Kris and SM

As most of you may have heard, Kris is suing to be released from his contract with SM.  I know this is a super short post but I will update this once I have gotten all the information I can.

For now I want to say I will continue to support SM and their groups and EXO and I also wish my favorite member the best for his future.  We can't know the whole truth...the only ones who actually know what happened are the members, the company, and the company staff.

Review: SM The Ballad - Vol. 2 "Breath"

Hey guys, sorry for the long wait!  (School rocks for education and learning but sucks for side projects and hobbies...). Since none of us are music critics, Rachel came up with a simple rubric to grade the album in review. Click here for the rubric. 

(source)

S.M. The Ballad is back!!!  They're back, but with different members. The Ballad was always meant to be a rotating group and all, and I'm happy and sad about that.  Now that Jay is in the military, Jino is in undebuted purgatory (aka, some musical in Japan), and Kyuhyun is busy keeping his variety show king title, Jonghyun is left as SM's resident male balladier and the only "original" Ballad member to remain.  But watch out Jonghyun, Yesung is back from the army...

Interestingly, the first album is pure instrumental - a very curious and refreshing addition to SM material.  It's a good musical introduction to "Breath" if you're into listening to compositions as a whole, but I suspect that most K-Pop fans will skip over it.

This particular album is interesting in the fact that SM has released a Korean, Chinese, and Japanese version of the title song "Breath."  My little gripe is wondering where in the heck is the English version?  Ballads may be SM's way into the English-language market and it wouldn't really matter how well it did as a single, since the Korean version is their main focus.  They could get Henry and Amber to sing it and it would be perfect.

Breath

Rachel: I really like this song.  I'm not a music critic or even a music major so I can't be all technical, but I like this song.  Personally, I'm biased towards the Chinese version.  First, I'm glad to Zhang Liyin coming out of the dark and lonely SM dungeon. Second, I love how her lighter and airier voice contrasts with Chen's deeper and richer voice.

The Korean version, Jonghyun and Taeyeon, is my neutral choice.  After hearing the contrast between Zhang Liyin and Chen, I didn't feel that Jonghyun and Taeyeon had voices that contrasted enough. They seem to be in the same range/register (sorry, not a music expert!) and vocal "flavor", and the voices sounds eerily similar during the harmonies. When Kyuhyun and Tiffany did "아름다운 그대에게 (Rise & Shine)," they had similar registers but different vocal "flavor." 

My least favorite version was the Japanese version.  While the voices contrast nicely like the Chinese version, I don't think the voices fit this particular song.  Changmin was and is TVXQ's power vocal. His specialty seems to lie in belting and this song really isn't built for a belt-er (say that ten times fast). This ballad also doesn't really suit Krystal's voice.  I personally think that BoA should have been Changmin's partner, seeing as she knows Japanese more intimately, but I understand SM's desire to include a member from f(x). (I would vote for J-Min to get back in the spotlight, but BoA has enough charisma to stand up to Changmin while J-Min does not).  BoA can do breathy, but Krystal's voice seems more...grounded?  But then and again, she's no Jessica.  Her voice is more suited for songs like "좋았던 건, 아팠던 건 When I Was… When U Were..."

Hara: Just as Rachel mentioned above, none of us are music critics/majors, so I would like to keep it simple :) My opinion on "Breath" is basically the same as Rachel's. There's just something about Chen and Zhang Li Yin's Chinese version which really stands out more than the rest. When the video teasers first came out, my little SONE heart was sure than our adorable kid-leader, Taeyeon, was going to dominate but I have to give it to Zhang Li Yin on this one. Also, it's amazing of Chen to be able to stand his ground against a power-house vocal like Li Yin, despite only at 2 years into his debut. Even though I did enjoy the Korean version with Jonghyun and Taeyeon, it's like a half/half for me. Also similar to Rachel, the Japanese version was my least favorite however, mega props to my girl Krystal for improving so much! 

Lisa:

When I Was...When U Were...

Rachel: "좋았던 건, 아팠던 건 When I Was… When U Were..." is one of my favorite songs.  Krystal and Chen's voices are perfect for this.  This actually is my favorite song on the album.  They're both relatively young so I think their youth brings a little bit of innocence and energy to this song.  This song is in the same vein as Jessica and Onew's "One Year Later" (parted lovers who meet again) but their voices give a more puppy love/first love feel than Jessica and Onew's mature and serious love. 

Hara:

Lisa:

A Day Without You

Rachel: "하루 A Day Without You" is good as a song, but once again I wish they had picked different voices.  Jonghyun and Chen have such similar voices that they should have chosen one or the other.  Heck, when EXO covers SHINee who ends up getting Jonghyun's parts and sounding like a dead ringer?  Chen!  There's no denying they aren't good singers, but to a casual listener (or the first listen) it's difficult to distinguish who is who.  I keep this on repeat because I like the song, but if my music is on shuffle, I find myself forgetting this is a duet and not a solo.  Personally, I would have liked a Chen/Baekhyun duet (one from EXO-K and one from EXO-M ;)), but I can only wish.  ^^

Hara:

Lisa:

Blind 

Rachel: "Blind" is Yesung's "re-debut" after being in the army.  While he's still in the army until April, this is a way to get the public reacquainted with him and to get them to anticipate his return to Super Junior (who should be making a fall comeback if the rumors are to be believed.)  I must be biased toward Chinese or I'm just excited the ZhouMi is back in ring, but I prefer ZhouMi's version over Yesung's.  :/  I also think SM should have taken the opportunity to "debut" Yuta, an SMRookie and SM's only Japanese signee.  They did it for Jino last time.  But then again, thanks to SM's total lack of information on the Rookies, I have no idea if Yuta can even sing (what if he's a rapper or dancer like Shindong and can't sing at all...?).

Hara:

Lisa:

Overall

Rachel: Excellent. SM needs to work on its voice pairings but otherwise a well put together piece of work.

Hara:

Lisa:

SM's Future and Possible New SM Girl Group in 2014?

2014 may be a big year for SM Entertainment.  According to the Shinhan Investment Corporation's predictions, there are lots of albums predicted to being dropped.  TVXQ and Girls' Generation in the first quarter, SHINee and EXO in the second quarter, and Super Junior and a new girl group in the third quarter.  Also, f(x) is rumored to be making a comeback curtesy of Teddy Riley, plus two new surprise projects, one being TOHEART (Key and Woohyun) and the other probably being S.M. The Ballad's comeback with new members.  On top of this, Girls' Generation also says they're planning to release their fifth studio album sometime this year.

If Girls' Generation releases their fifth studio album then any new girl group might be pushed back until 2015 or 2016.  SM Entertainment wouldn't risk de-emphasizing a Girls' Generation album by releasing a new girl group, nor would they risk dampening the potential of a new girl group by debuting them under Girls' Generation's star.

If SM is truly planning on debuting a girl group, they are at least one member short of the smallest group SM has produced.  Their next girl group would have to be the successors of the Girls' Generation torch, much like EXO is the successor of Super Junior's.  This means they need more girls.  Wendy, Irene, and Seulgi are almost guaranteed to be debuting with this group and their two other female SMROOKIES are too young to debut.  Jeesu is older at around 12-14 and Lami is 10.  Seeing as how much backlash SM received for Sulli and Krystal's young debut, they probably wouldn't risk it with these two.  SM may be planning to add in one or two girls collected during Global Auditions, but such a quick debut would eliminate all except those who were already fluent in Korean (getting rid of the possibility of a non-Korean group member) unless they have more trainees up their sleeves that they are planning on introducing.

There is one more possibility.  Zhang Liyin and J-Min.  True, they are both solo artists, but they haven't had much success.  Not only would it boost SM's new group to five members, but it would be assured that this group would have talent.  Wendy can sing, judging by her Mimi OST release and so can Seulgi (sorta...her Christmas carol really isn't much right now) and Irene seems to only be pretty face.  They also won't be lacking too much in dance; Irene, Wendy, and Seulgi have shown off their dance skill through a dance clips released on SMROOKIES and the ABC special and Zhang Liyin almost made it into Girls' Generation.  

On top of that, Zhang Liyin speaks Chinese while J-Min speaks Japanese.  Wendy speaks English so that would make the group SM's most multi-lingual.  They're looking into the Japanese market and this would be a great way to keep the door open to Japan, China, and North America.  While these girls are older, so is Irene.  Even if they release Irene, Seulgi, and Wendy as a trio, they would still be 23, 19, and 19 (Wendy's rumored age), much older than most of the debuting girl groups today.  Zhang Liyin and J-Min are both 25 and it wouldn't be much of an age different as they're only two years older than Irene.

Interestingly enough, in the little we know about Wendy, SM makes sure to emphasize the fact she plays multiple instruments, including the guitar and flute.  J-Min also plays guitar...do I see an interesting set-up in the future?

So what do you guys think?

Credit:  Shinhan Investment; popdust

Let's Learn Together: 으르렁 // EXO

Let's Learn Together:  으르렁 // EXO

Song:  으르렁
Artist:  EXO
Album:  으르렁 [XOXO Re-packaged Album] [Kiss Version]
Lyrics:  music.naver.com
Photo:  images.google.com
Company:  SM Entertainment

English:  10 / 10
Translation Difficulty:  6 / 10




Please credit "auditionadviceandthoughts@blogspot.com" or "angelsfallfast."
[Edit: 3/28/14]

Just a Few Words:
As weird as "Growl" is in the song, it actually makes sense.  He's growling at the competition and telling them to back off.
EXO is taking Korea by storm with this song!  It's definitely a song that makes you want to get up and dance!!

English:  10 / 10
There are only two ad-libs on English, "I'm so serious" and "so dangerous" and they are pronounced just fine (from what I can tell under the audio distortion).

Translation Difficulty:  6 / 10
This was a bit hard.  I had to have help from by 언니들 for some of the grammar!  I guess ㄹ세라 is pretty obscure and rarely used! ^^

10 Words:

1. 자극 (noun):  "stimulation, stimulus (stimuli), spur" or "excitement, thrills" or "stimulate, spur, excite, arouse" or "titillate" or "provoke, irritate"
2. 멎다 (verb):  "to stop"
3. 캄캄하다 (adjective):  "gloomy" or "hopeless" or "dark" or "dismal" or "bleak"
4. 감추다 (verb):  "hide" or "conceal" or "keep sth secret [back]"
5. 노리다 (verb):  "have an eye on" or "be out for" or "be after" or "aim for" or "seek" or "aim (at/for)"
6. 시선 (noun):  "one's eyes."
7. 거세다 (adjective):  "strong" or "wild" or "violent" or "fierce"
8. 소용돌이 (noun):  "maelstrom" or "eddy" or "whirlpool"
9. 물러나다 (verb):  "step [stand] back, go [move] back(ward), back off," or "draw back"
10. 사납다 (adjective):  "wild, violent, fierce, ferocious."  Also, "stormy"
11. *으르렁 (onomatopoeia):  "with a snarl [roar, growl]"

Credit:  dic.naver.com

Politeness Level:
Low Casual
The singer is extremely confidant with the listener.  The speaker either thinks of the listener as someone far beneath their status or the listener is a child.
-->  In this case, the listener is the singer's romantic rival and he is talking down to the listener.

Let's Learn Together: 피터팬 (Peter Pan) // EXO

Let's Learn Together:  피터팬 (Peter Pan) // EXO

Song:  피터팬 (Peter Pan)
Artist:  EXO
Album:  XOXO (Kiss & Hug) [Kiss Version]
Photo:  images.google.com
Lyrics:  music.naver.com
Company:  SM Entertainment

English:  5 / 10
Translation Difficulty:  4 / 10




Please credit "auditionadviceandthoughts@blogspot.com" or "angelsfallfast" when using the English translation.
[Edit:  3/20/14]

Just a Few Words:
I just love this song!  I wish this song had been promoted as a B-Side with a music video.  This is a song that is very much a song that is best enjoyed in Korean.  A lot of the nuances are lost in trying to translate it.

English:  5 / 10
So this was a tough call.  The English, once again, is okay "from a distance," meaning that on its own it is okay, but when you translate with the Korean, it gets wonky.  Also, I docked points for "baby boo."  I guess it's a Canadian thing, but I really dislike that phrase...

Translation Difficulty:  4 / 10
Now that I've got my whiteboard, translating has gotten easier!

10 Words:

1. 낡다 (adjective):  "old, worn (out), shabby, battered" or "beat-up"
2. 해맑다 (adjective):  "bright."  Also:  "innocent" or "untainted"
3. 샘솟다 (verb):  "surge (up), well (up)"
4. 멈추다 (verb):  "to stop" or "to halt"
5. 괴롭다:  (adjective):  "to be painful" or "to be distressed"
6. 분홍 (noun):  "pink"
7. 빛나다 (verb):  "shine, sparkle, twinkle, gleam"
8. 잡다 (verb):  "stop" or "prevent [keep] (sb from leaving)"
9. 태업 (noun):  "spring" or "clockwork"
10. 넘기다 (verb):  "turn (over)" or "leaf through, riffle (through), flip (through)"

Credit:  dic.naver.com

Politeness Level:

Casual

The singer(s) are comfortable to the audience.  They are close friends, family, or in a relationship.

Let's Learn Together: 3.6.5. // EXO

Let's Learn Together:  3.6.5 // EXO

Song:  3.6.5

Artist:  EXO
Album:  XOXO (Kiss & Hug) [Kiss Version]
Lyrics:  music.naver.com
Photo:  images.google.com
Company:  SM Entertainment

English:  10 / 10
Translation Difficulty:  8 / 10

Please credit: "auditionadviceandthoughts@blogspot.com" or "angelsfallfast"
[Edit: 3/12/14]

Just a Few Words:  Finally, this is up!  Thank you for waiting so patiently!  This song turned out to be much more difficult than I had first anticipated.  Because of it, I want to thank 윤언니 for answering my ever-pestering questions.  ^^  감사합니다!!

This definitely sounds like something One Direction would sing, but it fits EXO perfectly!  Also, it's nice to clearly hear Kai sing and not just rap.

English:  10 / 10

How hard is it to say "Three.  Six.  Five?" :)

Translation Difficulty:  8 out of 10.

Okay, so this was tougher than I thought!  The parts in the verses where they sing the numbers was obviously forced a little to fit the song.   Also, this a song that is difficult to translate literally into English.  As evident by the help I got from 소윤언니, I kinda got lost when translating it! ^^
Edit: [3/12/14]
4 out of 10.
This is a prime example of how this gets easier over time.  My Korean is getting to point where I look back and say "What the heck was I thinking?"  But this is still tricky... :)

10 Words:

1. 부딪히다 (adjective):  "to be bumped (crashed) into" or be bumped (run) against"
2. 이겨내다 (verb):  "overcome" or "conquer (the enemy)" or "get over (a disease)" or "resist (a temptation)"
3. 숨을 고르다 (phrase):  "to get one's breath"
4. 깨우다 (verb):  "wake (up)" or "awaken" or "awake"
5. 초 (noun):  "second"
6. 틈 (noun):  "(spare) time"
7. 기사 (noun):  "knight"
8. 검 (noun):  "sword" or "saber"
9. 비끼다 (verb):  "to lie aslant" or "hang at an angle" or {"deflect"}
10. 나타나다 (verb):  "to appear" or "to turn up."  Also:  "to come into sight"

Credit:  dic.naver.com

Politeness Level:

Casual

The singer(s) are comfortable to the audience.  They are close friends, family, or in a relationship.

Review: EXO - XOXO (Kiss&Hug)

This fangirl has already ordered both versions of EXO's new (and first) full-length album, but I found the tracks online to listen ahead.  This a fair warning that I am no music critic.  I do have 7 years of piano, cello, percussion, and flute, and a few voice lessons, under my belt so I do know something about music, but I am certainly no expert.  :)

I have to say that I am absolutely pleased with the album!  After about a year and a half with not a single peep, this is a very satisfying reward.  Since I refused to listen to the leaked version, I do not know how much they polished up these tracks up from the original.  Also, I have no desire to sit through all of EXO's twelve billion pre-debut teasers to match them up.  From what I recall though, the teasers were pretty much mostly instrumentals with a few single lines thrown in here and there.

Regardless, I feel this was a fairly well-done.  The whole album does really give me a school vibe (good call for the school theme for the photo teasers).  I feel the album sounds a lot like something N*SYNC or The Backstreet Boys would have released with, of course, a few exceptions like "Black Pearl", "My Lady", and "Wolf."  Except with a bit more of an electronic influence, "Let Out the Beast" and "3. 6. 5." really sound like 90's Western pop.  hehe.  I really feel like a little kid again...

It became apparent almost immediately that SM is still carrying on with the whole subunit concepts.  With the exception of "Wolf", EXO-M sings in the Hug version and EXO-K sings in the Kiss version.  It makes perfect sense since that would be a lot to memorize.  Then, so what in the world has EXO been doing for the past 18 months that they couldn't spend memorizing 10 songs in 2 languages?

Let's Learn Together: 늑대와 미녀 (Wolf) // EXO

Let's Learn Together:  늑대와 미녀 (Wolf) // EXO

Song:  늑대와 미녀 (Wolf)
Artist:  EXO

Album:  XOXO (Kiss&Hug) [Kiss Version]

Lyrics:  Mnet Countdown - 05/30/13

Photo:  naver.com
Company:  SM Entertainment

English:  0 / 10
Translation Difficulty:  6 / 10 

Please credit: "auditionadviceandthoughts@blogspot.com" or "angelsfallfast"
[Edit: 3/27/14]

Just A Few Words:
I really didn't think I'd like this songs since I really didn't like the original leak from way back when.  But after listening to it for awhile, I really like it (kind of the way "IGAB" grew on me).

An interesting few notes on the translation:  I think that it was interesting that the one line the girl "says" (저 더러운 늑대놈이 결국 날 잡아먹겠지?) is done in a higher pitch.  It makes it easier to distinguish that she says the line, rather than relying on the grammar to figure that out.  I also don't think the English translation shows the reader enough of the wolf's soft side.  After she wonders if she'll get eaten, he speaks to her in honorifics! (그게 아닌데 사랑에 빠진겁니다)

I just like their use of the word "잡아먹다"...it literally means "grab and eat" and sound so much more wolfish.  Good job, SM.
Also, good job on the lack of nonscencial English!  (Let's forget about "Careless, careless, shoot, anonymous, no one who care about me?" - yes there's a question mark printed at the end of "me" in the Chinese MV...><)  Sure you mispronounced "wolf" in a way that makes the English teacher in me cringe, but at least you tried...

Lastly, SM, why is the song title "늑대와 미녀" but the lyrics read "늑대고 미녀"?  Wouldn't it just make sense to keep the song title the same as the song lyrics?  Oh well, hopefully you have your reason (or the guy doing the printing didn't really listen to the song...)

English:  0 / 10
-- Really?  One word and you can't pronounce it right?  Hara will probably disagree with me, but since they already use 늑대 in the title I don't know why they would also use 울프.  I'm going to side with the lyrics, which use "wolf" in English and the fact I distinctly hear an "f" at the end of "wolf" and not "프".

Translation Difficulty:  6 / 10

10 Words:

1. 미녀 (noun):  "beauty" or "beautiful woman"
2. 색깔 (noun):  "color" (i.e. "one's true colors").  Also:  "color" (i.e. I like the color pink.)
3. 잡아먹다 (verb):  "prey on; feed on".  Also:  "consume"
4. 발톱 (noun):  "claw" or "toenail" or "talon"
5. 병 (noun):  "weakness; fault".  Also: "disease, sickness, ailment, disorder"
6. 물다 (verb):  "bite" or "snap" or "nip".  Also: "have [hold] sth in one's mouth"
7. 다음 (preposition):  "(the) next, the following)"
8. 보름달 (noun):  "the full moon"
9. 늑대 (noun):  "wolf"
10. 특별 (adverb):  "special"

Credit:  dic.naver.com

Politeness Level:

Casual

The singer(s) are comfortable to the audience.  They are close friends, family, or in a relationship.

EXO's Wolf - Teasers - MVs

EXO's teasers for "Wolf" have been unleashed!

First of all, I didn't think I'd like "Wolf".  The leaked version (which you can no longer access on YouTube) was definitely my least favorite EXO song.  But they seemed to have revamped it a little.

However, I do take issue with their pronunciation of "wolf".  With a host of native English speakers under their belt (Tiffany, Henry, Amber, Jessica - heck even Krystal, BoA, and Kris have good enough pronunciation), you think they'd have SOMEONE checking pronunciation and grammar for their studio releases.
Seeing as my dad constantly hammered pronunciation into my head (it bothers me how people can say "well" and "whale" exactly the same way), it is laughable the way they say "oolf".
"I'm a oolf, I'm a oolf!" ....*fail* -_-

Anyway I am excited for the music video!  Finally we might get a music video from SM with a story line, a là Zhang Liyin's "I will" and "Timeless"!
A drama version and dance version would be lovely!

brainStorMing: Girls' Generation's Image Transformation

photo cr: Mezor

Girls’ Generation marked their first image transformation with the release of their 2013 hit single, “I Got A Boy”. Previously known to sport matching outfits and refrain from utilizing rap in their songs, Girls’ Generation offered individuality and sleek hip-hop style elements to incorporate rap and strong choreography with “I Got A Boy”. This was also the first time Girls’ Generation performed with sneakers since their debut

Initially, the transformation actually began with “The Boys” even though there were small changes rather than an overall modification. This was also the first time they integrated the use of rap in their music. Although they made a sleek transformation and shifted to a more mature concept, the image style remained the same with their fresh beauty and similar (if not matching) wardrobe.

The large-scale alternation with “I Got A Boy” led to many fans and non-fans to question the marketing logic behind S.M. Entertainment’s closed doors. Many speculate for SM to switch concepts between Girls’ Generation and f(x) especially with the news of f(x)’s Amber, who is famous for her boyish charms, growing out her hair. However, I believe that Girls’ Generation’s style change is a concept preparation for S.M. Entertainment’s future girl group, or as I like to call them, female EXO.  

S.M. Entertainment is eminent in the music industry for establishing male and female versions of the same concept. Previous artists include Super Junior and Girls’ Generation, SHINee and f(x), and now EXO and female EXO. With EXO being large in number, it seems to me that female EXO is also going to be large in number  and strikingly similar to Girls’ Generation especially because S.M. Entertainment launches its idol groups into the industry as fresh- faced beauties, similar to their debut days. The comparison isn’t as applicable with f(x) because although they too had a fresh image, they were smaller in number and had a vibrant and livelier image.

photo cr: as watermarked 

If SM intended on continuing Girls’ Generation’s concept and plans on marketing female EXO similarly to them, there wouldn’t be any significant difference in image and style between Girls’ Generation and female EXO. Not to mention the fans, who would think of this as an outrageous idea and most likely become anti’s of female EXO. This is why, in my opinion, the style shift with a “I Got A Boy” was an essential necessity. 

If you have your own speculations as to why S.M. Entertianment transformed Girls' Generation, comment below and let us know!

Shorts: Earrings

Have you ever noticed, that EXO-K is the only SM group that doesn't wear earrings?