Jpop Rec - Arashi

As far as my musical tastes are defined, I am kind of a classic rock/indie rock kind of girl. I used to do that pop music thing back in the 90's with *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys like everyone else (yes, even you did it, so embrace the shame). But most things that sound remotely pop-esque kind of make me feel like I am 12 again and that is never a fun thing (such an awkward age), so I tend to abhor it.

But now comes my new musical interest: Arashi.

Arashi is a Japanese five-member group of the Johnny's Entertainment variety and while there are elements of R&B/Rap (Sho-kun!), it is undeniably, most ostensibly, a pop group.

Some of their music makes me cringe and wonder when a Backstreet Boy is going to suddenly pop in with one of their ugly nylon tracksuits, but there are three Arashi songs that are right up my alley and that I would recommend without shame. There may be more music of theirs that I might like, but I have only listened to songs with music videos. In anycase, I recommend (especially the music videos):

Truth (dark, beautiful color scheme in music video, excellent orchestra)

Happiness (cutest music video ever!!! boys just being happy!)

Sakura Sake (real you-can-do-it song! about college acceptance letters)

Overall, I have enjoyed watching clips of the boys in tv shows and interviews. I especially love when they tease their appointed "leader" (Riida), Ohno Satoshi, who also happens to be my favorite Arashi member. He's got such a pretty singing voice, is a talented actor (he is so scary in Maou), and is such an air-headed momma's boy that you can't help going "awwww, I just want to take him and put him in my pocket!"

I also wish to firmly declare my support of Ohno not only because he has such an awesome name, but for the fact that he is having a hard time with a scandal about something that allegedly happened three years ago. No reason to go into details because I completely believe him when he says he is innocent of the charges, but I do believe he should get as much support as possible because it is still stressful and many fans are acting quite irrational. Each to his or her own I guess, but really, this little air-headed kid is too sweet to just abandon at the first sign of potential human weakness. But enough fangirling from me.

Well, actually I will end this rec post with a picture of Ikuta Toma because Johnny's hasn't debuted him yet (WHENGODWHEN?!) and everyone loves an underdog.

Here's to Ohno and Toma, the underdogs/downtrodden of Japan's (mainly musical) media industry. May they continue to surprise us all with their talent and tenacity in the face of adversity [aka, low ratings for Maou (;_;)].

~Owari!~

(Korean) Movie Rec!

Normally, if I read the entire plot of a movie before watching it, no matter how touching it may be, I will not feel any connection to it. No tears.

The King and the Clown, a 2005 Korean movie adapted from the play Yi ("You"), is not one of those movies, despite the fact that I had read an in-depth synopsis prior to watching it.

Synopsis: Two minstrels ("clowns") flee a crime involving killing their manager in self-defense, forming their own troop in Seoul during the Joseon dynasty (1500's BCE). To gain audience, they mock the king with a play, which they must re-perform in front of the king to make him laugh or be killed. The king, having had a troubled childhood, is psychologically unbalanced and with each successive performance the minstrels engage in, the more insane his actions become. This reign of terror culminates in the king's obsession with one of the two minstrels, Gong-gil, a beautiful and naiive youth that inspires jealousy in the king's mistress. It is from that point onward that the devotion of the two minstrels to each other is tested and ultimately succeeds.

It is based on records of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty that mention the king's favorite clown.

Okay, pretty vague but I don't want to spoil it for anyone else like I spoiled it for myself, because I think anyone else would probably cry buckets instead of the teaspoons of tears I shed.

I am super excited about the actor that played Gong-gil, his name being Lee Jun Ki. In the movie he looks more effeminate than most girls, but I think it is because the movie producers made him gain weight for the role; his regular pictures look different. He apparently was also in a Japanese drama, Virgin Snow. Must put this on my must-see list. In any case....he's really, really pretty!!! (#*_*#)

Watch this movie at any given chance.