Today's pretentious word from Webster's Third New International Dictionary and Seven Language Dictionary, Unabridged: Volume 2, H-R is 'pharmacopolist'.
Pharmacopolist: "One who sells drugs".
Using this word will most likely land you in trouble, as if you refer to the pharmacologist as a pharmacopolist, people will think you are stupid. You will have to explain your way out of sounding dumb, but if you are trying to sound pretentious, go for it!
Saturday 31 December 2011
Friday 30 December 2011
MVOTD: Month End Review (Day 126)
December was a month filled with wintery and Christmasy music. Here's the list.
Thanks to my many and sometimes weak excuses to include music videos as "wintery" or "Christmasy", many of the music videos for December were mediocre. Music that did rock, even though the music video didn't, included August Burns Red's Carol of the Bells and Whiteheart's The Little Drummer Boy. On the other hand, music videos that rocked were The Piano Guys' Cello Wars, Hit-5's Running (mostly thanks to my brother's comment on them, "We are here to seduce your teenage daughters"), SES's Just A Feeling (So 90's!), Donghae & Eunhyuk's Oppa Oppa, and David Bisbal's 24 Horas featuring Espinaz Paz. These music videos that were both fun to listen to and fun to watch are the finalists. The winner, thanks to my biases, is Donghae and Eunhyuk's Oppa Oppa. Go Suju!
| IU | You & I |
| 4 minute ft. Mario, Amen | Jingle Jingle |
| August Burns Red | Carol Of The Bells |
| B2ST/Beast | Let It Snow (teaser) |
| BOA & SES & Shinhwa | Waiting for White |
| David Bisbal | 24 Horas |
| DBSK/TVXQ | Step by Step |
| DBSK/TVXQ | My Little Princess |
| Donghae & Eunhyuk | Oppa Oppa |
| Girl's Generation | The Boys |
| Hit-5 | Running |
| JYP Nation | This Christmas |
| Katie Sheffers | Merry Christmas |
| Serge and Sarah | Happy Feet Choreography |
| SES | Just A Feeling |
| SHINee | Love Like Oxygen |
| Super Junior | Santa U Are The One |
| The Muppets | Ringing of the Bells |
| The Piano Guys | Cello Wars |
| Whiteheart | The Little Drummer Boy |
| ZE:A | My Only Wish |
Thanks to my many and sometimes weak excuses to include music videos as "wintery" or "Christmasy", many of the music videos for December were mediocre. Music that did rock, even though the music video didn't, included August Burns Red's Carol of the Bells and Whiteheart's The Little Drummer Boy. On the other hand, music videos that rocked were The Piano Guys' Cello Wars, Hit-5's Running (mostly thanks to my brother's comment on them, "We are here to seduce your teenage daughters"), SES's Just A Feeling (So 90's!), Donghae & Eunhyuk's Oppa Oppa, and David Bisbal's 24 Horas featuring Espinaz Paz. These music videos that were both fun to listen to and fun to watch are the finalists. The winner, thanks to my biases, is Donghae and Eunhyuk's Oppa Oppa. Go Suju!
MVOTD: Shinee (Day 125)
Today's winter theme music video is Shinee of SM Entertainment's Love Like Oxygen. It is winter themed because they dance in a white room. Here it is.
McMolberg's Magnetic Music Videos of "2011" (Day 125)
For many people, there are movies that hook them after one, two, or even three views. People can watch these compulsively. For myself, I also have movies that are like this. Movies that want to be watched repititiously. The following are the music videos that hooked me in this year, 2011, and just how many views it took to hook me.
Mazeltov -- ZE:A
Took two views. The ridiculousness, the camera shots, the funny way silver man's mouth looks when he says "oh". So good.
Paradise -- Infinite
One view or less. The 80's beats. Enough said.
Oops -- Super Junior featuring F(x)
Several views. This song requires two or more views with subs in order to understand how ridiculous the lyrics are.
Oppa Oppa -- Donghae & Eunhyuk
One view. Hooked. I like the intro, the wigs, the parts that I can sing along to, and the laughing that it induces.
Message -- MYNAME
One view. It's just so catchy. I show this one to everybody.
Say No -- B2ST/Beast
One view. This song sounds really nice and is interesting despite a large large lack of dancing.
Love Ya -- SS501
One view, about 25 seconds in. It was the jump move that got me. So stylish!
Mazeltov -- ZE:A
Took two views. The ridiculousness, the camera shots, the funny way silver man's mouth looks when he says "oh". So good.
Paradise -- Infinite
One view or less. The 80's beats. Enough said.
Oops -- Super Junior featuring F(x)
Several views. This song requires two or more views with subs in order to understand how ridiculous the lyrics are.
Oppa Oppa -- Donghae & Eunhyuk
One view. Hooked. I like the intro, the wigs, the parts that I can sing along to, and the laughing that it induces.
Message -- MYNAME
One view. It's just so catchy. I show this one to everybody.
Say No -- B2ST/Beast
One view. This song sounds really nice and is interesting despite a large large lack of dancing.
Love Ya -- SS501
One view, about 25 seconds in. It was the jump move that got me. So stylish!
Tuesday 27 December 2011
Skip Beat! Episode 2 Review (Day 124)
Episode 2
Episode 2 of Skip Beat! starts with a good start - Gong Xi coming to her senses and going straight to LME to become a celebrity. There, she insults the talent scout and is booted out for being a Dun He Lian/Tsugara Ren (Choi Siwon) fan trying to infiltrate the company in order to get access to him. Incensed, she stages a sit in knee in protest and stalks dogs the talent scout around town. Koala jokes are made. Dun He Lian’s manager endears himself to the audience. Gong Xi’s revenge angels help her annoy the talent scout into finally giving in and allowing her to audition at LME.
Gong Xi then promptly attends the audition, only to be yelled at by an unfriendly woman who reminds her of Bu Puo Shang (Lee Donghae). Revenge angels make her hair go round. Dun He Lian shows up to randomly shoot things to be interested in her progress…because he knows that she wants revenge. He talks to a mirror. The episode abruptly ends. What? There are all sorts of questions left now.
Questions like; "Does Lian have a magic mirror that he asks questions to?", "Could he be interested in Gong Xi?", "Will his manager be his cute wing-man?", and, "Will Shang show up to taunt our heroine?". Well, the fans certainly hope so on all accounts but the magic mirror one.
The one question I can answer is this, "Why does Dun He Lian have two names?". Answer: For most subbed shows, more than one person is translating. Each translator often chooses a different way to best represent the character's names for their audience. In this case, Tsugara Ren is the Japanese name from the manga/anime and Dun He Lian is the Mandarin name for the show.
Monday 26 December 2011
Monday Review: Love You You (Day 123)
Love You You...
Mainland film. Aka, made in China.
Well done...except for the English name.
The movie begins with the normal plot - woman goes to exotic location to spy on attractive man for unknown corporation. The woman and the man of course do not get along. Sparks (of anger) fly until they find themselves convincing another couple to get married. Then they know that they have feelings for the other person. Man lets woman sleep in sea. She sees him looking at her passport and leaves, knowing that he just found out she was a spy. He's like "WHAT???! Just explain things." They long for each other. Stuff happens.
What I left out here were the fun details. The little things that made it worth watching. The things that make you smile, laugh, or cry(if you cry in movies), because Love You You had it all.
I give Love You You a 3.5 out of 5.
Also, to explain the plot point above, let it be known that she sleepwalks and he is in charge of making sure that she doesn't sleep in the sea. Shazaam!
Mainland film. Aka, made in China.
Well done...except for the English name.
The movie begins with the normal plot - woman goes to exotic location to spy on attractive man for unknown corporation. The woman and the man of course do not get along. Sparks (of anger) fly until they find themselves convincing another couple to get married. Then they know that they have feelings for the other person. Man lets woman sleep in sea. She sees him looking at her passport and leaves, knowing that he just found out she was a spy. He's like "WHAT???! Just explain things." They long for each other. Stuff happens.
What I left out here were the fun details. The little things that made it worth watching. The things that make you smile, laugh, or cry(if you cry in movies), because Love You You had it all.
I give Love You You a 3.5 out of 5.
Also, to explain the plot point above, let it be known that she sleepwalks and he is in charge of making sure that she doesn't sleep in the sea. Shazaam!
Saturday 24 December 2011
MVOTD: Suju (Day 124)
This Christmas, SM Entertainment gave all the E.L.F.'s (Super Junior super fans) a truly wonderful present. And no, it wasn't Santa U Are The One by Super Junior. It was Donghae and Eunhyuk's song Oppa Oppa, done for their recent concert series Super Show 4. I don't think that I can say enough good things about this song. At first, I felt like it was the 90's or something. Then Donghae came out in his sleazy red suit and started singing some sweet pop tunes. Then Eunhyuk joined in. And then... then they sported giant afro wigs and acted like goof balls.
At first, what they were up to was just a little crazy, but when the afro's came out (in opposite colours of what their current hair colour is. Nice!) my "WHAAATTTT??"the meter went off the charts. They, Donghae and Eunhyuk, have more cheesetastic midichlorians than Master ZE:A! And they referenced ZE:A too. I couldn't take the grin off my face and I was tearing up from the shear funniness. So good. So good.
At first, what they were up to was just a little crazy, but when the afro's came out (in opposite colours of what their current hair colour is. Nice!) my "WHAAATTTT??"the meter went off the charts. They, Donghae and Eunhyuk, have more cheesetastic midichlorians than Master ZE:A! And they referenced ZE:A too. I couldn't take the grin off my face and I was tearing up from the shear funniness. So good. So good.
And here's their Christmas Eve performance of Oppa Oppa. I really like the way Eunhyuk does his 70's Oppa Oppa dance moves. So funny.
MVOTD: Charleston (Day 123)
If there is a dance more Christmasy/wintery than Charleston, I don't know what it is. After all, lots of Christmas songs are jazzy and Charleston is danced to jazzswing music. Connections right? Therefore, today's music video is Happy Feet Routine, which is a Charleston routine done to a nice little song about happy feet.
MVOTD: K. Scheffers (Day 122)
Christmas, other than reminding us of the birth of Jesus Christ, is most often remembered as a homey family holiday filled with cheer and pretty decorations. No music video mixes those so well as K. Scheffers and friends singing Merry Christmas. They sing happy greetings in a small brightly lit room with a well decorated Christmas tree in the background. Very homey and cheery indeed.
MVOTD: ZE:A (Day 121)
ZE:A continues to surprise me. If it's not their new Japanese single, it's that they have a Christmas song that is cute and singable. Plus they can actually pronounce English words! Yay.
Their single, My Only Wish is a "behind the scenes" music video. ZE:A seems to have a lot of these, probably because they aren't a top 10 boyband. As a fan though, I appreciate that they do have them, because it increases the total number of music videos they have. Enjoy.
Their single, My Only Wish is a "behind the scenes" music video. ZE:A seems to have a lot of these, probably because they aren't a top 10 boyband. As a fan though, I appreciate that they do have them, because it increases the total number of music videos they have. Enjoy.
Pretentious Word Of The Week: Moon Type (Day 121)
This Christmas Eve, we take our pretentious word from Webster's Third New International Dictionary and Seven Language Dictionary, Unabridged: Volume 2, H-R. Originally the word was going to be "moony", but since that just means "of or relating to the moon, shaped like the moon, resembling or ornamented with the crescent moon, etc." and does not sound like a hoity toity word, we are going with "moon type".
Moon Type: "a system of large embossed letters used in printing for the blind and especially for those blinded late in life that requires less finger sensitivity that braille, consists of nine characters derived from Roman capital letters and used in varying positions to denote the whote alphabet, and is used with full orthography, the lines being printed alternately from left to right and right to left".
Now, since our dictionary was printed in 1966, we don't know if this type is still used, but we do know that it was used. Therefore it is still a functional word. Your challenge now is to find a book printed in moon type and talk about its font.
Moon Type: "a system of large embossed letters used in printing for the blind and especially for those blinded late in life that requires less finger sensitivity that braille, consists of nine characters derived from Roman capital letters and used in varying positions to denote the whote alphabet, and is used with full orthography, the lines being printed alternately from left to right and right to left".
Now, since our dictionary was printed in 1966, we don't know if this type is still used, but we do know that it was used. Therefore it is still a functional word. Your challenge now is to find a book printed in moon type and talk about its font.
Friday 23 December 2011
Jam Jams: A History Explored? (Day 120)
Like many people, I like to assume that the ethnic food I eat is unique to the ethnic group I associate it with. Thus, when I discovered that pre-packaged jam jams (two soft cookies held together by red jam) were made in St. John's Newfoundland I was a little surprised. First because I thought that nobody would produce them commercially, and second because I didn't know people other than Mennonites liked them. I asked my mother, of a Scottish/Swedish heritage, which ethnic groups made jam jams. Her reply was, "I think only Mennonites in Southern Manitoba make them", to which I told her about where the pre-packaged jam jams we were eating were from. She thought about it for a little while and said, "Our family cookbook, from Regina in 1991, has a swedish recipe for jem jems which is exactly the same as for jam jams." This of course only served to make me curious. Swedish people and Mennonites have had almost no historical mixing....at all, so of course I would be curious about how they have the same cookie. So...
I googled 'jam jams'. The first site listed was the one that produced the pre-packaged jam jams. I googled "jam jams cookies'. Only recipes came up. I googled "jam jams history". Jam history sites came up. I googled "jam jams cookies history". Only recipes again. I wikipedia'd "jam jams". They don't have it on their site. Same with "jam jams cookies" and "jem jems". What they do have is a minor reference to "sandwich cookies", some of which have jam inside the 'cookie sandwich'.
Clearly there is a conundrum in the jam jams history area. How are we supposed to know where jam jams originated if the internet won't tell us? How are we supposed to find out how two ethnic/cultural groups that haven't talked to each other (except for maybe in the last 100 years) have the same cookie? How? Who else makes the jam jam? I guess we won't find out without some deep research. Here's the recipe.
Jem Jems Jam Jams
Cream together: 1 cup margarine
1 cup brown sugar
6 tablespoon syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
Add: 3 cups flour
2 teaspoon soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix to a soft dough. Roll into balls and press down or roll dough and cut with cookie cutters. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread jam between cookies when baked and press together.
I googled 'jam jams'. The first site listed was the one that produced the pre-packaged jam jams. I googled "jam jams cookies'. Only recipes came up. I googled "jam jams history". Jam history sites came up. I googled "jam jams cookies history". Only recipes again. I wikipedia'd "jam jams". They don't have it on their site. Same with "jam jams cookies" and "jem jems". What they do have is a minor reference to "sandwich cookies", some of which have jam inside the 'cookie sandwich'.
Clearly there is a conundrum in the jam jams history area. How are we supposed to know where jam jams originated if the internet won't tell us? How are we supposed to find out how two ethnic/cultural groups that haven't talked to each other (except for maybe in the last 100 years) have the same cookie? How? Who else makes the jam jam? I guess we won't find out without some deep research. Here's the recipe.
Cream together: 1 cup margarine
1 cup brown sugar
6 tablespoon syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
Add: 3 cups flour
2 teaspoon soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix to a soft dough. Roll into balls and press down or roll dough and cut with cookie cutters. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread jam between cookies when baked and press together.
MVOTD: Muppets (Day 120)
Christmas and The Muppets have gone together like chocolate and marshmellows since A Muppet Christmas Carol. Therefore, when I came across this one I had to post it right away. Here's The Muppets rendition of Ringing of the Bells.
Wednesday 21 December 2011
MVOTD: Reliving the Early 2000's (Day 119)
Once upon a time SM Town was invented. I don't know when, but at one point BoA, SES, and Shinwha did a lovely little Christmas number called Waiting For White. The song brings me back to when pop was cool in North America. You know, the late 80's and the mid-90's. The cheerfulness. The beats. The haircuts and outfits. So nostalgic, kind of like Christmas (the remembering...the new memory making...the candle light...the eating...the hot chocolate). Hopefully it makes you as cheerful as it makes me.
The Perks of Not Being Able to Hear, a Personal Tale (Day 119)
Fact: I have narrow ear canals. Because of this, my ears get plugged up sometimes. When it happens I can't hear very well, if at all. While it made napping easier (which is a plus), it makes the rest of life a little more complicated. It also made life a little more disconnected.
You know how you feel like people can't see you when you are wearing really big sunglasses? That's how I feel when my head is plugged up, aka, when my ears are plugged up. I also feel like my head is doing it's own thing. It's just bobbing along and my body is following along, kind of like in a video game. I suppose that kind of feeling, that life isn't actually happening in front of you, is kind of nice once in awhile, but not when you are trying to work. Staying on task is just that little bit more difficult when life feels like a video game, plus the whole having to listen really hard to understand what people are saying thing. It's easier to say what's on your mind though, because it's easier to ignore consequences. Kind of like a false freedom. I guess that's not a perk. I just wanted to talk about it, because I wonder if I'm not alone in feeling all bobbly headed/video gamey/invisible when my head is stuffed up. I sure hope not.
You know how you feel like people can't see you when you are wearing really big sunglasses? That's how I feel when my head is plugged up, aka, when my ears are plugged up. I also feel like my head is doing it's own thing. It's just bobbing along and my body is following along, kind of like in a video game. I suppose that kind of feeling, that life isn't actually happening in front of you, is kind of nice once in awhile, but not when you are trying to work. Staying on task is just that little bit more difficult when life feels like a video game, plus the whole having to listen really hard to understand what people are saying thing. It's easier to say what's on your mind though, because it's easier to ignore consequences. Kind of like a false freedom. I guess that's not a perk. I just wanted to talk about it, because I wonder if I'm not alone in feeling all bobbly headed/video gamey/invisible when my head is stuffed up. I sure hope not.
Tuesday 20 December 2011
MVOTD: JYP Nation (Day 118)
Today's Christmas music video is JYP Nation's (Aka, all the JYP Entertainment groups) This Christmas. Groups in JYP Nation include 2AM, 2PM, Wondergirls, J.Y.Park and other people. This particular Christmas music video is well done because the song is an original song (you haven't heard it over and over again), there are lots of food shots (they are trying to fatten up the camera man), and they make use of a public bath toque (Princess Leah bun toque. Yay.).
Skip-Beat! Episode 1 Review (Day 118)
Episode 1
The television event of the season has finally kicked off. That’s right. Skip-Beat!, the Taiwanese show that you didn’t know you wanted to watch is finally airing.
Skip-Beat! is based on a Japanese manga about a girl who goes to the big city to help her lifelong crush with his music career, or rather, it is about how after he betrays her she tries to get revenge by becoming more famous than him. The Taiwanese live-action show stars two South Korean actors/popstars (from Super Junior!) who acted entirely in Korean. The question of how a show where two languages, Korean and Mandarin, were being spoken simultaniously was problematic, but the mystery has been revealed. Mandarin dubbing over Korean acting! It’s really subtle, and since 80% of the characters are speaking real Mandarin, it’s barely noticeable and quite believable.
The first episode is there to introduce and develop the main characters. Thus, first thing we find out just how much the lead character, Gong Xi (Ivy Chen), likes Bu Po Shang (Donghae of Super Junior) when she bikes faster than Superman in order to get a poster of him... and then endangeres her life to get him strawberry pudding. Dun Helien (Siwon of Super Junior) shows up briefly to prove that he is the most popular guy in Taipei and then is mean to an important media executive, because he needs to prove that he is the beautiful iceman character. Shortly after, Gong Xi finds out that Bu Po Shang is cheating on her and the locks on the revenge box in her heart break (seriously) releasing small Ivy Chen revenge angels (also seriously). Gong Xi goes home, rips down ALL her Bu Po Shang stuff, buys expensive shoes, gets a haircut and moves in with her employers. She then attempts to lure talent scouts while weaing an amazingly bad red/gold combo outfit. She will get her revenge! But...how?It was at this point that the episode ended and they showed 'making-of' clips to remind us that Donghae is not a mean dirty scumbag man. Good job to them. Even I was forgetting due to his convincing acting.
Monday 19 December 2011
MVOTD: Jinglemazing (Day 117)
Today's Christmas song is Jingle Jingle. It's sung by 4minute, Mario, and Amen. Enough said. Anymore comments and I would have to make fun of their names.
Today's wonderful fun video is Just a Feeling by SES of SM Entertainment (C.2000?). It reminds me of what would happen if you mixed Billy Piper with the Spice Girls and then made them Korean. So basically, fantastic right? And the only style faux pauxs are the silver metallic man crop top (1:20), the pink suede underpants, and the bottoms that are somewhere between a tiny skirt and a pair of shorts. Enjoy!
Monday Review: The Metal Show (Day 117)
This weekend I attended the local metal show. It was a cultural experience. I felt quite cultured by being there.
The evening started off with a dub-stepping group. They had lights which turned on and off with the music, which for simplicity's sake we shall just call techno (technically, dub step is the use of two beats to make music). It was danceable, and there were quite a few teenagers dancing to it. Tough guy dancing that is.
Then there was a 20 minute recess and the next band came on. They were metal, and, pretty good. Once again there was tough guy dancing.
Another 20 minute recess. The third band was not very interesting. There was tough guy dancing anyway. This time, some guys decided to use their shirts as frisbies.
After the twenty minute recess, the fourth band came on. They were okay. They inspired wild and crazy tough guy dancing. Heads were accidentally bashed. More male shirts went flying.
Another 20 minute recess. There were more people. The band was a little older. The band was a little more epic. There was tough guy dancing. Shirts flew into the air once again.
When that ended I left. There was still one more band to go, and they sounded like they would have been really cool, but five groups in 3 1/2 hours is enough.
Some notes: 1) I don't think I've ever been to a metal show where God was praised so much. It was really nice. 2) All the flying shirts were the same guys throwing their shirts, putting them back on, and throwing off again. 3) The age mix was really quite good. There were teenagers, parents, people in their 30's, and some people from when I was in high school. 4) I started to ask myself, "Do people have to growl when they 'sing' metal songs? I know some groups don't. Why do all of these ones do it?"
Overall it was really good quality for a local show, and there were enough people to fill the space which made standing around listening to music more confortable. I give the show a 3 out of 5, mostly because I don't like metal to the extent that I want to listen to it for over 3 consecutive hours.
The evening started off with a dub-stepping group. They had lights which turned on and off with the music, which for simplicity's sake we shall just call techno (technically, dub step is the use of two beats to make music). It was danceable, and there were quite a few teenagers dancing to it. Tough guy dancing that is.
Then there was a 20 minute recess and the next band came on. They were metal, and, pretty good. Once again there was tough guy dancing.
Another 20 minute recess. The third band was not very interesting. There was tough guy dancing anyway. This time, some guys decided to use their shirts as frisbies.
After the twenty minute recess, the fourth band came on. They were okay. They inspired wild and crazy tough guy dancing. Heads were accidentally bashed. More male shirts went flying.
Another 20 minute recess. There were more people. The band was a little older. The band was a little more epic. There was tough guy dancing. Shirts flew into the air once again.
When that ended I left. There was still one more band to go, and they sounded like they would have been really cool, but five groups in 3 1/2 hours is enough.
Some notes: 1) I don't think I've ever been to a metal show where God was praised so much. It was really nice. 2) All the flying shirts were the same guys throwing their shirts, putting them back on, and throwing off again. 3) The age mix was really quite good. There were teenagers, parents, people in their 30's, and some people from when I was in high school. 4) I started to ask myself, "Do people have to growl when they 'sing' metal songs? I know some groups don't. Why do all of these ones do it?"
Overall it was really good quality for a local show, and there were enough people to fill the space which made standing around listening to music more confortable. I give the show a 3 out of 5, mostly because I don't like metal to the extent that I want to listen to it for over 3 consecutive hours.
Saturday 17 December 2011
MVOTD: Whiteheart (Day 116)
To add to the weekend of "metal" epicness, here is Whiteheart's The Little Drummer Boy, which is epic. I heard it for the first time just after I posted yesterday's blog, and I have to say that it is epic. Wait for the song to pick up before you decide how great it is. Once again, it isn't a real music video so feel free to just listen.
On a different, and now very proud note, I wanted to tell you all that I have seen Whiteheart in concert. It was just when I was three weeks old, so it wasn't really appreciated as much as it should have been.
How to Get Your Christmas Shopping Done Early (Day 116)
How to Get Your Christmas Shopping Done Before December 24th.
The Steps:
1) Plan to celebrate Christmas early
2) Buy presents for the early Christmas
3) Attend your early Christmas celebration
Ta da! So easy. Well....maybe not, but we can't all have siblings causing schedule changes. That would be crazy.
The Steps:
1) Plan to celebrate Christmas early
2) Buy presents for the early Christmas
3) Attend your early Christmas celebration
Ta da! So easy. Well....maybe not, but we can't all have siblings causing schedule changes. That would be crazy.
MVOTD: August Burns Red (Day 115)
Since it's pretty much the week before Christmas, I can now shamelessly post Christmas songs. Wha ha ha ha ha. Today's selection is a classy little number...of EPICNESS! This is my kind of Christmas music...when I'm not listening to K-pop. Here's August Burns Red of Solid State Records with their Christmas song cover of Carol of the Bells. Since it isn't a real music video sit back an relax and feel free to putter around while you listen. Enjoy.
Pretentious Word of the Week: Mugwumpian (Day 115)
Today's Pretentious Word of the Week is brought to you by Webster's Third New International Dictionary and Seven Language Dictionary, Unabridged: Volume 2, H-R. Mugwumpian, today's word, will be a very fun word for you to use.
Mugwumpian: "of, suggesting, or being a mugwump"
Mugwump: "1: a person of importance, 2: a bolter from the Republican part in the presidential election of 1884, a regular member who bolts a party and adopts an independent position, 3: one who is undecided or neutral, often as a result of an inability to make up his mind"
...Oh the possibilities. What a wonderful word for being pretentious with.
Mugwumpian: "of, suggesting, or being a mugwump"
Mugwump: "1: a person of importance, 2: a bolter from the Republican part in the presidential election of 1884, a regular member who bolts a party and adopts an independent position, 3: one who is undecided or neutral, often as a result of an inability to make up his mind"
...Oh the possibilities. What a wonderful word for being pretentious with.
Friday 16 December 2011
MVOTD: David Bisbal (Day 114)
What is the best David Bisbal Christmas song? 24 Horas of course, because it is not a Christmas song. It just reminds me of one because of all the bells they use. It could be wintery though, because the packing peanuts fly from the sky for sooo long. Since this is a repeat it won't count at the end of the month review, but who cares? David Bisbal is wonderful all the time, especially in winter. His cheery smile will blast away the winter blues.
The Cultural Event (Day 114)
December has been a very cultural month for me. Activities included swing dancing, singing, watching modern dance, and just recently, attending a metal show. The difference between a show and a concert is the number of people, not the love of the fans.
It has been awhile since I was last at a metal show. I forgot about the backpain from standing for so long. I forgot about the tiny crowds. I forgot that half of all metal fans are in highschool. I did remember that it takes a long time for sets/bands to change though, so crocheting in hand, I successfully watched hordes of teenagers run in circles and fling fabric around. Now I understand why people keep large drapy fabrics in their back pockets. Those pieces of fabric are for waving above their heads at shows/concerts. Gives them something to do I guess.
At the metal show I also learned about trends in the local metal scene. Young people (teens) now like to be as close to the band as possible, even touching the guitar while it is being played and jumping on stage beside the singer..alot. Older people (anyone over 20) do not do this, because it is disrepectful and annoying. I guess it doesn't bother high school bands, but groups with older member were visably perturbed, even protecting their guitarists from harrassment. Maybe teens will pick up on this and not try to be so close to older groups, or maybe the rest of us will have to get used to no personal space at shows.
As a final note, the metal scene, like modern dancing crowd, has a distinctive style. I had forgotten about that. Maybe it's good to go see some metal every once in awhile.
It has been awhile since I was last at a metal show. I forgot about the backpain from standing for so long. I forgot about the tiny crowds. I forgot that half of all metal fans are in highschool. I did remember that it takes a long time for sets/bands to change though, so crocheting in hand, I successfully watched hordes of teenagers run in circles and fling fabric around. Now I understand why people keep large drapy fabrics in their back pockets. Those pieces of fabric are for waving above their heads at shows/concerts. Gives them something to do I guess.
At the metal show I also learned about trends in the local metal scene. Young people (teens) now like to be as close to the band as possible, even touching the guitar while it is being played and jumping on stage beside the singer..alot. Older people (anyone over 20) do not do this, because it is disrepectful and annoying. I guess it doesn't bother high school bands, but groups with older member were visably perturbed, even protecting their guitarists from harrassment. Maybe teens will pick up on this and not try to be so close to older groups, or maybe the rest of us will have to get used to no personal space at shows.
As a final note, the metal scene, like modern dancing crowd, has a distinctive style. I had forgotten about that. Maybe it's good to go see some metal every once in awhile.
Wednesday 14 December 2011
MVOTD: The Bieb's (Day 113)
I razz on the Bieb's a lot, so his Christmas music video Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, is a welcome chance to razz on him somemore. For example, one reason to razz him is that the music video has almost nothing to do with the song. The music video has a sweet toy work shop in the style of IU, aka. Steampunk (futuristic technology mixed with steam engine time clothes), but no Santa and no town. The dancers are great. All of them. Fantastic. But the Bieb's... not so much. So much standing around and looking at random things while singing. Not only that, but he's wearing harem pants, and even though they work they make me think of two things: Kyuhyun of Super Junior, and 2009.
Pretty much the best part of this music video is the dancing and the steam punk. It doesn't help that I was thinking the fastest way to improve the video would be to have someone attractive be the lead, but maybe I'm being too harsh. Good job Bieb's. You're pretty good for being 17.
Pretty much the best part of this music video is the dancing and the steam punk. It doesn't help that I was thinking the fastest way to improve the video would be to have someone attractive be the lead, but maybe I'm being too harsh. Good job Bieb's. You're pretty good for being 17.
Tuesday 13 December 2011
MVOTD: Super Junior Christmas (Day "112")
This SM Town Super Junior Christmas music video came out today. SM Entertainment did a good job of putting shots of their other groups into this song, which is sung exclusively by Super Junior...in English. Random? Yes, I think so. My favourite line is "you make a better world, ear after ear." Thank you Eunhyuk and Shindong for not pronouncing the 'y'. Maybe it is like 't' and 'th' and is hard to pronounce. Hmmmm.
Other than that, and Super Junior being their cute selves, the pom pom Christmas sweaters near the end are amazing. Here's "SM Town's" Santa U Are The One.
Other than that, and Super Junior being their cute selves, the pom pom Christmas sweaters near the end are amazing. Here's "SM Town's" Santa U Are The One.
Monday 12 December 2011
Review Day: The Switch (Day 112)
The Switch. Possibly one of the most adult movies I have ever seen. I don't mean adult in the sexual way, but in the mature way. In the way that there are no super depressing parts and there are no super ridiculous parts and there are no super funny parts. It is all just kind of like a lumpy pizza dough. The parts are different but they stay in the same emotion range and all relate to the story. Thus, being moderate throughout, the movie is quite adult.
The Plot: Man who likes female friend replaces the donor sperm for her artificial insemination with his own. Years later meets the resulting child. Storyline ensues.
The Interest Factor: The storyline's main draw is not the dramatic issue of the replaced sperm/identity of the father, but the man's attraction to his friend, his revelation that the child is his, and his actions and decisions about what to do in the meantime.
The Result: Pretty good. The story is interesting, intriguing, develops at a slow but moderate pace, and is very close to that "realness" of character that Life is Too Short to Learn German talks about in her Prairie Lit post. There are no antagonists. There are just people, and they are doing people things and trying to figure life out. It's not flashy but not really meaty either. It's like eating humus with grilled peta triangles.
I give The Switch a 3.5 out of 5.
The Plot: Man who likes female friend replaces the donor sperm for her artificial insemination with his own. Years later meets the resulting child. Storyline ensues.
The Interest Factor: The storyline's main draw is not the dramatic issue of the replaced sperm/identity of the father, but the man's attraction to his friend, his revelation that the child is his, and his actions and decisions about what to do in the meantime.
The Result: Pretty good. The story is interesting, intriguing, develops at a slow but moderate pace, and is very close to that "realness" of character that Life is Too Short to Learn German talks about in her Prairie Lit post. There are no antagonists. There are just people, and they are doing people things and trying to figure life out. It's not flashy but not really meaty either. It's like eating humus with grilled peta triangles.
I give The Switch a 3.5 out of 5.
Saturday 10 December 2011
MVOTD: Running (Day 111)
Today's pretend winter theme song is Running by Hit-5. It features a stark white room. That's pretty wintery.
Since the music video has solid costuming (nary a bad outfit in the lot), good dancing, okay singing, and takes place just outside of a black hole (which means cool effects), there are very few things that could improve. The only things to improve would be the camera's sharpness and the cleanness of the sound.
According to the credits, BoA's brother had a hand in this. Interesting...
Pretentious Word of the Week: Hydrorhiza (Day 111)
This week we upgrade to Webster's Third New International Dictionary and Seven Language Dictionary, Unabridged: Volume 2, H-R. Unfortunately, the randomly selected word this week is really rather useless. It's "hydrorhiza".
Hydrorhiza: "a rootstock or decumbent stem by which a hydroid is attached to other objects."
This bring up the question, what is a hydroid?
Answer. Hydroid: "one of the Hydroida; the polyp form of a hydrozoan as distinguished from the medusa form."
...Not helpful. We'll go one step further and see if we can figure it out.
Hydroida: " an order of Hydrozoa comprising forms of alternating a well-developed asexual polyp generation with a generation of free medusae or of abortive medusoid reproductive structures on the polyps."
...This is getting us nowhere. Let's just say that it has something to do with jellyfish. I went a couple steps farther myself and jellyfish were mentioned so...they probably relate to the meaning. Now we need a real word- a useful word to be pretentious with. After all, if we get called on our word usage, we need to be able to explain the meaning to prove ourselves pretentious. Here goes.
Hovenia: "a genus of Asiatic trees or shrubs having alternate serrate leaves, small greenish flowers, and indehiscent fruit."
Now I hope you all have hovenia trees so that you can casually mention them in conversation.
Hydrorhiza: "a rootstock or decumbent stem by which a hydroid is attached to other objects."
This bring up the question, what is a hydroid?
Answer. Hydroid: "one of the Hydroida; the polyp form of a hydrozoan as distinguished from the medusa form."
...Not helpful. We'll go one step further and see if we can figure it out.
Hydroida: " an order of Hydrozoa comprising forms of alternating a well-developed asexual polyp generation with a generation of free medusae or of abortive medusoid reproductive structures on the polyps."
...This is getting us nowhere. Let's just say that it has something to do with jellyfish. I went a couple steps farther myself and jellyfish were mentioned so...they probably relate to the meaning. Now we need a real word- a useful word to be pretentious with. After all, if we get called on our word usage, we need to be able to explain the meaning to prove ourselves pretentious. Here goes.
Hovenia: "a genus of Asiatic trees or shrubs having alternate serrate leaves, small greenish flowers, and indehiscent fruit."
Now I hope you all have hovenia trees so that you can casually mention them in conversation.
Thursday 8 December 2011
MVOTD: BOA (Day 110)
Today's pretend winter theme song is BoA's Hurrican Venus. And yes, she has an accent so it sounds a bit squiffy.
BoA was one of the first K-pop artists that I learned of on my voyages through Youtube. Her song Eat You Up was the first song I had heard in a long long time where the woman was the possessor of her own sexuality. None of that "kiss me, marry me, let me be your girlfriend" stuff. She decided what she was going to do and to whom. As a feminist, that was a big deal.
BoA is a solid dancer and singer. Since her dances are not as sexualized as most female artists, she gets to show her athleticism a lot more instead. In Hurricane Venus, you get to see some of this. Also, you get to see that she's not all glitter and glamour. She wears a ball cap and practical heals. She also wears a hockey mask. That said, the costumes in this one are a wild mix of cool, eclectic, and wrong. The music video is mediocre, but that's okay. Not everything can be epic.
Tuesday 6 December 2011
MVOTD: B2ST (Day 109)
Many pop groups like to put out teasers to get their fans excited about an upcoming music video or single. These are usually like theatrical trailers in that they have clips from the actual product. However, apparently some musical groups put teasers out that do not relate to the final product in such a cut and dried way. B2ST/Beast for example. They have this teaser, very Christmasy indeed, called Let It Snow, which has no actual singing in it. And there isn't a music video for it either. It's just an ad for a single. Crazy.
It is rather clever in that their thoughts are written out in Hangul beside them. Too bad it's not subbed.
Every Day Is a New Day (Day 109)
I learned something new today. If your cheeks are frozen by winter winds for long enough, they actually freeze...as if you had just gone to the dentist to have some work done and they had frozen you with a needle. Life's weird sometimes.
Monday 5 December 2011
How To Make Hot Chocolate (Day 107)
How to Make Hot Chocolate the Hard Way
If, like I do, you ever run out of hot chocolate mix, here is an easy yet time consuming method to make some hot cocao without the mix. Ingredients required: milk and/or water, cocao powder, sugar.
The Steps:
1) Take out a small pot.
2) Put cocoa and sugar in it. I prefer a rough 1:1 ratio. Mine usually looks like 1 cup total, meaning about 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup cocao.
3) Put a wee bit of water in and mix it into a syrupy mixture.
4) Put the pot on a stove element and turn the heat on.
5) Add whatever mixture of milk and water you prefer. Liquids should be about 3 times the amount of the cocao suger pile. For me this is about 3 cups of liquid.
6) Stir and heat and stir and heat and taste test and stir and and heat and boil
7) Drink finished product mugs
I suggest adjusting this recipe to your cocao desires. My cocao is a little light on the sugar and heavy on the cocao taste so if you want something more sugary, add more sugar. You could also just add less liquid.
If, like I do, you ever run out of hot chocolate mix, here is an easy yet time consuming method to make some hot cocao without the mix. Ingredients required: milk and/or water, cocao powder, sugar.
The Steps:
1) Take out a small pot.
2) Put cocoa and sugar in it. I prefer a rough 1:1 ratio. Mine usually looks like 1 cup total, meaning about 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup cocao.
3) Put a wee bit of water in and mix it into a syrupy mixture.
4) Put the pot on a stove element and turn the heat on.
5) Add whatever mixture of milk and water you prefer. Liquids should be about 3 times the amount of the cocao suger pile. For me this is about 3 cups of liquid.
6) Stir and heat and stir and heat and taste test and stir and and heat and boil
7) Drink finished product mugs
I suggest adjusting this recipe to your cocao desires. My cocao is a little light on the sugar and heavy on the cocao taste so if you want something more sugary, add more sugar. You could also just add less liquid.
Music Video Of The Day: TVXQ (Day 107)
It turns out that TVXQ has a lot of songs. This makes sense since they are the most famous boyband ever. Today, have a look at TVXQ's My Little Princess - a condescending name suiting a pretty little acapella number, complete with ramen hair.
Monday Review: Flower Boy Ramyun Shop (Day 108)
In all honesty, I started this show on Monday, with the intention of maybe writing a review of it. Now it's Thursday, I have watched five epidodes, and I am so hooked. So super hooked. Flower Boy Ramyun Shop is a hit for me. Let me list the ways.
First off, the overarching plot is one we see often repeated - rich guy falls for poor yet strong willed woman, trouble ensues, and then they get married anyway. That's all fine. What really gets me is the fresh take they did on it. The male lead is an 18 year old who looks, and actually is in real life, 24. Through a series of events that involve his butt getting kicked he falls for his student teacher...who is 24, but she has no interest in him. Meanwhile there are also the secondary characters who are meant to compete for the primary characters affections...but they don't. They are fighting for each other's affections. Yay! Finally a male character that is not pursuing the lead female character of similar age. So refreshing. Also refreshing is that the person competing for the female lead's heart is not a scoundrel, but a kind hearted narcoleptic (sic) who would be super hard to hate. That being said, there happen to be a lot of attractive male characters in the show. This makes me think that it's probably geared towards older female teens.
...Since that wasn't a list here's another try at it. Why Flower Boy Ramyun Shop is a good show.
1) The manner in which the plot is played out is refreshing and different
2) There are a lot of attractive male characters... like a lot alot.
3) The female character did not and does not include having a boyfriend as a life goal.
4) The episodes are short. Only about 50 minutes each. K-dramas are usually 75 minutes long, so it makes them easier to watch.
5) The plotline moves both fast and slow. Slow in developing the background events and fast in developing major/fun events.
6) Thus far there are no evil antagonists. It's just people being people.
7) The name of the show sounds ridiculous in English.
And that's why I declare Flower Boy Ramyun Shop to be a good show. It definitely deserves a 4 out of 5...or more.
First off, the overarching plot is one we see often repeated - rich guy falls for poor yet strong willed woman, trouble ensues, and then they get married anyway. That's all fine. What really gets me is the fresh take they did on it. The male lead is an 18 year old who looks, and actually is in real life, 24. Through a series of events that involve his butt getting kicked he falls for his student teacher...who is 24, but she has no interest in him. Meanwhile there are also the secondary characters who are meant to compete for the primary characters affections...but they don't. They are fighting for each other's affections. Yay! Finally a male character that is not pursuing the lead female character of similar age. So refreshing. Also refreshing is that the person competing for the female lead's heart is not a scoundrel, but a kind hearted narcoleptic (sic) who would be super hard to hate. That being said, there happen to be a lot of attractive male characters in the show. This makes me think that it's probably geared towards older female teens.
...Since that wasn't a list here's another try at it. Why Flower Boy Ramyun Shop is a good show.
1) The manner in which the plot is played out is refreshing and different
2) There are a lot of attractive male characters... like a lot alot.
3) The female character did not and does not include having a boyfriend as a life goal.
4) The episodes are short. Only about 50 minutes each. K-dramas are usually 75 minutes long, so it makes them easier to watch.
5) The plotline moves both fast and slow. Slow in developing the background events and fast in developing major/fun events.
6) Thus far there are no evil antagonists. It's just people being people.
7) The name of the show sounds ridiculous in English.
And that's why I declare Flower Boy Ramyun Shop to be a good show. It definitely deserves a 4 out of 5...or more.
MVOTD: Epic (Day 108)
MVOTD is my new term for Music Video Of The Day. Isn't it so hip and with-it? Well, so maybe the new name isn't cool, but this music video sure is. It's Cello Wars by the Piano Guys. Can you say epic jedi vs. sith cello battle with accordian underlay? I can, thanks to this video.
Saturday 3 December 2011
Music Video Of The Day: TVXQ (Day 106)
TVXQ, the world's most popular boyband ever, has a lot of bad music video lovin'. ...I mean, music videos with ridiculousness. Here's another part of their story, Step by Step.
Pretentious Word of The Week: Flemish Scroll (Day 106)
Today's randomly selected word from Webster's Third New International Dictionary and Seven Language Dictionary Unabridged: Volume 1, A-G is "flemish scroll". It is most often used to describe furniture.
Flemish scroll - "a double scroll on furniture formed of two C-scrolls in opposite directions joined by a right angle." Well that's pretty specific. It's basically a fancy S shaped leg and no two shakes about it.
What apretentious useful word. Using "flemish scroll" will be particularly impressive when you visit your hoity toity friends; 1) because they are the only people likely to have flemish scrolled furniture, and 2) because they probably won't know about it yet so you will sound smart. It should get you some good pretentious points.
Flemish scroll - "a double scroll on furniture formed of two C-scrolls in opposite directions joined by a right angle." Well that's pretty specific. It's basically a fancy S shaped leg and no two shakes about it.
What a
Friday 2 December 2011
Music Video Of The Day: SNSD (Day 105)
Today's winter themed music video is SNSD's/Girls Generation's The Boys. It was quite... SNSDy. There was dancing. It wasn't very impressive, but I've actually tried to learn SNSD choreography so I have some respect for what they do achieve. Mostly I was distracted by the minute-twenty intro and the way the members are as skinny as young teenagers, the way only 13 and 14 year olds can achieve. The intro included fun things like a dress with a funny bump/tail, a strange piece of kryponite black floaty rock, and a strutting in gowns with rose petals floating from the sky scene. The song is pretty catchy after you listen to it a couple times, so it's actually pretty decent in general. Here it is. SNSD's The Boys.
Thursday 1 December 2011
Music Video Of The Day: IU (Day 104)
Today's video is compliments of the Youtube suggestions box. It is IU's You & I.
The beginning of this music video is very promising. There is a cool creepy clock tower with strangely placed cool looking items. Then there is a cozily dressed young lady with her goose. The goose is so the best part of the music video with its clever cravat. They, it turns out, are building something to save a young man from being comatose. Flip screens. It's the dance scene, and it is not impressive, but I can see why since who wants to move around in a tiny tiny tiny skirt. Cue back to the cool stuff. The lady is building.. dun dun dun...a TARDIS! WHAT? And she's taking her goose back in time to save her boyfriend...or something. But that makes him sad. Aww. The rest is all very music video-ey and well shot. Even the last three minutes of credits.
The beginning of this music video is very promising. There is a cool creepy clock tower with strangely placed cool looking items. Then there is a cozily dressed young lady with her goose. The goose is so the best part of the music video with its clever cravat. They, it turns out, are building something to save a young man from being comatose. Flip screens. It's the dance scene, and it is not impressive, but I can see why since who wants to move around in a tiny tiny tiny skirt. Cue back to the cool stuff. The lady is building.. dun dun dun...a TARDIS! WHAT? And she's taking her goose back in time to save her boyfriend...or something. But that makes him sad. Aww. The rest is all very music video-ey and well shot. Even the last three minutes of credits.
What really makes this video are the goose...and the TARDIS. First Korean TARDIS I've ever seen. Yippie!
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Month End Review: November (Day 103)
November had many solid music videos in it. Some were fun. Some were serious. Some had ridiculous scenes. But which one was the best? Here's the list of music videos shown.
Since there were so many good music videos, it is fortunate that some are disqualified for being shown before. These would be No Soy Un Superman, Sorry Sorry, Bonamana, Perfection (oh the bad hats!), A-Cha, and Oy El Boom.
Top marks go to Gold Miss's Gee, David Bisbal, and Ozone's Dragostea Din Tai. This month is a tie between my personal favourite of the month - Gold Miss's Gee - , and the music video that can be watched the most without getting bored - David Bisbal's Ave Maria. Congrats to both.
| 2NE1 | Clap Your Hands |
| 2PM | Heartbeat |
| AA | So Crazy |
| B2ST/Beast | Breath |
| Bach | Cello: The Silence Before Bach |
| David Bisbal | Buleria |
| David Bisbal | Oye el Boom |
| David Bisbal | Ave Maria |
| David Bustamante | Dos Hombres Y Un Destino |
| David Bustamante | No Soy Un Superman |
| Fahrenheit | Ai Dao |
| Girl's Generation | Gee |
| Gold Miss | Gee |
| Hangeng | My Logo |
| Hangeng | Fire |
| Henry Lau | Baby |
| MYNAME | Message |
| Nerd Alert | SCV Love Song |
| O-zone | Dragostea Din Tai |
| Rain | Love Song |
| SHINee | Juliette |
| SHINee | Replay (Japanese, & Korean parody) |
| SS501 | Single 3rd |
| Super Junior | Boom Boom |
| Super Junior | Sorry Sorry |
| Super Junior | Sorry Sorry |
| Super Junior | Bonamana |
| Super Junior | Mr. Simple |
| Super Junior | A-cha |
| Super Junior M | Super Girl |
| Super Junior M | Perfection |
| U-KISS | "0330" |
| ZE:A | Heart For 2 |
Since there were so many good music videos, it is fortunate that some are disqualified for being shown before. These would be No Soy Un Superman, Sorry Sorry, Bonamana, Perfection (oh the bad hats!), A-Cha, and Oy El Boom.
Top marks go to Gold Miss's Gee, David Bisbal, and Ozone's Dragostea Din Tai. This month is a tie between my personal favourite of the month - Gold Miss's Gee - , and the music video that can be watched the most without getting bored - David Bisbal's Ave Maria. Congrats to both.
Misused Christianese (Day 103)
I have an issue with pop groups trying to be sexy and then using Christianese. It may be me being a hypocrite, but it is something that seriously does annoy me.
I have two examples. One is NSYNC's Christmas album and the other is TVXQ's song One Last Cry.
NSYNC. NSYNC is American and therefore anything Christianese will improve their saleability. My biggest issue with the album is the focus on Santa (and love) with the vaguely Christianese statements thrown in (vaguely Christianese statements with messed up theology). For me at Christmas there are two things that don't mix, Santa and Jesus, because only one can be the reason for the season. Therefore, a song about the meaning of the season should not mention Santa...and romance...and God as the reason for the season. Pick one. You can't have all three.
TVXQ. Their song One Last Cry has these lyrics. "A dame and shit and drunk, you came to get it onnnnnn. That's when it all got started (I mean) Back then I wasn't so cold hearted. With every stanza came an extravaganza. For every question he got one less answer. I was tryin' to but the futuro take. Now I Lay me down to sleep (And I) I pray the Lord my soul to keep (If I) If I should die before I wake (Then I) I pray the, let's get on our knee's. Now I Lay me down to sleep (And I) I pray the Lord my soul to keep (If I) If I should die before I wake (Then I) I pray the Lord my soul to take (Follow Me) Now I Lay me down to sleep..." You get the picture. My question is what is this song trying to say? How is it connecting drunken hotel sex to a well known prayer? And why?
For both, it's like they are saying two (or three) different things in one song and trying to connect them because they sound cool, and that's not cool.
I have two examples. One is NSYNC's Christmas album and the other is TVXQ's song One Last Cry.
NSYNC. NSYNC is American and therefore anything Christianese will improve their saleability. My biggest issue with the album is the focus on Santa (and love) with the vaguely Christianese statements thrown in (vaguely Christianese statements with messed up theology). For me at Christmas there are two things that don't mix, Santa and Jesus, because only one can be the reason for the season. Therefore, a song about the meaning of the season should not mention Santa...and romance...and God as the reason for the season. Pick one. You can't have all three.
TVXQ. Their song One Last Cry has these lyrics. "A dame and shit and drunk, you came to get it onnnnnn. That's when it all got started (I mean) Back then I wasn't so cold hearted. With every stanza came an extravaganza. For every question he got one less answer. I was tryin' to but the futuro take. Now I Lay me down to sleep (And I) I pray the Lord my soul to keep (If I) If I should die before I wake (Then I) I pray the, let's get on our knee's. Now I Lay me down to sleep (And I) I pray the Lord my soul to keep (If I) If I should die before I wake (Then I) I pray the Lord my soul to take (Follow Me) Now I Lay me down to sleep..." You get the picture. My question is what is this song trying to say? How is it connecting drunken hotel sex to a well known prayer? And why?
For both, it's like they are saying two (or three) different things in one song and trying to connect them because they sound cool, and that's not cool.
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Music Video Of The Day: 2PM (Day 102)
Today's music video was randomly selected by my brother as the only K-pop song (other than Super Junior) whose name he knows. Yes, that means 2PM's Heartbeat. Hearbeat by chance, is one of those songs which repeat its name over and over within the song, making its name easy to remember.
2PM's Heartbeat begins with an awkward rewind scene, followed by close up shots of the member'sconstipated heartbroken faces. If that isn't promising, what is? Then there is the glowing heart and twitching chest, the underwater aquarium of depression, and the zombie dance moves...all within the first minute-thirty. Is there anything that can top this? Maybe the puppet dance? Or the paint brush ponytails? Answer...nope, the first minute-thirty cannot be topped. However, we do get to realize that the whole thing is ridiculous. This is good, because the dance isn't very entertaining. Thank you zombie dance/constipation faces/ponytails for making the music video memorable.
2PM's Heartbeat begins with an awkward rewind scene, followed by close up shots of the member's
A Short Bit (Day 102)
In the first two weeks of November it snowed. Or rather, it hor frosted, which was really pretty. Then, when we safely thought the snow was permanent. BAM! The southernly winds decided to melt everything, in a sickening couplet of bad roads and grimy road surfaces. Not to be defeated, the snow snowed and snowed and snowed. Everything was covered again. It was really pretty. But those south winds decided to fight back and tried to melt everything again. Oh the snowmen that were built and died. Where is this going you wonder? Well, no where. I just wanted to vent a little at the wonderful weather and bad road conditions that are not allowing me to blog about winter. It would be a lot easier to talk about snow if it were around...like it's supposed to be.
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