I just finished watching the drama for the SBS drama You’re Beautiful and all I have to say was that it was so good!  Especially the ending of the episode.  I’m trying so hard not to reveal any major spoilers right now.

Gah, who am I kidding? I’ll just reveal 2 (not so major) things:

• Tae Kyung sings the “What Should I do?” song at an A.N.Jell concert
• Tae Kyung finally gives Mi Nyeo the star necklace (and the way he does it is so cute/cool) Haha, that guy has some smooth moves. (Remember that one kiss?)

Anyways, I’d probably give it a week until I reveal some major spoilers. By then, most of you should have watched it.

• Title: 미남이시네요 / Minami Shineyo
• Also known as: You’re Beautiful / You’re Handsome
• Genre: Romance, comedy
• Episodes: 16
• Broadcast Network: SBS
• Broadcast period: 2009-Oct-07 to 2009-Nov-26

Synopsis: Tae Kyung and On Yu are in search of a new member for their idol group, A.N.JELL. However, Mi Nam suffers an injury at the last moment. So Mi Nyu, his twin sister, is asked to step in for her brother. The rest of the drama follows the behind-the-scenes life of an idol group.

I’d have to say this has been the top Korean drama of Fall 2009 other than IRIS.  As much as I am obsessed with love IRIS (even though it is overrated), You’re Beautiful is my favorite drama this season out of all the shows I’m watching (which is a lot).  It is unbelievably cute and hilarious.  When I say hilarious, I really mean it.  It was laugh out loud funny.  There were times my stomach hurt from laughing so hard.

As much as I think the whole “girl disguises herself as a guy” plot is overdone, I have to make an exception for this series.  The comedy is hilarious. The acting is excellent.  I am in love with the 3 totally drool worthy band members storyline and script.  What more is there to say?

The season finale airs this week.  I can’t wait.

My Rating: (5/5) so far (I hate rating a show until I see all of it)

Sources: Drama Wiki

When I first heard that 2NE1 would doing a musical type performance for MAMA and it was going to be titled 21st Street Musical it made me laugh out loud.  Besides the spin on their group name, it also reminded me of the show 21 Jump Street.  I used to love that show.  I don’t know if they did it intentionally or if it was just a coincidence, I thought it was pretty cool nontheless.

I loved this performance.  It combined my favorite 2NE1 songs all into one mini musical (but then again pretty much all of their songs are my favorite).  It was pretty entertaining to watch, especially Minzy and CL’s “Please Don’t Go” act.  It was so badass.

I was wondering who the guy was that gets shoved around.  Apparently it’s none other than actor Lee Yong Woo from the SBS drama Style.  I’m a fan of his so that made me happy.

Credits: K-bites, jerryhdify

Download Here

• Title: Liar Game Soundtrack
• Music composer: Nakata Yasutaka (中田ヤスタカ)
• No. of tracks: 9

Tracklist:

1. Prologue
2. Liar Game
3. The Force of Gravity
4. Dizziness
5. Electrode Spark 0101
6. Wonders of the World
7. Dope Headz
8. Mist
9. Breakthrough

I decided to post this since Liar Game mania seems to be returning with the second season airing and all.  I am in love with this soundtrack, especially with techno/electric songs.  My favorite songs include: Liar Game, The Force of Gravity, Electrode Spark, and Breakthrough.  I love Nakata Yasutaka’s work.

Guess what’s finally out?  That’s right, 2NE1’s CL and Minzy released their new single “Please Don’t Go.”  I’ve been so excited the past couple of days waiting for this to come out that I had very high expectations.  Did the song deliver?  I guess we’ll have to wait the next couple days to see.

Video Credits: bwmow3

Upon hearing the single for the first time, it seems pretty mediocre when compared to the other songs out there in it’s genre.  However, I’m almost positive that this song will grow on you after listening to it a few times.  Just watch, after a few days you’ll probably be addicted.

Download Here
Credits: Anonymous

Lyrics and singing aside, the beat sounds very familiar.  Has anyone noticed?
Doesn’t the beat sound similar to Krazy by Pitbull ft. Lil Jon…or am I just being krazy?

• Title: 東京DOGS / Tokyo DOGS
• Genre: Police
• Broadcast network: Fuji TV
• Broadcast period: 2009-Oct-19 to 2009-Dec

Synopsis: Takakura So witnessed his father’s murder at a young age. Pledging to catch the killer, he grows up to become an elite cop in New York City, where the criminal lives. His character is cool-headed and disciplined, yet adapts well. Because of major drug dealings, he gets sent to Tokyo to conduct a joint investigation with the Japanese police. There, he gets teamed up with, Kudo Maruo, a detective from a special investigative division. Kudo is a hot-blooded fighting expert due to his earlier days as a delinquent, but he makes a strong impression with his stylish appearance and is always interested in going on group dates. His personality, interests, and investigation methods are completely mismatched with Takakura’s, but the two somehow work together to crack the case they’ve been given. –Tokyograph

This is definitely the top Japanese drama this season.  And no, I’m not just saying this because Oguri Shun (Takakura So) and Mizushima Hiro (Kudo Maruo) star in it although it makes it even more awesome.  The two make a great duo.  I think it’s safe to say that Oguri Shun has gotten out of the quiet guy type roles that he’s been stuck with ever since he acted as Rui in Hana Yori Dango.

I love the comedy in this Jdrama.  If I had to describe the in one word, I’d say it was dorky.  Takakura So is serious detective, while Kudo Maruo is a goofy one.  Yet, somehow both detectives come off as goofy (perhaps the goofiness rubs off from Maruo to So).  The plot is pretty decent as well.  It always leave you curious since there is this whole mystery element.  Basically the female lead is  an important lead to the case the detectives are working on, yet she has amnesia.  Throughout the drama the girl recovers her memory bit by bit until (I’m assuming) the mystery is solved.

Sources: Drama Wiki, Tokyograph

My Rating: (4/5) so far

Tracklist:

01. Still / As Ever – Lee Hong Ki
02. Descend from the Sky – Miss $ ft. Oh Won Bin
03. Without Saying – 9th STREET
04. Lovely Day – Park Shin Hye
05. Promise – Lee Hong Ki ft. Jung Hwa Young
06. My Heart’s Calling – Kim Dong Wook
07. Without Saying – Park Shin Hye
08. Still / As Ever – A.N.JELL
09. Promise – A.N.JELL
10. Without Saying (Piano ver.) – Various Artists
11. Still / As Ever (Bossa ver.) – Various Artists

It seems like the soundtrack for You’re Beautiful has been gaining a lot of attention, and for a good reason too.  I listened to it a couple weeks back and I have to say it is one of the best OSTs for a Korean drama that I’ve listened to in awhile.  Perhaps it could have been that I found something that actually fit my taste in music, but I think otherwise.  The soundtrack has a heavy influence of rock, which, in my opinion, is just refreshingly different.

Of course, there is also the factor that the band A.N.JELL is bound to have just as many fans in real life as they are portrayed in the kdrama.  Fans of the show seemed to have taken a liking to the idea of A.N.JELL as an actual band.  After all, their songs are on the actual soundtrack.

The songs are all really good and fun to listen to individually.  I say “individually” because after awhile, the songs sort of start to sound the same.  Don’t get me wrong, the OST does have a bit of variety in it (some songs include bits of rapping in them), but overall I think they seemed to have the same or a similar beat.

My Rating: (4/5)

Download Here

You’re Beautiful OST 2

I’m not even going to bother rating this one because it is completely not my taste in music, which would prevent me from rating this objectively.  To me, it seems like your typical OST music.  The OST has 8 songs and the highlight that most fans were waiting for is the song Good Bye, which is sung by Jang Geun Suk (male lead).

Tracklist:

01 바보를 위한 노래 – 박상우
02 말도없이 – 장근석
03 어떡하죠 – 박다예
04 Good Bye – 장근석
05 Lovely Day (Acoustic Ver.) – 박신혜
06 어떡하죠 (Inst.) – 박다예
07 Good Bye (Inst.) – 장근석
08 바보를 위한 노래 (Inst.) – 박상우

Download Here

Credits:   AliceChen, AsIaN Reloaded

The Japanese drama Liar Game is back for a second season and it is more intense than ever.  Honestly, I completely forgot there was going to be a second season, which I guess was a good thing for me since I would have gone insane waiting for it to start.  After watching the first episode of season 2, I was reminded again of how much I was addicted to this series.  I even wrote a detailed summary of the first episode (of season 1) because I was obsessed with the show when it first aired.

And naturally, there are a lot of similarities between the style of the first and second seasons.  I’m mostly talking about cinematography and an incredible OST.  The techno-ish tunes playing in the background kept me tuned in if the plot wasn’t.  But believe me, the plot is pretty fast paced and there’s nothing like a show about lies and deception to get your attention.

The first episode basically summarizes what happened in season 1, but I highly recommend watching the first season before you watch the second. In season 2 the players verse each other in 4 games and 1 semifinal round.  The final will take place in a movie (Liar Game: The Final Stage), which is set to be released on February 6, 2010.

Season 2 Details:

• Episodes: 11
• Broadcast period: 2009-Nov-10 start
• Broadcast network: Fuji TV
• Air time: Tuesday 21:00

Synopsis

The naïve Kanzaki Nao and expert swindler Akiyama Shinichi have not heard anything from the LIAR GAME organization since the end of the previous game, so it seems they may have actually escaped. But Nao suddenly gets another invitation and is once again caught up in the game. This time, she has to team up with Shinichi and one of their previous rivals named Fukunaga, facing off against three more opponents in new games of deception, such as “24 Rensou Russian Roulette” and “17 Poker.” –Tokyograph

Sources: Drama Wiki, Tokyograph

I realize that this is a really old song, but I’m posting this because in my previous post I talked about how the ending of Park Bom’s MV for “You and I” was really sad.  It almost made me tear up, which got me thinking.  Have you ever watched an MV that made you cry/tear up a bit?

For me, the MV that came the closest to causing me to tear up was the one for “Sayonara” by Orange Range. My throat swelled up inside and everything.  Orange Range is a Japanese band that is pretty famous in Japan.  They are one of my favorite Japanese bands, even though they are pretty overrated.  Many of their songs have been theme songs to popular anime and jdrama, which caused them to receive more publicity.

After I rewatched this MV after a long time, I don’t really find it as sad…as in I don’t feel like crying when I see it. Oh well.

Anyways, I couldn’t find the subbed version.  It’s sadder if you actually understood the lyrics and what the guy is saying in the hospital.

I know I haven’t updated this for awhile, but I just had to update for a new release by Park Bom (2NE1).  The MV for Bom’s “You and I” came out.  Bom is known for her amazing vocals that are fit for R&B.  I usually hate R&B, but I love Bom’s voice and this song is just so beautiful that even I love it.  The MV is just as awesome too.  The ending breaks my heart.

What do you think?

Watch the English subbed version here.