YG's new reality survival show - Who Is Next?

I just saw the pilot episode of WIN: Who Is Next? on Mnet's youtube channel. For non-YG stans, WIN is a new 10-episodic reality survival show on Mnet that documents the debut of YG Entertainment's next boy group. In the same way the debut of Big Bang was documented in a reality show, WIN shows us the road to the debut of YG's first new boy band in 8 years, dubbed WINNER.

However, unlike Big Bang's debut, WIN seems more cutthroat and aggressive. While G-Dragon and the rest of the boys of Big Bang competed for a spot to be a member of the group, with Jang Hyun-seung eventually being cut from the Big Bang roster (he's now a member of the boy band Beast under Cube Entertainment), WIN's premise is having two set teams fight for the right to debut. Should the team beat out the other team, based on audience votes, they debut in 3 months. The losing team may face member changes, another 4 years delay in their debut, or be totally dropped from YG. The stakes are higher for the 11 trainees and this excites me.

While we have some familiar faces on the show (i.e. Kang Seung-yoon of Superstar K2, Lee Seung-hoon of K-Pop Star - both members of Team A), there are a handful of new and interesting trainees whom we will be getting to know more of throughout the course of the show. I'm not sure how much of an advantage Seung-yoon and Seung-hoon's team have on the show, despite already having made names for themselves, seeing as how they seem more like the underdogs in this early stage of the competition. While I give mad props to Team A's vocals, the younger guys on Team B seem to have an edge when it comes to teamwork and rapping and dancing skills, which CEO Yang Hyun-suk has clearly acknowledged.

Seems like I'll be keeping close tabs on this show. Not sure which team I'm rooting for yet, but we'll see how it goes.

WIN: Who Is Next? airs every Friday night at 10pm on Mnet, with a replay at 11:20pm on tvN. Episodes are subsequently uploaded onto Mnet's youtube channel with English subtitles for international fans. Catch the first episode below.

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My Lists: 10 favorite idol-actors

I know it's been ages since my last post. I was down with a fever for a good week and that took away from quality online time. Heh. But anyway, I'm back now and thought it a perfect opportunity to write up another list.

There have been many casting news for new movies and dramas due out later this year to next year and, of course, a number of idols are being considered for big roles. What's a project without an idol-turned-actor up in the credits, right? While not all idol-actors are praiseworthy, there are certainly more than a handful of actors in your favorite dramas and movies who started out (and are still) idol stars. And for today's list, I'll be giving you my top 10 favorite idol-actors.

Yoon Eun-hye - I don't know much about Baby V.O.X but I do love me some Yoon Eun-hye. Though she got her fair share of criticism for her debut role as an actor in Goong, Yoon Eun-hye showed her detractors that she's actually got some acting chops in her follow up drama Coffee Prince. That drama, to this day, is still one of my all-time favorites and it put Yoon Eun-hye on my list of favorite actresses.

Eric Mun - Who doesn't love Shinhwa's leader, Eric? Not only is he tall, dark, and handsome, he's also such a charming guy with an insane sense of humor. Plus, the boy can act. One of my all-time favorite melodramas is the 2007 watch-it-and-weep Que Sera Sera where Eric played the lead role. That drama showed Eric in a totally different light, and boy was he legit in it.

Park Yoochun - This JYJ member is my favorite dorky actor. Sure, he's gorgeous and can do drama like a boss. But he's always especially adorable in those funny scenes where he's being a doofus. And this can be said for both rom-com Rooftop Prince and melodrama I Miss You.

T.O.P - A lot of people cringed every time Big Bang's TOP opened his mouth in action drama IRIS, myself included. But it's not entirely his fault that a lot of his lines were in English. While I have not loved TOP in any of his dramas yet, I was moved beyond tears by his performance in 71: Into the Fire. Even alongside big guns like Kwon Sang-woo, Cha Seung-won and Kim Seung-woo, TOP was able to hold his own and he totally stole that film.

Lee Seung-gi - I have not cried as much as I did while watching Lee Seung-gi's moving performance in The King 2 Hearts. This solo singer has done almost everything under the sun and he's been good at everything. He's a variety sweetheart, a CF king, and an actor to be reckoned with. While rom-com is his main game as an actor, it was the dramatic beats in his recent drama that knocked me off my socks.

Kim Dong-wan - There's just something about Kim Dong-wan that makes me wanna pet him and keep him in my pocket. And I don't just mean his size. Dong-wan, of Shinhwa fame, is insanely charismatic. Of the episodes of Cheer Up Mr. Kim that I've seen, Dong-wan has always shown such strong presence on screen and he always makes you want to root for him.

Jung Eun-ji - Who can even forget her character from Reply 1997? Eun-ji brought Siwon to life. With every stilted line delivery, every prolonged whine, every smirk directed at Yoon-jae, we all simultaneously fell in love with Siwon and A Pink's Eun-ji.

IU - I have a lot to say about how You're The Best Lee Soon Shin is turning out but none of them would be about terrible acting. Because, truth be told, the only good thing remaining about the show is its awesome cast. IU has been delivering well week after week, and her efforts are obvious and praiseworthy. P.S. I also loved her Pil-sook in Dream High.

Seo In-guk - Just as we could all relate to Eun-ji's fangirl character in Reply 1997, we also wanted a best friend like Yoon-jae. Sure, he was surly and broody, but he was also a gorgeous dork who was incredibly sweet to his best friends and brother. Seo In-guk continues to make us fall in love in this year's new Hong Sisters' drama Master's Sun.

UEE - I used to hate UEE, if only because I hated her character in You're Beautiful. But I guess you can call that effective acting. Hah. Later on, I fell in love with her in Ojakkyo Brothers and I haven't looked back since. It really helped that she had amazing on screen chemistry with Joo-won.

What about you? Who are your favorite idol-turned-actors?

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Current Addiction: EXO's "Growl"

I've just recently started listening to EXO, ever since they came out with "Wolf" and their new album XOXO. For some reason, previous tracks "Mama" and "History" just weren't able to hold my attention for more than a few listens. But the moment I heard "Wolf", I knew I had found my new crack. And even more so when they released their latest single "Growl".

Not only does "Growl" have one of the best music videos to come out of SM Entertainment in years, possibly ever, it's also an awesome song in itself. The hook is catchy, the vocals are powerful, and it's just that type of song that makes you wanna dance. And need I even mention how awesome the choreography is? Good job, Exo. Good job.

So the music video is awesome. The live performances have all been awesome. And then SM goes and releases a dance practice video?! While it doesn't differ much from the actual music video, it is always refreshing to see the boys in everyday wear and dancing for the fun of it. Kai is especially adorable at the video's end.

How many versions of this song can I listen to and watch? Apparently, not enough. So it's a good thing 2BIC released a short snippet of their acoustic cover of the song on YouTube and I've been listening to it on repeat ever since. So. Good.

And yet I still want more. If you know of any good "Growl" covers, let me know. Dance covers too! I've seen a handful, but I'd love to see some more. I'm an Exotic now, apparently.

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Monstar, a look back

Mnet's music drama Monstar came to a close last week. And the main thing I brought with it: "God, I love Junhyung."

Overall, I’m okay with the finale. Though, yes, I would’ve appreciated more answers. However, the lack of direct answers is fine in that the emotional closure felt enough. You know what I mean? The show left off in a place where I know these characters will be fine. I don't have to worry about them.

Regarding the falling out of Seol-chan and Sun-woo, I think because Seol-chan was already abandoned twice (as was revealed in the finale), his biggest fear was to be abandoned a third time. When Sun-woo had told his mother about Seol-chan being adopted, Seol-chan’s main complaint was that he didn’t want to burden his mother. The fear in a child of being abandoned must be immense. Can you imagine? Sure, it carries lesser weight now that they’re older. But when you see that Seol-chan never really got over his abandonment issues (i.e. always tiptoeing around his mother, trying to avoid being a burden all the time) then it’s safe to say his resentment of what Sun-woo did would not have faded with age as well. And in hindsight, suddenly this makes more sense now:

The drama, while not the best of the bunch right now, was definitely gripping and poignant in its own way. I loved how whimsical it all felt when in fact it was a drama set in high school, which is nothing remarkable and is actually quite quotidian. But the aesthetic of the drama, plus the wonderful music of its soundtrack, made things a whole lot more interesting.

This drama made me fall in love with a lot of its characters and, sequentially, fall out of love for a number of them (Sun-woo, I'm looking at you). But that's life, I guess. Some people end up disappointing you and not everyone gets their happy ending. Actually, scratch that. Sometimes, people find out that their idea of a happy ending is not what its cracked up to be and so they find their happily ever after elsewhere. I truly believe Nana will be much happier with someone who appreciates all she has to offer. That may or may not be Sun-woo.

Although the whole Sun-woo/Nana romance never really took off during the course of the show, that's not to say it won't happen in this dramaland's future. When Sun-woo tried on the jacket Nana had made for "no one" and he casually muttered "I didn't think this would fit me" towards the end of the finale episode... That could be him admitting that he thought Nana wouldn't fit him, but she might after all.

With the main pair of the show, I am satisfied with how they played out. Sure, there will be trouble ahead of them. But Seol-chan is ready to be Se-yi's jjak, in laughter and in tears, so I'm happy for the both of them. And this serenade from Seol-chan? It is perfection.

For the most part, it was fun watching Seol-chan mature as the drama progressed. Sure, he was still pretty much a child towards the end, but he is a teenager and that's what's expected. But where it mattered, he has definitely shown how much he's grown. That scene where he was ready to kneel and literally kiss Ari's feet? That freaking moved me. It showed what lengths he would go to in order to save Se-yi. And all this from that conceited idol boy from the first episode? Man, that was so satisfying.

The same goes for Se-yi. Though she was never "childish" per se, she had her faults. She was always unforgiving of her mother - and at certain times, Seol-chan. So it was good to see her smiling with her mother towards the end. I trust she'd bestow the same kind of forgiveness to ahjussi when she eventually learns the whole truth behind her father's death.

As for the side characters, I'm happy for both Kyu-dong and Do-nam. I trust they'll be the best of fanboys to Nana. I couldn't really muster enough concern for Eun-ha, but I'm glad she's moved on. As for the All For One kids... I hope they grow up to be as fabulous as Noh Min-woo. That's the best I can think of for them. I still hate Hyo-rin and Jae-rok and I don't think I will ever understand Joon-hee. But that's neither here nor there. As long as my Color Bar babies are happy, I'm happy.

Thanks Mnet, for a good drama. I'll be looking forward to the next one.

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My Lists: 10 favorite non-idol Korean artists

While listening to my extensive k-pop playlist earlier today on the train, I thought of making a list about all my favorite non-idol Korean artists. While I mainly listen to idol acts, I have a huge chunk of non-idol music on constant rotation. Who are they? Well, glad you asked.

Dok2 - Once known to the Korean hip-hop audience as Gonzo,  Dok2 (pronounced dok-i) is practically a veteran in the music industry at the tender age of 23. This half Korean, quarter Spanish, quarter Filipino rapper has been in the game since he was 12 years old. He was once signed to Epik High's independent label Map The Soul Inc., but is now the CEO of his own label Illionaire Records, which he started together with fellow rapper The Quiett.

Epik High - This alternative hip-hop group is comprised of rappers Tablo and Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz. Back when hip-hop lacked popularity in South Korea, Epik High would perform alongside other rap groups in the underground hip-hop scene. They would later sign on with Woollim Entertainment, and then to their own label Map The Soul Inc., and then in 2012 they signed with YG Entertainment (Tablo had earlier signed with YG in 2011 as a solo artist while fellow rapper Mithra Jin was serving in the military).

Urban Zakapa - An indie acoustic jazz R&B band with nine members (four vocalists and five instrumentalists) who debuted back in 2009, Urban Zakapa has gained their popularity mostly by guesting in other artists' concerts and by performing in music festivals. It's their sweet harmonies and smooth melodies that make their music refreshing amidst the EDM-saturated k-pop scene.

2LSON - Not your typical group, 2LSON is comprised of 18-year-old vocalist Hyo Bin, music composers LE and Jason, plus lyricist Noel. Their music is usually clean, smooth R&B-inspired pop tracks with addictive melodies. In cases where a male voice is needed in their songs, they often feature other indie R&B and hip-hop artists (i.e. Bumkey, Paloalto, Dok2).

Brown Eyed Soul - This Korean R&B vocal group debuted way back in 2003 and is known for their resonant and sensitive voices. While all four members are amazing singers individually, the best thing about the group is how they sound together. Though the group has only recorded 3 full albums since their debut, they have released countless singles, plus albums recorded by individual members. They're probably most popular for the song "Nothing Better" off of their second album The Wind,The Sea,The Rain.

4Men - Is a Korean pop vocal group who originally debuted with four members but they have been through line-up changes to end with the current three members. The group debuted in 1998 and have strongly released numerous albums since. While a lot of their songs are hauntingly beautiful, most people would know them for their 2008 hit single "Baby, Baby" from their EP First Kiss.

The Quiett - This rapper and producer has worked and collaborated with countless Korean artists such as Dok2, Dumbfoundead, Tiger JK, Yoon Mirae, Paloalto, Jay Park... and well, this list goes on and on. The Quiett's own brand of hip-hop finds itself often mashed up with different genres such as jazz, blues, and R&B. Having started his career in music back in 2005, The Quiett has released copious amounts of albums and mixtapes, and is now the CEO of Illionaire Records alongside Dok2.

Zion.T - Rapper, singer and composer, Zion.T debuted in 2011 and has since been building a very strong fanbase and a bigger name for himself. His certain brand of R&B, matched with his impeccable vocals, has captured many a hearts since the release of his first single, "Click Me," on April 2011. He has also been featured in various other songs by other popular Korean artists (i.e. Simon D, Primary, Dok2, Infinite H).

2wins - This hip-hop duo comprised of rapper TobBob and singer Bumkey has been through their share of ups and downs in the music industry before finally being able to make a name for themselves. Their music showcases piano and brass sounds that blend perfectly with their soul and strong hip hop beats. I personally came across 2wins' music via Bumkey's many features in other artists' music (i.e. Infinite H, 2LSON, Dok2, Epik High). But Bumkey's gorgeous falsetto just keeps listeners wanting for more and I've been addicted to 2wins ever since.

Dynamic Duo - This hip-hop duo, that consists of childhood friends Choiza and Gaeko, started working together in the underground music scene in the early 2000's and have since grown to be a highly respected group who co-founded their current label Amoeba Culture. They have collaborated and worked with many different artists, both mainstream and independent (i.e. Zion.T, Bumkey, Supreme Team, Primary).

These are just some of the non-idol artists that I have on my playlists. Who else should I be listening to? If you have any suggestions, go ahead and let me know! 

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My Lists: 15 favorite k-pop songs of 2013 thus far

I can't believe we're more than halfway through 2013. Is the speed of time relative to one's age? Like, the older you are, the faster time flies by you? It sure feels like it. But, anyway, that's neither here nor there. Back to the point then...

I've actually been seeing a lot of blog entries, forum threads, and youtube vlogs listing people's favorite songs released in 2013 so far and I thought of making my own list. So here, in no particular order, are my 15 favorite k-pop singles released from January of 2013 until date of blog entry.

SHINee - "Why So Serious?"

Lee Hi - "Rose"

Infinite H - "Special Girl"

B.A.P - "One Shot"

2PM - "A.D.T.O.Y."

Henry - "Trap"

Exo - "Wolf"

MBLAQ - "Smoky Girl"

U-KISS - "Standing Still"

CNBLUE - "I'm Sorry"

Psy - "Gentleman"

SHINee - "Dream Girl"

2NE1 - "Falling In Love"

B.A.P - "Coffee Shop"

Xia Junsu - "11AM"

What about you? What are your favorite k-pop songs so far this year?

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Master's Sun releases 2nd teaser trailer

Okay. Master's Sun (주군의 태양) is seriously exciting me.

First of all, it’s a Hong sisters drama. While they’ve had numerous hits, they’ve also had several misses (Big, I'm still trying to forget you ever existed)… But a number of my all-time favorite dramas were written by this sister duo. *crossesfingers*

Secondly, Gong Hyo-jin and So Ji-sub. Need I say more? And then to top it all off, Seo In-guk.

I knew from the beginning that it was going to mesh horror with the expected Hong sister stylings of romantic-comedies (I miss their puns!), but I wasn’t quite sure how they would do that and I was on the fence about the concept… THEN THEY RELEASED THE SECOND TEASER AND IT IS SO FREAKING AWESOME I CAN’T ASDFGHJKL; Sorry, that was terribly incoherent. But yeah, you get my drift.

Check out the teaser video below.

Master's Sun second trailer (2013.07.17) from Nataly on Vimeo.

Master's Sun is set to air in early August on SBS and will replace current hit drama I Hear Your Voice.

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Yeo Jin-goo to star in his first sitcom

I love Yeo Jin-goo. Although, admittedly, I've only ever seen him in Missing You and I have yet to backtrack his earlier works. But that one drama - or all four episodes he was in, to be accurate - was enough to let me know how much talent is packed in this young'un (still can't believe he's only 15!).

There were speculations of Yeo Jin-goo starring in a drama alongside Yoon Sang-hyun (Secret Garden, Can't Lose), which unfortunately did not materialize and the latter has since moved on to the currently airing and high-rating drama I Hear Your Voice. Now it's being reported that Yeo Jin-goo has just been cast to star in the new tvN sitcom created by High Kick PD Kim Byung-wook. While I'm not one to stick around to watch sitcoms that have 100+ episodes, this still excites me for what it could mean for this boy's career.

High Kick has spawned a lot of today's young stars (Jung Il-woo, Yoon Shi-yoon, Lee Jong-seok, etc.) and  though this is not part of the High Kick series, we can still rest assured that Yeo Jin-goo will be in good hands.

Also being courted to join the sitcom are rookie actress Ha Yeon-soo (Monstar) and industry veteran Lee Soon-jae (The King 2 Hearts, Childless Good Fortune).

The sitcom's working title is A Potato Star That Looks Like A Sweet Potato 2013QR3. I'm not sure if that sounds as strange in Korean as it does in English, but either way it's scheduled to premiere on September.

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Monstar updates and the lack of recaps

So, Monstar has been taking up most of my thoughts as of late. Despite the lack of further recaps, I assure you I have been stuck to this drama like glue. The show is an awesome showing for Mnet, especially since it's their first drama ever.

I know I said I'd try my best to recap this. And seeing as how it's only 12 episodes short, with only 1 episode out per week, you'd think it'd be an easy task. But it wasn't and I still have half of my episode 3 recap in my drafts. I don't know if I'll ever continue with the recaps, so for now I'll just be laying some of my feels for this show out there.

First of all, Jae-rok pisses me off the most. Let me just get this off of my chest. He's the biggest asshole alive and he doesn't even have anything to show for it. Without Do-nam, without All For One - who is he? What does he even contribute to All For One in the first place? He plays the motherfather cymbals, for crying out loud! My feels, they are all over the place.

Anyway, let's move on. [SPOILER ALERT. If you haven't seen episode 8 yet, turn back right now.]

While I'm still solidly behind the Seol-chan and Se-yi ship, and omg they are finally getting somewhere, Se-yi's wishy-washy attitude towards her feelings for Seol-chan is getting quite tiring. Yes, I understand this is all new for her, but how dim can a girl be? How can she be this much in denial about her feelings for Seol-chan? Aigoo. Still enjoying their flirtationship though. I just can't wait to see how they survive their next hurdle. You know, with Seol-chan being a star and all. To echo Sun-woo's earlier sentiments, can Seol-chan really hold on to Se-yi despite his fans?

Now, as for Mr. Class President and our resident bad girl, I am excited. From the very first inkling of a relationship that the show had given us a peek into weeks before, I had been behind them 100%. So yes, I am happy that Nana has been more aggressive about her crush, even if this means manipulating Sun-woo into "dates" with her. Sun-woo, on the other hand, has got to get over his childhood crush. That's a sinking ship that he has yet to recognize and it's better to save himself now before he gets hurt even more. Also, while I'm glad he's one of the few people who is making an effort to really see Nana as a person, he was also an ass when he told her he showed up to their non-date because he felt like it was a "good deed." Dude, she doesn't need your charity.

I'm also quite curious where they're taking the whole Eun-ha storyline. While she has always been a cute sidekick, the perfect foil for both Se-yi and Seol-chan, we've never really delved into her character in the past 8 weeks. But I think we're starting to do so right now. Episode 8 showed us how Eun-ha is realizing that, while she is a member of Color Bar, she's just not as significant as the rest of her teammates. We only have 4 more episodes to go and, with all these relationships unsolved left and right, I'm not sure how we're going to find the time to flesh out Eun-ha's story.

And now, to the meat of the drama thus far. Our bromantic relationships have taken turns for the worst. On the lighter end of the bromantic spectrum, we have Seol-chan and Sun-woo who have taken their post on either side of Se-yi and are quite prepared for an epic tug-o-war. The thing is, we're quite positive Se-yi won't even wholeheartedly try to resist Seol-chan's pull. Although Sun-woo had upped the ante by finally revealing to Se-yi that he likes her, if he continues in this direction, he'd just be fighting a losing battle. But what worries me the most is how his confession affects his relationship with his former BFF. I just want them to be friends again, and the faster Sun-woo gets over Se-yi, the faster they are to remedying their lost bromance.

Finally, let's touch on the more tragic friendship. While I'm glad to find out that Do-nam and Kyu-dong's relationship is far from being utterly irreparable, I'm frustrated that the back story doesn't seem worthy of so much life-altering angst and a suicide attempt (I'm hoping it's just an attempt, because an actual death will kill me). We've always known that Kyu-dong must have done something that cost Do-nam a future career in judo. There must have been some betrayal that caused such a friendship to end. But in the bigger scheme of things, a singing competition and a tumble down the stairs was not what I was expecting.

Although, I'd give Do-nam some credit and say that in the recent episodes, he has been much kinder to Kyu-dong and has not directly bullied the kid. I'd even be generous and say that he was well on his way to forgiving. It's that damn Jae-rok and the rest of their class who are insensitive little gits who deserve some slaps.

The last episode left us with Kyu-dong standing on the edge of the rooftop, finally finding the courage to end things, fully believing that he will never be forgiven by Do-nam. He's of the mind that all the taunting he received from the class was due to Do-nam's anger. He doesn't know that that little weasel Jae-rok was behind it all. And let me just tell you now, if Kyu-dong does end up jumping off that roof, I will never forgive Jae-rok and his minions. Never. Not that my unforgiving stance will have any effect on them, even if they were real people, which they are not... BUT STILL. Ugh.

With so many loose ends - and it feels as if we're miles away from a happy ending - I'm scared for how the writers are planning on closing the show when we only have 4 more episodes left. Is too much to ask for an extension? Yes? Someone assure me that everything's going to be alright...

Suffice it to say, this show has got me hook, line and sinker. Good job, Mnet.

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SHINee wins my heart - again!

Have I ever mentioned how SHINee has been climbing up my favorite k-pop boyband list? Well, they have. They're now almost tied with Big Bang and DB5K at the top.

Admittedly, I only started listening to SHINee when "Sherlock" came out. And even then, it wasn't until I saw the dance practice video that I conceded with how freaking talented this young group is. It's really hard to pinpoint a weak dancer in the group (alright, it's probably Onew but he's still miles ahead of a lot of guys in the same industry). 

While I had always given credit to both Jonghyun and Onew for being extremely amazing vocalists, I was quick to dismiss the other three. I had always considered Minho the visual, Taemin the dancer, and Key the diva. Nothing more, nothing less.

But I've noticed that, in recent years, the other three members have been given more time to shine. Key and Taemin have more singing parts in their songs now. Even Minho, who has always been designated to the rap verses, can be heard singing more often nowadays.

And then this happened.

It's not often that a k-pop group has members who can all sing this well. And I mean this for every member of SHINee, Minho included. Sure, he's not as well-equipped as the other four vocally, but he has definitely come a long way from being just the face of the group. The same can be said for Taemin, who had carried the brunt of Jonghyun's lines when the latter was recuperating from a car accident while the group continued with their promotions for latest single "Why So Serious." And Taemin did good. He hit those high notes I never thought possible from the SHINee maknae.

So watching them perform live is always such a treat. Vocals are always on point, and the dancing always so precise. To top it all off, they are very professional. I mean, just the other day, in the middle of their 3rd song at the Hong Kong Dome Festival, mother nature decided to just pour on the guys. But SHINee forged on despite the heavy rains, taking the Hong Kong fans by literal storm.

My hat goes off to SHINee. This just solidifies my love for the group. There are no words to explain how much respect I have for them and how underrated I think they are. SHINee, fighting!

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