T-ara's Sub-unit of Epicness

This has actually been on my brain for a long time, but there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the topic, so I didn't feel confident talking about it until two days ago. Then I got into my blogger mode and took a stand!

I suppose it will be most effective to get to the meat of the matter first, and then explain the treacherous backstory.

Okay, here it goes.

T-ARA IS MAKING A KOREAN COMEBACK.

OR SHOULD I SAY...

T-ARA'S SUB-UNIT!!!

That's right. Considering that they have been around for four years and had reached the status of third most popular girl group in Korea, it's surprising that they haven't taken this step a long time ago. They might have been preparing it when Hwayoung left the group, heavily denting their popularity.

Anyways, guess who the members are?

EUNJUNG

HYOMING

AREUM

AND FREAKING JIYEON.

Y'all know me, cuz y'all ARE me, so you understand that this is like a dream come true. It can't go wrong! They'll each get so much more screen time and lines too... so happy.

The name of the group will be revealed tomorrow (Friday the twelfth) and the single - "Country Life" will be released May 1st. The concept seems to be similar to their Breaking Heart look. I hope the name is something jewelry related. Like "Diamond" or "Ring" or something. Because that would match with T-ara/tiara!

Luckily for us, we have been gifted with Jiyeon's amazing teaser picture... I don't know when she had time to do that to her hair, but it looks epic. It kind of reminds me of the weird hair changes that occurred with SNSD's "I Got a Boy" comeback, but this is kind of cooler, if I'm aloud to say that...

I have mixed feelings about this teaser picture. It's obvious that Jiyeon will look stunning in this concept, and I'm eager to see how it suits the other members... but at the same time, this isn't the most Jiyeon-ish picture possible. I know that that happens all the time with kpop pictures, but her expression is just... a non-familiar expression on Jiyeon's face. I can't wait to see her in the music video too.

Okay, so what happened with this story? Well, maybe two weeks ago, Allkpop reported CCM announcing this sub-unit and I was soooo happy. Then t-araworld.com had an article, and all the other sites fallowed some time after... but, the very next day, there were some comments on the allkpop article that said "No, this is fake, the company denied it, they were hacked..." or something like that. 

I didn't really believe them but when I went to check t-araworld.com, the article had been TAKEN DOWN, probably just due to uncertainty. I was so confused and it made my heart break because it WOULD have been the best sub-unit ever.

Then allkpop released another article saying that there were more details about the concept... it was just fuzzy. 

Luckily, everything has been cleared up. The company reassured the fans, t-araworld.com posted another article and everything is good now.

The one icky-ish feeling I have is that the comments that the company made about the comeback were a little... over-confident. They made aspirations to dance anthems like YMCA and Gangnam Style, which frankly I just think is a BAD IDEA. I'm sure the comeback will be amazing and catchy and sexy and will blow everyone out of the water, but comparing it to Gangnam Style... I just doubt it will work. Nothing can match Gangnam Style, and T-ara might receive hate for not living up to the hinted glory.

Sigh. So excited!

What January Holds

I thought of making a post where I list all the things that I'm looking forwards too this coming January, since in shallow Teensplop world, there are quite a lot of them. Here they are!


I AM ANTICIPATING:

- SNSD's I Got a Boy Korean comeback!!! 
     This is their first Korean comeback since The Boys, which was released October 19, 2011. That is over a year ago, so it's about time! Not that they haven't been busy, of course. Since then, they've been busy with a subgroup as well as at least three Japanese singles and they've each had their individual acting careers and endorsements.
     The album and MV will be released January 1st (tomorrow). There will be a dance version and a story version to the title track. As you know, the album will be released in ten different infuriating versions. Here's how I would prioritize them, if I were in a position to buy any at all:

- Group Edition

- Tiffany

- Seohyun

- Taeyeon

- Yuri

- Jessica

    I actually kind of want Yuri's and Jessica's more than Taeyeon's, just because they are better suited to this concept, I think. But I will remain loyal! It's weird though, because I have a feeling that Jessica's will turn out as one of the bests picture-wise. I definitely don't want Sunny's because it would have that horrible picture of her on the front. Blech.
     Anyways, it's gonna be SO AMAZINGLY AMAZING!!!

- SNSD's I Got a Boy comeback show
       There's a teaser for this show on allkpop, which they've already filmed, and will air on January 3rd. It seems like a work of rather epic proportions, probably including all sorts of non-album solo acts (possibly in English???) I can't wait to watch.

                OMG.... Seohyun.... you've got a GUITAR!!!

- Pretty Little Liars Third Season resumes with episode 14

                After three unbearable months of Not-Pretty Little Liars, PLL is back! Mona is being released from the asylum and the girls are freaked out and everyone thinks she's psycho, etc., plus Toby is an evil creepy maniac and Spencer doesn't know, as demonstrated in the creepy hot tub sneak peak.

                                   

                  Plus Garett is dead, after telling Spencer that Aria's dad was with Ali the night she died - as far as we know, the last person to talk to her. Nate is still dead, which is probably troubling. Lucas is still disturbed. Mona, as we know, is still a CRAZY PSYCHO PERSON!!! Airing January 8th.

- Ali's Pretty Little Lies shall be published

                  The same day the television series is revived, Sara Shepard returns to the tabel (only a month after the release of Burned) with Ali's Little Lies, the first book from Ali's point of view, as well as the only current one with ALI ON THE FREAKING FRONT COVER!!!

                  AAAAAAAAH!!!

                  I seriously cannot express with words how freaking exciting this Ali doll is to me, but I shall try to sum it up with THE ALI DOLL IS PRETTY FREAKING EXCITING.

OMG, this is like the perfect Ali doll.

                 I don't know who will be modeling on the back cover, but I'm really hoping it will be Sasha Pieterse. For those of you who don't know (ha), Sasha plays Ali on the TV show. Honestly, I think it would be totally awesome. Sasha is a pretty good Ali appearance-wise, and it would just be so cool.

                 I haven't really been that pleased with the models for the other books. Emily is okay-ish... unless it turns out that the Spencer person is supposed to be Emily, in which case NO. Aria is a pretty good match, except she has this deep scowl all the time, which is a bit silly.

                 Anyways, please please pleas be Sasha. Or someone else, if you want to. Just look like Ali!

                OMG, what if there's more pictures or inside stuff on Amazon? Only eight days before??? I MUST GO CHECK!!! Sigh, no. Well, I'm really looking forwards to that. It's unlikely that I'll get it when it only comes out four days before my birthday... maybe I could ask for it from Clarissa or someone. Friends are generally pretty last minute anyways.

                So yeah.

- My Birthday

                   Fun. Unless I have a party. Then not as fun. But still. Fun. Yummy food. Cake, or something. Presents. Yay. Lookin' forwards to THAT. :)

             
 That's all that I know the dates for, but there are a lot of comebacks that are supposed to happen at the beginning of the year. T-ara's comeback promoting new Dani, Sistar19's return, a bunch of other groups that I don't especially care about... but I'll let you know!

Anyways, that's it for now.  Happy New Year, self-audience! Have fun in Mexico! Get lots of sleep tonight!

Korean Gallup Poll

The Brightest Singing Stars of 2012

1. Psy – 24.4%
2. Girls’ Generation – 19.8%
3. Big Bang – 9.5%
4. IU – 6.9%
5. Jang Yoon Jung – 6.6%
6. SISTAR – 6.4%
7. T-ara – 5.5%
8. B2ST – 5.3%
9. Tae Jin Ah – 5.2%
10. Busker Busker – 4.1%

Best 5 Singers for Teenage Demographic

1. Big Bang – 20.7%
2. Girls’ Generation – 19.0%
3. Psy – 16.3%
4. B2ST – 16.1%
5. IU – 10.7

Best 5 Singers for People in their 20′s

1. Girls’ Generation – 26.6%
2. Psy – 23.9%
3. IU – 12.9%
4. SISTAR – 12.7%
5. Big Bang – 12.3%

Best 5 Singers for People in their 30′s

1. Psy – 28.9%
2. Girls’ Generation – 22.1%
3. Big Bang – 9.6%
4. SISTAR – 8.1%
5. T-ara 7.7%

Best 5 Singers for People in their 40′s

1. Psy – 30.7%
2. Girls’ Generation – 20.3%
3. Jang Yoon Jung – 10.0%
4. Tae Jin Ah – 6.6%
5. Big Bang – 5.1%

Best 5 Singers for People in their 50′s

1. Psy – 20.2%
2. Tae Jin Ah – 15.3%
3. Jang Yoon Jung – 14.4
4. Girls’ Generation – 12.3%
5. Song Dae Gwan – 12.3%

Best 5 Songs of 2012

1. Psy “Gangnam Style” – 30.7%
2. SISTAR “Alone” – 3.2%
3. Busker Busker “Cherry Blossom Ending” – 2.8%
4. TaeTiSeo “Twinkle” – 1.9%
5. B2ST “Beautiful Night” – 1.5%

Best Female and Male Rookies of 2012

Male: Busker Busker – 17.0%
Female: Ailee – 4.6%

Melon's Official Year End Song Rating

Melon, the really big show thing, has released its rankings of the releases of 2012.

I'll highlight the important bits.

Overall TOP 50 Ranking Chart:

1. PSY - Gangnam Style
2. Sistar - Alone
3. Busker Busker - Cherry Blossom Ending
4. Sistar - Loving U
5. BIGBANG - Fantastic Baby
6. 2NE1 - I Love You
7. Busker Busker - If Your Really Love Me
8. Ailee - Heaven
9. Seo In Guk & Eunji - All For Your
10. Busker Busker - First Love
11. IU - Every End Of The Day
12. T-ara - Lovey Dovey
13. SNSD TTS - Twinkle
14. Huh Gak - The Person Who Once Loved Me
15. Naul - Memories of The Wind
16. Busker Busker - Yeosu Night Sea
17. BIGBANG - Monster
18. BIGBANG - Blue
19. Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger
20. Huh Gak ft. Zia - I Need You
21. Baek Ji Young - Voice
22. Wonder Girls - Like This
23. IU - You & I
24. Lee Jong Hyun - My Love
25. Lyn - Back In Time
26. Verbal Jint - You Are Pretty Enough
27. K.Will - Please Don’t
28. Lee Hyun - My Heartache
29. T-ara - Day by Day
30. PSY ft. Lena Park - What Would Have Been
31. 10cm - Sorrow
32. f(x) - Electric Shock
33. PSY ft. Sung Si Kyung - Passionate Goodbye
34. Juniel - Illa Illa
35. Lee Ha Yi - 1234
36. Roy Kim & Jung Joon Young - Become Dust
37. Ailee - I Will Show You
38. Busker Busker - It’s Hard To Face You
39. GD - Crayon
40. Troublemaker - Troublemaker
41. Ga In - Bloom
42. Busker Busker - The Flowers
43. BoA - Only One
44. Orange Caramel - Lipstick
45. Ulala Session - Beautiful Night
46. Huh Gak - One Person
47. 10cm - Good Morning
48. Maroon 5 - Payphone
49. Dynamic Duo - Without You
50. GD ft. Kim Yoona - Missing You

Streaming Chart (Most Streamed Songs):

1. PSY - Gangnam Style
2. Sistar - Alone
3. Sistar - Loving U
4. Busker Busker - Cherry Blossom Endings
5. 2NE1 - I Love You
6. BIGBANG - Fantastic Baby
7. Busker Busker - If You Really Love Me
8. Seo In Guk & Eunji - All For You
9. Ailee - Heaven
10. Naul - Wind Memories

Download Chart (Most Downloaded Songs):

1. Busker Busker - Cherry Blossom Endings
2. Sistar - Alone
3. BIGBANG - Fantastic Baby
4. T-ara - Lovey Dovey
5. Ailee - Heaven
6. PSY - Gangnam Style
7. BIGBANG - Blue
8. Lyn - Back In Time
9. IU - Every End Of The Day
10. Busker Busker - First Love

Album Chart:

1. Busker Busker - Busker Busker 1st Album
2. PSY - The Best 6th (Part 1)
3. BIGBANG - 5th Mini Album: ALIVE
4. GD - 1st Mini Album: One Of A Kind
5. Busker Busker - 1st Wrap Up Album
6. BIGBANG - 5th Mini Album (Repackaged): STILL ALIVE
7. Naul - Principle of My Soul
8. Various Artists - Superstar K4 TOP 12 (Part 1)
9. Primary - Primary & The Messengers
10. Epik High - 99

Merry Christmas from our Favorite Celebs

It's really sweet that all these kpop people take the time to wish us lower folk their best on this hugely celebrated holiday. I have a large degree of christmas wanting right now. Sigh. It's not just because everyone else is celebrating it. It just seems like such a fun, cozy thing to do. Christmas tree. Presents in the morning, waiting for you all at once. Cookies. Friends. Family. Dad not being sad and lonely.
Maybe next year we could celebrate Christmas.

Anyways, tumblr and twitter are roiling with tweets and pictures and instagrams of celebrities in reindeer ears and Santa hats and whatnot. Really cute. Here are some of my favorite christmas pics all through the ages.

Jessica gets stylish in her new Santa hat.

2NE1 buckle up for a sleigh ride in their costumes as... sexy pink penguins.
From left to right: Minzy, Bom, Dara, and CL (!!)

After School have developed by far the most extravagant setting, as they lounge on a stack of giant presents,
managing to display both their extremely long legs, and their brilliant gold ribbon outfits.

SNSD in various sweaters, socks, antlers, and... high heeled converse. Wow.
From left to right: Yoona, Seohyun, Jessica, Sooyoung, Tiffany, Yuri, Taeyeon, Sunny, and Hyoyeon.
I don't know when they took this picture, but they are all very cute.

Secret seem to be huddled up very cozily on these long winter nights.
From left to right: Hyosung, Jieun, Zinger, and Sunhwa (wow, I can't believe I was able to do that!)

This shot was taken from Sistar's Christmas greetings video last year, which you can see below.

T-ara so young! Pre-Hwayoung, even. They look so cute! I love how all of the other girls are in these
knee high seductive bathrobe things, while Eunjung's just gloppin around in a big snowman suit. :)
Plus Qri's a tree.... AAAAAW...
From left to right: Qri, Soyeon, Boram, Hyomin, Jiyeon, and Eunjung.

Jia posted this picture to her fans. Nice and... morbid, Jia!

AAAAAW! Thank you instagram! This is Jia cuddling with her adorable little kitten.

Someone's a little impatient over at JYP...

Jessica... my little snow angel....

A recent picture of Soyu with... a gingerbread house? Something like that.

Selena Gomez joins the fun. Lookin' good!

Yuri bundles up for a fashion shoot  harsh winter over there in Seoul.

Awww...

Woa, an American? How did that get in here?! Must've snuck in with Selena Gomez...

A series of Christmas performances by T-ara (see below).

Sistar's Christmas card to all of us.

AAAAW TIFFANY... YOUR CHRISTMAS SELCA IS BETTER THAN SANTA!!!

Merry Christmas from your favorite couple! This collection of Eunji holiday pics were found on Tumblr.

Jiyeonie...

So, those are terrific. And then we have a few Christmas greetings by way of video...

This was Sistar from last year. So cute!

T-ara's greetings from this year.

SNSD way back in 2010

Ailee this year... in English! Yaaay!

Miss A from last year.

And now, a collection of my favorite Christmas performances. Enjoy!

The Signing Angst

Angst angst angst.
Everything on eBay comes with signed editions of albums and stuff! At only $20!

My plan is to request of my parents one ore two of So Cool, Black Eyes, and Breaking Heart.

I don't need signed stuff from T-ara - so many signatures. I'll go to individual cards or posters for that.

But the top result for Sistar So Cool is a signed copy... for $20 rather than fifteen. It has this big badge:

FREE ADDITIONAL SIGNED PHOTO SET.

In red. Plus rather obvious signatures on the picture. Do you think Mom will just skim over it looking for the best price? Or think it doesn't really matter?

Or will she see it, at only $5 more, and be like "Oh my gosh, that would make Julia so unbelievably happy!" I almost want to request specifically that I get the signed copy... but I don't want to go up and say that, it would be better if they could surprise me...

Maybe I could set Benj up to the task? He couldn't buy it himself, but he could conspire with Mom... I'll talk to him later. I just have this urge.

There are signed copies of every freaking Sistar thing (and T-ara, really) and I'm like "Screw this, I should just buy it all myself!"

The cheap copies of the T-ara photobook are still available. Hang in there! Surely most people will have already rushed to get them... Of course, I know I'll always be able to get them at sale price. Is it worth $50?
...
HELL YES!!! I'm insane like that.

But even if the five $27 copies get snatched up (which I'm trying to doubt, seeing as how long they've already been there, but maybe other people will get them for holiday presents too? Good thing Hannukah's so early this year...) there are still more expensive $40 and $35 copies available.

I'm having photobook angst. And album angst. I need to think about what I AM getting soon for certain. My macbook. At least one album. Look at my lists. Calm down.

Stop being bad.

Girls Generation

Girls Generation (SNSD)

#1 group in Korea

Members:

TAEYEON (Leader and Bias!)

HYOYEON (Main Dancer)

TIFFANY <3

JESSICA

YURI (Sexiest)

SOOYOUNG

SUNNY

YOONA (Face that I once found really ugly but for some reason
she no longer appears so anywhere!)

SEOHYUN (Cute li'l maknae!)

Debuted: 2007           Company: SMTown
Popularity: 10/10       Subgroups: TaeTiSeo (Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun)

Leader: Taeyeon
Maknae: Seohyun
Rapper: Generally SNSD songs don't involve raps, but Tiffany and Yuri have on live performances.
Lead Dancer: Hyoyeon
Other Main Dancers: Yuri and Sooyoung
Face: Yoona

General Rank of Usage in Songs:

Taeyeon	Jessica
Seohyun	Sunny	Tiffany
Sooyoung	Yuri
Hyoyeon	Yoona

More Defined Individual Rank:
1. Taeyeon
2. Jessica
3. Tiffany
4. Seohyun
5. Sunny
6. Sooyoung
7. Yuri
8. Yoona
9. Hyoyeon

Hit Songs:
-Gee
-Genie
-Oh!
-Run Devil Run
-Paparrazi
-Mr. Taxi
-The Boys
-Time Machine
-Chocolate Love
-All My Love is For You
-Twinkle (TTS)

My Member Ranking:

	Beauty	Singing	Favorite
Taeyeon	1	1	1
Jessica	4	3	4
Sooyoung	7	6	5
Yuri	3	5	4
Tiffany	2	2	2
Sunny	9	7	7
Seohyun	5	4	3
Hyoyeon	8	9	7
Yonna	6	8	6

T-ARA

T-ARA

Source of the most epic music videos EVER! No powerhouse vocals here, really,
but they are popular for their catchy pop tunes and arrangements.

Members:

AREUM (Maknae)

QRI

HWAYOUNG (former rapper)

JIYEON (AAAAH!)

EUNJUNG (B's Crush)

SOYEON (Current leader)

BORAM (Sasha look-a-like)

HYOMIN

Former member Hwayoung:

We shall miss her!

Joining member Dani:

To debut in December.

Debuted: 2008           Company: CCM Entertainment
Popularity: 7/10         Subgroups: None

Leader: Soyeon
Former Leaders: Boram, Eunjung, Hyomin
Maknae: Areum
Former Maknae: Hwayoung, Jiyeon
Lead dancer: Jiyeon
Other main dancers: Eunjung and Hyomin
Lead rapper: Areum
Other rappers: Eunjung and Hyomin
Former Lead Rappers: Hwayoung and Eunjung

General Rankings of Member Usage:

1) Hyomin	Soyeon	Eunjung
2) Jiyeon	Areum
3) Boram	Qri

More Defined Individual Rank:
1. Soyeon
2. Hyomin
3. Eunjung
4. Jiyeon
5. Areum
6. Boram
7. Qri

Hit Songs:
-Bo Peep Bo Peep
-Like the First TIme
-Breaking Heart
-Make Me Crazy
-Roly Poly
-Why are You Being Like This?
-Yayaya
-Cry Cry
-Lovey Dovey
-Day by Day
-Sexy Love

My Member Ranking:

	Beauty	Singing	Favorites
Hyomin	2	1	2
Eunjung	6	2	5
Boram	6	4	5
Jiyeon	1	2	1
Soyeon	4	1	5
Areum	3	3	3
Qri	5	5	4

Benjamin's Member Ranking:

	Beauty	Singing	Favorites
Hyomin	3	3	2
Eunjung	1	2	1
Boram	4	4	4
Jiyeon	2	1	3
Soyeon	5	4	5
Areum	4	4	5
Qri	5	5	4

The Album Dilema

Albums I want:

Sistar:
-So Cool
-Loving U
-Alone

Miss A:
-A Class
-Bad but Good
-Touch
-Independent Women

T-ara:
-Breaking Heart
-Black Eyes
-Sexy Love
-Lovey Dovey
-Temptastic

SNSD:
-Paparazzi
-Hoot
-Mr. Taxi
-Run Devil Run
-Time Machine
-Twinkle

Ace of Angels:
-Elvis (Angels' Story)
-Get Out

After School:
-Flashback
-Orange Caramel


Photobooks and Extras:
-T-ara Photobook - Sparkle
-T-ara Free Time Photobook - Limited Edition
-T-ara MV collection(s)
-SNSD 1st Photobook
-SNSD Paradise in Phuket
-SNSD Holiday Photobook
-SNSD Music Video Collection

Priority List:
1. Breaking Heart
2. Black Eyes
3. So Cool
4. Loving U
5. A Class
6. Paparazzi
7. Alone
8. Touch
9. Sexy Love
10. Mr. Taxi

SISTAR

Yay! Sistar!

My fave group :)

Members:

Hyorin

Dasom

Bora

Soyu

Hyolin - Leader and main vocalist, sort of the core of the group. Kind of causes the other to be underrated, but no bad feelings. 21. Totally famous diva. Known as the "Korean Beyonce"

Bora - Main rapper and dancer, 22 (Oldest member). Probably the technically hottest. Does athletic baseball stuff outside of studio work. On the show "Invincible Youth 2"

Dasom - Maknae: so cute! 17, slightly underused. Has recently gotten into acting and stuff.

Soyu - Soyuuuuuuu! Also a lead vocalist, 19. "Bagel girl." Known for losing 17 kg in like a week. My bias :). Has recently been used more as vocals - was kind of the star of Loving U.


                        Debuted: 2010               Company: Starship Entertainment
                        Popularity: 7/10             Subgroups: Sistar19 (Hyorin and Bora)

Hit Songs:
-Alone
-So Cool
-How Dare You
-Loving U
-Push Push
-Shady Girl
-Ma Boy

	Hotness	Beauty	Cuteness	Singing
Hyorin	2	2	3	1
Bora	1	2	4	4
Soyu	2	1	2	2
Dasom	3	3	1	3

(Scale rated in order - one is the best, four is only slightly less amazing)