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Saturday, April 12, 2014

MV Breakdown! BTS - Just One Day

Hello everyone! I was not expecting to have this posted today, but I could not sleep, so here's, yet, another "MV Breakdown!"

Of course, you all already know how much I love Bangtan Boys, so naturally I have a breakdown of their latest music video, "Just One Day."


Now, this video is very different from the usual side of the boys we're used to seeing: a very tough, manly, and hard-hitting image. The music video highlights a sweeter and softer side to them that definitely gives fans even more of a reason to fall for them! ( > v < )

Let's start off with the whole ambience of the video. 

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The setting is very, very simple, just a white background, chairs (for each member), and shadows. Watching the video for the first time, I was definitely caught off guard because the background was so plain that all I could focus on was the boys themselves, which is an ingenious way to highlight them. You have no choice, but to pay attention to them because there's nothing else to really look at. The shadows, one of a clock and the other of bars (which I interpreted as a window), represent a sense of passing time, just like when the sun is setting -- hence the lyrics "if only I had just one day," a very limited timeframe. The only change in scenery is the spotlight sequence where Jimin, V, J-hope, and Jungkook are dancing, which, again, is a great way to highlight their dancing skills.

The white background also creates a feeling of sincerity and purity for the video. They're singing about having a chance to get to know this girl and how much they would cherish spending time with her, so this atmosphere of sincerity and pure intentions makes the song that much more meaningful. (This theme of "sincerity and purity" is also accentuated through their outfits.)

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The song, itself, stays quite true to their style, a Hip-Hop/Rap sound, but leaning more toward an R&B feel. What I've really enjoyed about this album, that reflects a lot of old school Hip-Hop, is the simple beat of the songs that allow the lyrics to shine. 

Their outfits emulate the school/teenage love theme of the album with their uniform-like cardigans, collared button-ups, and ties. The second set of outfits also mirrors their usual edgier, street wear looks, but with more of a hipster influenced style for a more cleaned-up, put together image.

Lastly, and my favorite part of Kpop videos, the choreography. 
I really enjoyed the choreography for this song/video because it leans more toward lyrical Hip-Hop versus the typical, blunt movements of a traditional Hip-Hop dance style. The choreography reflects a lot of what the song is about from simple things such as holding their hand to the ripples and isolations/ticking to imitate time. I also appreciated Jimin, V, J-Hope, and Jungkook's solo dance sections because their advanced techniques are both aesthetically pleasing and shows off how talented they are.

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Overall, I really enjoyed this video for its simplicity. It truly allows us to focus on each member and their talents, plus we're given another reminder of how good looking they are. ;) The essential aura of the video, "sincerity, innocence, and purity," makes you love the song even more because it makes you feel like they really mean what they're saying. Come on, who wouldn't want BTS to serenade them? ( > 3 < )

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As always, thank you for reading! Let me know in the comments what you think about Bangtan Boys' latest music video, or just what you love about them, in general. :P 

Please make sure to follow this blog for more Kpop related topics!

Until next time. :)

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Pit Tickets Contest!

Hello everyone. :) Remember that contest I mentioned? Well, it has officially started!!


So here's the basics of the LA Kpop Festival Pit Tickets Contest!

Duration: Monday, March 31st @ 12:30pm - Friday, April 4th @ 11:59pm
Prize: 25 participants will be randomly chosen to win a pair of Standing Pit Tickets. The winners will be announced on Monday, April 7th.
Eligibility: You must be 13 years of age or older during the time of the contest.
How to Enter: Retweet their poster on Twitter and/or share the poster on Facebook (make sure it's public so they can see it).
FAQ: There is no limit to how many times you can retweet or share the poster. :D

For more information, check out their "Rules and Regulations" page.

Good luck to everyone! :)

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Update: LA Kpop Festival Concert Tickets

Hi guys! Did all of you remember to wake up for those concert tickets? I hope so, and congrats to those that got theirs! :)

For those of you that, unfortunately, could not get a ticket, here's some good news; you still have a chance!

On Monday, March 31st, at 10:00 am PST, the LA Kpop Festival will be holding a contest on their Facebook and Twitter pages for a chance to win a pair of Pit Tickets!! 
The only requirements explained, so far, are to like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Despite the fact that Ticketmaster was quick to sell out on tickets, the LA Kpop Festival announced yesterday that should more tickets become available, they will be sure to update everyone via Facebook and Twitter. 

Many fans were also quite upset that a lot of people were selling the tickets they obtained for ridiculous prices, some up to $250+, in which the LA Kpop Festival also noted that they do not condone the sale of concert tickets.
There have also been a few kind fans out their who were generous enough to simply give their extra tickets away to those who were not able to get one. 
( ^ - ^ )

[Side Note: In my opinion, we all just want a chance to see our favorite idols in person. Especially as international fans, it can be very difficult for us to come across a great opportunity such as this free concert. So for those who are trying to make a profit off of this concert, do consider those who want this just as bad as others, but cannot afford it. Another thing to consider is that those who are willing to pay for these tickets are condoning the behavior of those who sell them. It's understandable that all of us terribly want to attend the concert, but both sides are at fault. This whole practices seems a bit immoral, in my honest opinion. Just saying.]

They also announced yesterday that there were physical tickets still available at the HwaGae Traditional Market in LA.

Other, unofficial, ticket information floating among netizens is that Ticketmaster will most likely release more tickets in the future since they are known to release tickets in waves. This first distribution could have been used to obtain a general idea on the amount of interest for the concert. Many netizens also do not believe that the 100,000 capacity of the coliseum has been filled. 

All we can do now is cross our fingers for more opportunities to obtain tickets!

 For more updates on this upcoming concert and other hallyu related topics, make sure to follow this blog. :)

Also, let me know in the comments down below how you feel about the sale of concert tickets. Do you think it's okay? Or not? Or maybe you just don't care. Leave your opinions down below because I'd love to hear them! Feel free to share any other information you have on the concert, as well.

Thanks for reading; until next time!

Friday, March 28, 2014

Drama Review: Future Diary

Hi guys! Along with K-Pop, I love K-dramas and anime so today's review will be on the most recent drama that I finished, which is actually a Japanese drama, not Korean… 

Anyways, the drama is "Future Diary: Another World," and my friend and I were completely obsessed with it! 

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There are 11 episodes, which is significantly shorter than Korean dramas, but, I believe, Japanese dramas tend to have second seasons, unlike K-dramas. This was also the first J-drama I've watched, so I can't name too many significant differences between the two. One thing that really stood out to me is the speed of the plot development. Since J-dramas are much shorter, everything happens one after the other, and this style definitely kept me watching because each episode was so shocking that I just wanted more. This drama was also based off the popular manga-turned-anime, Mirai Nikki.

Genre: Romantic Thriller
I would say this drama was a romantic thriller because there is a romantic relationship between the two main characters, but the situation that they find themselves in is very complicated. It's not your typical, the families hate each other conflict, but they're in a serious, life or death mission. There are a lot of plot twists that keep you on your toes and definitely keep you guessing because once you think you've figured it out, something else is thrown at you. (Hence why we finished the drama in 3 days; it was just too intriguing!)

Synopsis:
This drama is about a boy, Hoshino Arata (Okada Masaki), who ends up with a Chronus Seed Corporation smartphone, and soon learns that his new phone has the capability to tell him his future, the Future Diary. Later on, he meets a girl, named Furusaki Yuno (Gouriki Ayame), whom he discovers also has a Future Diary. They uncover the sick reality that they are merely two of seven other unwilling contestants that must participate in a sadistic game -- where they must use their Future Diaries to kill each other -- in order to be awarded the prize of their "ideal future."

Overall:
For an overall rating, I'd give this drama a 9 out of 10. It was wonderfully heart-racing and captures your full attention. The storyline was well-written, and was a very intriguing and thought-provoking concept. The only thing that I keeps me from giving this drama a perfect 10 is the character development. It could just be the difference is styles, and the time crunch since there are only 11 episodes, but the growth of Hoshino Arata seemed a bit rushed for my liking. Other than that, I highly recommend this drama for anyone who is looking for something a little different from the typical love story, but still has the aspect of a heart wrenching couple relationship. 

For more drama reviews/recommendations, don't forget to hit that follow button in the upper left hand corner. :) Also, leave a comment down below telling me how you liked or didn't like this drama, or any recommendations you have for me to watch next.

Until next time! :)

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

KBS Free K-Pop Concert Ticket Info!!!

Hello! The wait is over!

Tickets will be released on TICKETMASTER on Saturday, March 29 at 10:00 am PST!!

The tickets are free, but there is a small service fee of $0.75.

To reserve your tickets in person, also at 10:00 am PST, it's a first come, first serve basis at the HwaGae Traditional Market (940 S. Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA). 5,000 tickets will be distributed at this location.

There is a 2 ticket limit per person.

Make sure to RESERVE your tickets!

The concert is only 2 weeks away! :D

For more info on the concert, check out my previous post here. :)

(Source: LA Kpop Festival Facebook Event)