Korean R&B music update (3)

Last k-music update for 2015:

Jay Park - Solo (feat. Hoody)
- R&B/Hip Hop
- released in 2015


Jonghyun - Deja-boo (feat. ZionT)
- R&B
- released in 2015

Korean R&B music update (2)

Some more Korean R&B music update:

Owen Ovadoz & Joe Rhee - So Serious
- R&B/Hip Hop
- released in 2015


Other notable track by Owen Ovadoz & Joe Rhee collabo:
- 내버려둬/Pulp fiction (2015)


Joe Rhee - 사랑인가봐 / Is It?

- R&B
- released in 2014

Joe Rhee - Can't Get Away (English version) feat. J.Kid
- R&B
- released in 2013

Kebee feat. Brother Su - 여행가방 
- Hip Hop/R&B
- released in 2013



Taewan (aka C-Luv) - 너라면 (If You)
- R&B
- released in 2014 

All That (올댓) - Cinderella feat. Paloalto

- R&B/ Hip Hop
- released in 2014

Korean R&B music update

The following are some Korean R&B music (released in late 2013-2015) that I enjoy but never got the chance to post them. Check it out:

Evo - 초록색여행 
- R&B/Hip Hop
- released in 2015
- Evo is an artist signed under 2LSON company



Primary - 마네퀸 (Mannequin) feat. Beezino, 수란 (Suran)
- R&B/Hip Hop
- released 2015



BTS - Outro: House of Cards
- R&B
- released in 2015
- co-composed & co-produced by Brother Su



BTS - 뱁새 (Silver Spoon/Try-Hard)
- R&B/Hip Hop
- released in 2015



Other notable songs by BTS:
- Just One Day (2014)

2LSON - Slow Jam1 ft. Evo
- R&B
- released in 2013



2LSON - Funny or not feat. Paloalto, 계범주, and 한결 of Laybacksound
- R&B
- released in 2013



Brother Su - 점 (DOT) feat. Lovey
- R&B/Soul
- released in 2015



Crush - Hug me feat. Gaeko
- R&B
- released in 2014



Crush - Whatever You Do feat. Gray
- R&B
- released in 2014


Other notable songs by Crush:
- Crush On You album (2014)
- Sofa (2014)
- Oasis feat. Zico (2015)
- You and I (2015)


Infinite H - 니가 없을 때 (Without You) feat. Zion T
- R&B/Hip Hop
- released in 2013



Eric Nam - Ooh Ooh feat. Hoya from Infinite
- R&B/pop
- released in 2014

New Music: Jung Jin Woo (정진우) - '위성 (Satelite)' from Kpop Star 5

Jung Jin Woo performed his self-composed song, "위성 (Satelite)" on Kpop Star 5 recently. It's a R&B/Soul track about finding himself constantly hovering over his ex like a satellite.  I really enjoy this song and I love his vocals!

His underground name is P.Odd and he also performs with his crew, Alphadict. You can check them out on soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/alphadict

I can't wait to hear more from him!

You can watch his performance of 'Satelite' here:




Lyrics (English translated):
I can never reach

she's gone as far as can be

because of needless pride

my eyes lost its focus

is it a memory as toxic as alcohol 

or is it reminiscence as pure as water

in the beginning we may have seen too much of each other

we don't exist any longer

what you lost once

never comes back to you

I keep breathing 

yet I don't feel like living

the cliche words that time heals everything

the harsh words that we weren't meant to be

in the end, those words were meaningless

you were everything to me

because I am a satellite

I hover around you

I feel grateful that I can see you, though from far away,

then again I get greedy

though I know it'd be the same as before

I guess that just what I am. That's right

Because I am a satellite

after looking at you for a while

after standing with hope for maybe

the street looks the same always

I move my feet finally

that's what I am
that's what I am

Lyrics (Korean): 
절대 닿지 않아 이미 멀어질 대로 멀어져
괜한 자존심 때문에 흐려져 버린 내 두 눈은
술처럼 지독한 기억인지 물처럼 투명한 추억인지
어쩌면 너무 많이 왔나봐 더 이상 우린 없나봐

한 번 놓쳐버린 건 절대 돌아오지 않기에
숨을 뱉어 봐도 살아 있는 것 같지 않잖아
시간이 해결해 줄 거라던 그런 흔한 말도
인연이 아니었다던 그런 모진 말도
결국엔 소용없었어 내겐 모든 게 너였어

Because I'm a Satelite 네 주위를 맴돌아
멀리서라도 널 볼 수 있어 감사하다가
욕심이 또 피어나 똑같을 거 알지만 난 그래 그래
Because I'm a Satelite 한참을 또 보다가
혹시나 하는 기대에 잠시 동안 서 있다
거리는 늘 똑같아 발걸음을 떼는 나 난 그래 그래

lyrics (English translated) credit:  jctmusicnotes

Anime Series Brief Reviews (Part 8)

Summer 2015 anime series that I watched:

- Overlord 

A concept that one may be familiar with: a guy playing an online game and suddenly gets trap in it. Overlord is able to pull a nice twist to it with a bad guy as the main character, interesting supporting characters, lots of action scenes, and a captivating storyline.
Rating: 8.5/10


- Charlotte

This series caught my attention in the beginning with a Lelouch-type of guy as the main character. It is a story about a group of kids with supernatural abilities and they track down others who abuse the power. A slow start but the unexpected twist half-way through the series really makes it more interesting and serious. I enjoyed watching Yu, the main character, as he grew from being selfish and self-centered to being more considerate and responsible, and also how he dealt with grief and depression.
Rating: 8/10


- Akagami no Shirayuki-hime / Snow White with the Red Hair

A simple yet beautiful romantic story about a young girl rescued by a prince from a neighbouring country and his aides. She then pursues a career as a court herbalist in his country. It explores love, friendship and pursuing one's goals. I really enjoyed watching Zen and Shirayuki as they learn to support one another and care for each other. The characters are all very likeable. I also love the art and sceneries - they are mesmerizing!
Rating: 8/10


Older anime series I recently finished watching:

- Ano Natsu de Matteru / Waiting in the Summer

A story about a guy who is an avid videographer, falling in love with the new transfer student from his class. The new transfer girl is actually an alien whose spaceship accidentally crashes on Earth. These two and their friends decide to film a movie over the summer holiday. The story itself is not bad but draggy as it seems to focus too much on love triangles. I do like Kaito and Ichika's relationship though. Other things that kept me interested were the "men in black organization" and Lemon's randomness.
Rating: 7/10
Year released: 2012

Anime Series Brief Reviews (Part 7)

Winter/Spring 2015 anime series that I watched:

- Ansatsu Kyoushitsu / Assassination Classroom

                 
A very interesting story about a class of students trying to kill their new teacher. The teacher is actually an alien octopus with superpowers and threatens to destroy the earth unless his students kill him first. However, he is a teacher that actually cares about his students and their education. A highly enjoyable anime with plenty of action and laughs.
Rating: 8.5/10


Spring 2015 anime series that I watched:

- Kekkai Sensen / Blood Blockade Battlefront

A complicated yet interesting storyline about humans and monsters from another dimension trap together in an impenetrable bubble in New York City. A secret organization with superhuman is there to fight crimes and to keep the balance between Earth and this other dimension. The story can be confusing sometimes but the characters and action scenes are all well done. It has a sci-fi feel and some funky jazz music, which I enjoy. 

Rating: 8/10


- Owari no Seraph

This story can be summarized as a war between vampires and humans. It started off pretty good, but then went downhill after a couple of episodes perhaps due to irrational and annoying characters, and the plot was poorly developed. It did pick up itself at the very end though. 

Rating: 7/10

Older anime series I recently finished watching:

- Bakuman

A story about 2 guys in junior high school teaming up to become successful manga artist. It shows what the road to become a manga artist is really like: daily work, sacrifice, competition, and conflict. Overall, it's an enjoyable anime about dreams and hard work.

Rating: 8/10
Year released: 2010-2013
Additional info: 25 episodes/season (3 seasons total)

"faith is about doing. You are how you act, not just how you believe."

- from the novel "Have a little faith" by Mitch Albom

"I also believe that parents, if they love you, will hold you up safely, above their swirling waters, and sometimes that means you'll never know what they endured, and you may treat them unkindly, in a way you otherwise wouldn't."

"And one day spent with someone you love can change everything."

- from the novel "For one more day" by Mitch Albom

"There is a reason God limits our days."
"Why?"
"To make each one precious."


- from the novel "The Time Keeper" by Mitch Albom

"for it is often little things that are hardest to stand"

"Anyway, one always feels better when one has made up one's mind.

"They will not let us help them. They have chosen cunning instead of belief. Their prison is only in their own minds, yet they are in that prison; and so afraid of being taken in that they cannot be taken out."

"For all find what they truly seek."

- from the novel "The Last Battle" by C.S. Lewis

New Music: Khalil Fong - '聽 (Listen)' (2015)

Khalil Fong released a new song recently - '聽 (Listen)' and it's definitely catchy! I hope this means that a new album is on the way.

Composed by: Khalil Fong/ Derrick Sepnio
Lyrics: C君
Produced by: Khalil Fong/ Derrick Sepnio

Listen below:

"On the contrary he liked him very much and was therefore frightened about him, and being frightened put him in a bad temper -just as your mother is much angrier with you for running out into the road in front of a car than a stranger would be."

- from the novel "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis

"That's the worst of girls," said Edmund to Peter and the Dwarf. "They never carry a map in their heads."
"That's because our heads have something inside them," said Lucy.

- from the novel "Prince Caspian" by C.S. Lewis

Anime Series Brief Reviews (Part 6)

Winter 2015 anime series that I watched:

- Death Parade 

An interesting, psychological anime about playing a game to determine whether your souls will be sent to the void or reincarnated. The games and the characters are all very interesting and revealing about human's true nature.
Rating: 8.5/10


- Tokyo Ghoul √A

This is the second season of Tokyo Ghoul (see my review of season 1 here). The story continues with the main character who is a half-ghoul, and his attempt to learn more about his own powers and the ghoul society. The story-telling feels slow and the character development is limited. However, the action scenes are well done and quite intense.
Rating: 7.5/10


Older anime series I recently finished watching:

- Busou Renkin / Arms Alchemy

A story about a guy and a girl working together to fight against alchemical monsters and their masters. It is a surprisingly enjoyable anime with an interesting plot, well developed characters, lots of actions and some romance.
Rating: 9/10
Year released: 2006-2007

- 07 Ghost

An interesting anime with many good looking male characters, but not yaoi. It has a unique story about a boy who is being chased by the military and takes cover in a church. There, the bishops took care of him and he slowly rediscovers his past. It explores topics such as friendship, solitude, and dealing with grief. It is an enjoyable anime with plenty of action. 

Rating: 8.5/10
Year released: 2009


- Zombie Loan

It is a story about a girl, who has the ability to see death ring around people's neck, and two guys. These 2 guys are already dead and are kept alive by a contract with Zombie Loan. The contract requires them to hunt down and destroy zombies. It has a compelling plot but somehow feels lackluster due to the art style, and the story was slow paced with a rushed ending. 

Rating: 7.5/10
Year released: 2007

"...if you do one good deed your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one."

"...years later, when they were grown up, they were so used to quarrelling and making up again that they got married so as to go on doing it more conveniently."

- from the novel "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis

"...a charge of lying against someone whom you have always found truthful is a very serious thing; a very serious thing indeed."

- from the novel "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis

New Music: McKay (맥케이) - 'Angel 2 Me (International Version)' (2015)

McKay (from K-pop Star 2) made his debut recently. He released the single "Angel 2 Me" which is a duet with Jeff Bernat. The international version is completely in English too! It is a smooth R&B/Soul track with lovely vocals.

Listen below: 

Like You

Can't nobody do it like you, like me
Can't nobody do it like us, like we

- Miguel - "Like You" (2015)

Listen below: 

Fool For You

I'm such a fool, a fool for you.....
I'm losing my cool, my cool all for you

- Curtis Fields - "Fool For You" (2015)

Listen below: