I'm burning my eyeballs on a TVB binge. Currently watching 讀心神探 (Every Move You Make) only because it's slightly more interesting than most of the other offerings of late. I'm not particularly a Bowie fan, but he has a respectable record when it comes to appearing in shows that do not suck, quite an accomplishment these days.
What I really want to talk about, however, is the anniversary series. The sequel to last year's hit 巾幗梟雄 (Rosy Business) - 巾幗梟雄之義海豪情 (No Regrets) - started last Monday. In the buildup, I decided to watch the original since it was all over the place in early 2009. Meanwhile, I was still one hot mess back then and missed the whole affair. But I do remember that much of the city was arrested by this show. I was walking home when the last episode aired and saw quite a few folks gathered around a sushi restaurant's outdoor tv screen. Naturally, I played along like I knew what was going on and caught some of the show. In any case, I now have 25 glorious episodes waiting for me, and in about a week, I've gotten through 20. Not bad considering all the work I've been bringing home plus catching up on 讀心神探 and rushing through 3-4 BBC shows.
So far I've only seen 2 full episodes of 巾幗梟雄之義海豪情 but that was enough to convince me to blog about one 敖嘉年 (Ngo Kanin). And let's go ahead and establish that I've crushed on him since 隨時候命 (Always Ready) when he played Charmain's moody brother. 巾幗梟雄 propelled him to substantial fame in Hong Kong though, and he was rewarded Most Improved Actor for his role as a total bastard in that show. Kanin definitely made a bitch of a villain, but I absolutely love his overly polite, good boy characters; his Yau Bong in 胭脂水粉 (The Charm Beneath) was syrupy sweet. I'm happy to say that he returns to form in 巾幗梟雄之義海豪情. Kanin plays 唐吉 (Tong Kat), or 排骨仔 (Pai Gwut Zai/Spare Ribs Boy), a country bumpkin who loves his granny and goes to the big city to become a police officer. The kid is so, so innocent and thus gets picked on by everyone. The real treasure though is Kanin, who captures scrawny little Pai Gwut perfectly. And this post is mainly to say that he better win the Best Supporting Actor Award this year. He is a-mazing.
Ian McKellen rails against the bright young things of today's (British) theatrical scene. The Guardian counters. In his rebuttal, Michael Billington notes the "shining young talent" lighting up the stages. Who does he single out? Dominic Cooper, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and yes, my dearest Samuel Barnett. Spot on. It's been awhile since I posted, well, anything, but especially about Mr. Barnett. But I just finished up series two of Beautiful People and once again, the young man astounds. He only appears at the beginning and end of each episode, but each appearance is so savory. Yes, savory. However, it looks like we'll just have to wait for that talent to percolate.
Yes, Taeyang's album came out today and I am excited beyond words, which is why I'm going to write about something else. Many people have been anticipating Solar, but probably the major headline in the last day and a half is Park Yong Ha's suicide. I hadn't seen his shows or movies or listened to his music so when I first heard the news, I only had a generic sense of sadness. By all accounts, he seemed like a popular actor who earned the admiration of fans first through his acting and then his music. When I saw his picture, I thought he looked familiar but couldn't place him because I knew he wasn't in the one Korean movie I've seen. Then I realized he took part in the Lotte Duty Free advert and song with Big Bang, Rain, and Song Seung Hun. When I first came across this video a month or so ago, I remember thinking that Park Yong Ha (I didn't know his name at the time) had a unique, soothing voice that kind of matched his boyish face. But now, no more. Life, people are sometimes like that; just flashes of brilliance, of tenderness, of joy, of hope that bloom and fade.
(Park Yong Ha appears 2nd and is wearing a blue shirt.)
Alright, I feel compelled to write something about Taeyang's upcoming album, Solar (not to be confused with my favorite Hong Kong band Soler). Really though, it's not an easy thing as Taeyang and his music defy words. But it's 4 days remaining and we have been teased left and right - and I-just-can't-take-it-anymore!!
So, thoughts first on the track listing. There are 13 for the deluxe edition, I believe 11 for the regular one, and a total of 9 new tracks. Wedding Dress and Where U At appear on both albums, and Look Only At Me and Prayer are bonus tracks of the deluxe set. Excluding these, Taeyang contributed to 3 songs. YG standbys Teddy and Kush also contribute as does YB's bestie, G-Dragon. Additional writers, composers, and producers appear as well, so it'll be interesting to hear the diversity but also the unique Taeyang sound that pulls the album together.
On to the music...for some reason, YG thought it was a good idea to give the fangirls a mini-heart attack for the week leading up to Solar's release on July 1 by unleashing 1+ minute snippets everyday.
[Track 1] Intro - Taeyang's "just got a question for y'all. ARE YOU READY FOR SOLAR?" Honey, do you even need to ask? He strips it down in this intro (no, he does not strip down) and teases with only a drum line and a few scattered sound effects. The result is something completely fresh and deliberately evocative of a late spring or summer dawn. Just you, the birdies, and Taeyang.
[Track 2] Superstar - This song opens with an almost sporting arena drumbeat, like our boy Taeyang is getting ready to go a few rounds - which matches the lyrics, or the English parts that I understand. He's telling a girl to get with him and to give him her love because, after all, she's his superstar. It's not aggressive but supremely confident. Interesting because one wonders if this matches his approach to dating, though if his interviews are any indication, he's nowhere near this forward.
[Track 4] Just a Feeling - So how awesome are Taeyang's songwriting skills? VERY. This collaborative effort (with the ubiquitous Teddy) has a steady dance beat but is not overrun with electronica. Producer Teddy is starting to lay off on all that interference and delivers a controlled song that let's Taeyang's voice do the leading. "It's just a feeling..." but I think this album is going to kill. Yeah, all the k-pop kiddies better be scared.
[Track 5] You're My - "You're my chocolate, my sweetest chocolate. I really wanna have you.....You're my ice cream, my sweetest ice cream. I really wanna have you....." Right. Not the coolest lyrics, but maybe the Korean parts are awesome! But random food references aside, this is a super mellow track, perfect for displaying Taeyang's sweet, soulful voice. Just a few sparse piano strains and Mr. Dong to the Yongbae. It's not something you'll put on when making out with your other half, but it's perfect if he's lying next to you, caressing your face as you slowly drift to sleep...wishing he was Taeyang.
Update: So it seems that I like every K-Pop cover of SNSD's Gee better than the original. Or at least there are 2 that I prefer. New boy band Infinite (check out their wicked dance skills in Come Back Again) is making quite an entrance and earn points by paying homage to 'classics', including Wonder Girls' Tell Me.
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Loving Super Junior's cover of Gee. Yes, the original by SNSD is infectious - but wholly irritating. Slow down the beat, subtract the pastel shorts and obnoxious 'cutie' faces, and the song suddenly becomes quite enjoyable!
So the long awaited oral defense for my masters thesis will be tomorrow. In less than 24 hours, the carnage will be complete. If I don't pass, I might just ship myself off to South Korea in a crate. At least then I can be a failure surrounded by awesome pop music. In the meantime, I'm trying to draw on some inspiration from a few hard working lads......Alas, my examination board does not look like this, in which case I'd be ecstatic about my oral.
So a month or so ago, I noted a certain Hidetoshi Nakata's collaboration with Calvin Klein. It was a very, um, revealing statement on the upcoming World Cup. Well, now Nakata's gotten his fellow countrymen to join in, though this time the photoshoot isn't with a famous undies brand. But don't despair, it's posh Dunhill that has hooked up Team Japan with some sweet threads. Result below. Unfortunately I can't find a massive copy, but this assault of finely suited men should nevertheless get you - if you are a heterosexual woman - geared up for some World Cup action!
Big Bang has been spoiling us recently with the sudden release of their Tell Me Goodbye MV and their appearance and sweep at the MTV Japan VMAs. They dropped their latest single release today. The Tell Me Goodbye CD features the title track, a remix, and third song, Hands Up. I wasn't too hot on it when they first sang it at the VMAs, but I'm giving it a fresh listen without the static of screaming girls - and I looooove it! It's bouncy and infectious, which means haters will hate. It has a club feel but isn't overpowered by electronica. There's still enough space for Daesung and Youngbae to lay down their smooth vocals with room enough for li'l Seungri and the big bad rappers, G-Dragon and T.O.P., to do their thing. Hands Up is just what we need to kick off the summer!
