Last weekend was r16, a big international bboy competition. I had been looking forward to the competition since I bought tickets over a month ago. It turns out I reserved tickets 20 and 21 of everyone there. I also went to the r16 preparty, which was hella dope.
Anyways, I guess first I'll talk about the pre-party since that's the first thing that happened on my weekend. I went with M and Dre to Lotte Hotel in Jamsil (which by the way is hella fucking far from Incheon... 2 hours-ish). We got there early and we had time to eat dinner. Actually, where we ate there was a restaurant called Uncle Wong's. This is particularly interesting because in Dumbfoundead's Grindtime battle with Tantrum, Dumb says, "You're not just an Uncle Tom, you're an Uncle Wong."
Then, after eating, we headed to the party. It was a little confusing to find because we weren't really sure where we were going. naturally. We got to the place eventually and it was still hella early, like 8 p.m. At that point we caught the tail-end of some pre-competition elimination popping and locking battles. They were okay, and at the time I thought pretty good, but nothing compared to what we saw the following day. But that's for later.
Then, after the competition was over, we took a break and just sat and rested. It was kind of strange being there because I am not really part of the break dancing community. I mean, sure, I listen to hip-hop a lot, and I've watched a whole shit-ton of graffiti, scratching, and breakdancing videos online, but as for actually participating in the hip-hop culture, I fall definitively into the observer category. It's not that I'm a bad dancer, it's just that I'm not a bgirl.
Anyways, so it was weird with everyone being so talented and then me just kind of hanging out and watching.
While I was standing around one of the dance circles (everyone was breaking in circles which was cool to watch), I saw DJ Zo, and he said hello to me and gave me a hug and we chatted. Then later in the evening I saw dumb and said hello and he also recognized me and gave me a hug. I know that I probably sound ridiculous and fan-girl-y hear, but they just seem so cool and chill. I know they aren't super famous and it's not like they have millions of people banging down their doorstep for autographs and shit, but still, I've seen less famous people act like total dicks to their fans. It's nice to see artists who haven't let a little bit of fame and internet popularity get to their heads. In the off chance that one of the two of them sees this post, thanks guys for making my night a little bit more than just a concert, but an interaction. You guys are cool as fuck and I hope y'all stay that way.
So a bit later, dumb and djzo hit the stage. They absolutely fucking wrecked it. They did most everything that I really wanted to see and I got some great pictures and footage and whatnot. They did bullets of truth, Mr. Nice Guy, plus Dumb freestyled a whole lot. Plus he even called up other MCs and invited them to do a short freestyle on the mic. It was really cool. Like 4 or 5 people came up and spat verses in English and Korean. It was really cool.
Then M and Dre left because they were tired and dumb finished and that's the only reason they really went. Unfortunately, I wasn't ready to bounce so I was pissed and ended up staying alone to watch DJSoulscape (basically a Korean legend as far as DJs go). Soulscape was just ridiculously talented, and it turned out to be better than I had expected in spite of being alone. This Korean girl came up and talked to me and said I was a really really good dancer, and she thought I was a dancer (not that I was like poppping or breaking or anything), and that was very flattering since there were a lot of other dancers there and she was impressed by me.
Anyways this is the video I threw together this afternoon of the video/pictures I took during the concert. Enjoy, and check out my other videos over on my youtube channel! Thaaaaanks!!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Update on Lyrics
So my bad. I meant to post lyrics soon.
Unfortunately/Fortunately my weekend was super awesome and hella busy with the r16 Korea world bboy championship (A full-length review of the weekend will be coming soon) and I didn't get around to actually posting the lyrics. Luckily for you, I'm working on a special Taeyang lyrics surprise...
I promise the Taeyang surprise will be released by Thursday afternoon, Korea time, at the latest. So check back here Wednesday for the surprise, or early if you want to read about r16s!
xoxo
A
Unfortunately/Fortunately my weekend was super awesome and hella busy with the r16 Korea world bboy championship (A full-length review of the weekend will be coming soon) and I didn't get around to actually posting the lyrics. Luckily for you, I'm working on a special Taeyang lyrics surprise...
I promise the Taeyang surprise will be released by Thursday afternoon, Korea time, at the latest. So check back here Wednesday for the surprise, or early if you want to read about r16s!
xoxo
A
Friday, July 2, 2010
Taeyang Solar Album Lyrics
So I know this probably won't be of any interest to most of you, but I figured I could put the lyrics of the songs on Taeyang's Solar album all in one convenient spot. Please forgive the next nine posts being nothing but lyrics. I't s a service to my people.
Update: I created a new website which contains all the lyrics in Korean (hangul), plus a romanized pronunciation guide, PLUS English translations. Enjoy!
www.reallykpop.com
Update: I created a new website which contains all the lyrics in Korean (hangul), plus a romanized pronunciation guide, PLUS English translations. Enjoy!
www.reallykpop.com
CD Review: Taeyang- Solar
Ok. So this is my first CD Review. I'm gonna go ahead and say it flat out: I'm biased. I love the FUCK out of Taeyang. Sure, I have delusions of Young Bae and myself getting married and producing little Youngbae juniors. Sure, my students call me Donglison (it's a terrible mashing of our names). Sure, I know his height (174 cm), his weight (56 kg = 123 lbs... eff off haters), his blood type (AB) and his birthday (May 18, 1988). So? It doesn't mean my review will be biased. Ok. So my review will be biased. Who the fuck am I kidding? I think YoungBae could literally take a shit, package it and sell it for 25,000 won a pop and I'd buy it and say it's the greatest thing ever.
That being said, this cd is still pretty awesome. Sure, it's not the greatest piece of musical genius created. No, it's not groundbreaking or innovative really. But, in its defense, it is incredibly catchy, with very danceable songs and a few noteworthy cameos (read: G.D., Teddy, Swings). I've fallen in love with it already and I've hardly had a chance to listen to the whole album.
The Deluxe Edition includes a t-shirt, a photobook, a signed pictures, and a YG Family Card. The regular edition includes a shorter photobook, the cd (albeit with 2 fewer songs, since this one doesn't have the re-releases of 나만 바라봐 [Look Only At Me] and 기도 [Prayer]).
The full Tracklist is as follows:
1. Solar (Intro)
2. Superstar
3. I Need a Girl (feat. G-Dragon)
4. Just a Feeling
5. You're My
6. Move (feat. Teddy)
7. Breakdown
8.니가 잠든 후에 [After You Fall Asleep] (feat. Swings)
9. Where U At
10. Wedding Dress
11. 기도 [Prayer]
12.나만 바라봐 [Look Only At Me]
13. Take It Slow
As far as composition goes, the great majority of the songs were composed and written by Teddy. But YoungBae wrote the lyrics from Solar, Just A Feeling and Wedding Dress. He also composed the music for Take It Slow.
Anyways, onward with the actual review:
Solar is just an intro, and in it he speaks only English, although it's mostly him saying yeah, it's still awesome. Just a really epic lead-in to the cd.
The first song, Superstar, starts out super strong with horns in the intro. The song is kind of a mid-tempo pop song. Not very dancy, but something you can just groove to. Taeyang switches expertly between English and Korean in this song. Seriously, parts of the song are a line in Korean, a line in English, a line in Korean, and so forth. Also, part of the lyrics: "So baby let's get it on, get it on, girl" which is something every girl can imagine Taeyang is whispering just to her. At least that's what I did.
The next song, I Need a Girl, which features best bud G-Dragon is the first release (after Wedding Dress and Where U At I guess) off the album. The video was released today and can be found here. The video is as amazing as the song. The verse is mind-bogglingly catchy. A student told me today that this is a remake of an older Korean song. Regardless, it's fucking awesome. A line of G.D.'s: "I love Girls, Girls I do adore," which is a nice little Jay-Z (Girls Girls Girls) reference. I hate Dara in the video (only because I'm totally jealous). Anyways, I didn't like the song that much when I heard it for the very first time, but as I hear it more, I love it more.
The next song is one which Taeyang wrote himself, Just a Feeling. The hook and even more so the bridge is just something that I imagine will be stuck in my head for like days. Taeyang also says he wants to make love to ME in the song. He says it. I'm gonna hold him to it. This song is a great dance song. Not too fast, but just perfect for a dance party in the morning when I'm waking up. You've got me saying yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.
The first slow song on the album is You're My. Frankly, I just don't think anything will ever top Taeyang's 최인, which is the single sexiest slow ballad in the whole world. This song starts out so beautiful, with a little keyboard action However, I think the song is just a little to high and a little slow and lacks the vavoom that Taeyang usually brings to his ballads. Also, it's really unfortunate the metaphors he uses in this song. "You're my chocolate, my sweetest chocolate, I really wanna have you" "You're my ice cream, my sweetest ice cream, I really wanna have you" and "You're my candy, my lollipop candy, I really wanna kiss you, I really wanna love you." Really, Taeyang? You agreed to sing this? And really Teddy, you told Taeyang this was a good idea? I'm sorry. This is the one song that gets a thumbs down from me.
Then comes Move featuring Teddy. I'm gonna say this: the intro is hilarious and AWESOME. "Ay, all my sexy ladies on the floor. I like the girls that know how to move it right... They know what it is now, but don't get this shit twisted. This is for the ladies." Not only is don't get it twisted on of my favorite phrases, but Teddy makes it very clear. Taeyang is for the ladies. And a lady I am. This song is really pretty sounding. I think it caters to Taeyang's style. It offers just the right number of higher notes (unlike You're my which is ALL high notes) and gives us the upbeat R&B Taeyang that we all know and love. Also Teddy's rap is so sexually explicit and it's so funny because Taeyang is famously uber-religious. But hello, these lyrics? "I cock it and unload it call me Mr. BigRocket/I'm so vicious like sid with my sex pistols...Niagra Falls baby girl I got you wetter then." bwahahahaha.
My favorite song on the album is Breakdown. The hook is so damn good. I literally had this song on repeat at work, and I just have this one dance that is so perfect for this song. Plus Taeyang banks on the auto-tune fanaticism going on here. He doesn't over-use it like some other artists we may know (T-Pain) but just a little during a verse. I just wanna take this one to the club and "break it down down break it break it down."
The next song is the only song on the album that is in Korean: 니가 잠든 후에. It means after you fall asleep. It features the rapper Swings. There is very little English in this song compared to the others. Also, this title makes it seem like it will be a slow song, but nope. It's a dance track. It's very dancy, with a very electronic beat in the background, with a lot of echoing reminiscent of a club song. The Swings verse is pretty fresh. His voice is great and really locks you in.
The next two songs are already solidified as classics in Taeyang's repertoire: Where U At and Wedding Dress. I don't have much to say about these songs because they are so flawless. I love both of these song so effing much. Seriously, Youngbae has excellent writers (except whoever penned you're my... that guy should be fired immediately) and he performs the songs immaculately. Seriously.
Then are the two re-releases of 기도 and 나만 바라봐 which are from his Hot mini-album. Again, bonafied Taeyang classics. I find it pretty unfortunate that the song 최인 (Sinners in English) gets so much less attention. It is easily my favorite song he's made, and in my opinion, the highest quality song he has. It's so beautiful constructed and sung. So passionate and thoughtful. Anyways, that songs not on the cd, so I should leave it out. hah.
Last is Take it Slow, which Taeyang composed himself. I think this is a pretty nice wrap-up to the album. It's nice to see a piece he composed turn out so well. This is the clutch slow jam (besides wedding dress) that Taeyang really needed in the album. Since You're My fell so short of my very high expectations, it's nice that this song is so good. It's a really love ballad. I agree YoungBae, let's take it slow. I will slowly savor every bit of this cd (minus you're my, which is getting skipped consistently), and dream of the day when you and I will be together... *fades into sentimental day dreaming*
Oh, for those of you who are interested, here are two videos I posted on my youtube channel of me opening Solar, and the BigBang Big Show concert CD, which I also picked up today:
That being said, this cd is still pretty awesome. Sure, it's not the greatest piece of musical genius created. No, it's not groundbreaking or innovative really. But, in its defense, it is incredibly catchy, with very danceable songs and a few noteworthy cameos (read: G.D., Teddy, Swings). I've fallen in love with it already and I've hardly had a chance to listen to the whole album.
The Deluxe Edition includes a t-shirt, a photobook, a signed pictures, and a YG Family Card. The regular edition includes a shorter photobook, the cd (albeit with 2 fewer songs, since this one doesn't have the re-releases of 나만 바라봐 [Look Only At Me] and 기도 [Prayer]).
The full Tracklist is as follows:
1. Solar (Intro)
2. Superstar
3. I Need a Girl (feat. G-Dragon)
4. Just a Feeling
5. You're My
6. Move (feat. Teddy)
7. Breakdown
8.니가 잠든 후에 [After You Fall Asleep] (feat. Swings)
9. Where U At
10. Wedding Dress
11. 기도 [Prayer]
12.나만 바라봐 [Look Only At Me]
13. Take It Slow
As far as composition goes, the great majority of the songs were composed and written by Teddy. But YoungBae wrote the lyrics from Solar, Just A Feeling and Wedding Dress. He also composed the music for Take It Slow.
Anyways, onward with the actual review:
Solar is just an intro, and in it he speaks only English, although it's mostly him saying yeah, it's still awesome. Just a really epic lead-in to the cd.
The first song, Superstar, starts out super strong with horns in the intro. The song is kind of a mid-tempo pop song. Not very dancy, but something you can just groove to. Taeyang switches expertly between English and Korean in this song. Seriously, parts of the song are a line in Korean, a line in English, a line in Korean, and so forth. Also, part of the lyrics: "So baby let's get it on, get it on, girl" which is something every girl can imagine Taeyang is whispering just to her. At least that's what I did.
The next song, I Need a Girl, which features best bud G-Dragon is the first release (after Wedding Dress and Where U At I guess) off the album. The video was released today and can be found here. The video is as amazing as the song. The verse is mind-bogglingly catchy. A student told me today that this is a remake of an older Korean song. Regardless, it's fucking awesome. A line of G.D.'s: "I love Girls, Girls I do adore," which is a nice little Jay-Z (Girls Girls Girls) reference. I hate Dara in the video (only because I'm totally jealous). Anyways, I didn't like the song that much when I heard it for the very first time, but as I hear it more, I love it more.
The next song is one which Taeyang wrote himself, Just a Feeling. The hook and even more so the bridge is just something that I imagine will be stuck in my head for like days. Taeyang also says he wants to make love to ME in the song. He says it. I'm gonna hold him to it. This song is a great dance song. Not too fast, but just perfect for a dance party in the morning when I'm waking up. You've got me saying yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.
The first slow song on the album is You're My. Frankly, I just don't think anything will ever top Taeyang's 최인, which is the single sexiest slow ballad in the whole world. This song starts out so beautiful, with a little keyboard action However, I think the song is just a little to high and a little slow and lacks the vavoom that Taeyang usually brings to his ballads. Also, it's really unfortunate the metaphors he uses in this song. "You're my chocolate, my sweetest chocolate, I really wanna have you" "You're my ice cream, my sweetest ice cream, I really wanna have you" and "You're my candy, my lollipop candy, I really wanna kiss you, I really wanna love you." Really, Taeyang? You agreed to sing this? And really Teddy, you told Taeyang this was a good idea? I'm sorry. This is the one song that gets a thumbs down from me.
Then comes Move featuring Teddy. I'm gonna say this: the intro is hilarious and AWESOME. "Ay, all my sexy ladies on the floor. I like the girls that know how to move it right... They know what it is now, but don't get this shit twisted. This is for the ladies." Not only is don't get it twisted on of my favorite phrases, but Teddy makes it very clear. Taeyang is for the ladies. And a lady I am. This song is really pretty sounding. I think it caters to Taeyang's style. It offers just the right number of higher notes (unlike You're my which is ALL high notes) and gives us the upbeat R&B Taeyang that we all know and love. Also Teddy's rap is so sexually explicit and it's so funny because Taeyang is famously uber-religious. But hello, these lyrics? "I cock it and unload it call me Mr. BigRocket/I'm so vicious like sid with my sex pistols...Niagra Falls baby girl I got you wetter then." bwahahahaha.
My favorite song on the album is Breakdown. The hook is so damn good. I literally had this song on repeat at work, and I just have this one dance that is so perfect for this song. Plus Taeyang banks on the auto-tune fanaticism going on here. He doesn't over-use it like some other artists we may know (T-Pain) but just a little during a verse. I just wanna take this one to the club and "break it down down break it break it down."
The next song is the only song on the album that is in Korean: 니가 잠든 후에. It means after you fall asleep. It features the rapper Swings. There is very little English in this song compared to the others. Also, this title makes it seem like it will be a slow song, but nope. It's a dance track. It's very dancy, with a very electronic beat in the background, with a lot of echoing reminiscent of a club song. The Swings verse is pretty fresh. His voice is great and really locks you in.
The next two songs are already solidified as classics in Taeyang's repertoire: Where U At and Wedding Dress. I don't have much to say about these songs because they are so flawless. I love both of these song so effing much. Seriously, Youngbae has excellent writers (except whoever penned you're my... that guy should be fired immediately) and he performs the songs immaculately. Seriously.
Then are the two re-releases of 기도 and 나만 바라봐 which are from his Hot mini-album. Again, bonafied Taeyang classics. I find it pretty unfortunate that the song 최인 (Sinners in English) gets so much less attention. It is easily my favorite song he's made, and in my opinion, the highest quality song he has. It's so beautiful constructed and sung. So passionate and thoughtful. Anyways, that songs not on the cd, so I should leave it out. hah.
Last is Take it Slow, which Taeyang composed himself. I think this is a pretty nice wrap-up to the album. It's nice to see a piece he composed turn out so well. This is the clutch slow jam (besides wedding dress) that Taeyang really needed in the album. Since You're My fell so short of my very high expectations, it's nice that this song is so good. It's a really love ballad. I agree YoungBae, let's take it slow. I will slowly savor every bit of this cd (minus you're my, which is getting skipped consistently), and dream of the day when you and I will be together... *fades into sentimental day dreaming*
Oh, for those of you who are interested, here are two videos I posted on my youtube channel of me opening Solar, and the BigBang Big Show concert CD, which I also picked up today:
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