Lovely Moon Geun-young

Itazura na Kiss (leads)

The Korean remake of Itazura na Kiss picks its leads actors.

Kim Hyun-joong for Naoki Irie. Umm… no. After his sub-par portrayal of Hanazawa Rui in “Boys Before Flowers”, I don’t see how he can rock this Naoki role.

Jung So-min as Kotoko Aihara. Hmmm… okay. She’s cute and quite talented as seen in the currently airing “Bad Guy”.

Will I watch, or will I not watch… that is the question.

简单爱 acapella

I was never fond of song covers, especially if it’s a favorite. But this particular group called PennYo is really special. They sung “Simple Love” in acapella and cleverly made it their own.

The group has released two albums to date, but I’m more interested in their upcoming third one. I’ve heard the preview clips and I’m really excited. I hope they sell it online very soon. Check out their Facebook group if you want to know more about them.

爱我别走

This blog has been sorely neglected these past few days. But I do have a review of (my!) Jay Chou’s newest album coming up. Meanwhile, let’s entertain ourselves with this sweet ballad. Jay rarely sings covers but when he does, he picks the perfect ones. I have this on repeat-mode now.

He’s back!

뒤돌아봐 (Turn Around)

Rising JYP singer 정민주 or simply, JOO is back with a new song for the drama 신데렐라 언니. JOO debuted in January 2008 with the single called 남자때문에. It was a great song, but she was practically invisible shortly after that. But she’s only 19, and she possesses a sweet voice and stage presence. Hopefully, 2010 will be a better year for her.

뒤돌아봐 (Turn Around)
by JOO
신데렐라 언니 OST

손대면 닿을 듯 한데
I feel I can reach you with just an outstretched hand
눈 앞에 네가 보이는 데
You’re right there before my eyes
가지마 그 한마디 하지도 못하고
Even the words “Don’t go,” I cannot say
난 이렇게 바라보고 있니
I must be standing here just looking towards you

뒤돌아봐 제발 다시 내게로 제발
Please, turn around and look back at me
너의 발걸음을 내게 다시 돌릴 수 없겠니
Can’t you turn your footsteps around, back towards me
멈춰줘 차라리 내가 갈 수 있도록
Instead, why don’t you pause your steps so that I can move towards you
지금 당장 내가 너에게 달려 갈 테니
I can run towards you right away if you do
뒤돌아봐 제발 다시 널 돌려 제발
Please, turn around and return to me
이렇게 가면 나 없이 너는 살 수 가 있겠니
If you go away like this, can you really live without me?
난 아냐 하루도 살아 갈 수 없잖니
I cannot go a day without you
난 아직 여기서 널 바라보고 서 있어
I’m still standing here looking towards you

난 아직 여기 있는데 꼼짝도 할 수 없는데
I’m still standing here, I cannot move
네가 떠나간 그 곳에 난 그대로
I’m at the same place as you left me
난 아직도 바라보고 있어
I’m still looking towards you

뒤돌아봐 제발 다시 내게로 제발
Please, turn around and look back at me
너의 발걸음을 내게 다시 돌릴 수 없겠니
Can’t you turn your footsteps around, back towards me
멈춰줘 차라리 내가 갈 수 있도록
Instead, why don’t you pause your steps so that I can move towards you
지금 당장 내가 너에게 달려 갈 테니
I can run towards you right away if you do
뒤돌아봐 제발 다시 널 돌려 제발
Please, turn around and return to me
이렇게 가면 나 없이 너는 살 수 가 있겠니
If you go away like this, can you really live without me?
난 아냐 하루도 살아 갈 수 없잖니
I cannot go a day without you
난 아직 여기서 널 바라보고 서 있어
I’m still standing here looking towards you

한 걸음도 뗄 수가 없고
I can’t move even one step
눈물이 가려서 널 볼 수 가 없어
The tears are blurring my vision, I cannot see you
뒤돌아봐 주면 돼 그럼 갈 수 있는데
If you turned around, then I could go to you
왜 내 맘 알지 못하고 작아져 가는지
Why are you not noticing my heart and getting farther away?

뒤돌아봐 제발 다시 내게로 제발
Please, turn around and look back at me
너의 발걸음을 내게 다시 돌릴 수 없겠니
Can’t you turn your footsteps around back towards me
멈춰줘 차라리 내가 갈 수 있도록
Instead, why don’t you pause your steps so that I can move towards you
지금 당장 내가 너에게 달려 갈 테니
I can run towards you right away if you do
뒤돌아봐 제발 다시 널 돌려 제발
Please, turn around and return to me
이렇게 가면 나 없이 너는 살 수 가 있겠니
If you go away like this, can you really live without me?
난 아냐 하루도 살아 갈 수 없잖니
I cannot go a day without you
난 아직 여기서 널 바라보고 서 있어
I’m still standing here looking towards you

널 바라보고 서 있어
I’m standing here only seeing you

“은조야”라고 불렀다

Okay, I need help. A certain 수목 드라마 is taking over my life!

Cinderella’s Sister is a very engaging show. It draws you into the story and allows you to hold nothing back. My world literally stops and my surroundings disappear every time I watch this. Even before it aired, I’ve never doubted whether this drama would be good. I was just unsure whether I will like it. It’s been six episodes now, and I’m more than satisfied. I’m completely enthralled. I laugh, gasp, sigh, and cry my heart out on cue. The director should be very pleased!

The clip above was from Episode 3. It’s a very simple scene but beautifully executed and acted by the leads. I find Eun-jo a very complex character. She’s different from the usual heroines in K-dramas– the typical plucky adorable girl with a positive outlook all the time. She’s brooding and constantly misunderstood. The bizarre thing is, no matter how crude and tormented she seems, the harder we fall in love with her.

So what’s the significance of being called “Eun-jo yah”? The suffix -ya is very common in colloquial speech. It can sometimes be used affectionately, but it’s generally how people address their juniors. It’s very casual and friendly, but not romantic at all. But maybe, it’s the simplicity of the moment that moved Eun-jo. Come to think of it, no one has really called her by her name that often. Her mother calls her “brat”, Hyo-sun and Jung-woo calls her “Big Sister”. It was only with Ki-hoon that her existence was acknowledged, and a bond was formed.

As for Hong Ki-hoon… I have no words. He drives me insane with infatuation, it’s not even healthy anymore.

I can’t wait to see how the rest of the story unfolds. I have a feeling that this is gonna be one of the best K-dramas of the year… or even the decade.