My adoring fans and readers

My bad on not posting for a long time. It's just that I've been busy being in the United States and eating obscene quantities of food (mostly in the form of cupcakes or mexican tortilla-wrapped foodstuffs) and traipsing across New York City/Gainesville/Wellington. You know, it's a tough life, being a globe-trotter.

Here's a brief summary of my vacation. In numbers:


3 dresses I bought during vacation (thanks to Gap, that rando boutique in SoHo with the guy who said, "wear it with just a black bra, it's sexier that way," and Target)
4 sangrias I drank at Calle Ocho during the all you can drink brunch
5 meals I averaged per day on my vacation
9 planes I took in the course of my 2 week vacation
11 planes I had to purchases tickets for due to a big fuck up by Expedia.
14 dollars- the price of one bottle of soju in NYC's Koreatown
17 apps that I've downloaded for my brand-new ipod touch (any suggestions)
23 cupcakes (some mini, some regular and some jumbo sized) that me and my friends inhaled during my two-week vacation
24 dollars- price of my prix fixe lunch at Cafe Boulud on the Upper East Side. Thanks Restaurant Week.
40 hours I was actually in Wellington.
48 crazy bands purchased by me and sarah. They are in the shapes of "lil monsters" and "crazy pets"
86 floors ascended in the Empire State Building. It was cloudy so the 102nd floor didn't seem like a good idea, especially given the additional 20 bucks you had to pay to go there.
105 steps to the top of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, which I trekked up with my family in tow.

That's all I can come up with off the top. But, I guess I'll also add: Sarah and Matt have two doggies each of which are adorable and staying with them made me really really really really look forward to their wedding, and me helping Sarah in every way I can. Plus, omg, Diane is the best ever (along with her roommate) for letting all of us stay in her apartment and being such a gracious and fun host. Plus, I wrecked people at Ping-Pong. Plus I missed Korean food. Good Korean food. Oh. Plus, omg Moesssssssssssssss. And La Tienda. And Flacos. And the Top. gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Now, I'm back at school in Korea. A bunch of my students seemed almost surprised that I was back. I don't know where they thought I was, but it's like I had come back from the dark ages.

Evidently, while I was in America, I was on Korean t.v. A student showed me the video. It's really embarassing. I looked like a fool. It was during the Se7en fan signing. I was interviewed and said some stupid shit like oh my god oh my god oh my god, I met Se7en! I love Se7en! I love YG! Also, evidently a lot of people saw that shit. My students took videos on their phones of me on the t.v. gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. So terrible.

Also, I bought tickets to see Taeyang. I will go to both of his concerts, but my seats aren't very good for either day. So sad. T_T I'm not sure who I will go with yet. My co-teacher is trying to get tickets again on Sept. 2nd, but if she can't, she'll go with me on Sunday maybe. And then I'll go on Saturday with someone. idk who.

I'm signed up for Seoul ultimate fall league, plus a hat tournament in September for Soongshil University, which is the boo's team (but not uni, because he goes to Jung-Ang)

It's good to be back. Really good to be back.

xoxo
A

The most wonderful day ever.

So today might be one of my best days ever. Okay, so that's probably an exaggeration, but still, it's been a really really great day. Yesterday and today and tomorrow have all been great. Really really really great. Seriously.

This week I've been teaching at an English summer camp for the Nambu district of Incheon. It's maybe 15 schools or so, and the camp combines some of the highest level English students from each of the schools to attend an English camp led mostly by foreign English teachers such as myself. All classes have 12 students, 6 boys and 6 girls. This is probably the first time boys and girls have been in the same class since they started middle school, so that was strange. In my class, the boys and the girls will totally separate. They didn't talk to each other, they didn't work with each other unless we literally forced them to. It was awful.

But beside my classes stark gender segregation, everything in the camp was great. My students were all awesome, if a little shy at first. But, by Thursday, the boys especially, they could hardly be corralled into orderly groups. On Thursday we had a field trip to the Incheon Science Hall and Incheon International Airport. The boys basically ran wild in the museum and we (my korean co-teacher and I) had to go searching for them on more than one occasion. We also played faux-basketball at the station that had a fan underneath a ball that pushed the ball through a hoop. You know, that exhibit that every single science museum ever has. Well, we took the ball and played basketball. I hit the first shot I took, you know, since I'm a baller and all.

Then at the airport, I was in charge of the boys group and they were absolutely terrified to speak to any foreigners. I had to literally drag them to people in order to get them to start talking. Then trying to keep them away from the dunkin donuts and family marts was next to impossible. Luckily after that activity was over, they were seated for the rest of the time. That day, the boys also snooping and reading my text messages as I wrote them and discovered that I can speak some korean. They saw me write 영화가 재미없었어 and were like omg omg you speak korean, and then proceeded to speak a ton of korean to me. It was annoying, but funny because I wouldn't speak to them in Korean.

Then today was our last day of camp which was kind of sad because we had bonded over the week, but mostly I was just thrilled because camp was exhausting for me. It ruined my sleeping patterns completely as I had to take naps just to stay up past 9 p.m. But today, my students all said goodbye and my girls were sad (and my boys didn't care, obvi). But I gave my cyworld address to my students so hopefully they will add me on cyworld or whatever. So far one student already has. Weeney (that's her English name which she chose. It gets me every time).

Plus tonight I finally get to see my boo after a whole week.

Plus plus plus the best bit of news ever: I GET TO MEET SE7EN TOMORROW! OMG OMG OMG OMG. Yes, I mean the Se7en that I have been fawning over the last few blog posts. Same Seven. I got picked to attend a fan signing. Only 150 people will be there and my friend Coleen also got picked. OMG, I can't even express how effing thrilled I am to get to meet him. And he's gonna sign my new digital bounce cd. And I'm gonna write him a letter and hopefully he'll read it and show it to Taeyang and then Taeyang will fall in love with me via the letter. Ok, obviously this is just wishful thinking, but still. ^_____^ Tomorrow at 6:30 I will be in a line of people to talk to and (possibly) HUG Seven. gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. I screamed when I got the text message from Hottracks, the music store at Kyobo that said I was picked.

More K-Pop

So this guy that I am working with at summer camp said to me, "I read your blog and almost every other post is about k-pop." Well, he's not entirely correct. I would guess that it's probably more often than every other these days (although the k-pop blogging has always been so consistent). What can I say, I really really like the music. Plus, I've been translating a lot these days, and I find it's really helping to reinforce the grammar rules that I've learned in other classes. I'm beginning to get a grasp on using verbs as adjectives and creating conditional statements in Korean, two things which were elusive bits of knowledge.

Anyways, I'll use this post to serve as an update on my other site, www.reallykpop.com. This site, for those who don't already know (or haven't yet read my plugs on about a zillion other sites), is my personal lyrics site. By personal I just mean that everything has been done by the two hands that are typing this very blog post. I edited the pictures, I copied every bit of 한글(korean) from the pages of the album jackets of the cds which I personally own. I then romanized every letter of hangeul as a pronunciation guide for those who perhaps cannot read Korean. Then, I meticulously translated the lyrics using my own brain, several translators and English-Korean dictionaries, plus various other translations of songs (when available).

I just finished translating the whole 2PM mini-album Don't Stop Can't Stop. This would be cool, but it's only 4 songs, and it took me forever because I took a two and a half week break from www.reallykpop.com altogether. I just needed a break from translating.

Anyways, while translating this album, I discovered the song 목숨을 건다 which translates to I'm risking my life (목 is neck or throat, and 숨 is breath, but when together it means the breath of life, or just life, which I think is fucking awesome). That song is the most beautiful song ever in the whole fucking world. I love love love love love it. When I translated the lyrics I was like omg, Im in love with 2PM.

Here is the song for your listening pleasure:

CD Review: Se7en- Digital Bounce

So I downloaded Se7en(also written Seven)'s newest album, Digital Bounce, the day that it came out. Then I bought the cd at my earliest convenience, when I went to Times Square Mall yesterday. Luckily I went there with Coleen, because this week when I buy his cd, I can enter a contest to see him at a fan signing on Saturday. So I did that, obviously, and I'm preparing the gift/letter that I will give him that professes my love and expresses my desire for him and Taeyang (they are both YG after all).

Anyways, Se7en is pretty darn famous in Korea. He's been around for a long time (this is his fifth Korean album), and he's had a huge amount of critical success in the country, in spite of a failed attempt to break into the Korean market. I have all of his other albums downloaded (except for some reason his next most recent Se7olution, which I plan to dl tonight). Like my Taeyang Solar Review, this review is gonna be biased because I love him so much. Also, I will definitely be translating this album on www.reallykpop.com as soon as I finish translating 2PM's Don't Stop Can't Stop mini-album (this week).

So, here's my play-by-play

1. Reset (Intro)- This is a pretty long intro at 55 seconds. And I really think it sets the tone for this album. In this album, Seven really experiments with more electronic-based music, and more dance music. This album also seems to have a lot of auto-tune, which is a drag, but his live-performances have been auto-tune free and really really impressive. In this intro, Seven says, "y'all ready for this?/Something y'all ain't used to" He's right. This is something that we Seven fans aren't used to. Sure, from his first album (Just Listen) to his next most recent (Se7olution), his sound changed tremendously from a lot and a lot of ballad singing to an edgier dancier vibe. But still, seven is a singer of the most pure breed. A real r&b singer. And this cd seems to depart from that. I get the impression that his time in the United States has really changed his music style. And, frankly, I'm not sure everyone is ready for this. But, even though it's different, I still really like it. Oh and did I mention that he totally says y'all, which I love.

2. Digital Bounce (featuring T.O.P.)- This song is quite possibly the most catchy song of the summer. I'm about to blow the minds of my faithful readers, but I like this song more than almost any song on Solar (taeyang's solar album), and I really really really love 영배 with every ounce of my body. But this song just gets in your head and reverberates with such intensity. The chorus is all in English and fairly simplistic. But it's simplicity is what makes it memorable. Seven really embraces the electronic nature of the album with this song, referencing supersonic waves, robo-cops, and a digital world. Also, T.O.P.s rap on this song is absolute fire. The more I listen to top, the more I really really like him. He went from my least favorite to a contender with Daesung for number 2 (Taeyang will always be my one and only). I mean, his voice is built for rapping. Like, there aren't many voices that are tonally naturally equipped to sound pleasing while rapping (that was part of the appeal of hip-hop at the roots, the gritty raw non-traditional-music sound), but his seems to fit perfectly. He's really talented. Oh, and the choreography is equallly easy and catchy, so I can dance along at will!

3. Better Together- This song is the official first song, although on his comeback stages, he is performing both this song and Digital Bounce. This song also embraces the electronic nature of the album. I really like the stuttering when Seven says, "They call me Se se se seven, 넌 나의(you're my) hea hea hea heaven" There are other stuttery parts that are just really catchy and fit with the beat really well. This song also displays Seven's range really well, especially towards the end when it slows down a bit and then gets back to the original tempo and Seven really turn it out vocally. My one complaint with this song is there is this annoying sound effect littering the background. It's kind of like an airhorn meets a shooting star (in my mind). It's a really popular sound for DJs to drop in clubs, and I find it super annoying. It's used too frequently in this song and it really irks me. Luckily during the chorus, it's not used at all because there is a tempo change that renders the sound effect unnecessary.

4. I'm Going Crazy- This song seems to be a bit out of place given the first three tracks. It's the "slow jam" of the album. It's still not nearly as slow as some of his old work. Plus, it still has a slightly electronic feel. It's heavy on the drum set and has some definitely space-agey keyboard work. The music itself (instrumentals) is kind of sub-par for me. The lyrics also, don't blow me out of the water. But, this song showcases his phenomenal vocals quite well. I just wish the the music was a little less like something Disney would produce for Miley Cyrus or whoever their next big name is, and a little more like his older slow songs, where the music was really quality and the vocals remained the same. Oh man, his voice really is beautiful in this song. The lyrics, by the way, for this song were written by Teddy.

5. Money Can't Buy me Love- This song seems like a Beatles throwback, but it's a totally different theme. Instead of saying, girl, you can buy my love, it's about spending all this money on a girl but discovering that she didn't want his money, she just wanted his attention and love. This song is really sad. It's kind of Justin Timberlake-y during the Cry me a River era. I really like the music for this song. I feel like if you took the vocals off, the music could hold its on. Then you add Seven's vocals and I'm sold. This song is not something you'll here at the club, and it's not really a ballad, but it's that perfect song that's right in the middle that you can listen to when you're happy or when you're sad. Also this song is in English, and his English really is phenomenal. He even says the word hoopty (regarding a broke down car) which is pretty tight.

6. Drips- I fucking love this song. Again, it's got the full on Electronic dance vibe, starting with the computerized woman's voice saying, "Push the button. High. Loud. Start." and then breaking into a beat I can definitely get down to in the club. Seven says, "just let it drip. Just let it drip. Just let it drip. Just let it drip." I'm not sure what I'm allowing to drip, but if Seven says so, I will just let it drip. Then, he breathily begins, "Can u feel feel 이 뜨거운 열기 꿈 속을  헤메이듯 feel so good" which translates roughly to "Can you feel feel the heat in this dream, This wondering feels so good." And honestly, just the way he says it makes me want to go to bed with him right now and feel the heat that ISN'T a dream. The breathy way he lays the chorus on you is so sexy and raw. Also, there is a "oooh" that is nearly orgasmic. LOVE IT. I will just pretend this song is being song by Seven just for me.

7. Roller Coaster- The beginning of this song seems like it was ripped off from song American song that I can remember the title of. Like, it seems virtually plagarized because I'm almost certain I've heard the beginning before. Then he says something like "다다다른 걸" which is find, but it sounds like something from a girls kpop group, if it wasnt about another girl. Plus, the roller coaster metaphor is a bit played out. Plus, this song is a little auto-tuney for me. But still, when he's not on the auto-tune, he still sounds really good. I do think it's a bit unfortunate that the album ends with this song which I think is a bit mediocre. It's not terrible, it's just not a hit.

If I was grading by the standards that I grade by at school, I'd give this album a "Very Good! ^_^" But it wouldn't get a "Perfect!" or a Hello Kitty sticker. But it would be a situation where I look at the paper and say, man, I really want to give this a hello kitty sticker because it's so good, but it's not quite perfect, and I can't do that.

So, I won't. Sorry, Seven. No Hello Kitty sticker for you.

Unless you are actually reading this, in which case, you can have as many hello kitty stickers as you want, plus my body, to do with it as you wish.

You can buy his album at www.yesasia.com or, if you live in Korea, at any major retailer selling music cds. I recommend 신나라 in the 신세계 department store only because they have lots of events with the stars. Also, check out his official website at www.hello7.com

xoxo
A

omg omg omg omg omg

I am so jealous of Jihye. YOUNGBAE KISSSSSSSSSED HER. waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

I mean, sure, I have a boyfriend. I'm happy with him. But still, omg omg omg omg omg Taeyang kissed her. I'm so jealous. I'm glad my man understands my obsession with taeyang. otherwise, I'd be screwed.

Watching this video, I little squealed in pain when I saw it. And then I banged my fists on my desk and said, "NO NO NO NO NO!!"

See for yourself.