Kim Yuna's Ice Show: Kiss & Cry

    Hey everybody! It's me again! So I've decided to pick up with blogging again because let's face it, I don't look like a drop-dead gorgeous model every day like I do in my Youtube videos (heh, heh.) So sometimes I really want to express myself without actually...SHOWING myself...Catch my drift?
    Anyways, what I wanted to blog about is Kim Yuna (The world-renowned Olympic Korean ice skater, Kim Yuna for those of you who are uncultured or don't have a TV or the internet.) and her new ice show; Kiss & Cry. (for those of you who don't read titles.) (Ok. I'll stop now. NO MORE PARENTHESIS!!) It's basically like the equivalent of America's Skating with the Stars except 10 times better because it's Kim Yuna. In my humble opinion.
    The first episode aired recently, yesterday I believe? Now I admit I didn't watch the WHOLE show, I was only interested in seeing my favorite stars/idols; TVXQ's Yunho, IU, and f(x)'s Krystal, etc.

    The first performance I watched was IU's. I'm a HUGE fan of IU I love her to death! She's basically the most adorable human being on the planet.

    Now, obviously it was not the greatest performance in the world, and yes she did FALL. But I personally thought that the fall was a part of the choreography! And I think that IU showed real professionalism by getting back up and finishing the performance! Yeah, yeah, I can hear you all saying it "You're IU biased!!" And maybe I am and maybe the judges were too easy on her. But come on the girl is 18 years old she's probably one of the busiest 18 year olds at that, I mean everywhere I look left and right she's on some kind of variety show or doing some type of performance or jetting off to another country to do a photoshoot, this girl has got a FULL PLATE. and I mean REALLY full like loaded up with kimchi and bibimbap and dukbokki and any thing you can think of. So considering that she probably had the least amount of time to practice and I know she really put her heart into it I'd say she did pretty well.

    Also if you're a fan of IU you probably know she's not exactly the most athletic person. She doesn't even really dance, so it was probably harder for her than it was for someone like Yunho (who I'll get to in a minute. ;D) who is an incredible dancer. I enjoyed watching her and she was adorable as usual! I loved seeing Jiyeon(T-ara) and Yoo In Na there cheering her on!

    Next up I watched TVXQ's Yunho's performance. Which I'm sure a lot of fangirls out there were looking forward to, myself included. ^___^

    I only have 3 words for you to describe Yunho's performance. HOT. SEXY. AMAZING. Yeah, that's right. Yunho BLEW me away!! I know this guy is talented (I should since TVXQ was my first ever Kpop group I got into.) He can sing, he can dance, he can rap, he can act(kind of.), and now he can ICE SKATE?! *passes out* Seriously, is he trying to kill us?! His Michael Jackson inspired performance was so hot. hot. HOT!! The way he did the moonwalk on skates!? I didn't know that was possible. 

    I loved the beginning with him sitting on the bench and when he flips the hat onto his head. WOOO! My first thought was "Yunho, will you marry me?" and I would have gotten down on one knee if it wasn't for the cuts to the crowd showing Changmin cheering his bandmate on. AGHHH! Changmin why must you do this to me every time!? Even when someone else is being all amazing and sexy all you have to do is sit there and point and clap and my eyes can't be torn away from you!! OTL. I have an extreme bias for Changmin. It's true love. He just doesn't know it yet. >.<
    

    Okay, I'll stop gushing on and on about Changmin and Yunho, next up Krystal's tango/salsa/whatever inspired skating performance!

    Now I gotta say I wasn't expecting that much from Krystal (SNSD Jessica's underrated sister) but I was really impressed!! Now I would say that her performance for me was just a tad lackluster, nothing compared to Yunho's but 10 times better than IU's (See guys, I'm not IU biased!). I really liked the one move she did with the chair (well the whole thing was kind of with a chair...) when she sat down on it. Yeah that doesn't sound impressive at all when you read it but watch the video! I thought she looked gorgeous and really elegant and graceful! I'd put her in 2nd place with Yunho in 1st and IU in 3rd. Obviously this isn't counting any of the other contestants because like I said I only watched these 3 performances.
    Let me know what you guys thought of the first episode of Kiss & Cry! Who was your favorite performance/contestant? 

Peace kisses, y'all!

Videos from CrazyCarrot370
Photos from Google
Links from Wikipedia

My Current Top Favorite Songs for March 2010.

 Brian Joo - In My Head.

When I first saw the video for this song I was pretty much in love. Not that I wasn't already in love with the gorgeous ex-Fly to the Sky member. This remake of Jason DeRulo's song of the same name totally blows the original away, in my humble non-biased opinion. Okay, perhaps  that was a little untruthful. Ever since Jason Derulo butchered Imogen Heap's Hide and Seek with his "Mmm Whatcha Say" crap I never really liked him. Regardless, this song has a great beat and Brian is looking fly!

2NE1 - Try to Copy Me.

These girls never cease to amaze me. Can you get any more fierce?! I love this video! The song is amazing, nothing less from Teddy one of my favorite producers. It's not really a secret that 2NE1 is my favorite girl group in Kpop. Any song from them is going to be awesome. It's pretty much been a given since they came out with Lollipop in the beginning. This song is great I definitely recommend it to any Kpop fans out there! On another note, CL sure is turning into the little Korean Lady Gaga, don't you think?

Hyuna - Change.

One word. HOT. Hyuna totally revamped her image for her solo debut, and I am definitely impressed. I love this song. I really like the addition of BEAST's Yong Joon Hyung and his rapping skillz too. I have to admit at first I wasn't a big fan of Hyuna, she kind of has a chipmunk voice and that still sorta irritates me. But I gotta say she's been growing on me. You can't deny she's got talent. In dancing and rapping.

SNSD - Oh!

SNSD is definitely one of the groups I have to say I'm embarrassed to like...Their over-the-top cuteness is almost vomit inducing. But their songs have such great beats!!! They're totally addicting and get stuck in your head so easily. I've had this song in repeat for the last few weeks. I like it alot better than their last song Tell Me Your Wish, it's alot more upbeat and "aegyo" the music video is rather annoying, in an entertaining way. I recommend just listening to the song, though. 

Big Bang - Lollipop 2.

YES!! My boys are back!! Sort of...Anything involving the name "Big Bang" is going to be hot! I'm a little disappointed they didn't collaborate with 2NE1 again for the new Lollipop LG phone. But I'll take any Big Bang I can get. I really like the new song, it might not be as catchy as the first one but it is pretty fun to spell "L-O-L-L-I-P-O-P" with the song. >.< They just released this music video and the eye catching colors are similar to the first concept. Oh, and I just gotta say, how CUTE are TOP's glasses?! Yeah!

So yeah...I might post every few months with some new favorites. Just so my blogspot doesn't go to waste, seeing as I've only posted to blogs. Yeaaah.

Twilight Soundtrack

I just had the opportunity to listen to the new Twilight soundtrack which is available on Amazon for 10 bucks! {Cheap, huh?}
First of all, let me explain; I have not read the Twilight books. Mainly because I've had literally everything in them spoiled for me {Thanks, Mom} and I don't want it to ruin the experience of the movie {or seeing Robert Pattinson in all his vampire glory} I do plan on reading them after I've seen the movie {at least 3 times}
So, I really have no right to criticize the soundtrack. Or do I? I think I know enough about the books, and vampires in general {Oh yes, I'm a trained professional} to be able to surmise what exactly a vampire movie should sound like.
In case you haven't heard any of the tracks or don't know what's on it, I'll list them here;

1. Supermassive Black Hole - Muse
2. Decode - Paramore
3. Full Moon - The Black Ghosts
4. Leave out all the Rest - Linkin Park
5. Spotlight - Mutemath
6. Go all the Way - Perry Farrell
7. Tremble for my Beloved - Collective Soul
8. I Caught Myself - Paramore
9. Eyes on Fire - Blue Foundation
10. Never Think - Rob Pattinson
11. Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron and Wine
12. Bella's Lullaby - Carter Burwell

OK--Why is there only ONE Muse song on this CD? Didn't Stephenie Meyer herself state that Muse was a big inspiration for her?

Taken from Wiki:

Stephenie Meyer lists Muse as an inspiration for her second novel New Moon. Acknowledgments of the novel New Moon: "-- And, finally, thank you to the talented musicians who inspire me, particularly the band Muse - there are emotions, scenes, and plot threads in this novel that were born from Muse songs and would not exist without their genius. --"

Acknowledgments of Meyer's third novel Eclipse: "-- I am in your debt, rock gods of Muse, for yet another inspiring album. Thank you for continuing to create my favorite writing music. --"

In her final book Breaking Dawn, Meyer also dedicated it to Muse. "And thanks also to my favourite band, the very aptly named Muse, for providing a saga's worth of inspiration. --"

Hmmm...She must really like them or something...

DOH!

So, for some reason whoever created this thing, decided to only put ONE Muse song onto the CD. Whatever. They're only one of the greatest bands EVER.

Moving on; Paramore and Linkin Park. I'm definitely prejudiced here. I absolutely loathe those two bands {no offense to any Paramore/Linkin Park lovers out there...} but out of all the Linkin Park songs they had to pick, it was "Leave out all the Rest" which in my personal opinion happens to be one of their most overplayed songs {and most boring}.
Paramore...Paramore...What can I say? They're cliche. Typical angsty broody type, but not as tortured as Evanescense.

Full Moon - The Black Ghosts. Belongs in a quirky indie flick.

Perry Farrell's "Go all the Way [into Twilight]" = cheesefest. The lyrics are "Tonight! Lightning strikes! Let's go into Twilight!" I mean...Come on...That's the best you could come up with?

Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron & Wine. What?! Just...What?! Where do you get Twilight from that? Where do you get Vampires meets Romeo+Juliet tormented love story? {That was a weird analogy, sorry}

Bella's Lullaby - LETDOWN.

There are some high points to this CD, though. Never fear! {too much}

There's a track on there called "Never Think" by {the one, the only} Rob Pattinson. It's amazingly unaffected, and I like the sensitive natural way he sings...{YES, I'm in love with this man!!} I think it will fit nicely into the movie.

Eyes on Fire - Blue Foundation not too bad.

Spotlight - Mutemath is surprisingly good. {I'm going to have to add this one to my MP3 player.}

As ends my critique of the Twilight movie soundtrack...Mostly pointless, because I do not in anyway think this will really affect the quality of the movie--That depends on how close they stay to the books and how well the actors fit into their roles.
I'm really, really looking forward to seeing this movie, I think it'll be great! I'm ready to put on my "Team Edward" shirt and support my baby! {Rob, that is}

Oh, as a last note; here's a little playlist I put together myself {with a little help from stepheniemeyer.com} I know I'm not a real expert and you might hate my version as much as the real one. {unless you were pleased with it...} It's your opinion! But I just thought it would be fun to put together my own.

1. She Walks in Beauty - Sissel
2. New Born - Muse
3. Supermassive Black Hole - Muse
4. Hysteria - Muse
5. Butterflies and Hurricanes - Muse
6. Believe - The Bravery
7. Cities in Dust - Junkie XL
8. Our Time is Running Out - Muse
9. The Funeral - Band of Horses
10. You're a Wolf - Sea Wolf

I will probably look back at my selections and regret them...But for now I think they'd sound really good together and in the movie.

Any suggestions for the soundtrack? I would love to hear 'em!

One more thing; here's a couple of lyrics from some Muse songs. Filled with many vampiric undertones. ^_~

"I think im drowning Asphyxiating I wanna break the spell That you've created You're something beautiful A contradiction I wanna play the game I want the friction You will be The death of me Yeah, you will be The death of me"

"And you will suck the life out of me"

"yeah it's holding me, morphing me and forcing me to strive to be endlessly cold within and dreaming I'm alive 'cause I want it now I want it now give me your heart and your soul I'm not breaking down I'm breaking out last chance to lose control"

"change,everything you are and everything you were your number has been called fights, battles have begun revenge will surely come your hard times are ahead"

House of Many Ways

I just got done reading House of Many Ways and I would just like to say that I have been a HUGE fan of Howl's Moving Castle for a very long time, and when I heard that Diana Wynne Jones wrote a "sequel" to it; I freaked out!

Finally, I might get my Howl fix that I've been dying for and was so horribly deprived of in Castle in the Air a "companion" I think it was called of Howl's Moving Castle. Sadly, I was once again left deprived, disappointed, and ultimately feeling depressed and wanting more at the end of the book!

While this book is no way near as good as Howl's Moving Castle I must say it was definitely much better than Castle in the Air. The main story which was about a girl called Charmain (When it SHOULD have been about Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer; this is a sequel for crying out loud!) was much more interesting and entertaining than the story about Abdullah from Castle in the Air. But, like I said, I found myself desperately wanting more of Howl!

Every time the characters from Howl's Moving Castle entered the story it was hilarious, enjoyable, and brought me back to the characters I love so much! They delivered in every appearance they made (which was very few) reminding me why I loved it in the first place.

But just as you were getting into their characters you were torn away from them just as quickly and abruptly as in Castle in the Air.

So, all in all, it was a relatively good book; Charmain, Waif, and Peter's stories were relatively interesting, and the plots were relatively good as well. I would recommend this book if you are also starving for more Howl & Sophie; you will get your appetite fed SLIGHTLY, but in the end feel completely empty and wanting more!

Nonetheless, It was very nice to see Sophie and Howl again, and I'm falling in love with their mischievous son Morgan! (he's definitely taking after Howl) Calcifer also made a wonderful appearance in the book as well, and Sophie is still headstrong, beautiful, and as irritated with Howl as ever! and I'm going to take all that I can get!

I suppose I should describe a bit of the actual story instead of ranting on and on...

Charmain is basically the main character of the story. She grew up sheltered and protected from bad things in the world; essentially anything having to do with magic. Charmain goes to stay at her Great Uncle's house who is actually the Royal Wizard Norland. Wizard Norland isn't doing too well, fyi, so Charmain has to house sit for him while some elves take him away.

Of course all sorts of ridiculously crazy things ensue; she meets Peter who is supposed to be Wizard Norland's apprentice, becomes great friends with a magical little dog named Waif, lands a job at the Royal Mansion working in the library there, and helps Sophie and Howl (who is actually disguised as a 6-year-old boy named, Twinkle. Did I mention he has a lisp?) find whatever it is that they're looking for.

By the way, Howl is perfectly hilarious here as "Twinkle" Sophie's "nephew" the way he talks with the lisp is just great, and annoys Sophie half to death. One particular quote made me laugh embarrassingly, when Sophie is talking to Howl/Twinkle,

"Charmain was forced to pick Waif up and back away, out of Morgan's reach, so that all she heard next of the strange conversation behind the sofa was Mrs. Pendragon (I love hearing Sophie referred to as Mrs. Pendragon!) saying something about sending Twinkle (or was his name Howl?) to bed without supper and Twinkle daring her to 'jutht try it.'

As Waif quieted down, Twinkle said wistfully, 'don't you fink I'm pwetty at all?'

There was a strange hollow thump then, as if Mrs. Pendragon had so far forgotten good behavior as to stamp her foot. 'Yes,' Charmain heard her say. 'Disgustingly pretty!'"

Although, I was of course disappointed that he only turned back into his usual, gorgeous self only two pages from the end of the book. A lot like in Castle in the Air when he spent the entirety of the book as a genie.

In the end, I just have ONE thing to request of Diana Wynne Jones; Please, PLEASE, I beg! Write a REAL sequel to Howl's Moving Castle that is ALL about Howl, Sophie, Calcifer, (and gosh, don't forget!) Michael!, and of course their son Morgan!!

Now excuse me while I go read Howl's Moving Castle fervently and then continue to watch Howl's Moving Castle the movie by Hayao Miyazaki.

I need to heal...

"Sophie said a bad word. In the dim light, she had stubbed her toe on one of the many dusty bricks piled around the place.
'Naughty-naughty,' Twinkle said.
'Oh, shut up!' Sophie said, standing on one leg to hold her toe. 'Why don't you grow up?'
'Not yet. I told you,' Twinkle said. 'We thtill have Pwinthe Ludovic to detheive. Ah, look! Thith happened when I wath here jutht now too.'

A golden light was spreading over the largest pile of bricks. The bricks picked up the light and glowed golden as well, under the dust. Charmain realized that they were not bricks at all but ingots of solid gold. To make this quite clear, a golden banner appeared, floating in front of the ingots. Old fashioned letters on it said:

Praife the Wifzard Melicot who hidde the Kinge hif gold.

'Huh!' Sophie snorted, letting go of her toe. 'Melicot must have lisped just like you. Proper soulmates, you and he would have been! Same size in swelled heads. He couldn't resist having his name up in lights, could he?'
'I don't need my name up in lighth,' Twinkle said, with great dignity.
'Doh!' said Sophie."

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.