The Bang is still BIG

Anxious fans started freaking out (totally not me though) when the show didn’t start on time at exactly 12:00 midnight on the 27th. Luckily, it wasn’t that the live streamers were down, it was because SBS went overtime about 20 minutes (if you ask me on purpose selling extra ad spots). It was worth the wait. SBS’s hour long Big Bangcomeback special The Big Bang Show 2011 was more than worth the effort of staying up all night (and until the sun rose, for me). It was great seeing the whole group performing on stage together and even though I didn’t love all the songs on the new album seeing them performed live makes it all sound so much better (I’m adding 0.25 to all my previous scores)!

Check out all the action below.

The Intro, Thank You and You. To think I could’ve been vacationing in Vegas and cruising down the strip when this was shot…

Hand’s Up- Is it just me, or is everything better with a little Big Bang in it. I still think they need to get new stylists though. The Ms.Korea type sashes with “Big Bang Is Back” on it was killing it a little for me.

Lies- The one that started it all… an oldie, but goodie. You gotta just love Kpop fans and their little synchronized chants. Still my fave Big Bang song of all time.

Somebody to Love- Their clothes here were probably my fave, and the back up dancers as mic stands, classic. Who couldn’t love T.O.P.’s part @ 1:16 when he’s walking forward through the back up dancers and they’re passing the mic to each other as he walks by them.

Cafe- Ah. my fave of the new song, and maybe I like these costumes the best. Although they are kind of suspect with each of them having a print of themselves on the front of their frocks, but hey they’re Big Bang. G-Dragon is so cute with his GD towel tied to his mic à la Axl Rose. I think I owe GD an apology, because I think the falsetto part I didn’t like at first listen in the song was actually Taeyang or Seungri- it was a little out of tune. And, Daesungand T.O.P.? Perfection.

What Is Right – What is right? The choreo, T.O.P. is so cute dancing. What is wrong? The back up dancer girls’ camo unitards, ugh bad stylists.

Their Secret Garden Parody was worth the effort of watching live alone. GD is pretty beautiful as a woman, although he did seem to enjoy feeling up his perkies a bit much. Daesung as the evil omma… I almost died laughing. It was fun seeing the members reactions while watching the parody also.

Sunset Glow- I’m sure by now the boys have the right to refuse to wear stuff, right? Then, WAE!

Last Farewell- So good.

Tonight- Okay, so I like the song, but still don’t love it. I was distracted from enjoying the performance totally by Seungri’s pleated skirt, G-Dragon’s skirt (even my mom has shorter skirts than that), T.O.P.’s half skirt, and Daesung and Taeyang’s fringe. Also, did y’all notice that the big sign behind the red one says “TONOGHT?” Loved the set though.

There are a couple more videos of the show available here, including the interview segments. Ah, it’s good having Big Bang back in Kpop.

At the end of the show, they premiered Big Bang’s MV for their title track “Tonight” which was shot in Las Vegas and L.A. (they don’t havwe beaches like that in Vegas, right?) And like my fellow writer Patricia said, if there’s one thing that YG can do it’s the visual stuff.

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Lee Min Jung wore three wedding dresses, but never got married

Actress Lee Min Jung shared her unique experience of wearing three wedding dresses for three different roles, but unfortunately, her characters were never able to get married.

At the press conference for “Midas” on February 21st, Lee Min Jung had stated, “In ‘Boys Over Flowers,’ I wore a wedding dress but wasn’t able to get married. In ‘Smile, You‘, I also wore a wedding dress, but the wedding was called off soon after.”

Her third time will be marked in the upcoming “Midas” episode, scheduled for broadcast on February 28th. Lee Min Jung and her fiance, Jang Hyuk, will be seen at a wedding boutique store in Seoul, where the glowing bride-to-be tries on numerous dresses for her beloved. Although her fiancee is dazzled with her beauty, he later receives a call from another character and abruptly leaves the scene. Eventually, the wedding is canceled again.

At the press conference, she continued, “I wore a wedding dress this time (for Midas), but I wasn’t able to get married again. While recording the scene, I wondered what kind of coincidence this was. How could I wear three wedding dresses in a row, and not once get married?

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Noh Min-woo gets in bed for Midas

Funny what a difference one project makes: After Pasta and My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho, all I could muster for Pretty Emo Boy Noh Min-woo was indifference. Then you put him in four episodes of ’80s-music-themed Rock Rock Rock, and suddenly he’s adorable, energetic, and emotive.

I’m hoping it’s the latter Noh Min-woo we get to see in Midas, the SBS Monday-Tuesday drama which, if you base on these previews, is about…uh…something. I’m not sure what. But it’s intense and exciting, perhaps. And it’s about MIDAS.

Official descriptions to give us a few more details, such as how it’s set in the business world and deals with the conspiracies and betrayals of the chaebol world. It stars Jang Hyuk, Lee Min-jung, and Kim Hee-ae; Noh Min-woo plays the latter’s younger brother, a rich playboy from a chaebol family.

Midas follows Athena, which oddly enough ends on a Monday without a special or extra broadcast. That means Midas‘s first episode will air on Tuesday, February 22.

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Song Joong Ki’s relationship with Yoo Ah In became awkward after winning the ‘Best Couple Award’

On February 19th, actor Song Joong Ki guested on KBS 2TV’s “Entertainment Relay” and confessed that his relationship with Yoo Ah In became really awkward ever since the ‘2010 KBS Acting Awards‘.

Earlier, we reported that the two were nominated for the ‘Best Couple Award’ at the 2010 KBS Acting Awards for their roles as ‘Yeorim’ and ‘Geol Oh’ in “Sungkyunkwan Scandal“.

Although their characters were depicted as ‘just friends’, the relationship garnered enough interest and votes to eventually win the ‘Best Couple Award’. At the time, Yoo Ah In had wittily stated during his awards speech, “You all are really persistent!”

The reporter asked, “When you search for ‘Song Joong Ki’, Yoo Ah In’s name comes up in the related search term box. Do you guys still keep in contact?”

Song Joong Ki answered, “Honestly, it’s gotten sparse. Votes for us really dominated the ‘Best Couple Award’ poll, and it was actually quite surprising. I lost contact with Yoo Ah In after that (laughter).”

When asked to record a video message for his former castmate, Song Joong Ki stated, “I used to call you ‘Ah In-ah’ before, but I guess now it’s ‘Ah In-ssi’, how are you? It’s gotten a bit awkward.”

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‘Secret Garden Concert’ tickets sell out in 5 minutes!

SBS’s hit drama, “Secret Garden“, has once again show its explosive popularity through ticket sales for its upcoming OST concert on March 12th at Seoul’s Olympic Stadium. Amazingly, the “Secret Garden Amazing Concert” sold out all 2,000 seats in approximately five minutes, a feat which exceeded some sales records for pop idol concerts!

Achieve Group DN, the production company for the “Secret Garden” OST, said that the large-scale concert would hold different stages they weren’t able to show in January’s concert. The production company also revealed that they’ve been requested by several international promoters to hold an overseas tour.

The concert boasts the participation of those artists who contributed to the OST, including Baek Ji Young, Kim Bum Soo, 4men, Yiruma, BOIS, Yo Ah Ri, Mi (美), and many others. The cast is said to also appear for the show, however, actor Hyun Bin will not be able to attend due to his enlistment with the Marines.

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Yamashita Tomohisa discusses possible Korean album and his love for Korean culture

Japanese idol star Yamashita Tomohisa sat down to a press conference with reporters on February 24th and shared his love for Korean culture. The interview began, however, with questions about the differences between the Japanese and Korean music industry.

The reporters asked the star about what he thought the driving force or secret was in Japanese idol groups being able to stay together for a long period of time. “I’m not sure you can call it a secret, but I think it comes from the fact that the time members spend together and the time they spend on their own is strictly divided,” Yamashita replied.

Popular groups like SMAP, V6, and the Kinki Kids have all maintained their positions at the top for ten years now. Last year, Arashi also celebrated their 10th anniversary.

The idol was also asked for his opinion on the differences between J-pop and K-pop songs. “J-pop has a unique music world that only Japan has. Korean music has a lot of strong rhythms and beats that make you wanna get up and move. The ballads also have great melodies.”

The topic then moved onto Korean girls. “They’re both sexy and cute. Any man likes that type of charm, no matter where they are in the world. I actually have a Korean friend who I first met in a Japanese broadcast hall. We exchanged numbers and because of that friend’s influence, I became interested in performing on a Korean stage two to three years later.”

He continued, “I love Korean food as well. I really like kimchi and eat it frequently. Samgyeopsal, samkyetang, soon tofu, and bibimbap are also great. I’ve watched Korean dramas on Japanese TV. Koreans pay a lot of attention to the production behind their music and music videos, which I took note of.”

At the mention of his first visit to Korea back in 2008, he explained, “This is my first time for work, but I’ve visited a few times on my own. I came with my family first, then with friends, and once alone for vacation.”

When asked about his groupmates, NEWS, he revealed, “I haven’t been able to see my groupmates often recently, but I’m thinking of buying ‘kim’ (dried seaweed) to share with them.”

Yamashita continued, “I have a lot of interest in collaboration dramas with Korea, and would like to work with Korean actors. I’m close with Jaejoong as well, so if the opportunity should arise, I’d like to work with him. A song off my album, ‘Last Love Song‘, was produced by a Korean composer.”

After performing “Party Don’t Stop” on “M! Countdown,” he revealed, “One day, I’d like to release an album sung in Korean.”

His album, “SUPERGOOD, SUPERBAD,” was released in Japan on January 26th and ranked first place on Japan’s Oricon chart. It’s currently scheduled for release in Korea on March 2nd, and will follow with his first Korean concert in mid-April.

Meanwhile, Yamashita returned to Japan on February 24th.

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