saint's guillotine: the international branch

EXILE vs. SE7EN - Style

2009-02-18T22:46:53-06:00

Actually, when I started this blog, I thought most of my postings will be fall into the com/con category -- comparison & contrast. But.... who knows?? This has become the first posting in this category. Moreover, this is not I really planned before. It just came up to my mind when I was listening to EXILE's Single Best album.

EXILE - Style
- The second single of EXILE, a Japanese pop/R&B band

release date: December 12, 2001
label: rhythmzone
oricon weekly peak: 11
weeks on chart: 10
lyrics: Kenn Kato
music: Face 2 fAKE
tie-up: Ending theme of "ASAYAN" (TV Tokyo)

SE7EN - STYLE
- the second Japanese single of the Korean pop/R&B singer. He was one of the Korean singers who made debuts in Japan in the Winter Sonata boom in Japan

release date: May 23, 2005
label: Nexstar Records
oricon weekly peak: 10
weeks on chart: 9
lyrics: shilbee
music by: D.A.I.
tie-up: CM song of VENTUNO "E-CURE," starring the Korean actor Kwon Sang-Woo

Koreans' Reaction to Starbucks' Store Closure

2009-01-28T21:02:50-06:00

Starbucks Closing 300 Stores, Laying Off Nearly 7,000 (Washington Post)

Starbucks' plan of closing stores and laying of its employees was reported by Korean newspapers. Korean readers' response to the news was a bit funny, showing Starbuck's dominant status in the country. Here are some of them.

- But Korea will feed you. Don't worry.
- Korea is just having more and more stores! There is just no vacancy even in the second floor! I cannot just find a seat!!!
- But overall revenue of Starbucks won't decrease that much ^^. Because we're protecting your stores. damn.
- You have Korea on your side. giggle-giggle
- Korean Starbucks is still strong and steady. giggle.
- It might become a Korean company someday. giggle-giggle.
- Korean Starbucks is increasing the number of its stores. If it goes like this, Korea might take over Starbucks. giggle.

History of BoA (2) -2001

2008-12-27T20:21:32-06:00

Despite the (rather) failure of her first Korean album, BoA and her management, SM Entertainment announced that she will make a debut in Japan. Her "special" Korean album, "Jumping into the World" was a kind of declaration of her international move, containing songs in Korean, English and Chinese. On March 7, 2001- the release date of this special album, she had a debut showcase in Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan with a huge support by AVEX and AXEV, which were her record label and management in Japan. In the showcase, she was introduced as an "international artist" who is fluent in Japanese, English and Korean.

Jumping into the World_Korean special album
- march 7, 2001
- sales: 90,568
- monthly chart peak: 6
- 2001 MIAK annual chart: 74

Don't Start Now

ID; Peace B_Japanese debut single
- may 30, 2001
- sales: 40,470 (14,740 in the first week)
- oricon weekly peak: 20
- weeks on chart: 6
- tie-up: DDI Pocket "Feel H Sound Market" CM song

Amazing Kiss_Japanese 2nd single
- july 25, 2001
- sales: 59,450 (15,720)
- oricon weekly peak: 23
- weeks on chart: 8
- tie-up: NTV "Romihi" ending theme in August
LF "Show Up Nighter" ending theme in July
Kanebo "Testimo" CM song

Kimochi wa Tsutawaru [Feelings will be delivered]_Japanese 3rd single
- dec 5, 2001
- sales: 77,220 (18,020)
- oricon weekly peak: 15
- weeks on chart: 10
- tie-up: Lotte "Eare" CM song

The Meaning of Peace_song+nation charity single, duet with Kumi Koda
- dec 19, 2001
- sales: 66,840 (23,230)
- oricon weekly peak: 12
- weeks on chart: 7

(couldn't find a PV. I'm attaching the commercial, instead.)

As you can see above, all her solo singles got tie-ups and the duet single was produced by Tetsuya Komuro, the legendary producer in the J-pop industry, which show the degree of support by AVEX. What is noticable here is the the four-month gap between her second and third single. No matter what the reason was, for these four months, she improved her Japanese and vocal skills. I still cannot forget the shock when I first heard her 4th single, Listen to My Heart, which I will list up in next posting. I screamed, "OMG, BoA sings as well as Ohk Ju-Hyun or Kim Hyun-Jung!!"

* OHK Ju-Hyun: the lead vocalist of "Fin.K.L.," one of the two most popular Korean girl band in history -- the other is S.E.S. She used to be famous with her vocal skill based on classical vocal training. It's a pity that she lost such a great vocal ability after her "famous" diet.
KIM Hyun-Jung: one of the Korean pop divas at that time. She was famous for her high-pitched and powerful vocal skills.

Spell - Mirotic (2008) - I'm addicted, too --;;

2008-10-18T17:32:00-06:00

Mmmm.... At first I was not really understanding why people were so frantic about this song and performance.... But now I'm addicted, too. I cannot stop myself replaying the song =.=

Anyway, Congratulations to DongBangShinKi, or Tohoshinki, or TVXQ. This song, which is the title of their fourth Korean album, already went to the top in Korean chart, and its Japanese version is expected to be no.1 in this coming Oricon weekly chart, which will make their 4th no.1 hit in Japan. This boyband's recent success in Japanese market is practically the first after BoA's in 2002. This may be another model of the Korean Wave.... but I need more time to situate this one in a rather academic sense. ;)

Jumun - Mirotic (Korean Version), released Sept. 26, 2008.

However, I feel really pity that they all got so muscular.. Where has the "flower-like" beauty of Hero and Micky gone.... T-T (Hey kids, it's not the idols' job to build muscles!!!)

History of BoA (1) - 2000

2008-10-18T17:31:30-06:00

Finally decided to make a series of postings for my future reference.
Basically this will be BoA's discography both in Korea and in Japan with her official music videos (or PVs), but I'll put a link if there is any interesting video clips.

Quick note: CD titles in Red is what was released in Korea, and those in Blue is in Japan, just following the official uniform color of each country's national soccer team :p

ID; Peace B_Korean debut album
- aug 25, 2000
- sales: 177,612
- monthly chart peak: 16
- 2000 MIAK annual chart: 59

ID; Peace B

SARA

Clearly, these two MV's show the degree of the promotion by her management.
"ID; Peace B" was produced in collaboration with Kangjegyu Films, which was established by Director KANG Je-Gyu who directed Shiri and is one of the most commercially successful and influential movie directors in Korea. And, HONG Jong-Ho, the director of "SARA" has been one of the most famous music video directors, and I dare say, he was the top at that time.

However, her first album was not really successful despite the heavy promotion. There was a rumor that her management, SM Entertainment had to make an early release of other artists' new albums - such as S.E.S. and Shinhwa - to cover a deficit.

Men's Singles Generation

2008-10-16T17:11:12-06:00

I need this on such a frustrating day like today...... ㅜ.ㅜ

Video originally from DC Figure Skating Gallery
Video linked to Youtube.com

BoA Finally Makes Her US Debut

2008-09-10T20:01:45-06:00

BoA, a Korean pop singer who started her career success in Japan, is finally making a debut in the US pop music industry. Her digital single, "Eat You Up" will be released on Oct. 10, 2008. BoA and LEE Su-Man, the CEO of her management, SM Entertainment had a press conference yesterday, and introduced the song's video teaser. According to them, the production and management staff is composed of the well-known names in the American music industry. At this point, I don't want to make any prediction. I'll just wait and see.

However, this time she cannot get any help from the political/economic situation, which, at least partly, brought her success in Japan. Indeed, this is what makes this observation more interesting. (Especially after Rain's seemingly bitter failure.) Yeap. She will be my research topic for the Asian Media class.

Anyhow, here go the two video clips presented yesterday. The first one is directed by a "Western" director, Diane Martell, and the second one by a Korean director, CHA Eun-Taek. (Video Source: bestiz.net)

For more information, go to: www.boaamerica.com

BUT, the website doesn't work at all.
It took me about 5 minutes to see the flash on the front page, and all the video clips keep stopping. If they really wanted people in the US to see the website, they had to make it less "heavy": with less flash, and smaller files. Anyone who clicks to see the website will be irritated and just leave. (I tried to find any contact email to tell them.. but I coudn't find any. Even in SM's Korean website!)

My Favorite Quote Nowadays

2008-08-21T18:19:35-06:00

"Fill water in soccer stadiums, so that Tae-Hwan* can swim.
Freeze the water in winter, so that Yu-Na** can skate."
- A netuser's comment, after Korean soccer team failed to enter top 8 at Beijing 2008.

* Tae-Hwan PARK: Swimmer. Got one gold and one silver at Beijing
** Yu-Na KIM: Figure Skater. Two-time Grand Prix Final champion (06-07). Two-time world bronze medalist (07-08))

I agree that Korean soccer players should have "hungry spirit."
I cannot understand why their performance is so poor while they are strongly supported (both financially and emotionally) by the government, Korean Soccer Association, and by the people.
(See Tae-Hwan and Yu-Na. They did terrific even when noone paid attention to what they were doing.)

Compared to the soccer team, the baseball team is doing quite well, which is good for the players. (They won't have their stadiums filled with water. ^^)

Go for the Gold >.<

The Good, The Bad, The Weird (2008)

2008-07-22T21:37:59-06:00

This is definitely one of the must-see films this summer.
Director Kim Jee-Woon moved from horror to film noir, and then finally to Korean-style western movie.
(He is the director of "A Tale of Two Sisters," which was re-made as "The Uninvited" to be released in January 2009)

As criticized by many critics and audience, you should not expect anything about the storyline and the plot development. But, this film is not for the storyline. Totally devoted to the visual aspects and action sequence, and as for the latter, this film is more than satisfactory.
(This might be something achieved at the point of casting -- two of the most handsome and attractive actors in Korea and one of the greatest performers and actors in this era. Casting tells almost everything.)

Actor Jung Woo-Sung finally made a success in films, not in TV.
Definitely, his appearance is the most delightful thing to see in the film.
On the web, he got a new nickname, Indiana Woo-Sung, following "Indiana Jones."
Someone commented, "he was supposed to shoot a movie, then, why was he shooting a CF?"

Then, here goes the best scene in the film, picked by lots of Korean netizens.
Enjoy Indiana Woo-Sung's fantastic shooting technic~~ ^^

Open the Link

What Is Now Happening in Korea

2008-06-01T05:29:17-06:00

Whose government and police are they?

On Saturday alone, more than 200 people were arrested,
and it is said that two high schoolers lost their eyesight and one veteran got a fatal injury.
(It is interesting that the police arrested NOONE when Chinese students had a protest on the torch relay day.)

What I want to make clear is, that this is not an anti-US beef protest anymore.
When the candle protest started, the citizen demanded the government to re-negotiate.
However, since the government was not listening to its people at all,
now the issue has expanded to an anti-government protest.

The protesters are shouting MB Out -- which means the president should resign,
and the government started to put down the crowd via the method they used to use 20 years ago.

..... I feel that I'm living the 1980s, not the 21st century.