MVOTD: David Bisbal (Day 165)

As a special "shout out" to Life Is Too Short to Learn German, who is going on a trip and is my biggest blog follower, here's David Bisbal's Digale. May you enjoy it.

Yeah, that's right. Two endings in one song.

MVOTD Two Month Review (D165)

It's true. I've been slacking. In March there were many fine music videos. In April, not so much. Here is the list of music videos posted in the last two months.
 

Backstreet Boys	As Long As You Love Me
Big Bang	Fantastic Baby
BOA (Duet with Daichi)	Possibility
David Bisbal	Esta Auscencia
David Bisbal	Esclavo de sus Besos
Donghae & Eunhyuk	Oppa Oppa (Japanese version)
EXO	History
Henry Lau	Off My Mind
Juno	Everything
LEDApple	Time Is Up
NU'EST	Face
Shinhwa	Hero
Shinhwa	Venus
SS501	Déjà Vu
X-5	Dangerous

The past two months of music videos and be divided into several categories:

Cheesy/Campy
Backstreet Boys, As Long as You Love Me
Anything David Bisbal
Juno, Everything
Donghae & Eunhyuk, Oppa Oppa (all versions)

Artsy and/or Odd
Big Bang, Fantastic Baby
BOA, Possibility
Anything David Bisbal
Shinwha, Venus
LEDApple, Time Is Up

Watch it for the Fashion/Song
Henry Lau, Off My Mind
X-5, Dangerous
Big Bang, Fantastic Baby
SS501, Deja Vu

Normal Pop Music Video
NU'EST, Face
EXO, History
SS501, Deja Vu
All the rest of the music videos

Pretty much Donghae & Eunhyuk's Oppa Oppa wins because I have great great affection for Super Junior. The music video itself is super cheesy and campy, has great (horribly tacky) fashion, and a super fun disco-esqe song. Therefore it has lots going for it besides my affection towards Super Junior. It's a fabulous music video. Here it is.

Thanks to reviewing the previous month's music videos I have news. Hanson is making a comeback....again. This time it's their album Shout it Out. If Youtube can be counted as accurate, that means that it will be the second time that Hanson has tried to make a comeback (that I know about). That means they have great determination, and maybe new skills. ...We can always hope for the best.

MVOTD: X-5, Dangerous (D 164)

Do you like 19th century Englishmen? Probably not. They're all dead now. Rather, do you like 19th century fashion? I do, and I expect that the stylists behind X-5's Dangerous did as well. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of harsh lighting and colour effects in the music video that impedes the fashion appreciation. There is also a great deal of hand dancing which is surprising for a male group. Other than that the only thing to complain about is that it sounds like club music... and the dub-stepping is awkward. Too bad.

MVOTD: NU'EST (D 163)

NU'EST, the urban electro band, surprised me lately in their music video Face.

I think if you are a fan of Kpop, as I am, you have probably done your fair share of defending flower boys from your friends. You know the difference between the men and the women. I thought I did. That's why it surprised me when I watched NU'EST's Face and all I could think was, "That guy looks looks like a girl."

Actually, it was more like, " That guy looks like a girl. That guy looks like a girl. That guy looks like Sena off of Rooftop Prince. She is so pretty. That guy looks like a girl/Sena."

Other than the flower boy the music video is pretty good. It's got dancing, the classic school gang fight theme, and all the other elements that make up a music video. Plus as far as the flower boy goes, I'm guessing that they are going to change his haircut for the next music video making the girly look temporary.

Here's Sena for comparisons sake.

MVOTD: David Bisbal (Day 162)

It has been awhile since David Bisbal has last been featured. Today's David Bisbal, Esclavo De Sus Besos, features a creepy vampire dominatrix and the return of David Bisbal's dancing after his Premonicion dancing siesta. The music video includes lots of dangling lights and David Bisbal wearing a very Spanish shirt in the Spanish way. Other than that is is just a fun song (which I saw him sing live).

Skip-Beat! Episode 15 Review

Episode 15 (Finale)

Picture from TV Magazine/SUJU_MIRACLEPRESS

It’s Dun He Lian’s last chance to prove himself. Therefore, he has decided his Dark Moon character will play the piano with his character’s crush. Everyone is really nervous. Lian begins to play the piano badly. Then the crush joins in. They harmonize and get better. Then they play faster and faster until they are flirting. Yay! The scene is saved and Lian doesn’t have to retire from acting.

Afterwards, the president gives a speech of approval, Lian compliments another woman, and Gong Xi gets jealous. Trying to figure out why, she hears that Lian makes his co-actors fall in love with him so that they will act naturally (with love) back to him . Mr. Du, who helps her figure out this stuff, thinks that she is freaking out over him talking to other women and is worried that she will be a jealous girlfriend for Lian.

Meanwhile, the president is asking Lian who he loves. Lian is all like “I don’t love anybody”, but the president in his covertly smart way figures it out anyway. Filming is completed, and Gong Xi never has a good chat with Lian again, because Lian is awkward around her.

Months later, thanks to her super cool friend from the early episodes, Gong Xi goes to watch the first episode of Dark Moon with her boss’s (her) family. They are fans. Stuff happens. It turns out that Lian’s father was Lian’s character in the original Dark Moon and Lian has been living under his shadow all along. Gong Xi and Lian walk past Bu Po Shang without batting and eyelash. Bu Po Shang vows to become the biggest thing in the entertainment industry and win back Gong Xi’s heart. Gong Xi tells Lian that she no longer hates Bu Po, and she’s just happy to be acting. Jiang is doing commercials, so she and Gong Xi reunite to talk and send Gong Xi east (in pursuit of Lian).

There, in her home town, Gong Xi and Lian meet at their old stomping grounds. Gong Xi, worried that Dun He Lian is putting too much pressure on himself gives him her special rock and tells him that she got it from the fairy prince (Lian with blonde hair. I’m so glad I wasn’t making up the fairy thing.). Not only that, but she tells him about the fairy king and queen (Lian’s parents) and their special abilities. He cannot help but laugh at her. She imagines him as a fairy. He then apologizes to her and there’s A KISSING SCENE! WHAAAAAAAT? Oh but wait, it’s just Gong Xi’s imagination. When she gets back to work she is still in the Love Me Section, which she thought she had left in the dust. It's a tough life for her.

With all the storylines that didn’t get neatly tied up (the love stories, Love Me Section, etc.), there could be a second season. In fact, this is a link to a petition for the producers to make a second season with the original actors. I know that I liked the cast, especially Mr. Du, Jiang, and our lovely Super Junior members, so I will be signing it.

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“As normal as having a toilette in the bathroom.” –Gong Xi in reference to being nervous around Lian

Skip-Beat! Episode 14 Review (Day 161)

Episode 14

Gong Xi chicken discusses love with Dun He Lian, because he doesn't know a thing about it. Later, when normal Gong Xi is giving him a bento, Lian invites her over to his place for the evening. The English subs were truly scandalous for the invite. However, he just wants to practice acting with someone he likes so that he can figure out how to act.

While Gong Xi acts the romantic lead, Dun He Lian tries to figure out how to act his role in Dark Moon. It doesn’t go as planned though, as he falls ever deeper into the pit of liking Gong Xi. First she stabs him by mentioning his character’s girlfriend. Then she tries to cook for him, which in the ways of the drama lead to him rescuing her, hugging her, and then asking her if she wants him to teach her how to kiss. She doesn’t realize that it is himself asking and not the character he is trying to portray (I hope every Siwon fan was like, “YES! Just kiss her already” even though T-Drama’s have very little kissing ever). Then she finishes cooking and leaves.

The next day is D-day. Lian has to perform his role in front of everyone, chairman and reporters included, and he has to do it perfectly. Everyone is super serious except Gong Xi because her job is to not be serious. Lian asks to go off script…and blows them out of the water. Even though the leading lady wanted to sabotage him, she was taken off guard and acted the correct way anyway. However, Lian appears to make a fatal mistake and begins a horrid little piano duet. What can be the outcome?

MVOTD: Oppa Oppa (Day 160)

It is official. I have great affection for this song. First, because it made me laugh out loud on the first view, and second because it is and continues to be ridiculous. Today's version of Donghae & Eunhyuk's song Oppa Oppa is the most recent in a string of music videos made for the song. This mv is the Japanese version with special guests Shindong and Sungmin of Super Junior.

The Japanese version of Oppa Oppa, probably Super Junior's second official 'original' Japanese language music video (that's right. Dubbing doesn't count), features all the great things in the original version with some lovely twists. Liked the metallic suits? They're back. Liked Donghae slapping Eunhyuk? That's back. Liked the goofy dance? It's back. Like guys who pretend to be bad but aren't actually? That's a new feature. Like random car rides that are clearly filmed in front of a green screen? That's new too. Like cheese? Well, strap yourself in for a wild cheese ride.

Skip-Beat! Episode 13 Review (Day 160)

Episode 13

Picture from bing.com

Filming of Gong Xi and Dun He Lian’s drama continues. However, Dun He Lian cannot express love and thus he cannot figure out the character he is supposed to play. Because of this, he gets depressed.

While Dun He Lian is getting depressed, Bu Po Shang is getting fidgety imagining Lian and Gong Xi having romantic couple's dinners. 'Why can’t he concentrate on his work?' is the question on his mind.

Back at the set, Dun He Lian has been told to go home for a couple of days. Gong Xi desperately wants to help him but she doesn’t know how. Then, while wheeling the crazed chicken costume past him, she decides to dress up as a giant chicken so that he can talk about his issues without fear and she can give him advice. Her crazy plan works, but she ends up insulting him lots. Turns out that the ever so attractive Dun He Lian has never been in love. Lian also gets annoyed at people who want him to confide his issues to them and then proceed to not listen. Thus, he tries to pry the chicken head off Gong Xi and succeeds in ripping off….her top feather. How awkward.   

Gong Xi chicken does succeed, eventually, in telling Lian what the symptoms of love are. Ironically, he thinks about that advice in relation to Gong Xi. Gong Xi chicken then tells Dun He Lian to date the one he is thinking of (Gong Xi), in order to improve his acting. She gets jealous of herself because she thinks he likes someone else. Gong Xi and Lian eat together. Mr. Du is happy. Gong Xi unwittingly plots to make Lian date her. Things aren't resolved.

Best quote of the episode? “I never thought that a chicken would teach me the meaning of love.” - Dun He Lian.

Skip-Beat! Episode 12 Review

Episode 12

It is press conference time. The cast and crew of Gong Xi’s new drama are answering questioning very well until, dun dun dun dunnnn, a reporter asks the director why he changed his name. The director…faints. He then has nightmares and wakes up in order to have a discussion with Gong Xi where we find out he has an old flame/friend. Oooooh.

Filming begins on the drama, titled Dark Moon. While Dun He Lian is having no problems, Gong Xi is and they need to discuss them. This gives a good opportunity to stare at Mr. Du being cute. While everyone else gets it, Gong Xi continues to have problems and is continuously yelled at by her predecessor, Ching Jei. However, once Lian stands up for her and she spends a little time alone with Mr. Du (yet ignores him. How can she ignore him?) she figures it out. The problem is, being a method actor, she becomes the character. This leads to awkward situations where she is her character Wei Xu and everybody else is normal.

Dun He Lian once again remembers when he was a fairy giving Gong Xi a present. This time the fairyhood was definite because he was sparkling in the sunlight telling her they were not the same. Yup. Definitely a fairy. Meanwhile Bu Po Shang was finding out that his Gong Xi was in a major drama with his most reviled enemy. Gong Xi, completely unaware that two attractive men were starting to like her acted very well at the shoot and Ching Jei, diva, acknowledged her skills.

Skip-Beat! Episode 11 Review

Episode 11

Gong Xi and Bu Po Shang talk about how Bu Po couldn’t ever comfort her when she was crying so she used to run off in order to cry. He is all angry because he wanted to be able to comfort her, etc., etc. Dun He Lian calls Gong Xi and Bu Po ruins the phone call. Now Lian is jealous with rage and Gong Xi is afraid that he is angry at her for trying to revenge herself on Bu Po.

Gong Xi and Mary find out that it is Jiang Nan Qin’s birthday, so they sneak off to her house to surprise her. What they find though, is Jiang going on a series of role playing jobs. Jiang even runs into Gong Xi when they are both working. This leads to an awkward confrontation and Jiang admitting that her family is HUGE! Okay, only about 4 kids per sibling, but they all live in the same house. Now Gong Xi wants to tell Jiang all her secrets.

Before Gong Xi has the chance to build up her courage, her manager tells her that she is going to be a in a drama with Lian. In order to ask Qin’s advice, Gong Xi first has to spill the beans about her past with Bu Po Shang. Qin, now enlightened, gives Gong Xi good advice and Gong Xi heads over to ask Lian forgiveness for lying to him. First however, she has to scream and run away upon seeing him.

Next, the president of LME has talks with the drama director…in his bathtub (it’s a really big bathtub. But remember kids, this is a clean show so don't imagine any funny business.) in order to tell him that Lian can’t be in his drama (because Lian has a deep inability to show affection. Shh. It’s a secret.). Gong Xi finds out later whilst eavesdropping and tromps in to meet the director and talk about the issue (and have a hissy fit). Meanwhile, Lian meets with the president (insert life-size horse lamp here) to overcome the issue (of his bad romantic acting) because of course he and Gong Xi have to do the drama together, and, through acting together he’ll learn all about romance.

Later, at the drama announcement, the leading lady (not Gong Xi) insults Gong Xi, the director looks ill/is nervous, and Dun He Lian asks Gong Xi if she is ready to surpass the previous drama. What will happen next?

MVOTD: Shinhwa

Shinhwa, a popular boy band close to the beginning of the Hallyu (Korean) Wave, is back. That's right, it's a real comeback. Instead of just calling it a comeback as most groups do, Shinhwa is actually making a comeback. It's a real shocker.

Here is Hero, an old song of theirs.

And here is Venus, the new release.

I don't know about you, but for me there were some surprises. The first was that some of them look like they haven't aged since 2005...and it's been seven years! The second surprise was the female back-up dancers feeling them up. That was both awkward and usually reserved for live shows (where it is still awkward). The third surprise, is that they, Shinhwa are wearing heels. Most male groups wear lifts instead because they don't want to admit to wearing heels. The last and final surprise: the woman they are pursuing is caucasian. Caucasian women are never the love interest in Kpop music videos. Shinhwa has really thrown convention out the door with this one. The question is, is that a good thing or a bad thing?