2008 in review [evee]

‘Cause this is the last day of 2008 I’m going to write some stuff about 2009 as well because
1. I couldn’t think of what to write
2. I have stuff to spazz about in 2009

This year was definitely full of lol- worthy moments in the entertainment business. From stuff like questioning stars sexualities (Taiwan Media) to infamous boycotts and then overanalysing of lyrics which has lead to DBSK having somebody under their sky and especially which lead to Rain losing his magic stick. I guess I shall be Korean biased in my review seeing as the fandoms I followed this year were all from Korea excluding old fandoms like S.H.E and Wang Lee Hom from Taiwan.

Music:

I feel proud that I’m able to listen to English songs whilst still obsessing over Asian songs – excluding Vietnam (you know just for the sake of it I might do a Viet review one day) .This year there were definitely many new faces coming onto the scene in Korea (SHINee – and just for mary 2PM/2AM/One day) that I actually bothered to listen to and check out and old making their comeback stage. Towards the end of this year the battle was definitely between Korea’s hottest boy band DBSK and one of Korea’s hottest girl band Wonder Girls. DBSK had made their long awaited come back with their fourth album Mirotic and trust me when I say that fans were definitely more than happy to have their ‘gods’ back in their presence. Then despite having the first half of the year dominated by the 9 girl group SNSD, Wonder Girls definitely owned the second half of the year with those darn catchy songs like ‘So Hot’ and ‘Nobody’. There was BoA and she wanted you ‘Eat You Up’ and is currently trying to make it into the Korea market also being compared as the Asian Britney Spears – though despite her accent I actually didn’t mind the song and hopes she becomes successful in America, if not Asia is happy to have their ‘Britney Spears’ back I’m pretty sure. There were other notable groups like Big Bang with Haru Haru and Sunset Glow and Kara with Pretty Girl and there there’s CSJH the Grace in Japan (darn it SM bring them back to Korea) might I mention that I feel so bloody useless and old with all these little tots entering the market already (ahem – Sweety). I’ve noticed many bands trying to join in on the wave but sadly disappear after one and if they’re lucky two releases but that’s the Korean Wave for you. In terms of Taiwan music, S.H.E. finally made a comeback after a little over one year since PLAY and Fahrenheit are entering the Japanese market due to popular demand. I haven’t heard much of Jay Chou this year (but I’m excused since I don’t listen to him anyways) and have I missed out on Lee Hom? The latest song I’ve heard from him was heartbeat but I haven’t heard anything about a new album. Maybe I’m not looking hard enough. I can’t say that I was necessarily disappointed with the Korean Entertainment in terms of Music this year, but I’ve seen too much ‘trying to break into the American market’ this year.

Dramas:

Dramas were absolute fail for me this year, I didn’t seem to have an anticipated drama this year, that is if you exclude East of Eden cause I wasn’t really anticipating it until the episodes got interesting. I’ve watched many old and new drams this year, dramas like Bullfighting, Brown Sugar Macchiato and Legend of Brown Sugar Chivalries, to starting dramas like Hot Shot and Rolling love and most recently Pi Li MIT and You are my destiny (daily drama) and my current favourite East of Eden (the drama with possibly too much drama on and off screen). Dramas this year haven’t been as great as years before, like the times they’d just release one series after another. Though I must admit, despite having a lack of good dramas, the dramas that are good are pretty darn addictive.

My OTP

Variety Shows:

Shows like Family Outing and We Got Married were definitely on my to watch list this year and Star Golden bell I watched only for certain artists, I just love all those fake family shows, they’re interesting and the guest stars make it more interesting depending on who’s on I guess. Though I have to admit I’ve stuck with Family Outing much longer than We Got Married, the cast are simply hilarious, from trot singing, to butt poking and then abuse despite this you can still feel the love and that ‘I love you’ game at the end is simply hilarious. As for We Got Married, I’ve definitely lost interest in it since Andy and Solbi left the show, they were the main reason I watched the the awkward and the cheesy moments but after they left I could’ve continue with the other couples but with recent news that the Ant Couple, Lettuce Couple and AlShin are leaving or have left I’ve seriously lost interest in the show but I guess they’re trying to make up for it with all these hot starts i.e Super Junior and Wonder Girls appearing on the show.

Scandals:

TaeSu’s scandal definitely takes the cake for this year, if you’re a fan you’d definitely know what I was talking about. All of the bashing from both sides was just simply interesting to watch. What has the world come to when a boy and a girl can’t go shopping together or they can’t even look at each other without be labelled as secretly dating or having an affair and how fans reacted with the ‘I’m so disappointed’ or ‘He/She can do better than him/her’. Though I must admit that I wouldn’t mind if something was happening between the two but the battle that went on was simply ridiculous. When fans stood up for their idols and thought of excuses as to why he grabbed her hand – but then again it’s a member of Korea’s hottest boy band and one of Korea’s hottest girl band holding (?) hands and whispering to each other, why wouldn’t it be such a scandal.

Most anticipated of 2009:
OHEMGEE – They’re Back

2/4 people (mooray and Selina) have had Wonder Girls as one of their highlights for this year, even though I do agree that Wonder Girls ‘Nobody’ was definitely an something but this year without a doubt I’ve stayed loyal to my fandom and have anticipated for SNSD’s return for 8 whole months. Personally, I don’t care about what crap people say about these girls, whether they’re too darn cute for their age and disrespectful, whether they’re plastic and talentless or whatever crap is being said about them. Their 8 month hiatus was pretty painful for fans to go to and it was definitely worth the wait with pictures like this. SNSD are coming back with a still cute but definitely more mature concept. Without a doubt fans are definitely welcoming these girls back onto the music scene (not like they really ever left; but promoting one song for one entire year, only they could pull off such a thing). With a teaser being release two days from this post a mini album being released on the 7th and their comeback stage on the 9th – 2009 will definitely be SNSD’s year.

Hana Yori Dango// Boys over Flowers – Korean version

Though I haven’t seen the Taiwan version I really want to see the Korean version, it looks so stylish ~ I mean look at the photoshoot but there’s also Hyunjoong and Kimbum in it – more towards Kimbum though

So that’s it people, another year gone and 2009 is just hours away from us so on behalf of the staff here at AI – From Mooray to Selina, Ginna and I. We wish you all an awesome new year!