Not even 7/10 misses. Every single song on this EP stands out, and they come together beautifully. WOODZ is enlisting this January, and I already don’t know what to do without being able to rely on him to deliver great comebacks for the next two years. Come back safely, and never stop making music.
Artist of the Year:
I keep struggling with this one because most of my favorite releases tend to be from tenure artists who drop one comeback and then vanish for the rest of the year.
If you asked me who I admired the most, it would be WOODZ.
If you asked me who I listened to the most, it would be Key.
If you asked me who surprised me the most, it would be Ryugujo.
If you asked me who had the most releases I loved though, I’m stuck.
The list of artists who released more than one album which I enjoyed is short.
Dreamcatcher, Kiss Of Life, æspa, and that’s it, I’m stuck.
So you know what? Fuck it. I won’t get the chance to do that again for two years.
Winner: WOODZ
Between OO-LI, a world tour, and Amnesia, WOODZ had a great year. He hasn’t missed once in his career, but right now he’s on a level of his own. No one else active this year has delivered this level of consistency and quality. WOODZ is a gem, and I don’t think it’s possible to lavish his music with too much praise right now.
Miscellaneous Music:
Best Music Video: Heartsteel – Paranoia
Best Choreography: Le Sserafim – Eve, Psyche & The Bluebird’s Wife
Best Debut Single: Ryugujo – 2 Much
Top 15 B-sides (no videos, only one entry per artist):
Key – Heartless
WOODZ – Busted
Taemin – She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
Infinite – Time Difference
Kim Sejeong – Jenga
Red Velvet – One Kiss
Onew – No Parachute
VIXX – Savage
Purple Kiss – T4ke
Dreamcatcher – Propose
æspa – Don’t Blink
IVE – Blue Blood
SHINee – Identity
ATEEZ – Dune
U-Know – Tarantino
Best Insert Song: Helluva Boss – 2 Minutes Notice
Other Media
Game Of The Year: The Legend Of Zelda – Tears Of The Kingdom
Not the most creative pick, but sometimes Nintendo delivers, and their games are magical when they do.
Anime Of The Year: Link Click Season 2
Since I didn’t watch everything I wanted to get to, this might change in hindsight, once I feel better and catch up with shows like Oshi no Ko, Vinland Saga, and Tengoku Daimakyou. Jujutsu Kaisen also had a strong season, and Shounen does not get much better than its Hidden Inventory and Shibuya Incident arcs, but ultimately Link Click is the show I cared about the most.
Everything in this show feels intentional. Every mystery has a satisfying pay-off, and that earns it enough trust from the audience to expect a satisfying continuation (and hopefully conclusion) in the already confirmed third season. I for one can’t wait to see what happens next and considering the time travel aspect of the show and season two’s final twist, what already happened. I love the characters and want to see them get out of this story safe and sound.
Opening Of The Year: Link Click Season 2
There was competition, certainly, but in the end, nothing touched this masterpiece. They made a song that would sound good played forwards and backwards, just so they could rewind the opening. It looks great and is a great fit for a time travel mystery. I got to respect the craft that went into this.
Ending Of The Year: Oshi No Ko
I didn’t have much opportunity to mention Queen Bee in this retrospective, but they delivered on this ending theme.
Movie Of The Year: Oppenheimer
I have half a mind to praise Puss In Boots more, but Oppenheimer is a staggeringly well made movie, and I would be remiss if I didn’t give it the crown.
#woodz#key#helluva boss#king gnu#onew#Ryugujo#heartsteel#le sserafim#tags tags tags#vixx#aespa#red velvet#purple kiss#dreamcatcher#kiss of life#shinee#link click#shi guang dai li ren
6 notes
·
View notes
Text
Psyko’s Top 10 Kpop Songs Released in 2022
I took the top 10 songs released this year and put them in a numerical list. This list is only including songs released by a k-pop artist or group and is in korean.
10. WA DA DA by Kep1er
I didn’t watch Girls Planet 999 but I followed the drama extensively on twitter (mainly because I love Bora from Cherry Bullet), and so I was excited for the debut of the group. I was expecting a debut to rival IZ*ONE and I think we got it with WA DA DA. It’s high energy and the dance is fun. But theres a reason no other Kep1er songs are on this list. #JusticeForBora
9. Super Yuppers! by WJSN Chocome
WJSN released my most listened to song of 2021, so of course another WJSN song would be on my list. This song was the Kpop we needed in a genre saturated with noise music (which I do not hate). Dayoung’s rap(?) in the bridge solidified this as a regular on my Kpop playlist. These girls are bringing back the Orange Caramel aesthetic.
8. Maison by Dreamcatcher
It would’ve been a crime if this song did not get Dreamcatcher their first win. The chorus is so hype, and Dami’s raps never fail to serve. Their first win was a long time coming, and I’m glad they’ve finally clawed their way out of nugu-dom.
7. Love Dive by IVE
You think I could make a best of kpop list and not put the SOTY on it? (Actually I haven’t put the SOTY on my list many times XD). But this time I actually agree with the decision for SOTY. IVE had everyone by the throat this year, release hit after hit. And even though I hate Starship Ent. for what they did to Monsta X, it is nice to see a company outside of the Big 3 getting some recognition. I’m excited to see the big things IVE does in the future.
6. Step Back by GOT the Beat
I was a huge SuperM stan when they debuted and so I new it was a matter of time before SM released the female version. And they did not disappoint. This song is damn near perfect, and getting to hear Taeyeon, Wendy, and Karina on the same track is something I could’ve only dreamed of. This song is amazing, and anyone who says otherwise is in denial.
5. SMILEY by Yena feat. BBIBBI
Now I’ll be honestly, I didn’t love IZ*ONE, and I think all the girls have put out better music since they disbanded. And Choi Yena has had the best debut of all the ladies of IZ*ONE. It actually shocked me to discover that she was a rapper in IZ*ONE because her voice is so wonderful. I actually held out on listening to this song all the way through, because I didn’t care for IZ*ONE, but once I gave in I could not stop listening to it.
4. FOREVER 1 by Girl’s Generation
I made the mistake of stanning Girl’s Generation after the release of “Holiday”, so I fully expected to never receive new songs as a SONE and was content to just enjoy the classics. Well I tell you, I cried when I first watched the stage for this song! Eight queens taking their rightful spot back on the throne with an absolutely incredible song.
3. Scream by SF9
At this point, SF9 are one of my ults so of course they’d be the first boy group to appear on my list. When Youngbin and Inseong enlisted, I expected no new releases from the boys as a group for a while. So when this dropped I was so excited. The song overall I think is just alright, and the reason it’s ranked so high is purely because of Zuho’s rap, which are always my favorite parts in SF9 songs.
2. HOT by Seventeen
This was the song that got me to truly stan Seventeen. I had been an on and off fan after listening to Aju Nice, but this song was what made me commit to listening to this group. The dance is simplistic and sexy, and I love everything about the concept.
1. WooAh HIP by MAMADOL
If you had told me that the best song of the year would be released by a group composed of a bunch of former idols who were also mothers, I wouldn’t believe you. But WooAh HIP was the best debut/disbandment song of the year. These women can move, and they showed the world that just because you have children, doesn’t mean you can’t pop and drop it. I’ll never stop wishing for another comeback for this group, but most of all I hope that this paves the way for all idols with families and encourages them to continue doing what they love.
#kep1er#wjsn#wjsn chocome#dreamcatcher#IVE#got the beat#Choi yen’s#yena izone#SNSD#girls generation#SF9#svt#MAMADOL#kpop#psyko speaks
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
230307 EFE
BTS leader isn’t thinking about future, but would like to work with Rosalía
RM, the lead singer of K-pop supergroup BTS, would love to one day collaborate with Spanish star Rosalía – his favorite Spanish singer – but with his mandatory military service in South Korea approaching, he will not be taking on any projects in the near future.
During an interview with Efe in Barcelona, the South Korean singer admits that he is going through a “hard time on a human level”, because after 10 years non-stop with BTS, the band members’ looming military service has forced the group into a temporary break.
But Kim Nam-joon, better known by the stage name RM, wants to stay positive, and insists that the situation “can be beneficial to him as an artist,” because “some great work is born in personally chaotic moments.”
“When you are famous, staying on top is very difficult,” he admits, “but I think BTS will make it. It will come together again when we finish our military service, and we will look for new synergies between us to enter a second phase. But, in any case, nothing lasts forever.”
On Rosalía, he says that all the members of BTS “like her very much and respect her a lot” as a very famous and influential star. Asked if he would like to collaborate with her, Kim Nam-joon does not hesitate: “If she wants to, I do too.”
SECOND SOLO ALBUM IN THE PIPELINE
Soon after releasing his most personal album ‘Indigo’ at the end of last year, and in search of inspiration for a second solo album, RM traveled to Spain for the first time this week.
The boy band has yet to perform in the country, as their 2020 world tour, on which they planned to reach the few remaining corners of the world they had not set foot in, was canceled due to the pandemic.
“I chose Spain to travel with my family because I have friends who are not artists who have told me it’s a great place,” he says.
“I wanted to see artworks by (painters) Goya, Velazquez and Picasso for inspiration and I’ve been to the Prado and other museums,” he adds during his visit to Barcelona, where he was impressed by the iconic Sagrada Familia basilica by Spanish architect Gaudi. Before that, he took in the capital Madrid and the northern city of Bilbao.
“I came to Spain because of my love of its art and, if someone learns about my country’s culture through my songs, it is an honor that makes me happy,” he says.
MILITARY SERVICE TRIGGERS PERIOD OF REFLECTION
South Koreans are obligated to sign up for 18 months of military service before they turn 30 – the eldest member of BTS, Jin, has already enlisted, with the rest of the group soon to follow suit.
It has forced a temporary break on the boyband with the group at its peak that RM has taken advantage of to release his first solo album ‘Indigo’, in which he frees himself from the strict rules of combining being the main standard-bearer of K-pop and searching for his own identity.
“After 10 years as a member of BTS, I didn’t know who I was and I wanted to know,” he says. “I started out as a teenage rapper, then BTS came along and it was all very intense. Now that the group is inactive, I’ve gone back to thinking about the beginnings and the real reasons why I joined BTS.”
It is a process of reflection that has led him to contemplate the meaning of a musical career that has been dictated by trends.
BREAKING FREE FROM FADS
“K-pop and k-drama are in fashion,” he says, “so, ironically, I am at the center of the trend at a time when I feel the need to step away from that and have time to think and create with a more timeless outlook.”
The first result of this new approach is ‘Indigo’, an album full of stellar collaborations that combines elements of hip-hop, neo-soul, R&B, folk, electronic music and urban pop, a work which he insists presents a version of himself that is unrecognizable from the one that social media and worldwide fame have created.
But he has not turned his back on his time with BTS, which he is proud of for allowing millions of people around the world to discover Korean culture through his songs and for having paved the way for others to follow.
Source: EFE
0 notes
Note
hi isi!
he’s so cute! i don’t have any pets - i had a dog growing up but whenever i’m around pets these days, i get allergies. what the hell is up with that lol. so not sure a pet is in my future but we’ll see :P
that’s so cool that BTS has been a part of you discovering your skill for writing and having it as a creative outlet for you :) it’s such a silly but fun thing that we do, isn’t it!
ok going to throw some short answer stuff at you so it can be quick and fun for you to answer (hopefully).
1. what’s a name that you really like?
2. hand holding or back hugs?
3. what a weird habit of yours? (doesn’t have to be very weird lol)
4. summer or winter?
5. who is your fave group aside from bts? do you have a bias? (if not k-pop, just another artist you listen to)
6. recommend a book or movie to me?
7. a random talent of yours?
8. soft boys or boys with a bit of an edge?
9. what colour top are you wearing right now?
10. favourite flower?
no rush as always on this! sending you love and lots of energy for you to get through tiring times at work. thinking about you <3 - merry 💕
Hi Merry!!
Awww allergies are the worst - my mom has them too, and she was so against getting a cat at first but now she loves him the most and is willing to take a Claritin just to be around my cat hahaha 😂
I love writing for BTS! Idk if I’ll ever find another muse for my writing per se, so as long as BTS is around, I will be too lol
Now onto your questions!
1. I really like the name Alizeh! I think it’s of Persian origin and it means “wind”. But me and my sister are literally fighting rn over who gets to name their kid this name if it’s a girl! She might win tho bc I have no prospects in sight for dating, let alone starting a family hehe 😅
2. Hand holding! I hold everyone’s hands (not in a weird way). I’ll just go up to my co-residents and be like “give me your hand”, and then I’ll hold their hand for a minute and warm it up and they think it’s so cute 🥺
3. If I get one hand wet, I can’t dry it off, I need to wet the other hand and dry them both. I dislike the feeling of having only hand be damp 😑
4. Winter!!! I feel like my style is at its best during the winter bc I can add lots of layers and elements whereas in the summer I stick to workout clothes and t shirts bc the heat is no joke! Also winter is just fun with all the holiday activities and snow! I’m totally a cold weather person ❄️
5. I don’t really think I have a favorite group besides bts! I do listen to a lot of different k-artists though! Some of my favorites right now are Bibi and NewJeans!
6. For books, I recently read All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir and it made me full on sob with how heartbreaking it was 😭 for movies, I watched 20th Century Girl and cried at that one too bc I just couldn’t take the ending 💜 I’m in a heartbreak mood these days lol
7. I do not think I’m very talented at all, so I struggle to answer questions like this. I used to like baking a lot but then it became really expensive and time consuming and I got insecure bc I felt like other people were better at it than me, so I just stopped. I should pick it back up again, but yeah, sorry if that wasn’t the answer you were expecting lmao 🥹
8. I’m actually wearing a brown sweatshirt that says “everythingoes” on it 💗💗💗
9. Peonies!! I would cry if someone gifted me a bouquet of peonies, I think they’re so beautiful and make me smile so much!!
Thanks for sending these in!! I’m gonna try to be better about answering more quickly, but we’re finally coming up on the week of Christmas!! I hope the lead up is fun for you 💕
0 notes
Text
Kpop posted 367 times in 2021
36 posts created (10%)
331 posts reblogged (90%)
My Top Posts in 2021:
#1
K-Pop Spotlight: Stray Kids
Stray Kids are back with their noisiest and most memorable album yet. To celebrate, we caught up with the self-producing boy group to talk about their second full album NOEASY, the new single “Thunderous,” and some of the lessons they’ve learned in the three years since their debut. Check out our full interview below!
Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →
Where did the inspiration for the album title NOEASY come from? Would you consider your Stray Kids sound to be noisy, and do you like that description?
Bang Chan: We did a little wordplay with the words “no easy” and “noisy,” meaning that in a world where things aren’t so easy, we will be noisier and noisier. I actually don’t mind people describing our music as noisy ’cause that’s what we’re trying to be. The loudest noise that everyone will remember!
Changbin: Since our title songs are typically powerful and performance-based, I’m sure some people think our music is a little noisy. With that said, some people enjoy that sort of energy. We also get energized and have fun on stage, so I think the expression “noisy” is a positive thing. The title NOEASY is a spirited response to all the noise that distracts us and gets in our way—to say that we’re not an easy match and we won’t back down.
You celebrated your third anniversary as a group earlier this year (congrats!)—what are some of the (harder) lessons you’ve learned over the years as a group that produces all of their own music?
Hyunjin: During these past three years, the things I’ve learned are the love of STAY and how to love more. Additionally, through countless performances, I think my stage skills have also improved.
HAN: I was amazed and thankful to learn that the songs I write and create can move people. I hope to continue making good music that will move more people and continue to touch their hearts!
Felix: I learned that it’s hard to reach many goals in life. However, over the past years, I’ve learned to ask for help and feedback from my members. As time goes by, we’ve strengthened our team play to overcome anything.
What’s the first song you remember loving, or what is one of your recent favorite songs?
Bang Chan: Out of Stray Kids songs? “Hellevator” because it was our first official song as Stray Kids.
Lee Know: I was told that when I was a child, I used to dance and sing along to the music on the radio that my parents would listen to. I think that’s when I first started loving music, but I can’t remember what those songs were!
Changbin: “개똥벌레” (T/N: This song translates to “Firefly” in Korean and is a nursery song.)
Hyunjin: I think my favorite song is “Secret Secret” because HAN and I share the same emotional wavelength, and the lyrics really resonated with me.
HAN: I really liked “D” by DEAN!
Felix: “Grow Up” is a song we always sang together with our STAY during our concerts and performances. This song brings back a lot of unforgettable memories for me.
Seungmin: Kim Dong Ryul’s “Drunken Truth”
I.N: My favorite song from this album is “Thunderous!”
Many of you were really into anime and exercise as your stress-relief/hobbies the last time we spoke. Tell us a little bit about what you are into these days, outside of your activities as Stray Kids.
Bang Chan: Umm, I’m still exercising daily, and these days I’ve been using Felix’s Switch to play games.
Lee Know: I either cook or go to a cafe to read a book.
Changbin: I like working out!
Hyunjin: I study art and draw. I like to have my own time of healing in my free time by watching other artists on YouTube.
HAN: I still watch anime, go on YouTube, work on music, and exercise. I think I tend to gravitate more towards things I can do at home rather than outside.
Felix: If I have the time, I go out bike riding, walk in the park, or look for some new recipes to cook for the people around me.
Seungmin: I’ve been enjoying taking vocal lessons and playing the guitar sometimes! I’ve also developed a deep interest in coffee, so I’ve been exploring different machines and flavors.
I.N: I recharge by laying in bed and watching YouTube or movies.
On these last few albums, we’ve seen some unit songs developed outside of the usual 3RACHA team. Do your members ever surprise or excite you by what they come up with when you’re working as a new unit?
Bang Chan: Yes, it’s always surprising and exciting! It’s really unexpected, and their ideas are really good, too, so it’s always fun to work as units.
Changbin: It’s even more inspiring and helpful when I hear other ideas outside of my own.
See the full post
3834 notes • Posted 2021-09-07 16:03:42 GMT
#5
K-Pop Spotlight: TWICE
Nine-member girl group TWICE are back with their latest summer hit, “Alcohol-Free,” and a new mini-album, Taste of Love. To celebrate, we caught up with the group to chat about their new music, style and aesthetics, and their dream dinner dates. It’s been nearly six years since TWICE’s debut under JYP Entertainment, and the girls are as busy as ever: between juggling solo performance videos and projects, a reality show, and talk show appearances, there’s never been a better time to be a ONCE. Check out our full interview below!
Can you tell us the inspiration behind your new mini-album, Taste of Love, and what you hope your fans take away from it?
DAHYUN: The taste of love has very diverse charms: sweet, happy, special, etc. I hope our fans can share this warm feeling with each other and build memorable moments with TWICE this summer through Taste of Love.
TZUYU: The title track of Taste of Love, “Alcohol-Free,” is made from J. Y. Park’s inspirations. Other tracks’ lyrics were written by some of the members, which have their own interpretation about what Love tastes like. I hope our fans can experience the different definitions of taste of love through our new album.
The three different versions of your mini-album represent Taste, Fallen, and In Love—what do each of those terms mean to you, outside of your music and fans?
NAYEON: K-food for Taste, because K-food is always tasty. For Fallen, I would say spicy food and ice vanilla latte, and baby blue color for In Love. I’ve fallen in love with baby blue color, which is why the song I wrote the lyrics for in this album is about baby blue love.
CHAEYOUNG: All three terms expressed the feeling of falling in love after tasting. I can relate to this feeling when I eat strawberries. ONCEs know how much I love strawberries.
Who and/or what influences your overall aesthetic—from your music to your style to your fashion sense?
CHAEYOUNG: I think the music I create and the fashion I wear naturally reflect my favorite movie characters, photos, and collectibles. Therefore, I try as much as possible to discover new styles and to love what I already love deeper so that I can broaden my aesthetic.
SANA: My feeling at that exact moment. I try to express my current thoughts, feelings, atmosphere, mood, and interest through my aesthetic, so I guess the answer to this question is my own self.
This year marks six incredible and busy years since your debut—what advice would you give to women who are just starting out in the music industry?
MINA: Instead of copying others, if you really spend time with yourself and find your true self, you’ll be able to shine brighter than any other people. Loving yourself and believing what you think is right is the most important advice I’d like to give to future stars.
JIHYO: There is a saying in Korea, “Well begun is half done.” The courage to start itself can propel you to achieve so many things. Instead of doubting yourself, love yourself more and the work you make for the world. Before you know, you’ll be at the top of your world.
What is your self-care routine?
TZUYU: I always try to stay fit and healthy so that I can be with ONCE as long as I want and deliver the best performances! This motivation helps me take care of myself.
MOMO: Eating a lot and staying healthy by exercising. My self-care tip is to laugh out loud and smile since staying happy is the most powerful and important self-care routine. I try to spread this tip with TWICE’s members and ONCEs by making them laugh.
What’s your favorite lyric from your discography?
JEONGYEON: These days, I’m into “YOU IN MY HEART.” I want to perform this song in front of ONCE and treasure ONCEs’ individual faces and cheer in my heart.
JIHYO: I love the lyrics of “Feel Special.” The overarching storyline behind this song is that I’m able to smile again because of you. I especially like the first part of the song, “There are one of those days. Days when I suddenly feel all alone. When I feel like I don’t belong anywhere and my head is hanging down,” because everyone can relate to this moment. I hope “Feel Special” can energize whoever is experiencing these days out there!
If you could have dinner with one person, living or dead, who would it be and why?
DAHYUN: My dad. Because I wasn’t able to spend a lot of time with my family after debut due to living apart, I would like to have healing moments eating warm and delicious dinner with my family.
MOMO: If it’s just one person, it’s too hard to decide, because there are so many people I like, including our very special fans, ONCE! If I can’t have dinner with each and every one of them, I’d rather have dinner by myself while connecting through livestream, eating all the food for ONCE.
Want more of TWICE? Check out their brand new mini-album, Taste of Love, here.
2475 notes • Posted 2021-06-11 15:00:44 GMT
#4
Meet the Artist: Nastia
We’re currently highlighting some of our favorite women K-pop fan artists on Tumblr! Check back on Mondays for an introduction to these talented ladies.
Hello, I’m Nastia! I’m a full-time architect based in Russia, currently trying to balance my work and hobby—digital art. I’ve been into K-pop for six years, and it’s been an endless source of inspiration for me, with its music and strong visual concepts. My ultimate favorite groups are SHINee and Red Velvet, and I’m really weak for their main dancers, Seulgi and Taemin! In my art, I like to use vibrant colors and clean shapes, with occasional animated elements. Also, I really like drawing pretty girls. Nice to meet you!
Thanks for sharing your art with us, Nastia! For more of her incredible work, check out and follow @anajuise!
2573 notes • Posted 2021-04-05 16:01:12 GMT
#3
Meet the Artist: Vir
All month long, we’ll be highlighting some of our favorite women K-pop fan artists on Tumblr. Check back every Monday in March for an introduction to these talented ladies.
Hi! My name is Virginia, but you can call me Vir or Pear! I am a Graphic Design student from Indonesia and aspire to be an illustrator. Currently, I am trying to finish college and am still in my thesis period. I mostly draw K-Pop girl group fan art, especially LOONA. Other than K-Pop, I also like to draw food. I am pretty new to this platform and looking forward to my art journey here! Nice to meet ya!
Thanks for sharing your art with us, Vir! For more of her incredible work, check out and follow @pearmadoo on all of her social accounts!
2619 notes • Posted 2021-03-29 16:02:19 GMT
#2
tumblr_video
Truth or Dare? We asked AleXa to perform some fun dares and answer questions ahead of the release of her first-ever ballad digital single, Never Let You Go!
Check out our full, exclusive Truth or Dare video above 🦾
2842 notes • Posted 2021-01-18 18:02:38 GMT
For every post I created, I reblogged 9.2 posts.
I added 188 tags in 2021
#fandometrics - 34 posts
#stray kids - 26 posts
#seventeen - 21 posts
#twice - 21 posts
#kpop spotlight - 18 posts
#shinee - 15 posts
#itzy - 15 posts
#blackpink - 14 posts
#loona - 12 posts
#bts - 12 posts
Longest Tag: 59 characters
#there might be a related surprise on this blog on friday 👀
#my 2021 tumblr year in review#your tumblr year in review#stray kids#seventeen#twice#shinee#itzy#blackpink#loona#bts
631 notes
·
View notes
Note
do you have any recs specifically for kdramas that are available on netflix in the us? thanks!
Hi Anon!
Happy to make some recs - It used to be hard to do, but now Netflix has a bunch!
Great K-Dramas on Netflix (United States)
Just an FYI that Netflix has wildly different licensing depending on where you live and these are the ones I recommend if you live in the US).
Chicago Typewriter (Fantasy/romance): I loooooove this kdrama about three people who are connected by their past fates. It’s in my top 10 and I’ll put in on any rec list I can. The historical portion is super interesting, and the chemistry of all three main actors is just the best! Yoo Ah In…I just love him. Best kiss scene!
Run On (Romance, Slice of life): A slice of life romance that follows an athlete and a translator, a sports manager and a painter. It’s really smartly written, has super unique characters and I just really loved it. If you don’t like slow burn, you might want to skip this one but I found the romance and the storylines really enjoyable.
Hello My Twenties: (Slice of life): a bingeworthy drama about a group of college students living in the same house. Friendship, romance, coming of age.
Extracurricular (thriller): This kdrama isn’t for the faint of heart but I think everyone should watch it. It’s not filmed like a k-drama and has a different feel then I’m used to. Full of twists and turns, this drama follows a quiet kid who has a part-time job that’s not exactly legal. He “befriends” a girl he has a crush on and well, no spoilers!!
Live Up To Your Name (fantasy/romance/comedy/medical): A fun drama about a historical doctor who ends up traveling to the future and meets a modern doctor. I love this couple and the show is great, though I personally do not like medical stuff. The good news is if you are like me, you can fast forward all of the procedures and you will not miss any of the plot. Soft couple alert.
Hospital Playlist (Workplace): A group of five friends who met in college all work at the same hospital together. They are all so different but lean on one another and love each other regardless of their flaws. It’s funny, emotional and the perfect slice of life (though heads up on the long episodes).
Mystic Pop Up Bar (fantasy/found family): A fantasy k-drama that centers itself on found family. Two spirits from the afterlife set up a bar where they find humans who need to settle grudges. When the lady realizes a soft and sweet customer service boy at the local market can read people’s thoughts, she “hires” him to help out. My heart was completely taken by these three and the security guard.
Oh My Ghost (rom com/fantasy): Adorable and super fun k-drama about a shy and quiet girl who becomes possessed by a sassy and flirty ghost. Great story, great chemistry.
Crash Landing On You (Romcom/Melo): A South Korean celebrity accidentally ends up in North Korea for k-drama reasons and is helped by a soft hearted soldier and his crew. It’s one of those totally ridiculous plot lines that makes a K-drama a k-drama - You know, the ones with chaebols and all sorts of tropes, and a lot of plot that ignores reality. Still, the couple is adorable and the found family is amazing.
The Uncanny Counter (Fantasy/superhero/found family): A group of four people were brought back from comas to fight evil. It’s got real heart and you’ll love every “counter.” The found family and friendships were the best!
Stranger (Thriller/Crime): A k-drama featuring a quirky crime solving due: a prosecutor who has lost his ability to feel empathy and his (obviously gay) brilliant and quirky detective partner. This drama has NO romance and is more about political corruption and mystery.
Because This Is My First Life (Romcom, Slice-of-life): I absolutely love this drama about a total sweetheart who gets married in order to have a place to live. A lot of the story is also about her close friends (one of which: Soo-ji, is one of my favorite ladies ever!) It’s funny, heartfelt, and has a very interesting relationship dynamic. I’d say it’s in my top 10 dramas, except that the lead is a creep IRL so I actually will not watch anything is he cast in (I did not know when I watched this drama and dangit I really really love it).
When The Camellia Blooms: (Slice-of-life/Romance): A really well done slice of life drama about a single mom who opens a bar. Lots of great small town characters and her son is like, the smartest kid in the world? The romance is very fluffy too.
Itaewon Class: An optimistic underdog opens his own restaurant to honor his father. He hires in a rag tag bunch of randos who will all win your heart! (well, one of them will not but I won’t say who ;-). I found some of the plot points frustrating, but the chef and one of the waiters are two of my favorite characters ever.
Psycho But It’s Okay: A gorgeous k-drama featuring two brothers who lost their mother, and a beautiful & famous author who grew up in a traumatic and abusive household. Everyone is very closed off and holding onto intense pain, but the three come together to help one another move on and create their own family. There’s also a really pretty narrative theme featuring fairytales.
One Spring Night (Romance): A romance between a single dad and a girl who comes into his pharmacy. It’s one of those more realistic toned dramas and has a very specific slower moving pace.
Kingdom (Zombie Horror): Seriously only watch this if you are not looking for a non-kdrama-y k-drama because this show is scary. A historical drama about messy kingdom politics and a terrifying zombie outbreak. I dare you not to fall in love with the lead or Bae Doona.
A Korean Odyssey (Fantasy/Romance): Honestly this show is a bit of a mess, but it’s very creative so I just want to give it some props. A cursed demon falls in love with the spirit-seeing human who cursed him. Lots of funny demon in-fighting and while the plot gets really wonky, I still think it’s worth a watch. (you’ll know right away if you don’t like it so you can just drop it if it’s not your thing :)
Reply 1988 (Slice of life/romance/family & friendship): Taking place in 1988-89, this drama tells the stories of a group of families who live on the same block. It’s very heartfelt, funny, sad and super well made. A fan favorite.
Other good ones that I haven’t finished (yet)
Navillera
My Country
Everyone also loves Vincenzo but I haven’t seen it yet
Enjoy!
45 notes
·
View notes
Text
Best of K-Pop 2021 - 10-1
All of these are SOTY material in my book...
10. Oneus - LUNA. I've been rooting for Oneus every since Bing Bing nearly topped my best of 2019 list. 2021 gave me two excellent title tracks from Oneus (and one awful one but we're gonna ignore). As with 2019's Lit, Oneus mixes traditional and contemporary music to great effect, but this time it's 80s pop so you know I ate it up. The way each version of Luna's chorus has different beat drops keeps it fresh throughout. Also, they had the great sense to leave the dance break off the album.
youtube
09. SHINee - Atlantis. Y’all can have View, but Atlantis is the summer sea epic that I deserve. Shinee picked up where Ateez left off, satisfying my previously unknown need for conceptual songs about the ocean. I can't tell you what SM was thinking with Don't Call Me, but they remembered who Shinee was for the repackage. Atlantis also has the best Minho rap in a title track since Lucifer - him saying “Atlantis” with 4 syllables is iconic.
youtube
08. aespa - YEPPI YEPPI. You know what, girl crush is great actually. I’m impressed but not surprised that SM figured out to elevate this generation of girl group k-pop – unlike their title track of the same name, Yeppix2 is actually the next level of the girl-crush genre. I love a confidence anthem, and this is the best one since Dalla Dalla. Nonstop hyperpop energy that adds 10 years to my life. Ok aespa, I see y'all.
youtube
07. Seventeen - Heaven's Cloud. Winner of my go-to serotonin booster award of 2021. Heaven's Cloud instantly became my favorite Seventeen song. The synths are literal heaven - boy groups, this is what happiness sounds like! Woozi was in his bag in 2021 I can't deny. Gimme your gimme your gimme your love love cloud.
youtube
06. SHINee - I Really Want You. Shinee being Shinee, we love to hear it. My favorite and most played song for most of the year. I literally cannot feel bad listening to this. Loud, brassy, shimmering funk music with Shinee’s undefeatable vocals. It's up there with Married to the Music and Dream Girl (should have been the title track, fu SM).
youtube
05. Seventeen - To You. I really didn't expect Seventeen to top Heaven's Cloud. And then I heard the teaser for Attaca, and I knew they were going to give me everything I wanted in 2021. To You hits all the beats of Heaven's Cloud but with a stronger beat, making it an intense and uplifting synth banger.
youtube
04. Golden Child - Spell. Sonic crack 😜. I don't know how else to describe how I feel when Spell comes on - I have to set a limit on how many times I can repeat this song so that my play metrics don't get screwed. The homies stole WJSN's music to great effect for Spell. Just pure glittery adrenaline, my boys are at their best when at 100% energy. Full8loom can’t miss - when Golden Child gets a Full8loom title track it's over for your favs I promise.
youtube
03. Key (SHINee) - Bad Love. Leave it to Shinee to outdo Shinee.
I’ve been sleeping on Key’s solo potential – this blew every other solo out of the water. I'm genuinely surprised Key got better music that Kai or Taemin. Look at SM giving a sh** about the singers. Pounding 80’s beats are always welcome in my k-pop, and Key’s vocals make the song soar (the ending!!!). Everyone says this is copying the Weeknd, but I don't listen to the radio or go to the mall, so I don't know what y'all are talking about! Song must slap though, if it led to this!
youtube
02. Dreamcatcher - Poison Love. The only song to stay in my top 3 since January. I love edm dance tracks from the girlies (see Lovelyz's Temptation, f*cking love it), and Dreamcatcher has some of my favorite dark and bass-heavy edm b-sides (Sleepwalking and Silent Night are 👑). Poison Love is their best one yet - sleek, dramatic, and angsty. My previous best of year pics for 2019 (Woohyun - Just Look at Me) and 2020 (Pentagon - Asteroid) were synth edm tracks, so Poison Love was most poised to take the number 1 spot, at least until Shinee came back. But then...
youtube
01. Seventeen - Rock With You. I really thought Shinee would sweep my end of the year list, but I can't deny the hold Rock With You has on me. Seventeen has been giving all of their good songs to Japan ever since 2018's phenomenal Call Call Call. Not a bad decision, but as a result, I haven’t cared about a Seventeen Korean comeback since Thanks. Hit and Fear were good for like a week but had zero staying power, and I couldn't be bothered to buy or stream their 2020 K-releases. And in 2021, Heaven's Cloud was so good I completely forgot about Ready to Love. HOWEVER, with Attaca, Seventeen decided to give Korea the good sh** this time! Rock With You is now my favorite Seventeen song in a year that gave me my three favorite Seventeen songs ever. It's also their strongest comeback since Aju Nice (the good old days when Seventeen was fun). There's not a single flaw I can find in this comeback. The song is full of energy with hooks all over the place, the choreo is 10/10, everyone looks great (especially Jeonghan). Even though Shinee didn't take the top spot, I feel like Shinee is still responsible for this comeback - their return to k-pop encouraged Woozi and Hoshi and the rest of them to not flop in front of their favs. Seventeen is out here showing all these Super Junior clones with too many boys how it's done!
youtube
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
F**k Him, He’s a DJ (Hawks/Reader Music Industry AU)
Summary: A year after your separation from your former girl group, your solo career is just getting started. It only needs some extra oomph. Enter world renowned DJ, Hawks. Here to give you more than what you bargained for.
Pairing: DJ! Hawks (Keigo Takami)/ Singer! Reader
Rating: E+
Word Count: 3.7k
Warnings: sex without a condom, drunk sex, cunnilingus, ragging on DJ’s, dirty talk if you squint
Notes: Hi All! Its been a hot second since I’ve written smut and this is the first time for my favorite bird boi. Music Industry AU’s are a weakness of mine. Please enjoy!!
Special shout out to @shinsotired for beta-ing my trash
“No. Absolutely not. Under no conditions will I work with him.” Water splashed everywhere as you slammed your water bottle onto the table. “I’ll take anyone else you give me.”
Maya, your manager, let out a hefty sigh before adjusting her tight ponytail. She had only taken the position a short year ago after you ditched your former girl group the moment you turned 18. They couldn’t pay you enough to sign another contract describing in detail the ‘cute’ and ‘pure’ image you were expected to maintain. It was time to turn a new, edgier, leaf.
Just not with an insufferable asshole as your first collaboration.
“Hawks has been the only DJ on the top 10 list consistently. Plus you work for the same label. He’s already created the track and we’ve written the lyrics. All you have to do is show up and sing. Maybe do some appearances on his tour.” Maya didn’t take her eyes off her tablet “You’re an established name, but you need to prove yourself again. Now suck it up, he’ll be here any minute.”
The door nearly flew off its hinges with the force Hawks used. You’d never seen him in person before, and he was definitely shorter than you imagined. Not like you could talk. He wore a beige bomber jacket lined in sherpa and a simple pair of jeans. Far simpler than you’d seen him wear on stage.
“Y/N,” Maya put on her biggest, most professional smile, “I’d like to introduce Keigo Takami, or as he more commonly goes by on stage, Hawks. Keigo this is Y/N.”
“Ah good girl gone bad.” His smirk was infuriating. “So this is what I’m working with.”
He circled you, like a bird ready to strike its prey. Taking in every inch of you. Anger continued to rise in the pit of your stomach as he came to a halt. Putting his fingers to his chin in contemplation.
“Something to say?” You questioned, arms folded across your chest.
“Nah.” His fingers raked through his blonde locks “This’ll be fine. I always liked a challenge.” He gave you a wink.
Offended didn’t come close to how you felt about his comment. A challenge, not for you but for him. The bastard probably thinks you don’t have what it takes to succeed in a solo career.
“A challenge?” You rose from your seat to meet him head on, despite being a whole head shorter. “I’ll have you know I’m a fucking professional.”
“She’s got small dog syndrome too!” He nearly folded in half with laughter “Don’t worry, Maya, I’ll play nice with her.”
He knew all the right buttons to push to send you into a rage. Half moons formed on your palms as you exercised every ounce of self control you had. You wanted nothing more than to tell him where exactly he could shove his bullshit.
“Great!” Maya grabbed you by the arm “She will see you in the studio first thing tomorrow morning!” There was no mercy as she pulled you through the door, not giving you the chance for the final word.
The next morning came too fast for your liking. You arrived 15 minutes before your scheduled meeting time, canister of warm tea in hand, wishing it was coffee instead. You were no stranger to the ins and outs of taking care of your voice. It was your livelihood after all.
---------------------------
“Morning Chickadee”
You recoiled at the name, noticing Keigo standing in the doorway. Takeout coffee in hand. He sauntered in, throwing his jacket on the back of his chair before setting his coffee down on a nearby table. He pushed himself in his chair over to his soundboard, letting everything boot up.
“Do you need a minute to warm up or are you already ready for the main event?” He gave you a quick wink before diverting his attention back to his equipment. You couldn’t stop yourself from rolling your eyes.
“Like I said before, I’m a professional. I’m ready to start whenever you are”. You took your place in the soundbooth on the opposite end of the room. Slipping your headphones over your ears before checking to make sure your mic was on.
Take. After take. After take. He had a problem with everything.
“You’re too pitchy in the chorus”
“What the fuck is this breathy shit? Stop making it weird.”
“Are you even capable of being sexy?”
The last one bothered you the most.
“Stop being picky because you don’t fucking like me!” You ripped the headphones off before storming out of the booth “There was nothing wrong with that take!”
Keigo rolled his eyes, straightening himself out in his chair before removing his headphones. “You think I’m being picky? My fans will never buy whatever fake sexy shit you’re selling.”
“ Your fans?” The fangs were coming out now “Do you even have fans? All you do is stand behind a laptop and wave your arms around like an idiot.” DJs had no performance value in your mind. Sure, they could make a good track but they were worthless live.
“Yeah, my fans.” He didn’t seem phased at all. Even his body language exuded confidence. “This is my track, Sweetheart. You’re just the feature.”
Your muscles tensed as he said it. Maya had you convinced that this would be the last track on your album, something to really set you apart. You should have known this was a publicity stunt to gain you some of his fans. The room went silent. Hawks shook his head.
“Have you ever even seen a live set?” He rested his elbows on his knees, folding his hands to hold his chin “Not some prom shit. But an actual, full blown set at a club? I’m talking about mixing your own tracks to spinning.”
You scoffed “When would I have time? Some of us are trying to debut.”
“Tonight.”
Taking a step back, you narrowed your eyes. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m taking you to a set tonight. Consider it part of the creative process.”
He rose from his chair, tossing his jacket over his shoulder before walking out the door. A quick wave and a nod was all Hawks gave before he left the studio. You were dumbfounded.
A loud buzz came from your pocket revealing a text from an unknown number.
I’ll pick you up at 10. Wear something sexy. -Kei
---------------------------
At 9:55pm you stood outside the apartment. After spending hours trying to determine what was considered ‘club sexy’ you settled on a short black dress and the highest pair of heels you owned. Crisp night air filled your senses as you took in the city. It would have been peaceful if it weren’t for some douchebag pulling up to the curb in a sports car, flashing the lights like a strobe.
The window rolled down to reveal Keigo in a slim fit shirt and jeans. He let out a low whistle, his eyes trailing down before returning to your own. “You clean up nicely”
You rolled your eyes, walking to the passenger side and easing yourself into the car. The dress slipped up your thighs as you adjusted in the seat. Keigo made no attempt to hide his eyes drifting to your legs during the ride to Sky Parlor, Tokyo’s premier nightclub.
He was in his element. Bodies parted around him as he led you to the roped off center area of the club. The place was already full and from what Keigo said, the headliner had yet to perform. You nestled yourself into a corner of the booth, careful not to trip over the short table in front. Someone already dropped by to place a bucket full of ice along with a bottle of tequila onto the table.
Keigo popped the bottle open with ease, filling two shot glasses to the brim “What do you say we toast?” he shouted into your ear, barely coming across as a whisper muddled in all the noise “To a successful partnership?”
You grabbed the glass out of his hand, clinking it to his before shooting the liquid. The burn warmed up your insides as you grabbed the bottle to pour another “Better do two to be safe.”
You weren’t sure how much time had passed, but the bottle was half empty. There was now enough liquid courage running through your veins to let loose. It didn’t hurt that your girl group reputation wasn’t there to drag you down either. As much as you hated to admit it, the DJ was putting on a good show.
Your hips moved with the beat, hands running down your body before making their way up to the air. The atmosphere was intoxicating, your body moving in time to the bass. You hardly noticed when Keigo snaked his arms around you, allowing his hands to drift to your hips. He pulled you tight to his chest, his body moving in time with your rhythm.
If you were sober you might have put up more of a fight when he began to grind his hips into you, greedy for more contact. Your arms moved up to snake around his neck, bringing his face closer to your own. Keigo’s breath grazed the shell of your ear as you moved in sync, seeming to raise the temperature in the room by at least 10 degrees.
You turned to face him, allowing his knee between your legs as you continued to grind your hips into him. His eyes were lidded, lips barely parted open. Your fingers traced along his jawline, your lips parting to meet his.
Before you had time to process the music began to fade, the DJ picked up his mic to pass it over to the next artist.
“Thanks everybody! Hope you’re having a great time tonight!” The crowd cheered “We’ve got a really special guest here tonight. Rumor has it he’s going to let us preview a new track. Everyone welcome to the stage HAWKS!”
Keigo detangled himself from you at a speed you didn’t think possible, flashing a large smile to the crowd. Bouncers guided his way to the front stage, keeping him safe for all but the roaming hands of strangers. You slid into your seat, pouring yourself another shot of tequila to make up for your disappointment.
When Hawks took the stage he exuded energy. The hum of excited crowd chatter filled the club while he set up. “How’s everyone doing tonight?” His cheeky smile radiated under the harsh lights. The entire crowd erupted into cheers. You even managed to catch a few I love you’s and a Fucking marry me already!
Hawks winked at the crowd, blowing a kiss in the direction of the rogue comments. “I have a special treat, it’s a new track I’ve been working on off my new album.” He let out a laugh before continuing “This one’s dedicated to a special someone who thinks all I do is push play on my laptop”
The blood rushed to your face as the track started. Thankfully he decided not to drop a name or else his fans might have mauled you.
He was good, great even. Almost good enough to make you admit it. His energy on stage was contagious, waving his arms in the air causing the crowd to follow. You could see why he was #2 on the charts. Maybe Maya was onto something.
---------------------------
The night was a blur of stolen glances, tequila shots, and deafening music. Keigo, ever the gentleman, booked both of you an Uber back to his place. Something about ‘strike while the inspiration is hot’.
Keigo’s apartment was the penthouse of one of the tallest buildings in the city. The place was beautiful. Tall ceilings, windows open to the glow of the city night. Everything someone would expect from a successful artist.
“Follow me” Keigo motioned “I have a home studio. We should be able to get some work done in there.” He led you to a smaller room, crammed with every piece of recording equipment imaginable. “Start from line 17.”
Shimmying through a sea of tech, you made your way into the corner where a small mic was set up. No glass to separate you from the rest of the studio. Tequila still running through your veins, you began to wonder if now was the best time to record. Your words were probably slurring already.
The words came out like vomit. Completely unsexy. You caught Keigo’s eye and could already tell he was pissed. At least if he came home drunk to work he didn’t have to worry about opening his mouth.
“What the hell was that?” He asked, eyes narrowed. “Is that what you call sexy?” Keigo removed his headphones and leaned back into his chair. “Let’s try something. Seduce me.”
“I’m sorry, what?” arms folded across your chest.
“You heard me. If I don’t buy it, my fans won’t.” Fuck, the man didn’t shut up about his fans. You tentatively walked over to him, unsure how to fulfill his request. No one asked you to seduce them before. The man sitting before you looked unphased as you slid your hair to the side, exposing your neck. You ran your hands down your chest, moving down your thighs. You were too drunk for this shit.
Keigo laughed, “have you never seduced anyone before?” He rose from his chair, inching closer to you, like a predator fixated on his prey. “No bringing a boy band member home and hoping no one finds out?”
Your back was against the wall as he slammed his hand into the foam soundproofing, keeping you locked in place. “Trying to keep quiet so your roommates don’t hear you breaking the rules?” His breath was hot against your ear as he whispered “Don’t tell me you’re a virgin.”
Blood rushed to your face “Of course not!” you practically shouted “I’ve slept with multiple people.” Which was not any of his business. You weren’t sure why you blurted it out.
A smirk graced Keigo’s features. He was enjoying the rise he was getting out of you. His other hand pushed a strand of hair out of your face, succeeding in making you even more flustered. Your nerve endings were on fire, begging to be touched. Tequila swirling in your mind, encouraging you to give in.
“You’re supposed to be seducing me, not the other way around.” His breath caused goosebumps.
“Please just shut up.” You turned your head to avert your eyes, the blush still painfully apparent on your cheeks. Keigo grabbed your chin, pulling your eyes back to his.
“Only if you make me.”
Never one to back down from a challenge, you went for it. Grabbing a fistfull of his hair, you closed the distance between you. It didn’t take long for him to take the lead, his lips bruising your own. His teeth pulled on your lower lip, causing you to let out a small sigh. Keigo used the chance to grant his tongue entrance, fighting your own for dominance.
Limbs intertwined, your hands clenched the back of his shirt. Keigo’s mouth moved from your lips to the edge of your jaw, trailing lower as he kept your chin in place with his hand. His mouth continued to trail lower as he sucked on the sweet spot by your collar bone. A moan left your mouth, causing Keigo to bite down. Your nails dug into his back, eliciting a low growl from his throat. He grabbed a fistfull of your hair with his opposite hand, pulling to give himself easier access.
Your eyes closed as the room started to spin around you. It was euphoric. It was hard to tell whether it was the booze or the way his mouth moved across your skin, but it felt like heaven. Enough so that when he removed his mouth from your skin, the first feeling was disappointment.
“What?” your voice came out as a harsh whisper “Don’t stop.” You’d beg if you had to, not that you’d tell him that.
“Stop?” Keigo smirked “Baby, I’m just getting started.” In one swift movement he pulled the shirt off his head revealing his sculpted chest and adonis belt. If you were a lesser woman you might have actually drooled at the sight. Being a part of the entertainment industry you were well aware that taking care of your body was important, but it was clear that his was a labor of love.
“LIke what you see?” He smirked, signifying your staring hadn’t gone unnoticed. He was hot, sure, but he was still a cocky bastard. You rolled your eyes before pulling him back into another heated kiss, allowing him to lift your arms up before he pulled the hem of your dress up and over. Leaving you in your bra and the smallest pair of panties you owned.
“I’m nothing if not a gentleman, so ladies first.” Keigo kept eye contact as he dropped slowly to his knees, taking the strings of your panties down with him. Leaving you on display. Your core twitched in anticipation when you felt his hot breath on the inside of your thigh. Planting light kisses as he moved his way upward. He tossed your leg over his shoulder, unbalancing you for just a moment, for better access.
Your eyes rolled back as he lazily traced shapes onto your clit with his tongue. Back pressing further into the wall to arch yourself into him, you grabbed a fistful of his hair. Desperate for something to hold on to. He alternated between fast and slow, short and long before using his fingers to tease at your entrance.
“Damn Baby, are you already this wet for me?” He pulled away if only for a moment, his index finger pushing past your lips into your core.
“Fuck Kei.” You groaned as your head arched back, “Do you get off on hearing yourself talk?” It was your current opinion that there were other things you would rather his mouth do. You felt him smile into your folds, slipping a second finger into your wet pussy. The new sensation filling you up from the inside, making you feel like you could crack at any moment.
Heat continued to build inside you as Keigo’s pace quickened. Curling his fingers into a spot none of your previous lovers had even tried to find all while keeping pace with his tongue. It didn’t take long for you to boil over, moaning out his name. Keigo removed his fingers as he rose to meet you, lips crashing into yours allowing you to taste yourself. His fingers quickly moved, fumbling against the clasp of your bra, clear that the tequila still had a hold on him as well.
Fabric fell to the floor as he grabbed your breast in his hand, playing with your nipple while he took the other breast in his mouth. Tongue flicking and sucking until you reached a stiff peak. Your hands made their way down to his belt, trying to ignore the sensation enough to concentrate on the buckle. Clear that you were struggling, Keigo removed himself from you to unbutton and throw down his pants at an almost inhuman speed.
Even his dick was magnificent. The brief thought passed your mind of how many other people he brought back to his penthouse after a recording session. Drunk and ready to make bad decisions.
His hands grabbed onto your ass, giving it a squeeze before hoisting you into the air and back down onto his hips. You could already feel his rock hard erection teasing at you. Keigo pushed your back into the wall, causing a small gasp of air to leave your lips. He positioned himself so he was at your entrance. His head grazing your lips before thrusting himself inside, your sufficiently soaked pussy allowing him to bury himself in one motion.
Keigo let out a moan, his forehead resting on yours briefly as he let himself acclimate to just how tight you were. It was difficult to describe just how full and amazing he felt inside you. Your breathing picked up as he slowly began to thrust in and out.
The small ‘oh’s’ and ‘ ah’s’ from your mouth filled the room, mixing with the sound of skin slapping on skin. Keigo’s mouth returned to your collarbone as he picked up his pace, nearly removing himself from your cunt before pushing himself back in, almost punching you in the cervix. Every vein felt like it was made to please you, sending your nerves into a frenzy.
“Holy fuck you feel good.” His breathing matched your own, rough and uneven. Enough to send shivers down your spine. Your head arched back, enjoying the sensation of his cock while he adjusted himself to put your nipple in his mouth. Nails traced thin white lines down his back, lightly breaking the tattooed skin.
The building sensation was quickly becoming overwhelming. Your mind unable to focus on your surroundings, only your impending release. “Oh Fuck, Kei. I’m gonna cum.” You grabbed a fistful of his hair, your other hand gripping onto his shoulder. Your words causing him to go feral, his pace increasing exponentially as he gripped harder into your thighs. His fingertips sure to leave bruises. He brought his mouth back up to yours, his tongue thrashing with your own in a sloppy kiss.
The bundle of nerves inside you, that kept winding tighter and tighter exploded. You gripped harder as the wave of sensation washed over you, continuing to hold on as Keigo reached his own release, emptying himself inside of you. You rested your forehead against his, enjoying the moment of bliss before he pulled out.
“So..” Keigo smiled “Think you’re ready to record a number one single?”
#boku no hero academia#my hero academia#hawks#keigo takami#keigo takami x reader#hawks x reader#music industry au#bnha#mha#smut#hawks smut#boku no hero fanfic#Dj! Hawks
355 notes
·
View notes
Text
youtube
My Top 10 Favorite K-Pop Boy Groups Of All Time
Hello, everyone, here are my top 10 favorite K-Pop boy groups of all time.
#My Top 10 Favorite K-Pop Boy Groups Of All Time#top 10 favorite k-pop boy groups#k-pop boy groups#k-pop#boy groups#may 2023#2023 release#average kpopper mideko#anything kpop#Youtube
1 note
·
View note
Text
[📰] 20 Questions With P1Harmony: K-Pop Rookies on the High Energy of 'Disharmony: Break Out' Mini-Album
By Heran Mamo
Plus: See a full, translated video interview with the sextet exclusively on Billboard.
P1Harmony explore a wide range of topics and genres on their high-intensity mini-album Disharmony: Break Out, which was released April 20 as the follow-up to their first EP, Disharmony: Stand Out.
Named one of the rookie K-pop groups to watch in 2021 by Time, members Keeho, Theo, Jiung, Intak, Soul and Jongseob had a unique experience stepping into the spotlight for the first time: The sextet debuted in the Korean film P1H: The Beginning of a New World on Oct. 8, 2020, before releasing their debut EP, Disharmony: Stand Out, on Oct. 28. Starring in a film prior to releasing their own music allowed P1Harmony to be more comfortable and confident enhancing their choreography (their Billie Eilish medley choreography has amassed more than 1 million YouTube views) and even coming up with their own music video concepts.
To commemorate the release of Disharmony: Break Out, the members of P1Harmony answered Billboard’s 20 questions about how Korea shaped who they are, how their evolving sound shines through on their latest mini-album, and the meanings they've taken away from this project as well as what they hope their fans will too.
1. What’s the first piece of music that you bought for yourself, and what was the medium?
Keeho: 5 Seconds of Summer, CD
Theo: BIGBANG’s MADE, CD
Jiung: Lee Moon Sae, cassette tape
Intak: Teen Top's "Miss Right," mp3
Soul: G-Dragon, CD
Jongseob: B.A.P’s "1004," CD
2. What was the first concert you saw?
Keeho: Ariana Grande’s The Listening Session
Theo: BIGBANG’s MADE Concert
Jiung: Lee Sun Hee’s Concert
Intak: Open Concert by KBS when I was 7!
Soul: Teen Top’s Japan Concert
Jongseob: B.A.P Concert
3. What did your parents do for a living when you were a kid?
Keeho: [My mom] used to do work related to music, she was a musician. My dad used to work at a university as a counselor.
Theo: My mom is a hairstylist.
Jiung: My mom used to be a banker and my dad used to work at National Tax Service.
Intak: My mom is a [yoga] trainer or coach and my dad is a businessman.
Soul: I’m not sure.
Jongseob: My mom used to be a jazz dancer as well as an instructor and my dad used to work at National Dance Company of Korea.
4. Who made you realize you could be an artist full-time?
Keeho: Myself and acquaintances
Theo: Myself
Jiung: My rap and my vocal coach
Intak: My parents. They gave me full support, as well as the confidence to be able to pursue my dream.
Soul: Teen Top
Jongseob: B.A.P and my parents
5. What’s at the top of your professional bucket list?
Keeho: The Grammys!
Theo: Our own world tour!
Jiung: To perform in front of a million people
Intak: To become a respected musician
Soul: To perform at a big music festival or a stadium, like Coachella
Jongseob: To perform until I can’t
6. How did your hometown/city shape who you are?
Keeho: It’s a place where I was able to gain my own confidence and learn the importance of being friendly [manners]. It’s also where I was able to experience a wide range of vocalists and their styles, which ultimately helped me shape and find my own vocal style.
Theo: It’s a place where I was able to live without any pressure or concerns.
Jiung: For me, my hometown is currently a place where I can find mental stability and state of relaxation. I reminiscence about my hometown quite frequently when I need to recoup and find mental stability.
Intak: I was raised in the rural part of Korea, so I was always close to nature and grew up playing in the valleys or riding gunny sacks in the mountains. I think that’s what helped me be at leisure.
Soul: It’s a place where I grew up without any hardships.
Jongseob: It was one of the most comfortable places in Korea with positive vibes and clean, refreshing air, which helped me find peace and ease.
7. What’s the last song you listened to?
Keeho: Ariana Grande’s "POV"
Theo: P1Harmony’s "End It"
Jiung: DPR IAN’s MITO
Soul: P1Harmony’s "Reset"
Jongseob: Penomeco’s Dry Flower
8. What’s your karaoke go-to?
Keeho: Alicia Keys, "If I Ain't Got You"
Theo: BIGBANG’s "BANG BANG BANG"
Intak: Bobby’s "YGGR"
Soul: I don’t go to karaoke haha
Jongseob: Beenzino’s "Dali, Van, Picasso"
9. If you could see any artist in concert, dead or alive, who would it be?
Keeho: Beyoncé
Theo: G-Dragon and Huh Gak
Jiung: Lee Sun Hee
Intak: Michael Jackson
Soul: Beyoncé
Jongseob: Post Malone
10. How has the pandemic affected your creative process?
Keeho: My source of inspiration has become very limited, as I don’t get to go to new places or meet new people.
Theo: I think because I couldn’t really go out, I was able to focus more on my craft.
Jiung: I was able to really dig deep into my work, writing lyrics and composing.
Intak: I didn't have a lot of ideas, but I also thought writing about COVID-19 could be a source of new ideas.
Soul: It was hard because I couldn’t really go to places that would usually help me get inspiration.
Jongseob: It was a bit difficult because I lacked having new experiences and meeting new people. My source of inspiration was also very limited, because I would just go to the same places.
11. How did starring in the film P1H: The Beginning of a New World prepare you for your debut as a K-pop boy band?
Keeho: I think it was a good opportunity for me to learn how to be more comfortable in front of the cameras.
Theo: I was able to gain confidence and felt a sense of pride knowing that we were the first ones to debut in a unique way with a full-length movie.
Jiung: I think it was a unique way of introducing us to the world and gave us the opportunity to learn how to be more focused and theatrical onstage.
Soul: It was a great experience, because it allowed me to learn the basic manners of the industry and the importance of staff members.
Jongseob: I think it helped us build a strong storyline and composition for our music. It will be easier to understand our music and its message if you watch the movie.
12. What do you want fans to take away from your mini-album Disharmony: Break Out?
Keeho: I believe it would depend and vary on how you interpret it, but we hope our listeners really enjoy our music.
Theo: I hope our fans and listeners gain confidence through our music, which is one of our strongest messages.
Jiung: I would like for our fans P1ece to really understand, take and gain everything from what we are trying to deliver in our message.
Intak: I would like for our fans to find the courage to speak up and have their own voice.
Soul: I just want our fans to be happy when they're listening to our music!
Jongseob: I think it depends on who is listening, but I hope our fans can take away anything and everything they can in a positive way and earn confidence as well.
13. Which song from Disharmony: Break Out is the most meaningful to you and why?
Keeho: I think it’s "If You Call Me" because it's a song that all six of us worked on together
Theo: I would like to pick "Reset," because I did so well in the studio while recording this song, so it means a lot to me.
Jiung: I’d say "Pyramid" because the lyrics "I’m on the top of the pyramid" helps me feel like I’m really the best and makes me want to live by that mindset. It definitely has become one of my favorite tracks.
Intak: I would pick "If You Call Me" for the same reason Keeho picked it. It’s a meaningful song to me because we all worked on it together as a team.
Soul: I think every single track on the album has a special meaning for me and because it’s all our songs, it’s a super difficult question to answer.
Jongseob: I think for me, our title track "Scared" is the most meaningful. The message of the song, which is not to be afraid to voice your own opinions and to live the life you want to live, is what I strongly believe in and that’s the kind of attitude I want to have.
14. Your debut EP Disharmony: Stand Out is much more hip-hop leaning, while your second features more R&B harmonies and EDM production while still refining the rap verses. What made you want to switch up your sound in only a manner of six months?
Keeho: I think we wanted to really make sure our message is being delivered clearly and strongly, so I think that’s why we picked tracks that were as strong with aggressive sounds.
Jiung: I don’t think we had a special moment or particular reason as to why we decided to do what. We just wanted to portray our feelings and thoughts that we felt at that moment while making music, and the time that we spent in between our albums, is what probably contributed to the change of sound as well.
Intak: As Keeho mentioned, I think we wanted to stand out a bit more with more clarity and distinct characteristics, which is what drove the aggressiveness and the slight change of sounds for this album.
15. Since you help choreograph and conceptualize your videos, what do you hope to convey in the accompanying visuals for Disharmony: Break Out?
Keeho: As you can see in our choreography for "Scared," we incorporated football into our routine. Football is a sport that is very aggressive and requires a lot of energy so we thought it was a good fit with our song. With these specific key points, we tried to really emphasize our message as well as our energy.
Jiung: I think our choreography, stage outfits, and concept all adds up and helps level up the intensity of the song as well as the message that we want to deliver. Our music video and choreography really turned out well, so I hope our fans appreciate and enjoy it!
16. Which artist is on your bucket list to collaborate with?
Keeho: Ariana Grande
Theo: BIGBANG, Taeyang, G.Soul, Dean
Jiung: Ty Dolla $ign
Intak: Justin Timberlake, A$AP Rocky
Soul: Les Twins
Jongseob: Penomeco, Smino
17. What’s one thing that even your most devoted fans don’t know about you?
Keeho: I really don’t like long nails. I just can’t stand it, so I tend to always keep my nails short.
Theo: I don’t really sweat. I don’t think I sweat at all.
Jiung: I have a habit of chewing the inside of my mouth, unintentionally.
Intak: My lips are naturally moisturized so I don’t need to use a lip balm to make them glossy!
Soul: I have dermographism, so even the slightest irritation like a scratch will leave a mark/scar for a while.
Jongseob: I have a slim waist and biggest feet of all members.
18. What movie, or song, always makes you cry?
Keeho: I don’t really cry, so I don’t think there’s a movie that ever made me cry.
Theo: The Korean movie Miracle in Cell No. 7 makes me cry every single time I watch it.
Jiung: Korean traditional children’s song "Daddy Cheer Up" makes me tear up.
Intak: I have a couple, but if I had to just pick one, it’d be the movie Forrest Gump.
Soul: I don’t cry like Keeho so I have never cried watching something and I just don’t like to watch sad movies.
Jongseob: "Falling Slowly"
19. What’s one piece of advice you would give to your pre-debut self?
Keeho: Don’t worry too much and work harder.
Theo: Think 100 times before acting on it.
Jiung: Are you truly sincere?
Intak: Enjoy life a bit more.
Soul: Be more emotionally stable.
Jongseob: It's never too late.
20. What does a successful 2021 look like for you?
Keeho: I hope to release as much music as we can!
Theo: I wish we can make at least 3 comebacks.
Jiung: I hope to gain more emotional peace and stability.
Intak: "Rookie of the Year" award!
Soul: There’s a necklace I really want to buy and I hope to buy it by the end of this year!
16 notes
·
View notes
Text
Secret Radio | 7.24.21, 8.7.21 & etc.
“Better, Better, Back” Secret Radio | 7.24.21, 8.7.21 & etc. | Hear it here.
- Mort Garson - “Plantasia”
1. Jean-Pierre Djeukam - “Africa Iyo” - “Cameroon Garage Funk”
The main musician I think of from Cameroon is Beti-Beti, and this is a whole different thing. Endless props to Analog Africa for providing fiery track after track. This is the sweat from their newest collection!
2. Eyedress - “Jealous”
Paige hears something in this and when I unfocus my eyes I do too. (Literal?) high school skate kids gettin in their shallow feels. I will admit that the chorus “time-time” is killer.
3. Nahid Akthar & Tafo - “Takra We Gutt Bhar Le” (I think)
Nahid Akthar’s voice is so completely bewitching that the amazing arrangements almost sneak by. Tafo is the producer of this track I believe, and the narrative structure of the music is just so confident and encompassing. But then also: man, that VOICE. She’s right up there with Ros Serey Sothea in expressiveness and character.
4. Oruã - “Escola das Roas” - “Sem Bênção / Sem Crença”
My thanks to you, Marc, for pointing this band to us. I have fallen in love with this particular recording, it just gets more thoroughly better with every listen. Calvin Johnson mentioned this band in a recent K newsletter — they’re a Brazilian band who corresponded with Doug Martsch as mutual fans until at some point Doug decided his own band needed replacing and he brought them out as Built to Spill and also as Oruã. This track also has shades of Sonic Youth’s “Master-Dik,” one of my all-time ultra faves. It really hits me in the ’90s, and I rilly want to see how some of this music is performed live.
5. Jacques Dutronc - “Le Responsable”
I’m so thankful to have Jacques Dutronc in my life. His rock songs knock me into gear like nothing else — and the whole band has its own very specific flavor. It kicks!
6. Sleepy Kitty - “Alceste in Silverlake”
At very long last, there is a new Sleepy Kitty album on the way! It’s in line at the record plant as I type this. And this is a song from the perspective of a musician-seeking drummer in LA, crossed with the most brutally honest man in all of France.
7. Sakuran Zensen - “錯乱前戦 ロッキンロール” (I Wanna Rock & Roll)
We only knew one song by this band (that we’ve played here) because the video was rad, but I looked to see what else was there and this song is just freakin great with me. The chords are really cool and his vocal delivery is just so over the top it’s impossible not to love. And the guitar solo is basically a full-on tonefest, which I appreciate more than a bunch of flying fingers. The video helps fill in the picture nicely too, I think, though I like the song while not looking at it even more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPCqT3e89SU
- Mort Garson - “Concerto for Philodendron & Pothos”
8. Clothilde - “Fallait pas ècraser la queue du chat”
All hail the French instinct for chamber music instruments as pop instruments, and then as a kind of technicolor weirdness. The orchestration of this song is a work of art in itself, and that doesn’t even account for her self-harmonizing melody. If you haven’t already, picture a brunette bob and deep mascara.
9. Public Service Broadcasting - “Spitfire”
I can’t remember now how I found this music, though I think it might’ve been from Josh’s playlist? This is from 2012, but they have a new album coming out almost exactly a month from now. In Bound Stems Tim and I got really into interlacing snatches of other people’s words into the music we were making, and this is very congruent with that interest. I feel like this song passes tests as it goes.
10. Shocking Blue - “Send Me a Postcard”
I first heard of this band when I was learning everything I could about Nirvana, and I’d heard both versions of “Love Buzz” and knew they were both great, but we only recently caught this track. It’s the bridge between “White Rabbit” and “Territorial Pissings.”
11. Metak - “Tetrapak”
Our favorite Croatian band! Everything about this song is delightful. I feel like if this song was in English I’d probably cringe at the lyrics, but in this format I can only hear how much fun the song is to play. I am one-quarter Croatian, which means I can’t understand any of the lyrics either but I do see little ghosts of myself in the pictures of the band somehow. It’s weird.
12. Katerine - “Louxor J’adore”
-Anything I could say about this song is eclipsed by this excerpt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD7QuV6f_MA
The performance to the cemetery knocks me out
13. Erkin Koray - “Seni Her Gördügümde”
Whenever we’re listening to Anatolian psych, the songs with the most creative ideas and satisfying riffs and great vocal passages are always Erkin Koray. The four-piece arrangements are so good, and then he doesn’t hesitate to step up with his guitar to narrate a passage. Also, I really like how Turkish rock sounds so Indian and also Arabic and also French.
14. WITCH - “Chifundo”
Zambian prog rock! I haven’t heard anything like this track anywhere else in Africa yet. The thing is, this version of prog includes the exact flavor that Yes totally lacks, and thus I really love listening to this track in a way most prog rock doesn’t hit me. The time switches and the lead part over the top are just so smooth!
15. Ezra Furman - “Psalm 151”
We’ve been listening to a lot of Ezra Furman’s music lately, and it’s only getting better and more engrossing with every listen. We toured with Ezra Furman’s band about 5 years ago and every night was a pleasure. They’re finishing up a new album, which makes this a great time to listen to the others. This entire album, “Transangelic Exodus,” is a masterpiece as far as we’re concerned, and I find myself thinking the whole time too about Tim Sandusky’s production. Tim’s such a home town for us, and to hear his full attention on this album is just such a pleasure.
16. Ralph Stanley - “White Light, White Heat”
It was one of my favorite musical influence moments ever when my dad’s bluegrass band, The Prozac Mtn Boys, played VU’s “What Goes On.” Knowing that there is a recording of one of my dad’s true banjo heroes playing “White Light White Heat” is just an endless blessing. And actually hearing it is even better.
17. Kim Jung Mi - “Ganadaramabasa”
I know basically nothing about this track except that she’s Korean and this is from 1973. She’s got a real Diana Ross thing going on, and her band has a real Supremes vibe too… but it doesn’t sound like one of their songs.
18. Penny Penny - “Yogo Yogo”
We just got this record recently, and based on this track I wouldn’t’ve necessarily pictured the remarkable-looking guy who actually made this music. This is from the album “Shaka Bundu.” I’m sure it’s been cranked up and sent through some great house remixes — how could this not be? — but I like how this tempo operates at its own pace. It’s so truly and thoroughly ’80s, very 20th century. In the 21st century this tempo is practically cerebral.
19. Baris Manço - “Binboganin Kizi”
More Anatolian action. It’s really interesting to me how Turkish stuff was always associated with psych music but I didn’t really know how except for the opium thing, and I now understand that it’s in the chord relationships, well, and a lot of the vocal melody and delivery. In that way, Turkish rock pretty much defines what psych music sounds like. Wow. And check out that keyboard solo, so next level!
20. The Velvet Underground - “Countess from Hong Kong”
People are always asking Beatles or Stones and the answer is Velvet Underground. (And the Beatles, and the Stones.) They were just operating along a different balance beam than those other guys — performing different tricks for a different audience. While the Beatles were defining pop music, the VU were destroying it… but then later, they reveal their deep affinity for Western music, even as they never drop in to the blues-centric reading of it. It’s truly punk. I guess they are to punk what the Beatles are to pop — the definition of pop is whatever flows to or from the Beatles; punk is whatever flows to or from the Velvet Underground. Certainly more than any single band in 1976 or 7 or whatever.
21. Bella Bellow - “Denyigban”
The piano phrase that kicks this song off is surprisingly close to the opening of Bound Stems’ “Appreciation Night.” We got that phrase from the demo mode of Radz’s keyboard, and it’s surreal to hear a high-overlap version in a song from Togo. Her voice is so clean in tone and pitch, and what’s strangest to me is that I register the instrumentation in an almost Disney mode — but then realize that’s because Disney will draw on Caribbean and African elements at times as they establish characters and settings. Such an elegant song though!
22. Rail Band - “Mouodilo”
One of the first insights that got us into WBFF was the realization that James Brown had even more fundamental influence on the music of the world than the Beatles did — certainly in Africa. Hearing how his delivery interrelates with so many bands from all across Africa is such a revelation. This track just keeps winding around you til you can’t hardly live without it.
- Asha Bhosle - “Salma Jarir Jhalak”
All I know about this is that it’s in Bangla and it’s from a movie.
23. Unknown - “Chemirocha” - from “Love Is Love”
Several years ago, when African records looked interesting but we literally didn’t know anything about them, we bought a record called Love Is Love, in part because it was a beautiful cover and in part because the music seemed mysterious and full of possibility. Now, when I go to look for it online, I see no sign — I think it’s just a really small pressing from a… pirate group, I guess one could say? But really I think just hardcore music lovers. Anyway, it has this song “Chemirocha” on it, and there’s a story about this song that is really probably just best to link to because it’s so amazing. I guarantee you will find the information in this article worth your read:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/chemirocha-how-an-american-country-singer-became-a-kenyan-star
24. Sparks - “Do-Re-Mi”
We’ve known about Sparks, but we’re late to a close listen. We’ve been listening a lot in anticipation of — not the band bio pic but “Annette,” the new film by Carax, one of our favorite directors ever. For that matter: make sure to watch “Holy Motors” by Carax. It’s probably best if you watch “Lovers on a Bridge” before that, but if you have to go straight to “Holy Motors,” dive right in. It’s amazing.
Meanwhile: This take on the Mary Poppins classic is TOO MUCH — I can’t stop smiling at the end, when the bells start tolling over the crashing drums and crescendoing vocal waves as their third finale fades away. How can anyone make this song, the very definition of not-rock, rock so fully?
- Mort Garson - “Ode to an African Violet”
25. Bob Reuter’s Alley Ghost - “She Brought Me to the Wire”
I will forever be glad that we not only landed in a city where we could find out about the person and the works of Bob Reuter, but that we got to know and work with him. Bob Reuter was one of the definitions of St. Louis to us, and when he passed, so did some of that city. But also, he left music and photos and stories in Eleven and chapbooks that I truly hope last forever. He was the hard-living romantic that you hope lives in the heart of every hard-luck case… and in his one instance, it was true. Bless your soul, Bob Reuter.
photos by Bob Reuter from The Pageant and El Leñador
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
Another old article saved in a Word document, which I can only find behind a paywall now (but I linked it in case someone does have access to a subscription)
Green Day Rising
Metal Mike Saunders, Bam, 28 January 1994
Popcore Ascending? Or Is That Just The First Phase Of 'The Greatest Band In America'?
'We were down in Irvine and Mike was having a pillow fight outside with his girlfriend. He was running away from her, and at the top of his stride he turned around, right into a horizontal beam five feet off the ground – Vhoom...Out cold. So that suggested the concept of ...misery.'– Billie Joe
WHERE IT all it the brick wall for me personally was 11th grade carpool. Four high school boys jammed into a VW bug, or worse, with the AM radio on for about 20 minutes en route to Hall High, Little Rock.
It was the season of the great Bubblegum Wars, that pint in time where the underground FM vs. plastic AM trench wars had reached the point of no return. Kids vs. pigs, rednecks vs. longhairs. Combat was the order of the day, even in music.
In the fall of 1968, the musical lightning rod was 'Chewy Chewy' by the Ohio Express: 'Turn it off' and 'Turn it down' were the majority opinions. I was for sure the only one going 'Turn it up!' The same routine was repeated just a few weeks later with the Archies and the 1910 Fruitgum Co. (the later with the classic top-five hit 'Indian Giver'), and it seems like ever since that point in time 'pop' has been a derogatory term. Something less than…what? 'Rock'?
What does this have to do with Green Day? Well, it’s like this: There’s this real lame tag – 'popcore' (say it once and erase it forever, pul LEEZE) that was kicking around for a while last year and was affixed to the East Bay trio’s style of music. Aw, hell, they’re just a great rock band.
If Santa came and went recently and there’s still no Green Day in your house, here’s a shopping list: 39 Smooth (Lookout!), Kerplunk (Lookout!), and Dookie (Warner Bros./Reprise). Forty-eight killer tracks by this country’s greatest band and, considering that only in the preceding 12 months did its members start to hit drinking age, possibly just the beginning of what could turn out to be an amazing career.
Proof is no farther away than the band’s new album, Dookie, its first for a major label, but proceeded by two LPs and three 7-inch EPs on Berkeley’s Lookout! Records.
Anyone who’s seen the threesome knows they can play like gangbusters; the difference between a tiny indie-label budget (try about $3000 for all 34 Lookout! Tracks combined) and a major-league endeavor is that for the first time you get proof 10 times over on tape. So you get raging guitar sounds and cracking snare rimshots that explode like the early who. Even the band’s chronic shortcoming – weedy studio vocals – has been corrected to an encouraging degree.
"Yeah," volunteers 21-year-old lead singer/guitarist Billie Joe, "for my vocals we used a Beyer microphone, which was used on some of the early Elvis Costello stuff. I’m really happy with the way it came out."
The entire album is a veritable role model for any guitar-heavy rock band. Says producer Rob Cavallo: "In the case of a raw, live-sounding record like this one, what I try to do is capture on the listener’s speakers the whole left-to-right stereo spread – what we heard in preproduction, listening to the band blast away in their practice room. The key to this, in Green Day’s case, is that they have such a focused idea as to what they sound like, and they’re great players in that style."
Specific elements of Dookie’s production style include a live rhythm guitar on every song, singletracked lead vocals only, and all vocal harmonies done by the second-stage voice, 20-year-old bassist Mike Dirnt.
Warner Bros.’ hands-off role, a characteristic of the company in the wake of its Mudhoney "creative control"-type underground signings, was crucial in shaping such a record. "Warner Bros. stayed out of the way and let us do exactly what we wanted to," says 21-year-old drummer Tre Cool. "All I can say is if you can get on Warners, you are one lucky son of a gun!"
The inclination to make a guitar-heavy record was present from the get-go. "I definitely wanted to get a bigger sound," recalls Billie Joe, "something with more meat to it." Which is achieved, in parts thanks to a borrowed vintage 1972 Marshall head hooked up to the same blue Stratocaster Billie Joe’s been battering since he was 11.
The wall of guitar sound was achieved with a live track and just one more rhythm guitar dropped in. "We had experimented a bit on previous records, stacking guitar tracks to try to get a thicker sound," recalls Billie Joe. "But this time with just the two rhythm guitars; we got a better distorted sound."
Like any other trademark-sound band, it’s the deviations on the record that are most interesting. We’ve got three here: 'Pulling Teeth,' 'When I Come Around,' and the album’s first single, 'Longview,' 'Pulling Teeth' leaps out of the album like a K-Tel cut buried in a techno set; it’s the tune Dave Edmunds never had to break his career Stateside. Tight harmony vocals frame a straight guitar-heavy country-rock melody with a conciseness worthy of the masters. Not one wasted word or second.
"We were down in Irvine," recalls Billie Joe of the song’s lyrical genesis, "and Mike was having a pillow fight outside with his girlfriend. He was running away from her, and at the top of this stride he turned ground – vhoom…Out cold. So that suggested the concept of…misery."
'Longview' hits a whole opposite style. It’s something you might imagine as a late’70s FM track, with a loping dumbo beat ("a rumble," suggests Dirnt) not too far off Tom Petty’s 'Breakdown', Lyrics about nothing, really-killing time, punching the cable remote, getting high. A two-chord riff to nowhere, then a basic garden-variety three-chord chorus. The trick is that the whole darn song is a hook. Simultaneously the dumbest and catchiest Van Halen guitar licks panning across the speakers.
"In a way, that song was cheap self-therapy for watching too much TV," recalls Billie Joe. "It was another case of writing about whatever mood I’m in."
Especially near to my heart (I’m from the South, y’all ) is 'When I Come Around,' an unintentional dead-on-evocation of Lynyrd Skynyrd at its top-40 hookiest. With a lazy turnaround beat like 'Sweet Home Alabama', it’s just about five degrees westward of the slightly ‘70s ballads 'Christie Road' and 'No One Knows' from the earlier Kerplunk album.
"On that one, we weren’t thinking country rock, but rather something that had a groove to it, almost like you could imagine having a martini and listening to it at the same time," explains Dirnt.
See, 80 percent of Dookie is in the trademark Green Day raging pop-punk. It’s this deviant 20 percent that makes one suspect they can pull off almost anything they want out of the trash-dump of earlier under appreciated rock styles. A mainstream audience could forge a very, very interesting alliance with this group.
Of the trademark pop-punk onslaught, averaging an airtight two minutes, 30 seconds apiece, 'Basket Case' and 'Sassafras Roots' are two of the strongest numbers. 'Basket Case' was about a friend who’s pretty loopy,' explains Billie Joe, 'but a bit about myself as well – like seeing your own trails in other people where it’s been taken to a total extreme. There are a lot more songs on this record that are about other people’s experiences, even though I might still be singing in the first person.'
The recording of Dookie went fairly fast by industry standards, the music and vocals finished last summer in three and a half weeks (at Berkeley’s Fantasy Studios), followed by an initial mix. The band then headed out on 40-date fall tour with the veteran LA punk band Bad Religion, which enabled them to come back to the project with a clean set of ears. The entire album was remixed with engineering whiz Jerry, Finn who paid special attention to the record’s amazing bottom end. At that point, the band’s 'creative input' reached its most extreme.
"We all three sat there for 10 days straight, 15 hours a day, and listened to every minute of the remixing sessions," recalls Tre Cool. Which is just short of four working-Joe (like me) work weeks without a day off.
Dookie is one of the rawest melodically oriented rock records to show up on a major label in the last zillion years. Usually when bands go from an indie to a major label, the result is a slicker product.
"When I listen to bad rock music occasionally, I just wind up going, ‘What the hell were these guys thinking of?" agrees Billie Joe.
I speculate that there have now been entire generations’ worth of bad drum sounds committed to record. "Huge room sounds on the drum with shitloads of reverb," responds Dirnit. "Flanged drum rolls," adds Billie Joe.
My favorite, rolls across the chromatic-tuned rototoms, comes in a close second.
While most bands with almost 50 tracks into their recording career hit the point of labored songwriting (that old saw about a band’s first album being its best), that hasn’t been the case with Green Day. "Actually, I think I was more comfortable with my songwriting on this record than I ever was before," insists Billie Joe. "I had a real good handle on what kind of melodies and hooks I wanted to come up with. Didn’t rush myself, just let them come out naturally. It was the previous time out, on the songs on Kerplunk, that I was consciously trying to outdo my previous songs."
The variation from Green Day’s uptempo style, now comprising a good one-quarter of the band’s most recent two albums, will continue. "We definitely are going to continue to expand the scope of our material; we don’t want to get into a rut where we rewrite Kerplunk or Dockie over again," explains Billie Joe. "There’s a lot of musical tastes that run through this band."
I did my homework on the band’s "song-about-girls" label (a tag, Dirnt complains, 'we got caught up in') going back to January 1992’s Kerplunk and assigning topics to each song. The tally was girls, four; mortality/meaning of life, three; neurosis/insanity, one; one novelty song; and alienation, motivation, and coming of age, one apiece. Dookie is more of the same, with topics ranging all over the map, the median perhaps being the pissed-off frame of mind of 'Chump' and 'F.O.D.' The girl-songs ratio is down around 30 percent.
The "girl-songs" tag must have sprung from what was the band’s classic 1990 debut, 39 Smooth, written and sung by Billie Joe and Dirnt at the ripe old ages of 17 and 16. A good 70 percent of the album’s songs related to the opposite sex, with the lead off track, 'At the Library', ranking as perhaps the best song ever written by a high-schooler.
One facet of a Green Day performance that’s impossible to capture on paper is the continuous bantering and riposting between the band and the crowd, much of it hysterical.
"It’s all part of making our audience feel like they’re at home, communicating on an eye-label basis," offers Billie Joe.
"See, before a show we’re usually making fun of each other – making a mess by playing baseball with apples or whatever, meeting new people who are funny and have jokes we haven’t heard – so we’re totally stoked by the time we get onstage," elaborates Tre.
It’s safe to say that after two trips to Europe, half a dozen ('at least') full American tours, and over four years of nonstop gigging, performance anxiety does not figure into this band’s equation. "We never have a list, we just make it up as we go," explains Tre.
I offer my theory that no matter how many fans a band has, there are five times as many people who think they stink, and 10 times as many who don’t care.
"I would see it as three different sections: the people who really like you, the people who really hate you, and the vast majority who are totally oblivious," muses Billie Joe.
The vast size of the record industry contributes to making yesterday’s barely gold act today’s 'Who?' (think Britny Fox, Vixen, and a half-dozen gold Loverboy albums). Indeed, if everyone who ever made fun of Motley Crue videos were assembled in one place, we would surely fill the Oakland Coliseum.
Speaking of videos, the world doesn’t faze our subjects – not yet anyway. "We’ve never done a video. They’ve got us scheduled to do one, so for now we think videos are cool," laughs Tre.
"We’re probably shooting the video in our house," adds Billie Joe, the "house" being what appears to be a subterranean Berkeley abode, complete with a tiny band-practice room; it’s not squalid, it’s absolutely slacker). "So…we figure our video concept will be kind of ‘Looks That Kill’ meets ‘Hot for Teachers’ meets 'Rock You Like a Hurricane'," quips Dirnt.
Given the absolutely superb quality of the band’s Warner Bros. debut, the only mystery is that a major label bidding war on Green Day took so long to materialize.
"Warner Bros. was the label initially considering the band," recounts band co-manager Jeff Saltzman. "But it was when Geffen and Sony/CBS jumped in with serious interest that Warners got serious about picking up the band."
Green Day never would have gotten so much done so fast, however, without the astute ears of Lookout! Records’ president and perpetual talent scout, Larry Livermore, who sent the band into the studio two months after first seeing the trio to record an EP called 1000 Hours, which was followed by the 39 Smooth album, which was recorded at the end of 1989 for less than $500.
"I knew Al Sobrante (Green Day’s drummer through mid-1990) from Isocracy, so I knew about his new band, Sweet Children [renamed Green Day six months later]," recalls Livermore. "My band, the Lookouts, were playing a house party up in Mendocino County, February 1989, so I invited Al’s band up to play also. I was so impressed with the band and their attitude, playing just in front of 15 people, that I hooked up with them immediately to record for Lookout! I never had any doubt about their potential, musically. I thought they were great the first time I saw them."
© Metal Mike Saunders, 1994
#all typos are in the article i'm pretty sure#the origin story of pulling teeth never gets old#but also who has a pillow fight OUTSIDE???#billie talking about outdoing himself even on KERPLUNK#our poor little workaholic#the stats on 'songs about girls' is sending me#green day#BAM#interview#article#articles
10 notes
·
View notes
Note
1,6,7,8,11,14,20 ♥
YAY THANK YOU BABY
1. What was the first song you heard by your bias group? When did you hear it?
Honestly I think I had listened to BTS before this w/o ever remembering what they were called, but I strongly recall enjoying Fire and even bothered to remember its name, so I will pick that one! I heard it when my friend put on BTS MVs during our junior year of college (three years ago ;-;) while we worked on homework together.
6. Who is the funniest idol in your opinion?
This is so hard, so many of them make me laugh, but I think I’ll have to say Yeosang from Ateez--his dry sense of humor stands out to me so much.
7. What is your favorite k-pop choreo?
I have a LOT since it’s hard to choose and I enjoy so many different moves in them:
Mic Drop - BTS
Fantasia - Monsta X
Back Door - Stray Kids
Now or Never - SF9
Wonderland - Ateez
Wannabe - Itzy
8. Put your playlist on shuffle and list the first 5 songs that play.
Level Up - Oneus
English Girl - Oneus
Desire - Ateez
TRICK IT - Twice
Intro - Dreamcatcher
11. List your top 10 bias wreckers.
oh boy; these are in no particular order, they all equally wreck me at different points in time
Seokjin (BTS)
Jungkook (BTS)
Kihyun (Monsta X)
Shownu (Monsta X)
Jongho (Ateez)
Seonghwa (Ateez)
Seoho (Oneus)
Seungmin (Stray Kids)
Xiumin (EXO)
Youngbin (SF9)
14. Do you have a favorite music video of all time? If so, what?
Picking one favorite is DIFFICULT. It’s honestly between 3 MVs that I found myself constantly watching even way after I discovered them:
All In - Stray Kids (I love the editing in it so much)
Black Cat Nero - Ateez (METAL BOYS AND HALLOWEEN?? SIGN ME UP)
Love Killa - Monsta X (THE CONCEPT AND THEIR STYLE MMM YES)
20. Who is your favorite soloist?
I don’t listen to many soloists but I can say for certain that I adore Maddox’s music and voice. He’s so lovely. WAY TOO UNDERRATED.
Wonho of course I love, too!! I just haven’t been listening to much of his stuff compared to Maddox so I am biased there currently.
#nonelleke#asks#kpop asks#this was so fun#thank u my love#bts#ateez#monsta x#stray kids#itzy#sf9#exo#oneus#maddox
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
CHOICE Tag!
Rules: Answer the questions (if you want to skip one, feel free to do that too of course!). Tag 3 people (or more or less, you choose really). Tag your post with #CHOICE_tag so we can find each others’ posts! Have fun!!
Tagged by @slowlydiving thank you so much for tagging me 😊
Tagging: I’m so sorry, I don’t know many people on tumblr and I don’t know of many blogs who haven’t been tagged already! If you haven’t been, and you want to do this, please go ahead and say that I tagged you!
1. Introduce yourself. You choose how much and how little!
My name is Casey, I use they/them pronouns, and I am 21 years old. I just graduated college(!) but I am going back soon so I can earn my masters in education.
2. How and when did you become a CHOICE?
It was sometime in March 2019. I didn’t listen to K-pop at the time, but I did listen to the OSTs of K-dramas, so Spotify started to recommend a lot of Korean artists and K-pop groups. I saw a.c.e’s Take Me Higher, and since I’m ace, I thought that I just had to listen to it! I liked the song so much that I went to look up the music video and then basically watched it on repeat for like the next two weeks. Then, one day, a.c.e was trending on tumblr, so I went into the tag and saw that they had announced their Undercover comeback. That was when I started to follow them on social media and I looked into their other music because I wanted to hear more from them. Of course, Undercover was such an amazing era, so it was really easy to fall in love with a.c.e and call myself choice.
3. What is your favorite part of being a CHOICE?
I really like other choice! There are so many talented choice on tumblr, I really like seeing people’s gifs/edits/art.
4. What is your favorite A.C.E song? Do you prefer their title tracks or b-sides more?
My top 3 (right now) are Callin’, Clover, and Take Me Higher. I usually listen to their title tracks more, but mostly because I like to watch the m/v or performance video while I do.
5. Who’s your bias? What do you like about them?
Officially, I don’t have a bias—it’s hard to have a bias in a.c.e! Unofficially, it’s probably Donghun and the other four are bias wreckers.
6. What is your favorite thing about A.C.E?
So many things. They are all incredibly talented performers and I am completely captivated every time I watch their mvs or performance videos. I love that they incorporate gender nonconforming clothing into their stage outfits and that they’re able to pull off just about anything. I love their persistence and determination—it has helped me to push forward when I am struggling. Their passion shines through in everything that they do and they always blow us away every time. I love their friendship with each other and how they love choice. It’s just very easy to be a fan of a.c.e
7. Which concept has been your favorite? What kind of concept do you want them to try?
I really loved the concept for Goblin and I am just over the moon for Higher’s concept. I love to see a.c.e do anything really—they always go above and beyond when they try something new.
8. Which A.C.E friendship is your favorite? Which one do you want to see more of?
I think Donghun and Chan have a very sweet friendship—I love Chan’s friendship with everyone else, too. I love it when the other four clown on Junhee and he also seems to have a very sweet friendship with all of them.
I am always down to see more Donghun, Sehyoon, and Byeongkwan (their dance covers from summer 2020 were really cool to watch!)
9. If you could tell A.C.E one thing, what would you tell them?
Thank you for never giving up, you have our support always 💕
10. Which A.C.E member would die first in a horror movie?
I feel like it would be Chan. Byeongkwan def makes it to the end, Donghun and Sehyoon might die halfway through, but there’s a chance they could also make it to the end, and Park Junhee surprises everyone by making it to the end.
11. Leave a small message for your fellow CHOICE!
Hello everyone! Thank you for making such a wonderful community on tumblr! I am so shy but always happy to talk about our favorite boys, so feel free to reach out whenever 😊
2 notes
·
View notes
Note
Could you please recommend me the most fluffy dramas you've watched without much angst (and shitty male leads 😒)? I'm going through some rough stuff in my life and while i don't usually watch dramas like this now i don't have any emotions to invest in something serious. As for this kind of dramas 've only seen Touch your heart even though it had this unnesesarry stalker storyline i liked it (mostly because of Yoo In Na's smile but anyways 🌞). Thanks in advance!
Oh hon, I’m so sorry you’re going through a rough patch :( This calls for an emergency fluff list ASAP.
Emergency K-Drama Fluff (low angst, sweet boys):
Have a Nice Dessert: If you’re looking for low angst and a super soft boy, this is your drama!! It’s a web drama (youtube) about a girl who loves photographing desserts and the boy who likes her. Like all web dramas, it’s short, and there’s really no time for angst and breakups :)
Eulachacha Waikiki / Laughter In Waikiki: I hope you’re ready for a crazy amount of unlikely situations and nutty hijinks because this show is probably one the most silly ones I’ve ever watched. It follows a group of friends who own a hostel so it’s a slice of life drama. At certain points I was like “this is TOO silly” but I’m glad I stuck with it cause it was so hilarious. Plus, the baby is a star!
Gaduri Sushi: A cute web drama (youtube) about a tarot reading sushi restaurant owner who gets a new neighbor. It’s funny and sweet and the angst is very low.
Top Management: Adorable short episode drama (youtube) about a girl who can see the future and becomes the rookie manager for a kpop band. Fun and easy and lots of cute boys (plus they seem to be setting it up for another season…)
Shopping King Louie: This adorable fluffy drama is full of k-drama nonsense and I LOVE IT! It’s got amnesia, a rich heir, and is very trope heavy but sweet as hell. If you’re looking for light-hearted fun, with very innocent romance (think hand holding, piggy backs and PG kisses) this is for you! Great Soundtrack as a bonus.
Why Secretary Kim?: You mentioned Touch Your Heart and this is made by the same people so it has similar qualities. There is angst but it’s light (like Touch Your Heart) and the angst is unrelated to the adorable relationship, which IS adorable. Plus, no breakup!
Kiss Goblin: This is a short web drama (youtube) featuring a Goblin who has to earn emotions in order to become human. It’s a bit silly and low budget but I love the leads together - the goblin is so so sweet; he’s my favorite web drama actor. There is a little angst but because it’s a web drama it lasts literally 10 minutes.
Her Private Life: Park Min Young really knows how to pick dramas. I loved this one about a museum curator who is secretly a fangirl obsessed with an idol. It’s fun and fluffy but does have a very mild childhood trauma thing with his mother but I mean, 99% of dramas like this do?
The Best Hit / Hit The Top: A famous 90′s boyband dude travels into the future and meets up with his family and friends in this really cute drama featuring Yoon Shi Yoon. I LOVE Yoon Shi Yoon in pretty much everything but this role was made for him - he is hilarious. It’s a slice of life but features the k-pop music industry so the setting is unique.
Touch Your Heart: A sweet, silly and very mild rom com about a serious boss and his hallyu star secretary. This show was an obvious response to the chemistry that Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na had in Goblin so it was nice to see them together again. Yoo In Na is such a fun person to watch!
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo: Joon-Hyung is a sweet and doting beta male who falls for Bok-Joo really hard, like puppy dog hard. He loves her for the tom-boy she is and respects her athletic prowess. These two are adorable together and there are TONS of cute scenes with them on dates and cuddling.
#kdrama#emergency kdrama supply#only light and fluffies#kdrama recommendations#i love a list#touch your heart#kiss goblin#the best hit#whats wrong with secretary kim
114 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
nikolamukiibi
Inside Outside Africa.
thing-decide-recently-item
Untitled
uhhrellys
your house up on a hill;
actuallyrea
ActuallyRea