Drama - Dream High

Genre: School, Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 16
Network: KBS2
Broadcasted: 2011-Jan-03 to 2011-Feb-28
Lead Actors: Suzy(MissA), Kim Soo Hyun, Taecyeon(2PM), Ham Eun Jung(T-Ara), Wooyoung(2PM), IU

My Rating: ♥♥♥♥/5













Dream High is one of those dramas just jam packed with idols (hence the popularity). Even the illustrious JYP has a recurring role. The only non-idol is actor Kim Soo Hyun (Moon Embracing the Sun), who, by any means can be an idol if he really wanted. I mean it, he's seriously talented singer and actor. I'm also really liking him in the period drama he's in right now.

As I mentioned earlier, JYP has a recurring role in this drama as the English teacher. Looking at him, he has a real mean gangsta face, but he does all this ridiculous stuff like scratch his butt and dance around. And did anyone notice that most of his scenes involve him carrying around stacks stuff around all the time (???). Sigh... Another thing I noticed is, it must've been super cold in this school. I can see everyone's breathe! Does heat not exist in this school?!

Basic Synopsis:Kirin High School is an elite art school that is known for making successful performers and idols. Go Hyemi doesn't want anything to do with it until her father's debt collectors force her to attend to monopolize on her signing talent. There she meets/rivals/loves her fellow talents and rising stars of the school. They face their own personal setbacks and pressure of others to achieve their dreams of becoming international stars.

My Top K-Pop Songs of the Year!

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012! I desperately hope this year will be better than the last, let's be better and get some resolutions done! Just for the New Year, here are my personal list of top ten k-pop songs of the year. My decision was based mostly on the sound of the song and then by music video coolness. Lol.

#10 LOVE GIRL - CNBLUE

I have always loved CNBlue and this song was from their latest Korean album, FIRST STEP. Unfortunately, the boys are doing a lot of promotion for their Japanese album right now so nothing really new has come out for them in the last couple of months. The only thing is, this song really doesn't follow the "bad boy" image of their first hit from this album and is quite over the top with "cuteness".

#9 YOU AND I - IU

I only just started really listening to IU within the last couple months, but I think she is such a talented singer. She really pulls off the whimsical/fairytale look. Her album Last Fantasy just came out and it is great! The stress of producing it made her hair fall out but it was definately well worth it!

#8 TONIGHT - BIGBANG

These boys are the best! So talented and weird! This music video was shot in Vegas and San Diego, can't you tell?! Despite being set back with a slight scandal (G-Dragon caught smoking marijuana) their fans have been crazy supportive. And if you're wondering who's G-Dragon well, he's always the one with the weirdest outfit. LOL.

#7 BUBBLE POP - HYUNA

I consider this my personal summer song. Despite all the sexiness of the music video I believe Hyuna has major talent, dancing and singing. The song just creeps into your head and you catch yourself singing Bubble Bubble Bubble Pop! The English words in the music video make no sense...

#6 FICTION - B2ST

I don't really follow B2st but I just fell in love with this song when I saw the music video. It's easy to follow and has a great sound. The penguin/zombie/shuffle dance move really fits in with the song.

#5 IN THE NIGHT SKY - AFTER SCHOOL RED

I wish After School would continue to promote their sub units RED and BLUE. I just love the sound of After School RED and they're super sexy! This music video came out really hipster but I love this sub unit the best! Big fan of Nana!

#4 TROUBLE MAKER - TROUBLE MAKER

Cube Entertainment is coming out with a bunch of subunits formed from the groups currently under their contract. Hyuna from 4Minute and HyunSeung from Beast make up the group Trouble Maker. Their single TroubleMaker has a great sound, I love the whistling in the beginning and the Thriller tribute dance in the middle of it. Once again Hyuna plays up her sexy image, this time I think they were being a little unfair and should've given her an awesome dance too!

#3 SIXTH SENSE - BROWN EYED GIRLS

BEG! BEG! BEG! I love this group, all the members are going to be going solo, but will still maintain their group status. Every song they have come out with I have loved. It's been a while since they had a comeback, but it was well worth the wait! And that high note near the end is in three parts.

#2 BE MINE - INFINITE

Such great dancers and performers! I actually had three of their songs on my list but decided I should get a little more variety in here. I have never seen a group of people perform so n'sync before! Wonderful!

#1 I AM THE BEST - 2NE1

And of course! 2NE1!!! It was a huge year for these girls, they had some of the best singles out this year! You are the best! Keep it up girls, I hope see new and exciting things from 2NE1 in the New Year.

K-Pop Obsession: IU's You and I

This weeks K-Pop obession is none other from IU's latest album, the single "You and I." As always, IU's voice is sweet, lovely and full of emotion. It is so wonderful to see the music video come out to be so magical, steampunkish and cute! There's definately a Christmas feel to it that is so infectious! IU's got me doing the clock dancing sequence around the house!!! And to top it off, there's a goose! Normally, I don't really care for...fowl...but the one in the video is soooo cute and good-natured! Check it out! This song is definately going on my Christmas playlist.



Visual Concept: ♥♥♥♥♥/5 Video Concept: ♥♥♥♥/5 Singing Talent: ♥♥♥♥♥/5 Music/Sound: ♥♥♥♥/5 Dancing: ♥♥♥♥/5 English Usage: N/A

Overall Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥/5

K-Pop Obsession - IU's The Story I Didn't Know

For this week, I've decided to go with a more mellow and emotional song/music video. It is solo artist IU's "The Story I Didn't Know." IU is a super talented singer/actress who debuted in 2008 at the tender age of 15. She can play the guitar, has worked with many artists/musicians in the industry, and has even composed some of her own songs. Not bad for an 18?

The song is about a young girl who is admitted into a mental ward after she loses her father. In the hospital she believes he visits her everyday, but in reality no one does. It's a very very sad song, but I've always been a sucker for clear, sweet voices paired with piano accompaniment. Right off the bat this music video caused a sort of scandal over the nature of IU and the "ghost-father" relationship. Many question if this father-daughter relationship is more of a Lolita one.

Opening Translation:
Doctor: Do you still have a lot of dreams these days? Perhaps you have anything that is uncomfortable?
IU: Well these days my body feels a bit strange. It's like it's not my own body... Doctor, isn't the weather strange today?
Doctor: By strange weather what do you mean?
IU: Hmm. Yes.. On these kind of days, I just feel like someone will come to look for me...

Ending Translation: Doctor: After a while you will return, right?
IU: He'll come. Everyone knows him as a father. But that person isn't a father.



Visual Concept: ♥♥♥♥/5 Video Concept: ♥♥/5 Singing Talent: ♥♥♥♥♥/5 Music/Sound: ♥♥♥♥/5 Dancing: N/A English Usage: N/A

Overall Rating: ♥♥♥♥/5